Tag: Derrick LeBlanc

Social Media reacts to the commitment of 4-star DL Derrick LeBlanc to the Oklahoma Sooners

The Oklahoma Sooners continued their incredible run of success in July with the commitment of 4-star DL Derrick LeBlanc and social media responded accordingly.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any better in the month of July for the Oklahoma Sooners, they found another way to top it, gaining a commitment from four-star defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc.

LeBlanc, a top 100 prospect out of Florida, chose the Sooners over the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Florida Gators to be with Todd Bates and Brent Venables. While at Clemson, Venables and Bates were recruiting LeBlanc heavily and were considered the favorites to land the 6-foot-4 defensive lineman.

Adding another four-star commitment just a few days after Jasiah Wagoner’s pledge to OU pushed the Sooners to No. 6 in the 247Sports composite team rankings. And the crazy thing is they’re not done yet.

The Sooners are still the heavy favorites for four-star defensive backs, Makari Vickers and Jacobe Johnson. They have several more defensive line prospects they could add, including five-star DL David Hicks.

The 2023 recruiting class has a chance to be one of the highest-rated groups ever for Oklahoma.

Enjoying the good times from an incredible month, here are some of the best social media reactions to the commitment of Derrick LeBlanc.

4-star defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc commits to Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Sooners continue to solidify their 2023 recruiting class with commitment from four-star defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc.

It would appear Brent Venables’ recruiting strategy is paying off quite nicely for the Oklahoma Sooners. In May and June when those outside Norman were wondering about the Sooners mid-40s rank in team recruiting, Venables and his staff were making chess moves to put together one of the top classes in the country.

Days after landing four-star cornerback Jasiah Wagoner, the Sooners landed another commitment for the defensive side of the ball: four-star defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc.

LeBlanc is the No. 64 player in the 247Sports Top247 rankings and No. 31 according to ESPN.

LeBlanc shared with Hayes Fawcett of On3 why he chose the Oklahoma Sooners and much more.

“I was going to commit to coach Venables since they were at Clemson,” LeBlanc said to On3 Sports. “Everything about them felt like home, and it just was where I belong. Honestly the developmental aspect and relationship we had was second to none.”

Venables and Todd Bates’ success at Clemson has paid huge dividends for the Sooners in their eight months in Norman. LeBlanc’s commitment further solidifies the Sooners are trending toward a top-10 class in the 2023 cycle.

LeBlanc marks the 18th commitment to the Sooners’ 2023 recruiting class and the ninth commitment in the month of July. He joins Adepoju Adebawore along the defensive line for the 2023 class, and the Sooners have grand plans to add more to that group.

LeBlanc represents the first commitment for the 2023 class for Bates and provides an athletic, versatile lineman for Venables’ defense to work with.

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Sooners receive Crystal Ball prediction for 4-star DL Derrick LeBlanc with commitment coming this week

With his commitment scheduled for this week, the Sooners received another crystal ball prediction for 2023 4-star DL Derrick LeBlanc.

The month of July might need to be renamed after Brent Venables after all the recruiting success the Sooners have had since the calendar turned. Oklahoma added another commitment on Monday in four-star cornerback Jasiah Wagoner, a top five player out of the state of Washington. Wagoner is the eighth commitment in the month of July and the 13th commitment since June 1.

Earlier in the day, before Wagoner committed, there was more positive news for the Sooners as Steve Wiltfong, National Recruiting Director for 247Sports issued a crystal ball prediction favoring the Sooners in the recruitment of Derrick LeBlanc.

LeBlanc, a four-star defensive lineman out of Florida, intends to make his decision on July 28. His final three include Oklahoma, Florida, and Penn State, and it looks like the Sooners have the inside track to add the top 100 prospect in the 2023 recruiting cycle.

Here’s what 247Sports Cooper Petagna had to say about LeBlanc:

Versatile defensive line prospect that can play in multiple defensive fronts with excellent length and physical traits. Needs to continue to develop as a pass-rusher and refine his technique at the point of attack but has the natural ability to develop into a potential all-conference prospect at the next level. Will need two years to develop before playing into his ceiling at the next level. – Petagna, 247Sports

Derrick LeBlanc’s Recruiting Profile

Projections

  • On3 recruiting prediction machine gives Florida a 93.1% chance of landing LeBlanc projection
  • Crystal Ball predictions from 247Sports have Derrick LeBlanc heading to the Sooners.

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Four-star cornerback Jasiah Wagoner commits to the Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooners continued their incredible July adding a commitment from 2023 four-star cornerback Jasiah Wagoner.

The Oklahoma Sooners added another piece to their 2023 recruiting class with a commitment from 2023 four-star cornerback Jasiah Wagoner, a top five player out of the state of Washington.

Jay Valai and the Sooners earned the pledge of Wagoner, beating out Texas, Oregon, and Cal in the process. The Washington native becomes the first cornerback commit in the 2023 recruiting cycle and the first for new cornerbacks coach Jay Valai.

