Tag: Kaden Helms

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.

[listicle id=35808]

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.

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.

[listicle id=52729]

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.

[listicle id=35808]

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.

[listicle id=50598]

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.

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

[listicle id=50598]

USC transfer target TE Michael Trigg shares video alongside QB Jaxson Dart from Oklahoma visit

Tight end Michael Trigg and quarterback Jaxson Dart, a pair of USC transfer targets, were in Norman yesterday for a visit.

Oklahoma hosted USC transfer targets tight end Michael Trigg and quarterback Jaxson Dart on Friday. The duo is reportedly set to visit Ole Miss over the weekend and make a final decision on what’s next for their respective futures.

Trigg excited the OU fan base on Saturday morning when he shared video of himself alongside Dart donning the crimson and cream during the visit.

Dart is the No. 3 player available in 247Sports’ transfer portal player rankings. Trigg isn’t listed in 247Sports’ transfer portal player rankings, but both were consensus four-star prospects coming out of high school.

Dart was the nation’s No. 45 player and No. 7 quarterback in the On3 consensus rankings for the 2021 recruiting class. 247Sports‘ composite placed Dart as the No. 69 player overall and No. 10 quarterback in the 2021 class.

Meanwhile, Trigg was ranked as the country’s fourth-best tight end and No. 154 player nationally by the On3 consensus. 247Sports‘ composite also rated Trigg as the nation’s No. 4 tight end in the 2021 class, but he was ranked a little higher overall as the No. 130 player nationally.

Dart saw action in six games for USC this past season. As a true freshman, the Kaysville, Utah, native completed 117-of-189 passes for 1,353 passing yards with nine passing touchdowns against five interceptions. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound quarterback also started each of the Trojans’ final three games of 2021.

Trigg caught seven passes for 109 yards with USC. His best games of the 2021 season came against Oregon State and Colorado. Against the Beavers, Trigg hauled in three grabs for 44 yards.

Then, against the Buffaloes, Trigg showcased his potential with a 46-yard touchdown reception.

If the Sooners win this recruiting battle, Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby would be adding a highly sought-after quarterback, Dart, to battle UCF transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

OU would also bolster a tight end group that saw the return of Brayden Willis, added Missouri transfer Daniel Parker Jr. and signed Kaden Helms and Jason Llewellyn in its 2022 class.

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

[listicle id=52729]

Oklahoma Sooners 2022 Recruiting Class Commitment Tracker

As early signing day approaches, where does the Oklahoma Sooners 2022 recruiting class stand?

It’s been a wild couple of weeks for the Oklahoma Sooners on the recruiting trail. What once had the makings of a top-five recruiting class dipped down to 27 a week ago in the 247Sports Team Composite Rankings. Now, on the eve of the early signing period, the Oklahoma Sooners have climbed back into the top 10 and could climb higher over the next couple of months with National Signing Day a couple of months away.

The Sooners have seen their fair share of de-commitments along the way, as one would expect with a coaching change. But that hasn’t stopped Brent Venables and his staff from making a statement in the 2022 recruiting cycle. The Sooners have had several players affirm their commitments over social media.

With early signing day set to kick off, here’s a list of the current commitments according to 247Sports. We’ll update the tracker as it evolves, but here’s Oklahoma’s 2022 recruiting class thus far.

Kaden Helms, Jason Llewellyn still all-in on commitments to Oklahoma

Three-star tight ends Kaden Helms and Jason Llewellyn both confirmed they are sticking with their commitments to Oklahoma.

Kaden Helms and Jason Llewellyn gave Oklahoma fans good news to start the week. After the hiring of new head coach Brent Venables had Sooner Nation feeling the warm and fuzzies, Helms and Llewellyn shared that they are sticking with their commitments to Oklahoma’s 2022 recruiting class.

Helms, a product of Bellevue West High School in Nebraska, had some fun with his announcement, too.

Helms is rated as a three-star tight end according to the 247Sports composite rankings. The 6-foot-5 tight end actually checks in as a four-star in 247Sports’ own rankings and the site has him as the nation’s No. 16 tight end.

Llewellyn out of Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas, ranks as the nation’s No. 18 tight end according the 247Sports composite rankings.

It helps with Helms and Llewellyn’s recruitments that tight ends and H-Backs coach Joe Jon Finley looks like he’s one of the assistant coaches being retained.

In his introductory press conference, Venables discussed how he plans to sell recruits on sticking with OU.

“Well, I have a career of almost 30 years of being loyal. Just look at my career. If I’ve been something, I’ve been loyal. And so, I haven’t been a coach that’s jumped all over. Taken this job to take this job to take this job. I think that that speaks for itself. Again, it’s not an easy thing to sell, but I do think that they chose Oklahoma for a reason and we always challenge recruits to take the recruiting coach out of it. And just what a wonderful place it is to chase your dreams, to get a great, quality education, to develop holistically. It’s much more than just one person. I recognize that being the head coach has a very important place in all of that. But, again if they’re looking for…again, for me for example, if they’re looking for a program with stability, a program of success. This is a program first of all that’s displayed that on its own and then my career has been exactly that as well. On the biggest stages in the biggest games and have that kind of experience to sell,” Venables said.

Venables was asked if he planned on retaining any of the coaches on the current staff.

“Obviously, you prepare yourself for a long time way before. Every battle is won before it’s fought. That’s the same kind of mindset when it comes to staffing. We’re working through that right now. The same with our current staff. There’s some terrific options right here at home and we’re looking at everything. Obviously, we want to do it sooner rather than later and we’re working aggressively on both fronts,” Venables said.

Venables also said it’s his intention to hire a defensive coordinator. OU has already seen outside linebackers and defensive ends coach Jamar Cain announce his intentions to join the USC staff and it’s fair to expect other changes to be on the way.

Those staffing changes will have a direct impact on Oklahoma’s 2022 recruiting class between now and when the upcoming Early Signing Period begins on Dec. 15.

In the meantime, here’s a comprehensive list of recruits that have announced their intentions to remain with the Sooners.

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

[vertical-gallery id=49575]