Tag: Kaden Helms

Several Oklahoma Sooners featured in ESPN’s 50 greatest true freshmen of all-time

Several Oklahoma Sooners were featured inside ESPN’s top 50 Oklahoma Sooners of all time.

On a roster that endured as much turnover as the Oklahoma Sooners did this offseason, one would think there’d be a clearer path to a starting role for a true freshman. With fall camp getting underway, there are certainly freshmen who could emerge and find a role as a rotational player, or even starter, but they’d have to overcome some talented veterans to take on a feature role.

At running back, many believe Jovantae Barnes or Gavin Sawchuk could take over at running back, but with the glowing remarks about Eric Gray from offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, that seems unlikely. At least through the first few weeks of the season. Additionally, Marcus Major and Bentavious Thompson provide a hill the true freshmen have to climb.

Gentry Williams could factor in at safety, and Kaden Helms or Jason Llewellyn could be featured in the passing game, but there isn’t a clearly defined role for them as fall camp gets underway.

Looking back, the Oklahoma Sooners have had some true freshmen emerge to have fantastic seasons for the Sooners. In recent history, CeeDee Lamb comes to mind. Lamb caught 46 passes for 807 yards and seven touchdowns in his true freshman season in 2017.

Ahead of the 2022 college football season, ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranked the top 50 true freshmen of all time (ESPN+), and several Oklahoma Sooners were included on the list.

Oklahoma Sooners offer 2024 four-star TE Michael Smith

The Oklahoma Sooners offer one of the top tight ends in the country, four-star prospect out of Georgia, Michael Smith.

The Oklahoma Sooners are on the recruiting trail on the verge of creating a top 10 class for the 2023 cycle. They’re also making strong pushes in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

In the last week, the Sooners have targeted Elijah Rushing, Tyler Singleton, Josiah Brown and Lewis Carter in an effort to continue to build on the recent recruiting success they’ve had in the 2023 class.

Though the other offers this week have gone to defensive players, the most recent went to one of the best tight ends in the class, Michael Smith. Smith is a four-star prospect out of Savannah, Georgia, and ranks as one of the top 10 tight end prospects in the country. He is a consensus top-200 prospect in the 2024 class.

After Oklahoma landed two four-star tight ends in the 2022 class, Kaden Helms and Jason Llewellyn, the Sooners and Joe Jon Finley look to build on that depth in the 2024 class with Smith.

Michael Smith’s Recruiting Profile

Film

Hudl

Sooners have talented pass catchers, but tight end Brayden Willis is a star in the making

With Jeremiah Hall and Austin Stogner in new locales, Oklahoma’s Brayden Willis looks like a player ready to breakout in 2022.

In recent years, the Oklahoma Sooners have had some talented weapons at the tight end and H-back positions. [autotag]Mark Andrews[/autotag], [autotag]Grant Calcaterra[/autotag], [autotag]Jeremiah Hall[/autotag], and [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag] were integral parts of the Oklahoma Sooners offense. Last season, the Sooners boasted three players at TE/H-back that we’re key contributors.

In addition to Hall and Stogner, tight end [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag] played an important role. His blocking early in the season had him amongst the best at the position for several weeks according to Pro Football Focus. Though not used that much as a receiver, Willis made plays when called upon, and in 2022, he’ll be called upon even more.

Jeremiah Hall’s off to the New York Giants and Austin Stogner joined his buddy Spencer Rattler with the South Carolina Gamecocks, leaving Willis with a huge opportunity to have a breakout season in 2022.

The Sooners added Daniel Parker Jr. in the transfer portal and talented freshmen Jason  Llewelyn and Kaden Helms in the 2022 recruiting class, but Willis looks like the presumptive starter and the player that will see the biggest jump in production.

Though he only had 15 receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns, it’s plays like this one against Oklahoma State that reveal the potential for a promising season for the senior tight end.

 

And this one:

As the tight end position has evolved, players like Willis have become a rarity in college football. A player who is equally adept as a blocker and pass catcher. Even in limited opportunities, Willis has shown he can perform every aspect of the position at a high level. And with Marvin Mims and Theo Wease garnering attention on the outside, there will be room to operate in the middle of the field for Brayden Willis.

2022 is the year we see Brayden Willis take the next step and become a weapon for the Oklahoma Sooners.

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Sooners land 3-star athlete Kade McIntyre out of the state of Nebraska

The Oklahoma Sooners landed their sixth commitment for the 2023 class when Kade McIntyre committed Monday afternoon.

The 2023 Oklahoma recruiting class just got a little bigger as three-star athlete Kade McIntyre from the state of Nebraska committed to the Oklahoma Sooners over the likes of Iowa, Kansas State, Minnesota, and Nebraska. McIntyre’s pledge gives the Sooners their sixth commitment for the class of 2023.

