Tag: Logan Howland

Oklahoma to be without starting offensive tackles vs. Maine per Report

Who will start at offensive tackle for the Oklahoma Sooners vs. Maine?

This story was updated to add new information.

The Oklahoma Sooners have been dealing with a number of injuries on offense and the hits keep coming. Already expected to be without Jacob Sexton and Jake Taylor, a pair of former four-star players that have started games at tackle this season, the Sooners will also be without veteran Michael Tarquin against Maine, according to a report from Jesse Crittenden of OUInsider.

That puts the spotlight directly on redshirt freshman Logan Howland and true freshman Isaiah Autry-Dent. But according to OU Radio’s Gabe Ikard, the Sooners will roll with Spencer Brown at right tackle and Howland at left.

Howland got a lot of action at the end of the Sooners loss to Ole Miss, providing some good moment in the running game, but struggled in pass protection. This week against Maine gives him the opportunity to get a lot of snaps and fine tune some things.

Autry-Dent has impressed the Sooners coaching staff as the scout team offensive lineman of the week on a number of occasions. He’s yet to get into a game this season, but with just four games left, he could play a lot and not burn his redshirt for this season.

The Sooners will need their young offensive linemen to step up and produce in this game to keep Jackson Arnold clean and provide some positive momentum in the running game.

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Oklahoma Sooners will turn to young linemen amid injuries

Amid injuries to the offensive line, the Oklahoma Sooners will turn to young offensive tackles over the final four games.

When they look back on the 2024 college football season and tell the story of the Oklahoma Sooners, injuries on the offensive side of the ball will be a major theme. And the Sooners are dealing with more injuries.

Brent Venables revealed during his weekly press conference that starting offensive lineman, Jacob Sexton will be out for the foreseeable future after suffering an injury against Ole Miss. Oklahoma has also been missing Jake Taylor, who’s started a majority of the season at right tackle.

Oklahoma still has Michael Tarquin, who has arguably been the Sooners’ best offensive lineman this season, but OU will need to turn to a pair of younger players to fill in at left tackle against Maine and perhaps beyond. The Sooners will continue to utilize Logan Howland after his appearance at the end of the game on Saturday and they’ll also give true freshman Isaiah Autry-Dent an opportunity over the final four games.

Under new redshirt rules, players can take part in four games and a bowl game without using their redshirt year. The Oklahoma Sooners have four games remaining and so now is the time to see what players like Autry-Dent can do.

Venables said the former three-star prospect has earned scout team lineman of the week several times in 2024. It’ll be Autry-Dent’s first appearance of the season this week, but the Sooners need to find an answer at left tackle if Sexton is going to miss time beyond this week.

The Sooners will face Missouri after Maine and then have a bye. Coming out of the bye, Oklahoma will take on Alabama at home followed by a massive road trip at LSU.

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Oklahoma makes final three for 2025 DT Kole Briehler; set to host official visit June 21

Three-star DT Kole Briehler announced his final three and Oklahoma is set for a battle with Ohio State and Stanford for his commitment.

Oklahoma is rounding the final turn and is gearing up for the home stretch in the race for one of their defensive line targets in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

On Wednesday morning, three-star defensive tackle [autotag]Kole Briehler[/autotag] offered an update about his recruitment process. He posted a graphic on social media highlighting the final three schools in his recruitment process.

Oklahoma, Stanford, and Ohio State remain firmly in the mix, according to Briehler’s post.

Briehler also listed dates for his official visits with each choice as well. Stanford, soon to be an ACC member in 2024, will get the first official visit on June 1. A couple of weeks later, Ohio State will host Briehler. Recently, Briehler visited the Buckeyes. Last but certainly not least, the Sooners will host him on June 21 and have the final official visit before what could be a summer commitment.

Briehler is 6-foot-3 and has incredible strength. Oklahoma offered him back in November, and they have remained a steady candidate since then. Out of the Hun School, the talented defensive line prospect hails from the same program that produced 2023 offensive line signee [autotag]Logan Howland[/autotag].

