Tag: Calvin Thibodeaux

Oklahoma Sooners included in top 10 for 5-star DT David Stone

Oklahoma Sooners make top 10 for 2024 five-star defensive tackle David Stone.

Just a day after the Oklahoma Sooners more than likely put the finishing touches on signing their 2023 recruiting class, the Sooners received some encouraging news about one of the top 2024 guys in Oklahoma native David Stone.

Stone, a five-star defensive tackle in the 2024 class, released his top 10 schools on Friday afternoon.

The Sooners made the cut along with the Michigan State Spartans, USC Trojans, LSU Tigers, Texas A&M Aggies, Oregon Ducks, Tennessee Volunteers, Florida Gators, Miami Hurricanes, and Alabama Crimson Tide.

Oklahoma has formed a good relationship with Stone. Todd Bates’ reputation as a leader, mentor, and developmental expert who can put players in the NFL, gives Oklahoma an excellent chance here.

When looking at the rest of the field, the competition is stiff. Michigan State has positioned itself well and has already secured Stone’s last official visit per a report by Chad Simmons of On3. The Spartans pulled another Oklahoma native in the 2023 cycle, Bai Jobe.

USC has former Oklahoma defensive line coach Calvin Thibodeaux recruiting Stone hard. It was Thibodeaux’s relationship with Stone when the former was in Norman that has USC still in contention. Texas A&M and Alabama can’t be ignored as they sign five-star defensive linemen every year now and Stone will be heavily pursued by the Sooners’ future SEC goes..

Oklahoma just signed two five-star defenders to their 2023 class. It’s the first time they brought in a five-star defender since Caleb Kelly in 2016. They have yet to sign a five-star defensive tackle in over a decade and despite finishing in the top two for Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy and David Hicks, the Sooners still are empty-handed in that department. Both went to Texas A&M. Stone gives the Sooners a shot to break the streak.

Stones’ timeline as it stands all but guarantees there may be another cut down of teams to a top five sometime around the summer and then visits will start.

With Stone being at the top of Oklahoma’s recruiting big board for 2024, we’ll be monitoring his recruitment here at Sooners Wire.

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Sooners offer David Stone, the number one 2024 player in the state of Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Sooners recently extended an offer to 2024’s No. 1 player in the state of Oklahoma, defensive lineman David Stone.

With the 2021 season behind them and almost an entire complement of coaches, the Oklahoma staff has shifted to finishing out their 2022 classes while beginning to build their 2023 and 2024 classes. The Sooners have already shown a strong desire to keep the best in-state kids in Oklahoma, offering guys Erik McCarty and Bai Jobe of late. The big fish is the number one ranked player in Oklahoma for the 2024 class in David Stone.

Stone is already considered a top talent in the country, currently No. 55 in 247Sports’ rankings for the class of 2024. The Sooners recently re-offered him a scholarship under the new regime led by the defensive wizard and now Sooners head coach Brent Venables.

With the Sooners re-affirming their desire to have Stone in their 2024 class, it makes him a major recruiting priority as he’s a local in-state kid. Oklahoma can’t afford to let great defensive line players leave the state. As they begin to reshape their roster and prepare for their inevitable move to the SEC, being great on the line of scrimmage is a priority.

Stone already stands 6-foot-3 and weighs around 255 pounds. With two more years of high school, he’ll continue to grow.

It won’t be easy by any stretch for Oklahoma as teams like Texas, Texas A&M, and SMU have entered the fray. SMU typically may not mean much to a recruiting battle involving the Sooners, but this is different.

Calvin Thibodeaux, the Sooners former defensive line coach, was the one that offered Stone at SMU. Venables did not retain Thibodeaux, and it looks like his replacement is set to be announced sooner rather than later. However, Thibodeaux had already laid a nice foundation with Stone. He likely feels like he can still reel in the talented prospect despite switching jobs.

Thibodeaux has come into his own as a coach and recruiter, and who knows what other major programs also get into the mix for the services of this potential five-star defensive linemen. With Todd Bates reportedly coming over from Clemson to Oklahoma to be the defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator, this sets the stage for a nail-biting battle for Stone. To put it plainly, Todd Bates is simply one of the best defensive line coaches in the country at development and with recruiting.

One thing’s for sure, Oklahoma should have themselves in a position to win this recruiting battle. Still, it certainly won’t be easy, and it will undoubtedly be something to keep watching over the next few years.