At six-foot-four, McIntyre has the size to play at multiple spots on the field. There’s no set plan as to what he may play on campus but considering he tagged Joe Jon Finley and Ted Roof there may be a real chance he plays tight end or linebacker when he makes his way to campus. McIntyre plays both positions for his high school squad. McIntyre joins Kaden Helms as the only other Nebraskan to be on the Sooners roster since 1973.

 

He didn’t take long to shut his recruitment down after receiving an offer in May. After receiving an offer that was promptly followed up with a scheduled official visit, McIntyre told 247Sports that he knew Oklahoma was home even though he went on to go and visit Iowa.

“I hung out with Joe Jon Finley and Ted Roof, as well as Coach Lebby,” McIntyre told OUInsider’s Parker Thune. “I talked to Venables, and player-wise, my host was Danny Stutsman. But I [still] went to Iowa [on a June 10 official visit], and the people there were fantastic. They were amazing. And I was just like, ‘You know, if there’s something this great and I still feel like OU is the place I want to be, I just know it is.’ So that’s why I made a decision; it just felt like home.”

The Sooners currently sit at No.32 nationally on 247Sports but with the remainder of the summer ahead and major commitments to be announced plus the rest of the fall the Oklahoma Sooners have plenty of time to meticulously work themselves back into a top 10 class.

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2022 Spring Preview: What does tight end look like for the Oklahoma Sooners?

What does the tight end position look like for Oklahoma entering the spring?

Oklahoma received steady if not spectacular play from its tight ends a season ago. Jeremiah Hall, who entered the 2022 NFL draft, finished last season as OU’s leading tight end with 32 receptions for 334 yards and four touchdowns. His receptions total and receiving touchdowns were tied for third-highest for Oklahoma and his receiving yardage ranked fifth on the team.

Where does Hall’s departure leave Oklahoma entering the 2022 spring season, and what does the tight end position group look like moving forward? We’ve broken down the wide receivers and the quarterbacks heading into spring ball, now let’s take a look at Oklahoma’s tight ends.

5 newcomers to watch for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2022

As the Oklahoma Sooners inch closer to spring ball, here are five newcomers to keep an eye on for 2022.

Roster turnover hits every team in college football. The ones that stay consistently good are the ones that can build depth through their recruiting classes and, in recent years, the transfer portal. That’s how the Oklahoma Sooners have maintained their high level of success over the last 20 years.

The Oklahoma Sooners have had the fourth-highest winning percentage in college football in the last decade. That’s due, in large part, to their ability to recruit and develop players. They’ve also become quite adept at utilizing the transfer portal to fill significant short-term needs while waiting for their younger guys to develop.

Heading into the spring, the Sooners have added several key players in both their recruiting classes and in the transfer portal that should have significant impacts in 2022. Let’s look at five newcomers to watch for the Oklahoma Sooners this year.

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Oklahoma Sooners offer 2023 four-star tight end Riley Williams

Oklahoma offered class of 2023 four-star tight end Riley Williams. Here’s more on Williams.

Oklahoma and tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley extended an offer to class of 2023 four-star tight end Riley Williams from Central Catholic High School in Portland, Ore.

The 6-foot-6, 230 pound tight end also holds offers from the usual west coast suspects like Arizona State, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, USC, Utah, Washington and Washington State. Williams has also drawn interest and offers from Florida State, Georgia Tech, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Tennessee.

According to On3, Williams is the No. 32 player nationally in the 2023 class, the No. 2 tight end and the top player from the state of Oregon. 247Sports ranks Williams as the 69th-best prospect nationally, the No. 3 tight end and the top player from Oregon.

ESPN rates Williams as the No. 100 recruit overall, the No. 4 tight end and the top player from Oregon. Rivals lists Williams as the No. 10 tight end and the 211th player nationally.

In the On3 consensus rankings, Williams is the No. 85 player nationally and the No. 7 tight end. Meanwhile, in the 247Sports composite rankings, Williams rates as the No. 109 player overall and the No. 6 tight end.

Riley Williams’ Recruiting Profile

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
ESPN 4 100 1 4
Rivals 4 211 N/A 10
247Sports 4 69 1 3
247 Composite 4 109 1 6
On3 Recruiting 4 32 1 2
On3 Composite 4 85 1 7

Vitals

Hometown Portland, Ore.
Projected Position TE
Height 6-6
Weight 230

Recruitment

  • Offered on Feb. 14

Film

Here’s a look at Williams’ Hudl tape.

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.

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Oklahoma football’s official recruiting class after national signing day 2022

A look at the 2022 recruiting class and where each player ranks with the four major recruiting services after national signing day.

