Tag: Miguel Chavis

Oklahoma Sooners get prediction for top 50 2025 recruit

The Oklahoma Sooners received yet another prediction for a 2025 recruit, this top for a top 50 defensive end.

The Oklahoma Sooners continue to work to put their 2025 recruiting class together which has a chance to be the best one in the Brent Venables’ era. Right now with nine commits, it’s ranked as a top-five class in the country.

A commit that could be a big help to the class is the state of Oklahoma’s top prospect and a top 50 overall player, [autotag]C.J. Nickson[/autotag]. The 6-foot-5 220-pound EDGE would be a massive get for the Sooners. It seems like the Sooners have done a good job early on in the process as Rivals and OUInsider’s Brandon Drumm submitted a Futurecast for the talented defender.

Nickson had a really good junior season finishing with 54 tackles, five tackles for loss and five pass break ups. He also plays offense where he caught 34 passes for 577 yards and five touchdowns. He’s also a really talented basketball player and 247Sports reports he has offers from Oral Roberts, Tulsa and UT Arlington.

There has been some speculation he might play basketball at Oklahoma along with football. That’s something that would have to be worked out with [autotag]Porter Moser[/autotag].

Nonetheless, Oklahoma currently leads for the talented defender as On3 gives them the best odds to land Nickson. This one feels like there is still a long way to go so there is still a lot more work to be done.

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Pair of Sooners signees stand out at Under Armour All-American Week

A pair of Oklahoma Sooner signees impress at the Under Armour All-American week.

The 2024 Under Armour All-American week is in the books, and two future Oklahoma Sooners impressed all week long. Five-star defensive lineman [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] was mentioned but the surprise might have been from four-star [autotag]Eugene Brooks[/autotag].

247Sports shared their “superlatives” of the week and those two Sooners made the list. Stone was given the “most energy” superlative.

This award last year went to Clemson’s Peter Woods, who went on to make the 247Sports’ True Freshman All-American Team. It wouldn’t be shocking to see David Stone make that same list next year. Stone was as active as anyone on the defensive line this week and fought to take reps in practice, which is rare to see in such a laid-back setting. The blend of Stone’s speed, power, technique and motor should have him on the field sooner rather than later for the Sooners, who spent three years fighting for his signature. – Andrew Ivins 247Sports

Stone had a massive week and only grew the expectations from Sooner fans for his freshman season. He’s become someone some wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t start by the end of next season.

Brooks has kind of flown under the radar, but he put the country on notice. He earned a superlative that probably brings a smile to a lot of Sooner Nation; “best run-blocker.”

No one was better in the phone booth all week than Eugene Brooks, who manhandled opponents during 1-on-1 drills and opened up wide run lanes when things transitioned to 11-on-11 period. Brooks is a natural knee-bender that is quick to establish a firm base and then keep his legs pumping. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Brooks, who owns some of the best shot put numbers in the class, push for early playing time in Norman with the Sooners set to lose four veteran offensive linemen to the NFL Draft. – Ivins, 247Sports

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Oklahoma Sooners 2025 commit among the top performers at the All-American Bowl

An Oklahoma Sooners’ 2025 defensive line commit is listed as a top performer at the All-American Bowl.

With the [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag] pretty much in the books. Barring any last pushes, the focus now shifts to the 2025 class. The Sooners currently have nine commits and rank No. 4 in the country according to 247Sports.

Over the weekend, the All-American Bowl was held with a number of top-rated 2025 and 2026 recruits in attendance. One 2025 Sooner commit who stood out was defensive lineman [autotag]Ka’Mori Moore[/autotag].

In fact, On3’s Sam Spiegelman listed Moore as his third-best performer from the weekend.

2025 Oklahoma-committed DL Ka’Mori Moore was nifty working off the edge and also taking reps on the inside, where he is an absolute mismatch. Moore showcased a handful of pass-rush moves, including an impressive swim, as well as excellent bend from a 6-foot-2, 310-pound DL. Moore had a strong showing inside the Alamodome on Friday, and fits the mold of an athletic 3-technique that can provide some juice from the interior. – Spiegelman

Moore is currently ranked as a three-star prospect, but with more performances like that, he will almost assuredly move up the rankings. The Lee’s Summit North product will also no longer have to share the line with the nation’s top prospect in 2024, giving him a chance to shine by himself.