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What possible names could Brent Venables fill the defensive line coaching position with at Oklahoma?

Here’s a look at five names of coaches the Oklahoma Sooners should reach out to for their next defensive line coach.

We took time to compose a list of names Sooners head coach Brent Venables could reach out to regarding Oklahoma’s current vacancy for a cornerbacks’ coach.

Now, it’s time we address the other opening on Oklahoma’s staff: defensive line or defensive tackles coach. Miguel Chavis will be handle defensive ends.

The role previously belonged to Calvin Thibodeaux, a former player who returned to his alma mater to coach for the Sooners. Thibodeaux was responsible for being the lead recruiter on Ronnie Perkins, Perrion Winfrey, Reggie Grimes, Isaiah Thomas and Josh Ellison among others.

After not being retained by Venables, for whom he played while at Oklahoma, he has taken the same position at SMU.

Thibodeaux was a valuable asset for the Sooners. He recruited well and for his efforts, was named one of the Rivals’ top-25 recruiters of 2018 and ’19. His players loved him. He had landed the commitment of a top-10 ranked player, Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, who decommitted and signed with Texas A&M.

Who replaces Thibodeaux for Oklahoma? Let’s take a look.

Oklahoma assistant coaches taking the ‘high road’ by returning for OU’s bowl game versus Oregon

Oklahoma’s DaShaun White and Reggie Grimes expressed gratitude that their assistant coaches are returning for the bowl game versus Oregon.

Lincoln Riley leaving Oklahoma for USC meant sweeping changes at OU. It’s led to an overhaul of the defensive coaching staff.

Of course, Brent Venables is Oklahoma’s new head coach, but Ted Roof, Miguel Chavis and Brandon Hall are also in as defensive coaches.

Roof is Oklahoma’s new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, Chavis will coach defensive ends and Hall is set to coach safeties.

In the process, OU’s set of assistant coaches from this 2021 season were left to find other opportunities. Defensive line coach Calvin Thibodeaux is off to coach at SMU and linebackers coach Brian Odom and outside linebackers and defensive ends coach Jamar Cain are joining Riley at USC.

All three are returning to help Oklahoma finish its season in the Valero Alamo Bowl against Oregon on Dec. 29, though.

“I really appreciate Calvin Thibodeaux, Brian Odom and Jamar Cain came back to help our guys finish. They’ve been in the office working on game plan. They want to finish this with a win and help our players get an opportunity to win so appreciate that,” interim head coach Bob Stoops said.

Stoops announced last week that Odom would serve as Oklahoma’s defensive play-caller. It’s something that’s not lost on the players either.

Senior linebacker DaShaun White explained how much it meant to him to have Odom return against Oregon.

“Words couldn’t, you know, put it or I couldn’t even really express how much I appreciate him. Just him really taking the high road here and doing something that he really doesn’t have to do. I think that just speaks about his character and who he is as a person, which is something that we’ve all known here for a long time. Excited to be able to play for him. Thankful that he would step in and do this for us and just how selfless he is and how willing he is to take on such a big, big role for this school in a time of need. Like I said, I think it just really speaks out to who he is as a person. Really appreciative of coach Odom,” White said.

Sophomore defensive end Reggie Grimes echoed White’s thoughts on Cain, Odom and Thibodeaux choosing to return for the bowl game.

“Man, nothing but love. Those are the guys we started with, so I’d have no problem finishing with those guys. Coach Thib especially. He recruited me and I met coach Cain. He came here that January, but coach Thibs recruited me. So, to have him back and then to have coach Cain back the guy who’s been my position coach since I got here, and to kind of have one last ride with the coaching staff that we have, I think it’s really important, really special and really speaks to their characters,” Grimes said.

There’s been less turnover with the offensive coaching staff, though Cale Gundy will assume the offensive play-calling role in the bowl game against Oregon.

“That was a big thing. Having coach Murray, coach Finley, coach Bedenbaugh, coach Gundy staying. There’s a lot of interaction with those guys over my two years being here, especially coach Murray and coach Gundy,” sophomore wide receiver Marvin Mims said.

For now, it’s a conversation for another day, but Mims is excited with what new offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby will bring to the program next season.

“Having coach Lebby come I think it’s a huge plus for this program. Especially with his experience, his resume, the things he’s done at other colleges. I mean, it’s something that’s a huge positive. He’s also an alumni to this school, so that’s another positive for us as a program. I’ve talked to him a couple times. He’s a really cool guy. I love his personality. I love how he is, his character,” Mims said.

