Tag: Marcus James

Oklahoma Sooners add 3-star linebacker in early signing period

The Oklahoma Sooners add another in-state star as three-star linebacker Marcus James signs with OU in the early signing period.

The Oklahoma Sooners added a big-time in-state athlete on the first day of the [autotag]early signing period[/autotag] when three-star prospect [autotag]Marcus James[/autotag] signed with OU.

James starred on both sides of the ball for Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, but will ply his athleticism and speed on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker. He’ll have a chance to work both as a weakside linebacker and at the cheetah position as the Sooners work to get his speed and length on the field for Zac Alley’s defense.

Though a three-star player, Rivals has him as the No. 38 prospect in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

Marcus James chose Oklahoma over Texas A&M, Utah, Arkansas, and TCU when he committed back in November of 2023.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKKSARxiSP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Film

Hudl

Rating

Stars Overall Position State
ESPN 3 — 41 19
Rivals 3 — 38 8
247Sports 3 — 74 11
247 Composite 3 736 77 12
On3 Recruiting 3 — 102 23
On3 Industry 3 672 72 12

Vitals

Hometown Midwest City, Okla.
Projected Position Linebacker
Height 6-foot-3.5
Weight 210 pounds

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4-Star, In-state tight end prospect signs with the Oklahoma Sooners

Four-star prospect Trynae Washington out of Midwest City, Oklahoma signs with the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Oklahoma Sooners have their tight end in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag] after [autotag]Trynae Washington[/autotag] signed with the Sooners on the first day of the [autotag]early signing period[/autotag].

Washington is 6-foot-3 and weighs 205 pounds. He has the athleticism to be a difference-maker at the position in the passing game. He’ll need to add some more size to be able to block for the Sooners, but he can push for playing time as a slot tight end early in his Oklahoma career.

He joins former Carl Albert teammates [autotag]Marcus James[/autotag], [autotag]Trystan Haynes[/autotag], and [autotag]Xavier Robinson[/autotag], furthering the Sooners pipeline into the powerhouse program from Midwest City.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKL7sFxmKM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Film

Hudl

Rating

Stars Overall Position State
ESPN 4 — 20 6
Rivals 4 — 25 6
247Sports 3 — 21 (ATH) 7
247 Composite 4 344 15 (ATH) 6
On3 Recruiting 4 265 16 6
On3 Industry 4 321 19 6

Vitals

Hometown Midwest City, Oklahoma
Projected Position Tight End
Height 6-foot-3
Weight 205 pounds

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

2025 Oklahoma Sooners commitment tracker

Oklahoma Sooners 2025 commitment tracker

The Oklahoma Sooners are off to a much faster start in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag] than in 2024. In fact, [autotag]Kevin Sperry[/autotag] committed to the 2025 class (March 13, 2023) before OU had received its first commitment for the 2024 class: [autotag]Jeremiah Newcombe[/autotag] (March 25, 2023).

The Sooners have put together another phenomenal class but the centerpiece came when five-star offensive tackle Michael Fasusi committed to the Sooners on Wednesday. That gave Oklahoma their third straight recruiting class with at least one five-star prospect and their fifth in the last three years.

Additionally, it provided another elite piece for the Sooners to work with in the trenches after adding [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag] in 2023 and [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] in 2024 on the defensive side of the ball. Now, Bill Bedenbaugh has his cornerstone of the future on the offensive side of the ball. The Sooners have been working overtime to strengthen their talent along the line of scrimmage.

Now with Fasusi committed, the Sooners turn their attention to [autotag]Andrew Babalola[/autotag], [autotag]Christian Jones[/autotag], and [autotag]Jonah Williams[/autotag], their final big-time targets in the 2025 cycle. Babalola is said to be down to Michigan, Stanford, and Oklahoma. Jones is leaning toward Nebraska but likely won’t commit until the fall. Williams was once a heavy Oklahoma lean, but his recruitment has broadened over the last six months to include LSU, Texas, Texas A&M, and Oregon. There could also be a surprise addition or flip over the next few months ahead of the early signing period.

Here are the players committed to the Oklahoma Sooners’ [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

Updated: August 21, 2024

Oklahoma target Trystan Haynes sets commitment date of May 7

One of Oklahoma’s best in-state prospects, Trystan Haynes has announced a decision date.

[autotag]Trystan Haynes[/autotag] is one of the best cornerback prospects in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag], and on May 7, he will decide where to take his talents for his college football career.

Haynes is a certified Oklahoma kid who plays his high school ball at powerhouse, Carl Albert, alongside several other Division I players, such as Sooner commits [autotag]Marcus James[/autotag] and [autotag]Trynae Washington[/autotag].

With his decision less than five days away, the Sooners look to be in the driver’s seat to earn the commitment from the long, athletic, four-star cornerback. Oklahoma’s most significant threats in this recruitment are Notre Dame, Miami and Texas A&M.