No one knows how this may go, and no predictions have been submitted yet, but this recruitment will last through the summer. [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] is the primary guy for Oklahoma here, and he has a good track record for securing defensive linemen from the East Coast.

Will he prevail again? We’ll find out.

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After two predictions, Sooners are gaining momentum with four-star DT Kole Briehler

Oklahoma Sooners received two projections to land 2025 defensive tackle Kole Briehler.

Aside from the warmer weather and the fact we inch closer to the Oklahoma spring game, March is a pivotal month in the college football calendar. Players who have been recruited, gone on visits and received offers are inching ever closer to deciding where to play their college ball.

There’s been a flurry of top school lists as most of the upcoming senior class is slowly whittling their recruitment.

We’re also likely to see increased projections and predictions from recruiting insiders as pictures become clearer.

For the Sooners, that’s precisely the case. Oklahoma is looking like the team to beat for Rivals four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Kole Briehler[/autotag] out of New Jersey.

Briehler is a tough football player with plenty of size and a frame that could add more to allow him to be a mainstay in the teeth of the Sooners’ defense.

Briehler has adequate play strength for a high school student, and it shows on his tape already. He has enough size to play defensive tackle in four-man alignments and defensive end in three-man fronts.

Up front in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag], Oklahoma has earned pledges from defensive tackle [autotag]Ka’Mori Moore[/autotag] and [autotag]Alexander Shieldknight[/autotag].

At this point it looks like the Sooners are the trending favorite for the New Jersey defensive tackle from the Hun School, the same school that 2023 offensive lineman [autotag]Logan Howland[/autotag] hails from.

Early Monday morning, Richard Schnyderite and Parker Thune of Rivals dropped in a futurecast for Briehler to land with the Sooners.

No decision is imminent, but Briehler has already visited Norman. He also visited Michigan and has a trip to Ohio State on deck in a few weeks. The Sooners are in a good spot, but this race is far from over.

Kole Briehler’s Recruiting Profile

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ChampU BBQ Visitor List: Who’s coming to Norman this weekend?

A look at who’s coming to town for the ChampU BBQ this weekend.

Oklahoma’s future looks bright. Less than a day ago, they received news of their first slate of SEC opponents when they begin play in their new conference in 2024. It’s a compelling slate and something that gets the competitive energy flowing.

If they plan to make an impact when they get there, the class of 2024 will have a profound hand in that. This class will be the first class that hits the ground and is immediately thrown into the fire that is the SEC. They’ll spend their whole careers being molded by the best football conference in the country. For the Sooners to compete for the top, this 2024 class must be unique.

It’s only fitting that Oklahoma has its premier recruiting event, the ChampU BBQ this weekend, right after the SEC opponents were revealed.

The Sooners can use the SEC to their advantage, selling the appeal of playing in an elite conference to any athlete unafraid of competing against the best in the country.

Last year’s ChampU BBQ had attendees signing with the Sooners and are now on campus with the current roster. Here’s a running count:

  • OT [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag]
  • LB [autotag]Phil Picciotti[/autotag]
  • ATH [autotag]Jacobe Johnson[/autotag]
  • RB [autotag]Daylan Smothers[/autotag]
  • CB [autotag]Makari Vickers[/autotag]
  • WR [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag]
  • OT [autotag]Logan Howland[/autotag]
  • QB [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag]

In short, a nice chunk of OU’s 2023 class came to the event. Arnold was already committed before the BBQ, but having him there helped Oklahoma recruit and, ultimately, the remaining players committed in the months after.

The visitor list for the event is long, with well over 20 official visitors already confirmed.

This weekend in Norman will be jam-packed with an extensive amount of talent. David Stone, a consensus top-10 recruit, is the headliner. He’s a hometown kid who grew up a Sooner fan. A commitment from him would be massive. He’s at the top of the Sooners’ recruiting board and a must-have in this cycle.

[autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] and [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag] are two talented four-star running backs Oklahoma would be delighted to have.

