Tag: Danny Okoye

Oklahoma’s No. 1 player in 2024 officially signs with the Sooners

The Sooners got the signature of a big-time local prospect who could provide an immediate impact.

Once [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] took over as head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, he and his staff made it a priority to recruit the local prospects. That push paid off. The Sooners earned the commitment and now the signature of the state’s top prospect.

[autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag], who plays at Tulsa NOAH homeschool, signed his national letter of intent to be a Sooner. Okoye is a four-star prospect who is listed at 6 feet, 4 inches and 241 pounds.

Okoye has all of the physical tools to make an immediate impact at Oklahoma. You worry about the competition he played in high school, but the tools are there. He’s someone who could be a situational pass rusher in 2024 and has a very bright future.

More from the [autotag]2024 Early Signing Period[/autotag]

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Oklahoma Sooners one of the biggest team ranking risers of the summer

The Sooners continue to hit it out of the park in the 2024 class being one of the biggest risers since the summer.

Not many teams in the country have had as big of a rise in the recruiting rankings as the Oklahoma Sooners over the last few months. The Sooners have been on an absolute heater since July.

With the most recent commitment of [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag], the Sooners are No. 7 in 247Sports’ team composite ranking and No. 8 over at On3. On3 Sports ranked the teams to make the biggest jump since the summer, and the Sooners were included, moving up nine spots.

Brent Venables and Co. flexed their recruiting muscles in a big way last cycle, ending with the nation’s No. 6 recruiting class. It featured three five-stars and 15 blue-chippers in total. Beating that haul in 2024 was always going to be a tall task, but the Sooners are yet again on the verge of securing a top-10 class. Five-Star Plus+ DL [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] choosing OU over Miami was the highlight of the summer in that regard, but the Sooners have also added four-star pass-rushers [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag] and Danny Okoye to a very good defensive class. Not to be outdone, OC [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag] and the Sooners offense has amassed some weapons this summer with elite running back [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag], four-star tight end [autotag]Davon Mitchell[/autotag], and wideouts [autotag]Ivan Carreon[/autotag] and [autotag]Zion Ragins[/autotag], among others. – Keegan Pope On3 Sports

This move has ranked the Sooners as the fourth-biggest riser of any team in the country. But the Sooners are not done yet. They are still waiting on the decision of offensive linemen [autotag]Grant Brix[/autotag] and [autotag]Daniel Akinkunmi[/autotag]. They also are waiting for defensive back [autotag]Devon Jordan[/autotag].

Of the three players mentioned, Oklahoma holds a lead for only Akinkunmi, according to On3 Sports. There’s also always that potential of a flip from a five-star or two, but we don’t need to get everyone’s hopes on that just yet.

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Social media reacts: 4-Star EDGE Danny Okoye commits to the Oklahoma Sooners

Social media reacts to the commitment of 2024 four-star DE Danny Okoye, another blue chip DL for 2024 and the No. 1 player in the state of Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Sooners football program has done an incredible job on the recruiting trail since arriving in Norman in December of 2021. They’ve secured a pair of top-ten classes, one of which was a top-five class in the 2023 cycle. They look well on their way to another great recruiting class in 2024.

The latest addition was in-state talent [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag], a four-star prospect who plays for NOAH. He’s an incredible athlete who can do backflips at 6-foot-4 and 240 lbs and deadlift more than three times his weight at over 700 pounds.

Danny Okoye’s commitment highlights the work the Sooners have done this cycle to put together an incredible group along the defensive line. Okoye joins [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag], and [autotag]Wyatt Gilmore[/autotag] in the 2024 cycle. When this group gets to Norman, it will arguably be the best defensive line recruiting hall in the history of the program and also provide incredible competitive depth to the Sooners defensive front.

With Okoye, they added a disruptive talent who has a chance to be an elite pass rusher at the next level.

With the addition of Okoye, the Sooners move up to No. 7 in the 247Sports team rankings, No. 5 over at Rivals, and No. 8 in On3’s rankings.