The Oklahoma Sooners put together one of the eight best recruiting classes in the country through national signing day. The declarations of the Sooners’ demise was greatly exaggerated as Brent Venables and his staff has breathed new life into a program that had struggled to maintain its top spot in the Big 12 over the last couple of years. That ultimately led to missing the Big 12 title game altogether in 2021.

Unlike other major college programs that experienced a coaching change, the Sooners were able to create positive momentum heading into the spring despite the coaching change.

The Sooners are the only team in the top 10 without a five-star recruit. While it would be nice to land Josh Conerly or Lebbeus Overton in the 2022 cycle, the teams high ranking in the cycle reveals just how good their four and three-star players are.

The Sooners have several incoming freshman that could come in and earn an opportunity right out of the gate. A top eight class is nothing to sneeze at and it speaks to the tremendous talent of the players and the work done by the coaching staff to get the guys on board.

As we continue our look at national signing day, here are where the Sooners 21 incoming freshman rank across the four major recruiting services; 247Sports, On3, Rivals, and ESPN.

Oklahoma offers 2022 TE John Locke ahead of national signing day

Oklahoma offered Louisiana Tech commit and class of 2022 tight end John Locke just ahead of next week’s national signing day.

Oklahoma’s tight end room is already set to look radically different heading into the 2022 season. Jeremiah Hall elected to enter the 2022 NFL Draft and Austin Stogner jumped into the NCAA’s transfer portal and wound up with ex-OU quarterback Spencer Rattler at South Carolina.

The Sooners added Missouri transfer Daniel Parker Jr. and Oklahoma has already signed a pair of tight ends in the 2022 class in Bellevue West High School’s Kaden Helms and Aledo High School’s Jason Llewellyn.

OU also returns tight end Brayden Willis who has 36 receptions for 484 receiving yards and six touchdown grabs over the course of his career.

Oklahoma might not be done adding either. OU just offered class of 2022 tight end John Locke out of O’Connor High School in Helotes, Texas.

Locke is currently a Louisiana Tech commit. He was offered by Louisiana Tech on Dec. 23 and committed to the Bulldogs last week on Jan. 22.

In addition to Louisiana Tech, OU joins an offers list for Locke that includes Air Force, Colorado State, Dartmouth, Harvard and Yale.

ESPN has Locke ranked the highest, where he’s listed as the country’s No. 40 tight end and the No. 226 player from the state of Texas in the 2022 class. On3 rates Locke as the No. 89 tight end and the No. 225 player from the state of Texas. According to 247Sports, Locke is a three-star prospect, the nation’s No. 127 tight end and the No. 259 player from the state of Texas.

John Locke’s Recruiting Profile

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
ESPN 3 N/A 226 40
Rivals 2 N/A N/A N/A
247Sports 3 N/A 259 127
247 Composite 3 1924 257 112
On3 Recruiting 3 N/A 225 89
On3 Composite 3 1893 272 119

Vitals

Hometown Helotes, Texas
Projected Position TE
Height 6-4
Weight 215

Recruitment

  • Offered on Jan. 29

Offers

  • Oklahoma
  • Louisiana Tech
  • Air Force
  • Colorado State
  • Dartmouth
  • Harvard
  • Yale

Film

Here’s a peek into Locke’s Hudl tape.

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.

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Sooners welcome a chunk of their 2022 recruiting class as early enrollees flock to Norman

Oklahoma welcomes mid-year enrollees and early enrollees to campus this Saturday as a new wave of Sooners hits Norman.

While the Sooners have closed the book on the 2021 season, a new series is being written about the latest story in Oklahoma football’s history. The 2022 season will be Brent Venables’ first as head coach of the Sooners and this winter marks his first opportunity to welcome recruits into the program that he takes over.

While there is still much to do as the Sooners look to complete their 2022 recruiting class and add talent through the transfer portal, the Sooners welcomed some of their 2022 class to campus. Early enrollees from across the country flocked to Norman to get settled before they start their first semester as Sooners.

Brent Venables and the coaching staff were present helping the guys move in and making his presence felt amongst the newest members of his program.

With Sooners moving into their dorms, which members of the 2022 recruiting class enrolled early for the Sooners? We’ve got you covered with a list of them below. These guys will start class on Tuesday.

That’s virtually half of Oklahoma’s 2022 class enrolling early and getting a head start on strength and conditioning, college life, their playbooks, and what it means to be an Oklahoma student-athlete.

The Sooners also currently have incoming transfers like quarterback Dillon Gabriel, offensive guard McKade Mettauer, tight end Daniel Parker already enrolled and ready to rumble. Defensive linemen Jonah Laulu is also in town moving in and will be a full go for the Winter and Spring stuff as well.

Exciting times as exciting new Sooners join the squad from across the country to start their journeys wearing the Crimson and Cream.

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