Even still, it seems like Oklahoma has a good one heading their way coming signing day next season.

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‘There’s just not as many of them’: Brent Venables on the difficulties of recruiting elite defensive linemen

The defensive line is one of the most important position groups on the football field but it’s also one of the most difficult to recruit.

When the announcement was made that the Oklahoma Sooners would be heading to the [autotag]SEC[/autotag], there was one thing that had to change about this football program. They had to start winning battles for elite defensive linemen.

That’s one of the reasons why [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] got the job. They knew his track record of building elite defenses that started with elite defensive linemen. He brought with him his defensive line coach [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag], who is an elite recruiter, and also brought [autotag]Miguel Chavis[/autotag] with him, who has proven to be a very good recruiter as well.

They’ve done a very good job so far, landing two five-star defensive linemen in two years. They could add a third in February. Venables talked about the difficulties of recruiting elite defensive linemen in his press conference on Wednesday.

“It’s the law of supply and demand,” Venables said. “There’s just not as many of them. It’s been that way since football became a sport. Rushing the passer, stopping the run, the lines of scrimmage is where the game has always been won or lost. So, that’s not a new thing, but there’s just not as many of them that are able to play at a really, really high level.”

The Sooners have signed five defensive linemen so far this cycle. Those five gave the Sooners one of the best defensive line classes the program has had in the last 20 years. So, you can see Venables is building it the right way.

They just now have to start developing those players and then getting the results on the field.

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7 Takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners 2024 signing class

The Oklahoma Sooners locked in all 27 commits to their 2024 signing class and here are seven takeaways.

The Oklahoma Sooners found success on the recruiting trail in each of the three cycles Brent Venables has been in Norman. Because they signed all 27 commitments on the first day of the early signing period, the Sooners locked up a third-consecutive top 10 recruiting class.

It was a great day for the Sooners on the recruiting trail. It also was a stress-free morning: The Sooners had their class locked up by 11:30 a.m. CT.

Now they turn their attention to their remaining targets on the recruiting trail, namely Dominick McKinley, who isn’t expected to sign until the February’s national signing day.

Even if they don’t pull off an improbable flip with McKinley, the Sooners have put together another really strong recruiting class on both sides of the ball.

Here are some takeaways from the Sooners 2024 signing class:

Check out more from the [autotag]2024 early signing period[/autotag].

2024 4-star edge from Minnesota officially signs with the Oklahoma Sooners

Wyatt Gilmore brings his high-motor to Norman after signing his National Letter of Intent.

It was another up-and-down season for [autotag]Miguel Chavis[/autotag]’ group. There were numerous bright spots, but also moments they hope to forget.

Still, the defensive end group has abundant promise with nice young prospects. Another officially signed his national letter of intent to join that group next season. [autotag]Wyatt Gilmore[/autotag] from Minnesota is a 6-foot-4, 240-pound four-star edge.

Oklahoma Sooners fans are going to love him. He plays with a high motor and is constantly around the ball making plays. He most likely will spend the 2024 campaign developing his body and getting bigger for the 2025 season. But he could become a rotation piece in 2024 because of how hard he plays.

More from the [autotag]2024 Early Signing Period[/autotag]

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Oklahoma loses former defensive end starter to the transfer portal

The Oklahoma Sooners lose a former starting defensive end to the transfer portal.

Another former highly touted recruit for the Oklahoma Sooners hit the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] on Monday. This time it was defensive end [autotag]Reggie Grimes[/autotag].

Grimes spent four years in Norman; he tallied 43 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. Grimes showed flashes, especially during the 2022 season when he was a starter.

He opened that season with four sacks and five tackles for loss. The only problem is he only had one-half sack and 2.5 tackles for loss the rest of the season. He lost his starting job to [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag] this season and ended up playing in four games as a role player.