In the meantime, Oklahoma is appreciative that Cain, Odom and Thibodeaux decided to finish this season out by coaching against Oregon.

The Sooners kick off against the Ducks at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN on Dec. 29 in the program’s first appearance in the Valero Alamo Bowl.

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5 recruits Brent Venables’ can secure as he becomes Oklahoma’s next head coach

As he starts to settle in, who are the 5 recruits that Brent Venables and the current staff should focus on?

After an agonizing week filled with rumors, misinformation, smokescreens, de-commitments, and borderline scandals, the Oklahoma Sooners have found their man. The name is familiar in Oklahoma as Brent Venables takes the reigns as head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners. From 1999 to 2011, Venables coached at Oklahoma, where he served as associate head coach, defensive coordinator, and linebackers coach for the Sooners under legendary head coach Bob Stoops.

Stoops is currently serving as interim while things are sorted out for Venables and the rest of the potential new staff.

For Venables, the bit of mess he walked in isn’t catastrophic, but it’s worthy of note. They are less than two weeks away from the Early Signing Day, and their 2022 class is currently 17th on 247Sports team rankings after being 7th just a week ago.

They’ve lost four 2022 recruits since news of Riley’s departure to USC, and Venables will have his work cut out for him to regain those commitments, add others, or bring guys from Clemson’s recruiting class.

Who are the five players that Brent Venables and the current staff should look to close the deal on?

What does Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy’s commitment mean for the Oklahoma Sooners?

What does the commitment of five-star defensive tackle Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy mean for the Oklahoma Sooners?

Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy is so similar to the most recent five-star defensive linemen that have come through Norman it’s kind of scary. The comparisons look the part on the field and off. For any long-time recruiting enthusiasts like myself, the Oklahoma Sooners closing on Brownlow-Dindy is a feat that’s been quite rare in Norman for the last decade or so. Just looking at 247Sports recruiting rankings history, Brownlow-Dindy is the first five-star defensive linemen since 2006.

Gerald McCoy, a legendary Sooner and the last five-star defensive tackle the Sooners landed, is the most natural comparison for him. Tommie Harris, another former five-star, also fits as a comparison. Both had stellar Oklahoma careers before being first-round NFL draft picks. And both grew up with families heavily involved in the church.

It remains to be seen what Brownlow-Dindy will do as a collegiate player, but the Sooners will be anxious to find out. They won’t have to wait long as Brownlow-Dindy plans to enroll early. His senior season was cut short after a torn ligament in his hand during a game.

The impact of landing Brownlow-Dindy is immense for Oklahoma’s defensive recruiting efforts. Yes, the Sooners had a leg up as Brownlow-Dindy is the son of Sooners alumni. However, their efforts should not be downplayed. They had to fight tooth and nail for his services while in a state dominated by SEC and ACC powerhouses.

The Sooners will have to land more defensive linemen of his caliber as they make their move to the SEC, where games are won and lost in large part due to the seismic gap in talent in the trenches.

Will the Sooners land every five-star defensive line prospect? No, but they need to show the ability to snag one when given the opportunity, and the same goes for getting close with other top 100 defensive line recruits. Brownlow-Dindy is a top 20 player across most recruiting rankings, including the USA TODAY High School Sports Composite Player Rankings, which averages the grades from the three biggest recruiting services: 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals. Closing on Brownlow-Dindy was Oklahoma’s announcement to the college football world that they are legitimate competition for elite defensive talent.

Furthermore, this commitment may signal a significant development in the caliber of assistants on Oklahoma’s roster. Calvin Thibodeaux, defensive line coach at Oklahoma, has been the subject of a lot of chatter with his previous inability to bring in top 100 talent on the interior since he’s been at OU.

It reached such a point that people began to speculate if head coach Lincoln Riley would eventually let him go in favor of someone capable of landing four and five-star talent. After his two-year recruiting efforts on Brownlow-Dindy, culminating in a recruiting win over Texas A&M, it’s probably safe to assume unless a better opportunity comes knocking, Thibodeaux will not be leaving Oklahoma.

In the immediate future, Brownlow-Dindy looks to be a day one contributor for Oklahoma next year, with the likelihood of at least three Sooners on the defensive line heading to the NFL in the spring. Brownlow-Dindy has 4.7 speed, and his background as a state champ in the discus while training using mixed martial arts all but likely point to him being a perfect fit as a defensive end with the ability and versatility to slot inside ala Isaiah Thomas and Jalen Redmond. He and Kelvin Gilliam are the foundational pieces of this defensive line for years to come.

