In the midst of an incredible run on the recruiting trail in the 2023 cycle, it’s easy to see Brent Venables’ philosophy is paying off for the Okahoma Sooners.
If you haven’t seen it by now, the Oklahoma Sooners are red hot on the recruiting trail. It’s a far cry from the grave the national media and rival fans wanted to bury OU in during May.
Before June 1, the Sooners had four players committed to their 2023 recruiting class: [autotag]Joshua Bates[/autotag], [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], [autotag]Erik McCarty[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaleb Spencer[/autotag]. On the surface, and according to some, the Sooners were struggling to recruit. Appearances can be deceiving.
The reality was that [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and his coaching staff were playing the long game. Preaching patience to players who were interested in committing to Oklahoma and encouraging those prospects to finish their recruiting process before making a commitment.
The main message is, “know that you know that you know that you know.” Venables doesn’t want players making a commitment and then continuing to shop around. That’s what changed with [autotag]Ashton Cozart[/autotag] and that’s something [autotag]Lincoln Riley[/autotag] is dealing with now as [autotag]Malachi Nelson[/autotag], [autotag]Makai Lemon[/autotag] and [autotag]Zachariah Branch[/autotag] (their top three 2023 commits) are visiting [autotag]Texas A&M[/autotag] this weekend after being committed to the Trojans for some time. Nelson and Lemon have been committed since Riley left for USC in November.
If a player that’s committed to a school is going on visits to another, they’re not committed. Committed individuals don’t look elsewhere. In their career, in their marriage, in their relationships or in college football.
For years, the idea of a commitment has been softened in college football. By coaches and by players. Coaches will be committed to a player and a program one day and find a better opportunity the next. A player considered a “hard commit” by a recruiting service can flip at a moment’s notice. Throw in the new world order of name, image and likeness, and nothing seems certain until a player is signed.
That’s why Venables is so passionate about his philosophy. He wants players to take their visits. He wants them to explore all of their options before they commit. He wants the players that commit to the University of Oklahoma to understand the true meaning of the word. Because when a player commits, Oklahoma is committing in turn.
Venables, his coaching staff, and the program are throwing the full weight of the University of Oklahoma’s resources behind the prospect’s development both as a person and as a player. And all they’re asking for is the same commitment in return.
A player that commits to the University of Oklahoma has had a chance to go through their process, explore all of their options, and have time to consider them. They aren’t making an emotional decision based on their visit. They’re making an informed one — that will impact their college and professional careers.
And it’s a process that’s paying off for the Oklahoma Sooners. The 18 players (and counting) that have committed to the Sooners are all in. They’ve seen what’s out there, taken their visits and decided Oklahoma was the best place for them. It makes it more likely a player will stick and sign with the Sooners.
The process hasn’t hindered OU one bit. Their 18 commits (and counting) have Oklahoma up to No. 6 in the team recruiting rankings with a chance to climb even higher with several blue-chip prospects still to decide.
Oklahoma has added 14 players since June 1 and nine players since July 1, including eight four-stars since June 15.
In the last six days, the Sooners have received commitments from four-star prospects [autotag]Jasiah Wagoner[/autotag] and [autotag]Derrick LeBlanc[/autotag].
The Sooners’ patience on the recruiting trail is putting them in a position to have one of the best classes the school has seen in the modern era of recruiting.
And to echo the sentiment from several 2023 commits, they aren’t done yet.
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