Brent Venables and his staff have the Sooners recruiting elite defensive prospects again and here’s how social media reacted.

Sooners land commitment from in-state 2024 four-star EDGE Danny Okoye

Oklahoma is back on the board with another commitment. The Sooners landed four-star EDGE rusher Danny Okoye on Wednesday evening.

Oklahoma has put together a great recruiting class for 2024, and it just got better along the defensive line. Four-star EDGE [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag] committed to the Oklahoma Sooners on Wednesday.

Oklahoma was the choice over Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, and a number of other Power Five schools.

Oklahoma’s pursuit of Okoye started in the summer of 2022 when the Sooners offered in July. Since then, Miguel Chavis has spearheaded that recruitment, keeping Oklahoma in the thick of it.

Okoye cut down his options and posted a top-six featuring the Sooners, Crimson Tide, the Volunteers, Colorado, LSU, and the Texas Longhorns in August.

When speaking to Brett Greenberg of 247Sports back in August (Subscription required), Okoye said this about Oklahoma:

”OU has always been showing the love for me since the beginning. One of the reasons they are in the top six is just after their last season, the amount of work that they’ve put in and the amount of progress they’ve made as a team and program, it’s definitely worth being noticed. The coaching staff is a national championship coaching staff, and I can definitely see OU winning the national championship in the future.”

Oklahoma hosted Okoye for an official visit for the first game of the season when they blew away the Arkansas State Red Wolves. Momentum began to build for Okoye to the Sooners. The Sooners rode the wave and have secured his commitment.

When looking at the 247Sports composite, which takes into account rankings from each of the primary recruiting services, Okoye is pegged as the No. 152 overall recruit in the 2024 class. The four-star also rates as a top-10 edge rusher in the nation and the top player in Oklahoma. He also looks like an EDGE, standing six-foot-four and hovering around 240 pounds. He’s explosive, and during his junior season in 2022, he tallied 43 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, six sacks, one interception, and forced a fumble.

With Okoye’s commitment, Oklahoma now has 24 pledges in the 2024 recruiting. Oklahoma has also moved in front of Josh Heupel’s Tennessee Volunteers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the No. 7 spot in the 247Sports team rankings.

The Sooners’ pursuit of a top-five recruiting class continues with decisions from three-star OL [autotag]Daniel Akinkunmi[/autotag], four-star OT [autotag]Grant Brix[/autotag], three-star CB [autotag]Devon Jordan[/autotag], and four-star LB/S [autotag]Michael Boganowski[/autotag] still to come.

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Vols make top three for No. 1 2024 prospect in Oklahoma

Tennessee is one of three schools for the No. 1 2024 prospect in Oklahoma.

Four-star edge prospect Danny Okoye announced his top three schools on Sunday.

Tennessee, Texas and Oklahoma are Okoye’s top three schools.

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound edge prospect is from NOAH Homeschool in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Okoye is the No. 159 overall prospect in the class of 2024. He ranks as the No. 9 edge prospect and No. 1 player in Oklahoma, according to On3 Sports industry rankings.

As a junior, Okoye totaled 43 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, six sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. He recorded 78 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles during his sophomore season.

Tennessee is ‘setting the bar’ for 2024 prospect Danny Okoye

https://x.com/itsdanielokoye/status/1700903598811398187?s=20

4-star in-state 2024 defensive end and Oklahoma Sooners target sets commitment date

4-Star EDGE and in-state product Danny Okoye set his commitment date on Sunday.

The Oklahoma Sooners have been on fire on the recruiting trail during [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ tenure in Norman. That roll continued this past week when the Sooners gained the commitment of four-star defensive lineman Nigel Smith II.

Now the Sooners turn to their attention to the defensive line and in-state standout [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag]. Okoye is a four-star prospect who plays at Tulsa NOAH homeschool.

For his age, he’s physically mature. He comes in at 6 feet, 4 inches and 241 pounds. Okoye took Oklahoma off his list of possibilities last year but has since admitted that was a mistake.

He originally planned to commit in October. However, after visiting Norman last week, he announced his top three and set his commitment date.