Can the Sooners close on one off the top defensive line prospects in the Class of 22?

The Oklahoma Sooners seem to have the inside track for five-star defensive tackle Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, but will they close the deal?

Oklahoma has had an interesting journey with their 2022 recruiting class. They started red hot with early commitments from three high quality wide receivers in Luther Burden, Talyn Shettron and Jordan Hudson. They brought  in running back/slot receiver Raleek Brown and then followed with a pledge from one of the other top five running backs in Gavin Sawchuk.

Fast forward to the first day of September. All three of those receivers are no longer committed. Hudson is an SMU commit and Shettron is locked in with Oklahoma State to play with his brother. Burden remains uncommitted but UGA, Missouri and Alabama are fighting for his services. OU still has a chance at a few other blue chip prospects despite the receiver recruiting fiasco. The biggest currently plays on the defensive line.

Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, defensive lineman from Lakeland, Florida, is within the Sooners grasp. The top 10 recruit is a force on the defensive line where he can line up at defensive tackle and slide outside and play the defensive end position. Bleacher Report thinks OU will eventually win the battle for Dindy.

Dindy, as previously mentioned has ties to Oklahoma. His parents are former graduates of of the University Oklahoma. He’s a true legacy to the university. However, defensive line coach and primary recruiter in this instance  Calvin Thibodeaux could not afford to let that do the work.

Thibodeaux along with Alex Grinch and Lincoln Riley have continuously plugged away at this recruitment. Dindy recently cut his list down to two schools: Texas A&M and Oklahoma.

A&M is currently the employer of his father, who has recently moved to College Station, Texas. There is real smoke that could keep the Aggies in the race.

Ultimately, like Bleacher Report suggests I think the Sooners win out if they produce on the field defensively. If guys like Jalen Redmond, Perrion Winfrey and Isaiah Thomas have monster years like many are expecting and help OU continue to revitalize how defense is played in Norman, Oklahoma, the Sooners will continue to have the inside track at the nation’s top defensive recruits.

2022 Five-star defensive tackle narrows list to final 2 schools

Top defensive line target from the 2022 recruiting target narrowed his list to two schools.

The Oklahoma Sooners have an up and down recruiting cycle for the 2022 class. They’ve secured commitments from the two of the top running backs in the class and have some of the best offensive linemen and tight ends in the country on track to join the Sooners in 2022. They’ve added top-tier talent to their defense in Derrick Moore and Kobie McKenzie as well. It’s a class that’s strong on paper despite the decomittments of Jordan Hudson, Talyn Shettron, and Luther Burden.

The Sooners look to be in great shape for another top tier defensive recruit in the 2022 recruiting cycle as Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy has narrowed his list to two schools according to Hayes Fawcett of On3 Sports.

Alex Grinch has helped the Oklahoma Sooners defense return to national relevance, which has them on target to land some of the best defensive players in the 2022 recruiting cycle. If they’re able to land Brownlow-Dindy as the 247Sports Crystal Ball is projecting, it would be another huge feather in the cap for the Alex Grinch, Calvin Thibodeaux, and head coach Lincoln Riley.

247Sports Recruiting Analyst Andrew Ivins had this to say about Brownlow-Dindy.

Encouraging, well-proportioned build. Up and over 6-foot-2, 270 pounds. Spent part of youth doing Mixed Martial Arts. Posted elite testing numbers for an interior defensive lineman the summer before his junior season. Explodes off the ball with the first-step quickness to invade gaps. Coordinated athlete that doesn’t lose his balance or bearing easily. Understands how to bend and use leverage. Keeps feet moving and plays with steady energy. Mauling tackler with the grip strength to corral ball carriers. Totaled 29.5 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks as a sophomore while playing in the Sunshine State’s second-highest classification. Can win with a simple bull rush at the point of attack, but will also swim his way past blockers. Ability to just fire out of his stance and uncoil, however, might be his best pass-rushing attribute. Athletic profile is one of the best in the class of 2022 for his position, but still areas where he can improve his game, like when it comes to disengaging from double teams. Figures to be an impact player at a Power 5 program and someone that’s eventually selected early on in the NFL Draft.

Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy’s Recruiting Profile

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
247 5 3 1 2
Rivals 5 39 5 5
ESPN 5 6 2 2
247 Composite 5 10 2 4

Vitals

Hometown Lakeland, Florida
Projected Position Defensive Tackle
Height 6-3
Weight 275

Recruitment

  • Offered on June 20, 2020
  • Official visit on Sept. 17, 2021

Offers (Top 11)

  • Oklahoma
  • Texas A&M

Crystal Ball

Film

Twitter

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Oklahoma Sooners’ assistant coaches receive extensions

Multiple Oklahoma assistant coaches receive contract extentions at Board of Regents meeting.

As each college football season comes to a close and another one dawns, it is not just the roster that is evaluated. Coaches are as well for the optimization of talent. The Oklahoma Sooners made a statement about their assistant coaches, granting many a contract extension at the Board of Regents meeting per Sooner Scoop staff writer Bob Przybylo.

Offensive line coach/co-offensive coordinator Bill Bedenbaugh, inside receivers coach/co-offensive coordinator Cale Gundy, cornerbacks coach Roy Manning, running backs coach DeMarco Murray, inside linebackers coach Brian Odom, defensive line coach Calvin Thibodeaux, outside linebackers/defensive ends Jamar Cain and director of sports performance Bennie Wylie all received extensions through 2023.

Defensive coordinator/safeties coach Alex Grinch and assistant head coach/passing game coordinator/outside receivers coach Dennis Simmons both received contract extensions through 2024.

In addition, Gundy was given a $20,000 raise and Simmons a $90,000 raise.

Locking up Alex Grinch for several years is key for the program’s success. Grinch significantly improved the defense over the past couple of years in Norman. The unit went from being the laughingstock in the Big 12 to one of the best in college football. A testament to the energetic man with the headset. Grinch took over as defensive coordinator/safeties coach in 2019 and revamped the group. The defense improved from a total defense ranking of 114th in 2018, 38th in 2019, to 29th in the nation in 2020. That is telling. The squad also drastically improved in rush defense (2018-59th, 2019-32nd, 2020-9th), interceptions (2018-112th, 2019-100th, 2020-3rd), and sacks-per-game (2018-74th, 2019-34th, 2020-7th).

His “Speed D” is built on playing aggressive, downhill, high-effort football to generate turnovers. In his hybrid 3-4/4-2-5 system, the defensive line operates in a one-gap, quickly penetrating and attacking style at the line of scrimmage. The dominance from the front frees things up for the linebackers and nickel backs. On the back end, Grinch prioritizes stopping the run, moving guys around in the box to disrupt tempo. His developed unit has poised Oklahoma for their next national title.

On the opposite side of the ball, Bill Bedenbaugh has created the protective wall surrounding Oklahoma’s high-profile quarterbacks. He continuously produces elite offensive lineman entering the NFL draft and primes them for success at the next level. Whether it be the team’s bread and butter- the counter pull, pass protection, or run blocking, the guys in the trenches perform at a high level under Bedenbaugh’s tutelage. His O-Line has paved the way for two Heisman Trophy winners and one runner up. Without the big guys up front doing their jobs, Oklahoma’s explosive offensive attack would be nonexistent.

He led the 2018 Oklahoma offensive line that was recognized as the nation’s best with the reception of the Joe Moore Award. The Sooners led the country in total offense (570.3 yards-per-game), scoring offense (48.4 points-per-game), rushing yards-per-carry (6.6) and yards-per-play (FBS-record 8.6). Bedenbaugh was a finalist in 2017 and semifinalist in 2018 for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach. He has established himself as one of the best talent producers in the country and Oklahoma took notice with a well-deserved contract extension.

Oklahoma Football Notebook: Calvin Thibodeaux, Josh Ellison, Justin Broiles and Jordan Kelley talk Monday

Oklahoma defensive line coach Calvin Thibodeaux, DL Josh Ellison, DB Justin Broiles and DL Jordan Kelley met with the media on Monday.

The final week of Oklahoma football spring practices has arrived with the Sooners getting their final rounds of practice in before Saturday’s spring game at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

For many fans, the excitement to see Alex Grinch’s defense in its third iteration is as high it could possibly be. Specifically up front, Oklahoma looks to have an elite level of depth with numerous players who can make this happen and impact a game at any time.

On Monday, defensive line coach Calvin Thibodeaux discussed just that along with defensive lineman Josh Ellison, defensive back Justin Broiles and defensive lineman Jordan Kelley. Here are some of the highlights of what they had to say: