Tag: Dasan McCullough

Sooners land top EDGE in the transfer portal in Dasan McCullough

Oklahoma landed the commitment of Dasan McCullough, the nation’s best EDGE transfer in the portal. From @thatmanbryant

The Oklahoma Sooners added talent to their defense on Monday night with the commitment of Dasan McCullough. McCullough transfers in from Indiana, where he played a lot for the Hoosiers as a true freshman.

McCullough is ranked as No. 9 overall and is the No. 1 EDGE in the portal per 247Sports.

McCullough put together a really good freshman season for the Hoosiers in which he was named a Freshman All-American midseason by The Athletic and earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.

McCullough racked up 49 total tackles, four sacks, and 6.5 tackles for loss. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, he has a great frame with length to be a problem on the edge for opposing offensive lines.

Oklahoma was at the front of the line the moment he entered his name into the portal due to the connection cornerbacks coach Jay Valai has with McCullough’s father. Deland, who now coaches Notre Dame’s running backs spent time together with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Here’s what Jacob Rude of the “Locked On Hoosiers” podcast had to say about Dasan McCullough.

He’s a versatile, uber-athletic player. When John Garcia (Sports Illustrateds director of national recruiting) came on to talk about him, he called him a “monster back” which is a phrase I love. In high school, he played safety but I’m not sure he can do that in college. He split time between LB and as an edge rusher this year, mainly the latter. He played a LOT as a true freshman which is both an indictment on how bad IU is and how good he is. I’d say an edge rusher is probably his best fit long-term, but he’s athletic enough that I could see him playing more LB down the road and definitely in passing situations. He can get into the backfield and disrupt plays and pressure the QB. Really a special talent that is going to make an impact right away anywhere. – Rude, Locked On Hoosiers

Josh Pate from the Late Kick show shared his thoughts on Dasan McCullough.

 

The commitment gives the Sooners a high upside, a bonafide playmaker at a position they needed impact players from. To combine McCullough with All Big-12 second team’s Ethan Downs and Reggie Grimes and the lightning-quick R Mason Thomas, the Sooners have upgraded their defensive end room.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

Several Oklahoma targets rank among ESPN’s best transfer portal players

Where did Oklahoma’s transfer targets rank among ESPN’s best in the transfer portal?

Retooling through the transfer portal has become an important part of roster turnover for every football team in America. In large part due to the portal, but also because of graduation and NFL draft losses, it’s become imperative to attack the portal looking for talent.

In Brent Venables first offseason, the Sooners added difference makers Dillon Gabriel, Jeffery Johnson, Jonah La’ulu, and C.J. Coldon. They’ll hope to do it again this offseason with needs at nearly every position group on the depth chart.

The Sooners have been active, extending offers to wide receivers, tight ends, and defensive linemen. It remains to be seen who will be Sooners this spring, but several of their targets appeared on ESPN’s ranking of the top transfer portal players. Let’s take a look at what Tom VanHaaren of ESPN had to say about each Oklahoma target (ESPN+) and where they rank on his list.

5 lingering questions about the Oklahoma Sooners 2023 recruiting class

We are in the stretch run of the 2023 recruiting cycle, and the Oklahoma Sooners are looking to close strong. From @thatmanbryant

We are exactly two weeks away from the first day of the early signing period. Though a only added to the calendar in recent years, it’s provided another element of excitement and intrigue to the recruiting process.

Oklahoma, as it stands, owns the No. 7 ranked class in the nation. They are headlined by consensus five-star QB Jackson Arnold, who has blown everyone away with his senior season. He and his Denton Guyer team look for a state title at Texas’ highest classification.

While Oklahoma sits inside the top 10, there is room to move up, and Brent Venables and Co. are road-tripping across the country to improve the class.

Oklahoma has several high-profile targets in its sights and they’re well within reach. However, recruiting is about closing. It’s never how you start but how you finish.

Here are five lingering questions about the Sooners’ 2023 recruiting class as we sprint to the finish line for this recruiting cycle.

Transfer prospect wish list for Ohio State Football

Who do you think the Buckeyes should target in the portal?

The transfer portal is full-on crazy right now, with over 700 FBS players potentially changing schools and growing. It’s an absurd number and honestly a scary one. In the ideal scenario, each one of these student-athletes would get a chance to play for another school, but unfortunately, that won’t be the case.

Every school has different needs, some of them use the portal as a way to jump-start a program and others use it to fill gaps left by players who have either left early for the NFL or themselves have entered the portal.