Oklahoma has four 2024 commits in the building this weekend, and aside from them enjoying their officials, they can and will likely be used to recruit some of their uncommitted counterparts. [autotag]K.J. Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Zion Kearney[/autotag], [autotag]Isaiah Autry[/autotag], and [autotag]Jaydan Hardy[/autotag] are the four commits who will enjoy their officials as Oklahoma Sooners.

[autotag]Joseph Jonah-Ajonye[/autotag], [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag], and [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag] join David Stone as highly touted defensive linemen in Norman this weekend. Aside from landing Stone, can Oklahoma at least snag two of the remaining three? This weekend of visits could go a long way in determining that.

This weekend will have ripple effects for the 2024 cycle and help lay the foundation for Oklahoma’s future in the SEC. Last year’s event netted Oklahoma seven commits in the weeks and months after. The Sooners will be thrilled if the same happens this year.

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Oklahoma Sooners to host a number of big names June 8-11

Oklahoma will look to turn up the heat on their 2024 recruiting as they host a number of prospects for official visits this weekend.

Recruiting has hit its zenith as the June has rolled around, and prospects across the 2024 class can take official visits. Oklahoma has a number of prospects expected to visit during the month, and the program’s signature ChampU BBQ is the headline event.

While this weekend’s official visitors will be a week early, June recruiting visits are where teams begin to separate themselves. Oklahoma will aim to start the recruiting month by knocking this first weekend of officials out of the park. Here is who is expected in Norman in this weekend.

  • Four-star OL [autotag]Grant Brix[/autotag]  

  • Four-star OL [autotag]Jason Zandamela[/autotag]

  • Four-star OL [autotag]Eddy Pierre-Louis[/autotag]

  • Four-star OL [autotag]Weston Davis[/autotag]

  • Four-star DB [autotag]Marcelles Williams[/autotag]

  • Five-star DL [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag]
  • Five-Star CB [autotag]Kobe Black[/autotag]
  • Four-star CB [autotag]Eli Bowen[/autotag]

  • Three-star Edge [autotag]Caleb Redd[/autotag]

  • Four-star OL [autotag]Eugene Brooks[/autotag]
  • Four-star WR [autotag]Zion Ragins[/autotag]
  • Four-star QB [autotag]Michael Hawkins[/autotag] (committed)

There’s a great deal of talent coming to Norman this weekend, headlined by five-star prospects Williams Nwaneri and Kobe Black. The Sooners have been the projected leader for Nwaneri, who hails from the Kansas City area, but this is a huge weekend for Brent Venables and his staff to close the deal. Georgia, Oregon, Tennessee and Missouri are serious names to watch.

Black’s recruitment is more contentious at this point, but given the success Jay Valai has had over the last two recruiting cycles, I wouldn’t count out the Sooners.

The Sooners also welcome fellow blue-chip defensive backs Eli Bowen and Marcelles Williams. Oklahoma leads for Bowen based on recruiting projections. The Sooners are hoping to pry Williams from West Coast schools USC and UCLA.

Oklahoma’s also is hosting five offensive linemen over the weekend, which provides them a good opportunity to spend time with the staff, namely Bill Bedenbaugh, but also each other. Chemistry is a huge factor in offensive line play. Spending time with offensive linemen on campus and those the Sooners are pursuing could create a further comfort level with Oklahoma.

This is a big weekend to kick start Oklahoma’s June recruiting efforts.

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Oklahoma sends offer to Philadephia prep school cornerback Omillio Agard

Oklahoma joins the race for Philadelphia area cornerback Omillio Agard, issuing an offer to the four-star prospect.

Oklahoma has gone to work recruiting the northeast since Brent Venables has taken over. In 2023, they signed a pair of players, Phil Piccioti and Logan Howland, from that neck of the woods.

In the [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag], they’ve offered multiple prospects from that area, and this past weekend, they added to that growing list by offering composite four-star cornerback Omillio Agard.