Oklahoma offered Haynes in January 2023 and has been in the mix ever since. Multiple unofficial visits and trips to see Haynes and his teammates play have helped cultivate and build a close relationship.

Jay Valai and the Sooners’ defensive staff have the edge in recruiting predictions. Tides changed from Notre Dame earlier this week back to the Crimson and Cream.

If Oklahoma lands Haynes, it will likely complete the Sooners’ pursuit of cornerbacks for the 2025 class and they’ll move on to 2026.

Adding Haynes to the mix would give Oklahoma a commitment from a consensus four-star prospect and the state’s number four player, ranked No. 151, per 247Sports.

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Four-star in-state CB Trystan Haynes predicted to land with Oklahoma

Trystan Haynes favored to land with the Oklahoma Sooners by Rivals recruiting insider.

Recruiting, like the weather outside, is starting to warm up. The [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag] is in the thick of it. Oklahoma has done heavy lifting for the 2025 class, with 14 commitments

This development is a stark contrast from the previous few years. In previous springs under Brent Venables, the Sooners had just been getting started. With eight months to go until the December early signing period, the Sooners already have a significant portion of their recruiting class put together.

The Sooners aren’t done. A new development in recruiting an in-state star highlights that.

Four-star Trystan Haynes, a talented cornerback who plays his high school ball at Oklahoma powerhouse Carl Albert, was favored to land with the Sooners. OU received a Futurecast from Notre Dame insider Tyler James.

Haynes, most notably, is a teammate of multiple Oklahoma commits in the 2025 class, like Trynae Washington and Marcus James. He also has an immense future at cornerback if he is to realize his potential. He has exceptional size and length for the cornerback position.

Jay Valai and the OU staff did enough to be considered a leader earlier this year, but the momentum from the Notre Dame staff pushed Oklahoma. Things appear to have stabilized on that front, and the Sooners look like they’ve regained that momentum.

With the home state team starting to surge back out in front, Oklahoma is nearing the end of its cornerback recruiting for this cycle. It’s likely Cobey Sellers or Trysten Haynes, but not both, land with the Sooners.

Haynes is a consensus four-star player across the recruiting world and is considering Miami and Texas A&M in addition to the Sooners.

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Sooners makes top 6 for four-star CB Trystan Haynes

Oklahoma makes top six for consensus four-star in-state cornerback prospect Trystan Haynes.

Oklahoma is in the home stretch for one of its top defensive back targets in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag]. Four-star cornerback [autotag]Trystan Haynes[/autotag] announced his top six schools in an edit posted to social media on Tuesday afternoon.

Haynes is an in-state product who plays his high school ball at one of the best programs in Oklahoma. He plays at Carl Albert along with other Sooner commits like [autotag]Marcus James[/autotag], [autotag]Trynae Washington[/autotag], and [autotag]Kevin Sperry[/autotag]. He is the number one cornerback in the state, and it’s easy to see why. At 6-foot-2, he has adequate size and the frame to add more weight as he ages and physically matures.

His length is a weapon, and he has the explosiveness to keep up with anyone. He is also a consensus top 150 prospect.

His top six features some of the best programs in the country. Along with Oklahoma, Haynes has whittled down his recruitment to Miami, Notre Dame, Alabama, Texas A&M, and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Oklahoma already has a crystal ball prediction in its favor, but make no mistake, things are far from settled. The Sooners have advantages, with high school teammates already committed or playing for the in-state school. However, Oklahoma must see this recruitment through to the end. Haynes has made multiple visits to Texas A&M, so it would be hard to count them out.

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Recruits react on Social Media to Junior Day weekend with Oklahoma Sooners

2025 prospects react on social media to their junior day weekend with the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Sooners are off and running in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag] with nine commitments as they turn the page on 2024.

Over the weekend, a number of Oklahoma’s 2025 targets made the trip to Norman for their annual junior day. It was an opportunity for the next class of prospects to meet with coaches, tour the facilities, and get a deeper look at Oklahoma football.

It has yielded positive reactions. The Sooners received a trio of Rivals Futurecasts for four-star running back Tory Blaylock and five-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham included the Sooners in his top 12 after their visits.

But they weren’t the only ones who enjoyed their visits, here’s how other prospects reacted to their time with the Oklahoma Sooners over the weekend.

Oklahoma Sooners land another in-state product in a surprise commitment

Oklahoma got some good news in a surprise commitment from in-state 2025 product.

The [autotag]Oklahoma Sooners 2025 recruiting[/autotag] is absolutely on fire right now. The Sooners didn’t land just one but two players on Thursday night.

Marcus James from Carl Albert in Oklahoma City, Okla. was the one everyone knew was coming as he scheduled his announcement for 6:30 p.m. CT that day. But shortly after, his teammate, 2025 3-star athlete [autotag]Trynae Washington[/autotag], also committed to the Sooners.