For [autotag]Ohio State[/autotag], it’s the ability to round out a roster and fill some gaps. The Buckeyes recruit at such a high level, the needs aren’t paramount, and filling the gaps is all that is needed. Find out below which prospects I’d love to see in the Scarlet and Gray next fall.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Michael Chen on Twitter.

Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Oklahoma projected to land Indiana Hoosiers edge Dasan McCullough via the transfer portal

With the transfer portal officially open, the Oklahoma Sooners look to be the favorites to land Indiana Hoosiers transfer EDGE Dasan McCullough. From @john9williams

On the same day the Oklahoma Sooners received crystal ball projections flipping 2023 four-star safety Daeh McCullough from Cincinnati to Oklahoma, it looks like another McCullough may be joining the Sooners in 2023.

OUInsiders Brandon Drumm and Parker Thune issued crystal ball predictions for Indiana edge rusher [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag] to land with the Oklahoma Sooners through the transfer portal.

Dasan and [autotag]Daeh McCullough[/autotag] are the sons of Notre Dame running backs coach Deland McCullough, who played alongside Sooners cornerbacks coach Jay Valai with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Dasan McCullough was a four-star edge in the 2022 recruiting class, ranking No. 75 in the nation in the 247Sports composite. He was the No. 9 edge in the class and the No. 2 player in the state of Indiana.

As a true freshman season, Dasan played in all 12 games for the Hoosiers and racked up 49 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks, which tied for the team lead. He was second among edge rushers in defensive snaps according to Pro Football Focus and finished third on the team with 19 total pressures. At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, McCullough would bring great size and athleticism to the defensive end room.

With pressure being an issue for the Sooners in 2022, adding a player that was able to make an immediate impact for the Hoosiers pass rush in his first season would be huge for the Oklahoma Sooners.

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Here’s what Jacob Rude of the “Locked On Hoosiers” podcast had to say about Dasan McCullough.

He’s a versatile, uber-athletic player. When John Garcia (Sports Illustrateds director of national recruiting) came on to talk about him, he called him a “monster back” which is a phrase I love. In high school, he played safety but I’m not sure he can do that in college. He split time between LB and as an edge rusher this year, mainly the latter. He played a LOT as a true freshman which is both an indictment on how bad IU is and how good he is. I’d say an edge rusher is probably his best fit long-term, but he’s athletic enough that I could see him playing more LB down the road and definitely in passing situations. He can get into the backfield and disrupt plays and pressure the QB. Really a special talent that is going to make an impact right away anywhere. – Rude, Locked On Hoosiers

Here’s the full episode from six months ago, where Rude and Garcia also discuss Daeh McCullough after his decommitment from the Hoosiers.

After a disappointing season, the Oklahoma Sooners need to significantly improve their pass rush. [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] had a nice close to the season after [autotag]Reggie Grimes[/autotag] started fast but couldn’t keep the momentum. [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag] flashed some and was one of the bright spots from the 2022 recruiting class, but Oklahoma could use some help generating pressure off the edge. If it can land Dasan McCullough, that would go a long way toward helping the pass rush in 2023 and beyond.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

Sooners receive crystal ball flip for 4-star S Daeh McCullough from 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong

The Oklahoma Sooners received a crystal ball from 247Sports Steve Wiltfong and Brandon Drumm to flip 2023 four-star safety Daeh McCullough from Cincinnati. From @john9williams

The Oklahoma Sooners are entering the stretch of the 2023 recruiting class. The early signing period is only a couple of weeks away, and Oklahoma looks to be closing in on top prospects from across the country.

As we eagerly away the decision of five-star safety [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag], the Oklahoma Sooners appear on the verge of flipping another safety. Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports flipped his previous crystal ball for 2023 four-star safety Daeh McCullough from the Cincinnati Bearcats to the Oklahoma Sooners. Since Wiltfong’s crystal ball flip, Brandon Drumm of OUInsider at 247Sports has also flipped his commitment from Cincinnati to the Sooners.

McCullough has been committed to the Bearcats since June, but the Sooners have made a late run on McCullough, issuing an offer in early November. With Luke Fickell making the move to Madison to take over the Wisconsin Badgers, Oklahoma looks to be in a prime position to add McCullough.

The South Bend, Indiana, native, is a top-five player in the state and ranks as the No. 34 safety in the 247Sports composite.