Agard hails from Philadelphia, where he attends St. Joseph’s Prep School. The 5-foot-10 corner excels with physicality at the line of scrimmage despite not being the biggest player on the field. He showcases the ability to jam and reroute receivers while also showing a willingness to come up and tackle.

Agard is being pursued by a number of Power Five schools like Clemson, Penn State, Tennessee, Michigan, and Alabama. Clemson and Penn State look to be early frontrunners, but at this time, it may be too early to call the race.

Omillio Agard’s’ Recruiting Profile

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Recruiting Profile: 2024 4-Star Safety Vaboue Toure

Taking a look at recent offer out of New Jersey, 4-Star safety Vaboue Toure.

Just as they’ve opened up new recruiting grounds in the southeast under Brent Venables, the Oklahoma Sooners have been active in the New Jersey area in the last year as well. 2023 signee [autotag]Logan Howland[/autotag] comes out of the Hunn School, and the Sooners have targeted another New Jersey prospect in 2024, Vaboue Toure.

Recent four-star safety offer [autotag]Vaboue Toure[/autotag] plays fast and physical at the point of attack. Whether he’s playing around the line of scrimmage or deep, Toure uses really nice pursuit angles to attack downhill. He’s a physical tackler.

In coverage, Toure displays good awareness and an ability to play the football in the air. He breaks to the football in the same way he does in the running game; fast and physical.

He’s a playmaking defensive back that has offers from notable Power Five programs like Alabama, Michigan State, and Ohio State. Expect that offer list to continue to grow as he Toure finishes out his high school career.

Vaboue Toure’s Recruiting Profile

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Every offensive lineman the Oklahoma Sooners have offered in the 2024 recruiting cycle

Which offensive linemen have the Oklahoma Sooners targeted thus far in the 2024 recruiting cycle?

The Oklahoma Sooners have created a reputation for developing NFL-caliber offensive linemen thanks to the work of offensive line coach [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag]. [autotag]

Creed Humphrey[/autotag] and [autotag]Orlando Brown[/autotag] are prime examples of the work that is done at OU. Humphrey is arguably the best center in the game just two years into his collegiate career.

Even prior to Bedenbaugh’s arrival in Norman, the Sooners developed two of the best offensive linemen in the NFL today, [autotag]Trent Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Lane Johnson[/autotag]. The offensive tackles have starred in the league for much of the last decade and continue to do fantastic work at their tackle positions.

Oklahoma’s latest great offensive line talent is on his way to the NFL and has a chance to be a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Anton Harrison was a tremendous asset for the Oklahoma Sooners offense. He was as adept in run blocking as he was as a pass-blocker, and he takes great athleticism to Sundays.

Oklahoma’s 2023 signing class featured four-star [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag], who was one of the best interior offensive line prospects in the country at the high school level. Oklahoma is hoping to hit home runs with late-rising offensive line signees [autotag]Joshua Bates[/autotag], [autotag]Heath Ozaeta[/autotag] and [autotag]Logan Howland[/autotag]. All four of their signees to the 2023 class are athletic and physical players who will be difference-makers on Saturdays.

With the 2023 class nearly wrapped up with national signing day just a few weeks away, the Oklahoma Sooners turn their attention to a talented 2024 offensive line class. Here’s who they’ve offered thus far in the [autotag]2024 recruiting cycle[/autotag], according to 247Sports.

Breaking down the Oklahoma Sooners 2023 recruiting class by position

How does the Oklahoma Sooners 2023 recruiting class look broken down by position?

The Oklahoma Sooners have put together a really nice recruiting class through the early signing period of the 2023 cycle. We haven’t even made it to February’s national signing day, and Oklahoma’s sitting with the No. 5 class in 247Sports recruiting rankings.

The Sooners have added a four- or five-star player at every position save for tight end. Even there, the Sooners added one of the best players in the state to Joe Jon Finley’s room.

It’s an incredible collection of athletic, fast and versatile players that will, along with the 2021 and 2022 recruiting classes, be the foundation of Oklahoma’s journey into the SEC.

Let’s break it down by position group.