The final three are the Tennessee, Texas and, of course, Oklahoma. As for his commitment date, Okoye will announce on Sept. 20, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Since his visit, the Sooners have taken a big lead for Okoye, but after a dominating win over the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Longhorns may have piqued his interest. He tweeted, “May or may not have made an adjustment after last night,” with two crying emojis at the end of it.

Now, how seriously do you take that? I’m not sure. Recruits like to throw people off on where they are committing. Okoye is set to visit the Longhorns on the 16th, but that visit has been in jeopardy, so we’ll see if it actually takes place.
For now, the Sooners staff continues to push for his commitment.

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Four-star DL Nigel Smith II chooses Oklahoma Sooners over Texas, Texas A&M

Oklahoma is the choice for four-star defensive lineman Nigel Smith II. Smith commits to the Sooners over Texas, Texas A&M, and Penn State.

Oklahoma landed another defensive lineman from the state of Texas, earning a commitment from consensus four-star defensive lineman Nigel Smith II. Smith represents its fourth defensive line commitment of the 2024 cycle. He picked Oklahoma over Texas, Texas A&M and Penn State.

Smith has been in Oklahoma’s sights since the summer of 2022. The Sooners made an early significant impression on the talented defender. Since their offer, the Sooners continued building a rapport with Smith and making him a priority in this recruiting cycle.

Smith’s decision came at the opening of his Melissa High School’s new stadium. The talented prospect shut his recruitment down nearly a month ago. Since then, Oklahoma has remained the overwhelming favorite to land his commitment.

Smith was once considered a five-star prospect. He has the requisite size and weight and versatility to star in Brent Venables’ defense, which employs both three and four-man defensive fronts. His power jumps off the tape, but he’s fleet-footed enough that he can win with his lateral agility as well.

https://x.com/hayesfawcett3/status/1700305169018212422?s=46

This is a massive recruiting win for Oklahoma, and one it could not afford to lose. The Sooners have multiple defensive linemen who will have no eligibility or will graduate following this season. Hence, Smith’s pledge to the Sooners is even more critical. There’s a chance he could earn a role as a freshman out of pure necessity.

That’s another conversation for another day.

However, as Oklahoma continues to try and transform this roster into one capable of winning in the SEC, securing the pledge of a 6-foot-5, 260-pound defender is a big step in the right direction.

Adding Smith to the Sooners’ class vaults them inside the top 10. It is ranked eighth, according to the 247Sports team recruiting rankings. The Sooners are less than a point behind Tennesseee for the seventh-ranked class in the nation.

Smith becomes the fifth highest-ranked prospect in this Oklahoma recruiting class at No. 83 on 247Sports’ composite and No. 115 on 247Sports’ rankings.

Oklahoma isn’t done adding across its defensive front, though. It is the trending choice for one of the Sooner State’s best, four-star edge Danny Okoye.

Oklahoma also may not be done at Melissa High School. One of Smith’s teammates is also being recruited by the Sooners: Owen Hollenbeck. Hollenbeck is a 2025 interior offensive line prospect who was at Oklahoma on an unofficial last week for their first game of the year. He’s a name to watch over the next few months as well.

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Oklahoma Sooners receive multiple predictions for 4-star in-state product

Just a few months ago Oklahoma seemed to be out of the Danny Okoye sweepstakes, no they are the perceived leader.

Saturday was a good day for the [autotag]Oklahoma Sooners[/autotag] football program. Not only did it open the season with the largest margin of victory for a season opener in more than 100 years, but it also was a recruiting weekend.

One prospect on campus was in-state four-star edge [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag]. Okoye is a top 100 prospect according to On3 and is listed at 6 feet, 4 inches and 241 pounds.

In his two seasons of high school football, Okoye tallied 121 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. He was seemingly out on Oklahoma just a few months ago, and the Tennessee Volunteers were the perceived leader.

Then [autotag]Miguel Chavis[/autotag] went to work. Chavis slowly started to build a strong relationship with Okoye and ultimately persuaded him to visit campus for an official visit.

Since that visit, predictions have flooded in for the Sooners. Whether it’s national recruiting analysts Sam Spiegelman of On3 Sports, Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports and Cole Patterson of Rivals, or local recruiting experts such as Josh McCuistion of SoonerScoop.

This would be a huge get for Oklahoma. Okoye has impressive speed off the edge and would be an elite pass rusher for the Sooners. He would add to the already impressive defensive line class the Sooners are putting together.

Okoye said he plans to commit in October but said on social media, he might not wait that long. That would bode well for the Sooners.

As of right now, he has official visits to the LSU Tigers on Sept. 22, 2023, and Tennessee on Sept. 30, 2023. There has been some buzz those visits could be in jeopardy with him possibly committing before those take place.

What once seemed like a long shot is now looking like a real possibility. This is another reason you never count this staff out until the pen hits paper.

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Oklahoma set to host a number of prospects for season opener vs. Arkansas State

The Oklahoma Sooners are hosting a number of prospects over the next few recruiting cycles for their season opener. Who’s will be in attendance?

Oklahoma’s first game of the season comes against Arkansas State in what could be a blistering day in Norman, Oklahoma. Aside from the pageantry of the first game and the excitement it’ll generate, the Sooners will also be playing host to a number future Sooners and other OU targets.

With the summer dead period officially over, athletes can revisit schools. Oklahoma has already established a nice little list of visitors of both the official and unofficial variety.

We’ve taken the liberty of compiling a list of all the visitors we know now.

Can the Oklahoma Sooners land another top five class in 2024?

The Sooners’ staff are working to get another top five class under their belt but can it be done?

[autotag]Oklahoma Sooners[/autotag] fans woke up Sunday morning with big smiles on their faces. The team closed on a five-star defensive lineman.

Now, people forget the staff signed Adeboju Adebawore last year, but if you ask Sooner fans, you’d think they can’t land anyone, and the coaches aren’t doing a good job.

People only remember the misses such as [autotag]David Hicks[/autotag] and [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag] (TBD). They forget the Sooners wouldn’t even be in those battles if it wasn’t for [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag], [autotag]Miguel Chavis[/autotag], and, of course, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag].

On Saturday night, they received the great news that five-star [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], the No. 6 player in the nation, is coming back home.

With the commitment of Stone, the Sooners vaulted to No. 10 in Rivals‘ team rankings, No. 13 in 247Sports‘ rankings and No. 14 in On3‘s team rankings. Can the Sooners land another top-five class two years in a row?

The answer isn’t one people will be satisfied with, but it is possible. A lot of things would have to go their way. Some notable commitments Sooner fans are waiting for are [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag], [autotag]Nigel Smith II[/autotag], [autotag]Brayden Platt[/autotag], [autotag]Grant Brix[/autotag] and [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag].

Oklahoma is a finalist for McKinley and Platt, but neither appear heading the Sooners’ way. Now, Oklahoma has shocked people come decision day as recently as Jayden Jackson this summer.

If Oklahoma lands Smith II, Brix and Okoye without any other schools getting commitments, the Sooners would pass the Alabama Crimson Tide for fourth in 247Sports team rankings. That would solidify a top-five class. However, assuming Alabama or other schools in the top 10 don’t add players is unlikely with four months remaining until the early signing period.

The rankings will change throughout the fall. But Oklahoma has to close on those three to give it a chance at a top-five class.

Smith II plans to announce on Sept. 8 and is deciding between Oklahoma and the Texas A&M Aggies.

Brix hasn’t set a date, but it could happen any day. Oklahoma, the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Kansas State Wildcats are the final three.

Okoye hasn’t set a date yet either. Many think Oklahoma has a good chance of landing him. If I had to bet right now, I’d bet Oklahoma lands in that 7-9 range, which is still a really good class.

It’s no secret since coming to Norman, Brent Venables and his staff have shown you can recruit at a high level on both sides of the ball. No matter what a previous coach made you believe.

They now have to work to close a class that will be the first to play their entire career in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

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