The best word to describe Jasiah Wagoner is “playmaker.” A deadly two-way player for Heir, Wagoner, displays excellent ball skills as a cornerback and great instincts to attack the football in the air. He’s an interception machine, regularly stepping in front of wide receivers to create turnovers, and he knows what to do with the ball in his hands after the interception.

While he’ll be a cornerback for the Sooners, he lined up at running back, wide receiver, and returned punts as well. He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands.

With Jasiah Wagoner’s commitment, Oklahoma can now turn their attention to four-star defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc, who will make his commitment later this week.

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Florida football jumps up in ESPN’s latest recruiting rankings

The Gators broke the top 20 in ESPN’s latest recruiting rankings after landing multiple 4-star recruits.

Following the commitment of four-star quarterback [autotag]Markus Stokes[/autotag] and four-star running back [autotag]Treyaun Webb[/autotag], Florida jumped five spots in ESPN’s 2023 recruiting rankings

Coming in at No. 17, the Gators are quietly building a solid recruiting class in [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s first full cycle as Florida coach. The new head coach’s strategy of keeping talent inside the state seems to be working, with 10 of the Gators’ 12 commitments hailing from the Sunshine State.

Florida’s 2023 class is highlighted by [autotag]Eugene Wilson III[/autotag]. The 5-foot-11-inch, 165-pound athlete is considered to be a top-30 player in the state of Florida according to 247Sports. The Gaither (Tampa, Florida) standout is the latest in a group of players to commit to the program, announcing his commitment on July 8.

The Gators will almost certainly continue to rise in the recruiting rankings. They are in the running to land Cormani McLain, a consensus top-five player in the country (No. 2, On3; No. 3, ESPN & 247Sports). After a visit to Gainesville in April, the Lakeland cornerback said his decision is down to Alabama and Florida.

McLain’s decision, along with [autotag]Derrick LeBlanc[/autotag]’s, [autotag]Will Norman[/autotag]’s and [autotag]Daquayvious Sorey[/autotag]’s, among others, will go a long way towards showing players and fans alike that the future of Florida football is bright.

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Gators get recruiting predictions from 247Sports, On3 for 4-star CB

The Gators got predictions from two major scouting services recently for this 4-star in-state recruiting target.

A pair of predictions have been made on a four-star defensive back from the state of Florida.

Cornerback [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag] out of Kissimmee (Florida) Osceola is slated to announce his commitment on July 28th, along with teammates [autotag]Derrick LeBlanc[/autotag] and [autotag]John Walker[/autotag]. According to On3’s Corey Bender and 247Sports’ Blake Alderman, the Gators are predicted to come out on top for Jackson’s signature.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pound rising senior was offered by the Florida staff earlier this spring and has made multiple visits to Gainesville in the months since, including a trip on June 20 where he had a one-on-one workout with cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag].

Raymond is one of the reasons why Bender and Alderman are predicting that Jackson lands in Gainesville. The proximity to home is also a strong factor, with Gainesville around 110 miles north of Jackson’s hometown.

According to On3, Jackson is considered to be a top 50 player in the state of Florida and is considered a 4-star prospect on both On3 and 247Sports. He is also considering Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Penn State.

Florida lands in top 6 for this in-state 4-star CB

Four-star cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson is moving up his decision date, and he’s narrowed things down to six schools.

Four-star Osceola High (Kissimmee, Florida) cornerback [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag] included the Florida Gators in his top six on Wednesday and moved his commitment up to July 28, the same date as teammate and fellow UF target [autotag]Derrick Leblanc[/autotag] plans to decide.

Jackson’s recruitment had a rocket strapped to it in May when he started to pick up offers from over half the programs in the SEC among several others. He’s narrowed things down to Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Tennessee and Penn State, but is only giving himself around a month to pick among those schools.

He’s new to the defensive side of the ball after playing receiver, but his speed and length project to that of a starting cornerback in a top-25 program, according to 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins.

The Gators have hosted him twice since offering, but both trips were unofficial visits. [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag] is playing a big role in this recruitment, as he often does for the team’s top defensive back targets. Jackson knows Raymond’s track record of developing NFL talent and the two are forming a relationship.

“They’re the hometown team, and my parents are big Gator fans,” Jackson said to On3. “I like Coach Raymond a lot, and I really like their entire staff.”

Landing both Leblanc and Jackson on the same day would be nice for Florida, but all Gator Nation can do is hold its collective breath for now.

Jackson is ranked No. 250 overall on the 247Sports composite and is No. 28 among cornerbacks in the class of 2023. He could continue to rise up the rankings as he plays through his senior year and gets more snaps at the position.

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Oklahoma Sooners receive crystal ball projection for 2023 4-star DL Derrick LeBlanc

After landing in his top three, the Oklahoma Sooners received their first crystal ball projection for 2023 four-star DL Derrick LeBlanc.

The four-star defensive lineman out of Florida has Brent Venables’ name written all over him. Scouts rave about Derrick LeBlanc’s versatility and ability to fit into plenty of defensive schemes.