Washington is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound do-it-all player for Carl Albert. He plays both wide receiver and safety. Washington told OUInsider (subscription required) in an exclusive interview the plan was for him to play tight end and wide receiver at Oklahoma.

Washington is the fourth Carl Albert player to commit to Oklahoma this calendar year, joining [autotag]Marcus James[/autotag], three-star 2024 running back [autotag]Xavier Robinson[/autotag] and four-star 2025 quarterback [autotag]Kevin Sperry[/autotag]. But they aren’t done, as Washington admits he has his eyes set on teammate, 2025 defensive back [autotag]Trystan Haynes[/autotag] to join the crew.

As for what sold Washington on Oklahoma, he told OUInsider, “They are a big family, and make sure that you feel welcome there. The atmosphere there is great as well, the coaches getting involved just as much as the players. They were reaching out to me and trying to get me more involved, more than other colleges were.”

The Sooners didn’t land their first 2024 commit until March of this year when Jeremiah Newcombe broke the ice. As of right now the Sooners already have seven 2025 commits, with some more potentially on their way soon.

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Oklahoma continues in-state dominance for 2025 as athlete Marcus James chooses OU

Oklahoma’s 2025 class just got bigger as the Sooners landed three-star prospect Marcus James Thursday evening.

Oklahoma’s renewed focus on recruiting and locking down the state of Oklahoma is showing up in a big way. On Thursday, the Sooners landed another talented prospect from the Sooner State as three-star athlete Marcus James chose Oklahoma over Texas A&M, Utah, Arkansas, and TCU.

James is listed as a tight end on multiple recruiting services and an athlete on others. For Oklahoma, his initial home will be on the defensive side of the ball. The talented two-way player stands 6-foot-3 and weighs over 200 pounds.

James transferred to Carl Albert High School over the summer and joined an already loaded squad that features 2025 QB commit Kevin Sperry and 2024 RB commit Xavier Robinson. His recruitment blew up shortly after, but Oklahoma’s offer stood out the most. After an unofficial visit, the momentum tilted in Oklahoma’s favor.

James is productive on both sides of the ball and has a frame that could grow as he puts on good functional weight. Other schools offered the ability to play on the offensive side of the ball, which intrigued the three-star prospect, but ultimately, the fit and relationships with Sooners won out.

Marcus James becomes the sixth member of Oklahoma’s 2025 recruiting class. He also becomes the fourth 2025 in-state prospect to commit to the Sooners.

OU currently has the No. 4 recruiting class in the 247Sports team rankings. Oklahoma continues to build a formidable class in the 2025 cycle, getting a start much earlier than they did in 2024.

The Sooners will look to build their 2025 class with even more athletes from Carl Albert High School in Oklahoma as the Sooners have built strong momentum with four-star cornerback Trystan Haynes. Haynes ranks as the 84th best prospect in the country.

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2025 Athlete Marcus James sets commitment date; Sooners look like the favorite

The Oklahoma Sooners are trending to land 2025 athlete Marcus James out of Carl Albert High School.

Oklahoma’s 2025 class is miles ahead of where the 2024 class was at this point last year. In October of 2022, the Sooners didn’t have a single commitment for the class of 2024. Their first commitment didn’t happen until March of this year when four-star cornerback Jeremiah Newcombe hopped on board first.

That won’t be the case for 2025. Oklahoma is in a prime position to add to its 2025 recruiting class. As things stand, the Sooners sit at No. 4 in the nation in 247Sports team recruiting rankings. They already have five commits, with four-star receiver Jaden Nickens as their highest-rated prospect, sitting at No. 88. The class has a heavy Oklahoma flavor, with three prospects coming from the Sooner State.

One of those, quarterback Kevin Sperry, isn’t a native of Oklahoma but transferred to Carl Albert High School this summer. Carl Albert is an Oklahoma football power, and Sperry was the icing on the cake for a loaded squad. Sperry is one of multiple Power Five caliber players on the squad, and his teammate Marcus James could be joining Sperry in Norman.

James is an athlete in every sense of the word. At 6-foot-4 and over 200 pounds, it’s easy to see why. James has played offense and defense all season long, but the Sooners offered him on the defensive side of the ball.

He’ll make his decision on November 2 at Carl Albert High. From there, he’ll pick between Oklahoma, Arkansas, TCU, Texas A&M, and Utah. News of his commitment date hit the internet, and not one but two projections have favored Brent Venables’ landing the versatile athlete.

Sam Spiegelman of On3 Sports and Brandon Drumm of OUInsider and Rivals each logged predictions favoring the Sooners.

Brandon Drumm of Oklahoma Insider logged a Rivals FutureCast for James as well.

Oklahoma is pulling away from the pack with less than two weeks to go. The Sooners aren’t clear yet, but people around the recruiting industry favor the Sooners significantly down the stretch.

It will be an uphill climb for the other four schools as James has two Oklahoma commits in his ear daily with Sperry (2025) and 2024 running back commit Xavier Robinson.

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