According to Drumm, the McCulloughs have a strong tie with Oklahoma cornerbacks coach Jay Valai. Deland McCullough, a running backs coach that was with Indiana and is now with Notre Dame played with Valai during their time with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Daeh’s older brother Dasan just entered the transfer portal after a strong season with the Indiana Hoosiers. Dasan, a defensive end, posted 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

Could the McCullough brothers unite to play college ball for the Sooners? It looks like they’ll get the younger Daeh if the Steve Wiltfong prediction flip holds true.

On Daeh, the four-star safety brings good size at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. McCullough plays fast, coming downhill in a hurry in run support from single-high safety looks. Playing both ways for St. Joseph’s High School, Daeh shows off good ball skills, attacking the ball in the air and knows what to do with it when he has it in his hands. He times his blitzes well as both a pass rusher and run defender. He’s sticky in man coverage and able to carry players across the formation.

Daeh McCullough’s Recruiting Profile

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Five 2022 recruits that Notre Dame wishes they could have had

Do you have a time machine?

The Irish have had some clear and obvious misses in recruiting and they have shown this fall by some lack of depth at important positions. Here are five recruits that committed elsewhere that Notre Dame wishes they could have had during last seasons cycle.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeFChen

USA TODAY High School Sports recruiting rankings Power 5 spotlight: Big Ten

See the top 10 high school football recruits committed to Big Ten schools.

As recruiting for the high school football class of 2022 picks up, more and more schools are seeing who may be its superstars of the future.

Only two five-star players are committed to Big Ten schools as of Nov. 3, but there are 52 four-star recruits, the second-most of any conference.

Here’s a dive into the top-10 ranked players, according to the USA TODAY High School Sports Composite Player Rankings, The list averages the grades from the three biggest recruiting services: 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals. 

For conferences that do not have 10 players in the top-100, the remainder of the list came from the 247Sports Composite Ranking. That does not apply to the Big Ten, which has 13 top-100 players.

(Note: The recruit’s measurements and position are courtesy of 247Sports.)

Dasan McCullough decommits from Ohio State, flips to Indiana

Four-star 2022 prospect Dasan McCullough decommitted from Ohio State on Sunday, instead joining his father and brothers at Indiana.

They say blood is thicker than water, and we seem to have just got evidence of that when it comes to Ohio State’s recruiting efforts.

The Buckeyes got a commitment from four-star linebacker Dasan McCullough last August, but that changed on Saturday. According to an announcement on McCullough’s Twitter account, he will now be joining his father and two brothers at Indiana. According to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, McCullough is ranked as the No. 6 athlete in the entire class, and No. 50 overall recruit.

McCullough’s father, DeLand, accepted a position as the Hoosiers’ associate head coach and running backs coach in February under head man Tom Allen. He previously worked for Indiana from 2011-2016, so it’s a coming home party in a way.

Since that time, two of McCullough’s brothers have made announcements that they will be joining Indiana. His younger brother Daeh, committed as a member of the 2023 class as a defensive back on April 13, and his older brother DeLand McCullough II, announced a transfer from Miami (Oh) to Indiana on Saturday.

On Sunday, it was Dasan’s turn despite reiterating his commitment to Ohio State on more than one occasion in the face of the mounting questions. But you really can’t blame a kid for going to a school to be a part of a pretty cool family dynamic.

McCullough did release a statement on Twitter thanking Ohio State and looking forward to the future at Indiana with his family.

 

The loss is a big one for the Buckeyes and pushes the class to the No. 3 rated one overall for 2022 behind Georgia and LSU.

Ohio State football 2022 recruiting commitment tracker

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Ohio State 2022 football recruit named player of the year in Kansas

The accolades just keep coming for the 2022 Ohio State recruits. Four-star Dasan McCullough was just named player of the year in Kansas.

You can add another feather in the cap of the 2022 Ohio State football recruiting class. Dasan McCullough has been named the player of the year in the state of Kansas as a high school junior.

While Kansas high school football may not be as revered as in states like Ohio, Texas, California, and Florida, there is still something to be said for being named the best player in your state. I get it… Kansas is known more for its basketball than football, but that doesn’t mean the Sunflower State can’t put out some talent on the gridiron.

McCullough is listed as a four-star athlete, but will most likely play at the linebacker position for the Buckeyes. He finished this past season with 75 tackles, four interceptions, and four forced fumbles while leading Blue Valley North high school to the 6A state championship with a runner-up finish.

McCullough already comes in at 6-foot, 5-inches, and 220-pounds as a junior in high school and has room to grow. He’s ranked as the No. 6 best athlete in the country and No. 54 player overall according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is the son of Kansas City Chiefs running backs coach, Deland McCullough.

Fab Four: Selecting Ohio State football’s Mount Rushmore of all-time recruits

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