LeBlanc clocks in at 6-4, 270 pounds before taking a single snap at the college level. Get him in the weight room and on a nutrition plan and he’s going to put on some more size. In a year or two, this kid could be a physical monster.

Before today, each of LeBlanc’s crystal ball projections had him heading to Florida. Well, Phillip Dukes of Auburn Undercover is flipping the trend, sending LeBlanc to the Oklahoma Sooners.

OU co-defensive Coordinator Todd Bates has been spearheading LeBlanc’s recruitment. On June 27, LeBlanc named Florida, Penn State, and Oklahoma as his top three schools and plans to make his decision on July 28.

As for where on the D-line he’ll end up playing, it sounds like they could put him anywhere. At the moment his size screams defensive end, but with Todd Bates leading the recruitment, they may have plans to play him inside after he bulks up.

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2023 4-star EDGE Bai Jobe cuts list of teams to 3, includes the Oklahoma Sooners

As the Oklahoma Sooners look to build some momentum for the 2023 recruiting class, local target Bai Jobe released his top 3 schools.

The Oklahoma Sooners are closing in on several of their targets in the 2023 recruiting class. After landing offensive tackle Heath Ozaeta this week, they landed inside the top two for linebacker Samuel Omosigho and the top three for defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc. Now, local product Bai Jobe has cut his list of teams under consideration to three and has included the Oklahoma Sooners.

Out of Norman, Okla. Bai Jobe is the No. 1 player in the state of Oklahoma and the No. 9 EDGE according to the 247Sports Composite and On3 Consensus.

Jobe’s recruitment is important for Oklahoma. They’re contending with Alabama and Michigan State for the top in-state product. While they’re the hometown team, there’s no guarantee that Oklahoma is the landing spot.

Though he’s a raw player, he’s turned heads across the country. In 2021, he registered 16.5 sacks and 56 tackles.

Here’s what Jobe had to say about Oklahoma to On3’s Sam Spiegelman.

“I like the coaches over there, especially my position coach, Miguel (Chavis). I like him a lot,” Jobe told On3 Sports. “I live like five minutes away from campus, so I know a lot about Oklahoma. I know Oklahoma more than other places. I know about Norman better than other places and I really like the staff and can see myself there. This staff has shown me a lot more than the old staff.”

Jobe was offered by Brent Venables staff back in December and living in Norman has given him an opportunity to know the university and the coaching staff quite well. Miguel Chavis has done a fantastic job on the recruiting trail since earning his first opportunity as a position coach.

It’s hard to tell where this thing will end up as the recruiting projections appear split on Jobe’s landing spot and there’s a chance the Crimson Tide end up with the talented EDGE rusher.

Bai Jobe’s Recruiting Profile

Recruiting Projections

  • 247Sports crystal ball projections believe Jobe is heading to Michigan State while the Rivals Futurecast have him landing with Oklahoma.

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2023 4-star DL Derrick LeBlanc sets commitment date and includes Oklahoma in top 3 schools

The Oklahoma Sooners continue to trend upward on the recruiting front, this time landing inside the top three for 2023 4-star DL Derrick LeBlanc.

It’s been steady as she goes for the Oklahoma Sooners on the recruiting front. While the Texas Longhorns and other schools are landing commitments, the Sooners continue to plug away and will begin to reap the benefit as the summer months move along.

Seemingly, week by week, the Sooners are adding to their 2023 recruiting class, most recently with four-star running back [autotag]Kalib Hicks[/autotag] out of Denton Ryan. The Sooners will be on commitment watch this week as Samuel Omosigho is planning to make his decision on Thursday.

As days go by, we’re beginning to see the fruit of Brent Venables and his coaching staff’s labors. Now, the Sooners land inside the top three for four-star defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc out of Kissimmee, Fla.

Right now, the only crystal ball projections for LeBlanc have him staying home and attending the University of Florida, but never count Brent Venables and Todd Bates out of a recruitment. The Sooners, along with Florida and Penn State make up LeBlanc’s top three heading into the final month of his recruitment.

LeBlanc intends to make his decision on July 28.

Here’s what 247Sports Cooper Petagna had to say about LeBlanc:

Versatile defensive line prospect that can play in multiple defensive fronts with excellent length and physical traits. Needs to continue to develop as a pass-rusher and refine his technique at the point of attack but has the natural ability to develop into a potential all-conference prospect at the next level. Will need two years to develop before playing into his ceiling at the next level. – Petagna, 247Sports

LeBlanc has been thorough with his unofficial visits. He’s visited Norman more than a handful of times while also making time to visit Gainesville nearly 20 times over the last couple of years. With recent visits for the spring game and Brent Venables’ camp, LeBlanc had a great opportunity to see what Oklahoma Football is all about.

This will be a tight recruiting battle between Venables and Florida’s first-year head coach Billy Napier. If the Sooners are able to land a commitment from LeBlanc, it will be a huge win in the battleground state of Florida.

Derrick LeBlanc’s Recruiting Profile

Projections

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