With Grimes only playing four games, he has two years of eligibility remaining for wherever he decides to transfer.

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Oklahoma Sooners receive two predictions for 2025 3-Star EDGE

Sooners continue to hit the recruiting trail this time they log two predictions for a 2025 EDGE defender.

The Oklahoma Sooners are staying red hot on the recruiting trail. Not just for this upcoming 2024 class but [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and Co. have been on an absolute heater in the 2025 cycle.

The Sooners just received two predictions in favor of landing [autotag]Alexander Shieldnight[/autotag]. Shieldnight is a 2025 three-star EDGE defender from Wagoner, Okla.

Shieldnight is 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, and has been someone the staff has been after for quite a while. He was first offered back in December of 2022.

[autotag]Miguel Chavis[/autotag] has been the lead recruiter for Shieldnight and because of the work he’s done OUInsider’s Brandon Drumm and Parker Thune both think he will ultimately commit to the Sooners. The two issued Rivals Futurecasts on Friday.

In 2022, he finished with 83 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles and one safety. He’s also just another example of how much value Venables has put into recruiting the state of Oklahoma since coming back to Norman.

Oklahoma currently has commitments from three of the top seven players in the state in 2025. They are trending pretty heavily for three others. It’s a possibility Oklahoma lands six of the top seven players within the state. That’s something we did not see under the previous regime.

Shortly after the expert positions went in, Shieldnight also set his commitment date. He’ll be announcing his decision on Nov. 10, 2023.

So, the Sooners won’t have to wait too much longer to find out where they stand with the talented in-state defender.

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Ethan Downs comes up with a big game in win over Texas

Ethan Downs rose to the occasion in a big win over Texas.

Over the last two years, much has been made about the Oklahoma Sooners’ defensive line. All offseason the talk some wondered if this was a unit that could hold this team back.

One player that’s been at the center of some of the criticism was Ethan Downs. On Saturday, he had arguably his best game as a Sooner and put the doubt about Oklahoma’s defensive line to rest.

Downs registered three tackles and two sacks. He was gap sound. He didn’t let plays get outside of him, which was an issue for the entire defense a season ago. He played with an incredibly high motor.

“I always try to play that way,” Downs said after the win. “Today, we were all highly motivated. It was easy for us to go out there and keep pushing, keep grinding but I also happened to fall into some things that other guys have done the last three weeks. We just keep fitting our gaps and keep being a sound defense and it showed up.”

Downs also let Texas Longhorns quarterback [autotag]Quinn Ewers[/autotag] hear about his sacks a few times. He admits the emotions of the game might have gotten the best of him.

“I try not to cuss on the field,” Downs said. “Emotions get wild, but nothing against him, he’s a great quarterback but I was just fired up. Finally got a sack and juiced up. I got plenty of warnings on the sideline. ‘Hey you can’t be doing that anymore. That’s too close.”

For all of the criticism coming into this season about the defensive line, they rose to the occasion. They finished with five sacks and 10 tackles for loss. They also held a really good Texas run game to 156 yards on 3.9 yards per carry.

Now, the Sooners can’t rest on this win. It’s up to them to build on it to ultimately accomplish the goals they set before the season.

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Report Card: Sooners pass biggest test of the season in win over Texas

The Sooners won an instant classic against their rivals from Texas 34-30. We went and graded every position group’s performance.

Oklahoma’s win over Texas was a significant notch in the belt of head coach Brent Venables. It also signified the revitalization of Oklahoma football, just a year removed from getting blasted 49-0 in the same stadium by the Longhorns.

Venables’ team spent the entire offseason leveling up and striving to return to the standard people have become accustomed to.

This season, the Sooners handled everything that came their way. Every setback or adversity they faced in their first five games prepared them for Saturday in Dallas. The entire team and coaching staff handled it masterfully as the Sooners beat Texas, 34-30.

It was the most complete performance of the season, and some of the most significant areas the Sooners needed to work on after last season’s 6-7 record were on full display. After passing a test like that, it’s time to pass out some grades. It’s report card time.