Tag: Miguel Chavis

R Mason Thomas brings the ‘mamba mentality’ to the defensive end room

R Mason Thomas looks to have a breakthrough year and he got a big endorsement from his position coach.

There are a few bright spots when you have your worst season in over two decades. One of those bright spots was the flashes you saw from true freshman [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag].

You look at his numbers, and nothing jumps out at you, but he has unique athleticism and twitchiness at the edge position. He was ultimately just too light to make much of a difference on the line.

That’s why this summer, he put in the work adding muscle to his frame. With increased size and strength while keeping his quickness and agility, he could be in for a breakout season this year.

One person who was glowing about the progress he’s made was defensive ends coach, [autotag]Miguel Chavi[/autotag]s. “I’ve seen an elite level of consistency,” Chavis said. “Talking about a guy who weighed 216 pounds last year, he weighs 240 today.”

It’s not just the work he put in the offseason. Chavis feels he’s seen a shift in his mindset. A look in his eyes where you know he’s ready for a breakout season.

“Coach Schmitty gave a report on him, and he just has a maturity that’s different,” Chavis said. “He’s got a mamba mentality. He’s got a look in his eyes that’s different.”

Mamba mentality was coined by the late great Los Angeles Lakers guard and future hall of famer, Kobe Bryant.

“To sum up what mamba mentality is, it means to be able to constantly try to be the best version of yourself,” Bryant explained back in 2016. “That is what the mentality is. It’s a constant quest to try to better today than you were yesterday.

“Mamba mentality is all about focusing on the process and trusting in the hard work when it matters most. It’s the ultimate mantra for the competitive spirit. It started just as a hashtag that came to me one day, and it’s grown into something athletes — and even non-athletes — embrace as a mindset. Hard work outweighs talent — every time. Mamba mentality is about 4 a.m. workouts, doing more than the next guy and then trusting in the work you’ve put in when it’s time to perform. Without studying, preparation and practice, you’re leaving the outcome to fate. I don’t do fate.”

Bryant’s competitiveness and drive defined a legendary career.

It’s that mentality and drive in Thomas that leads Chavis to believe his sophomore defensive end is going to make a lot of teams mad they didn’t recruit him.

“He was a little undersized for a lot of people that’s why a lot of people missed on him. I’m telling you, this is going to be a guy in a couple of years from now, everyone’s going to say, ‘how in the heck did we miss on that kid?’ He has the opportunity if he keeps working to be that guy.”

For a team that needs to improve their pass rush heading into 2023, that’s music to our ears. After a strong offseason, Thomas is looking to be one of the answers to Oklahoma’s defensive resurgence in 2023.

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Oklahoma target and 5-star defensive tackle David Stone sets commitment date

Five-star defensive tackle David Stone announces commitment date.

The date is officially set. The most heralded recruit in years out the state of Oklahoma will decide his college of choice on August 26.

Five-star defensive lineman [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] will decide on August 26th, according to a graphic released by On3’s Hayes Fawcett and retweeted by Stone.

In a recruitment that many will talk about for quite some time, no matter where he goes, Stone will finally bring clarity to multiple coaching staffs nationwide.

Along with Oklahoma, Stone’s final six also include the Miami Hurricanes, Texas A&M Aggies, Florida Gators, Oregon Ducks, and Michigan State Spartans.

[autotag]Todd Bate[/autotag]s, [autotag]Miguel Chavis[/autotag], and the Oklahoma staff have chipped in on this recruitment. Native Oklahoman and Sooner legend [autotag]Gerald McCoy[/autotag] has also been actively recruiting Stone. The Sooners former top five NFL draft pick understands how transformative Stone could be to the Sooners defensive front.

Oklahoma is looking to create shockwaves by landing Stone and redeem their recruiting failures in pursuit of other five-star defensive linemen. Unlike the other recruitments, Stone is from Oklahoma and grew up an Oklahoma fan. This recruitment is a pivotal moment in the present and future of Oklahoma’s football program.

Todd Bates and Brent Venables have been down this road before and know how to navigate recruiting top-ten defenders. Bates was the lead recruiter in bringing defensive tackle Bryan Bresee to Clemson when he and Venables were with the Tigers. Bresee was the No. 1 player in the 247Sports composite back in 2020.

With one month until he decides, Oklahoma will push into overdrive to seal the deal and land the No. 6 overall prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings.

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Fresh crystal ball predicts Oklahoma to land 4-star DL Nigel Smith

Tuesday evening, the Oklahoma Sooners received a fresh prediction to land top 100 defensive lineman Nigel Smith.

The Oklahoma Sooners have been working overtime to build a defensive line class that can lay the foundation for their move to the SEC.

A strong defensive line is how Brent Venables had success at Oklahoma. It’s how he helped Clemson win national championships. And the Sooners are looking to stockpile as much talent along the defensive front as they can.

The plan received a bit of a boost on Tuesday evening when Horns 247’s Jordan Scruggs issued a crystal ball prediction favoring the Oklahoma Sooners in the recruitment of four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag].

247Sports joins Rivals and On3 in favoring the Oklahoma Sooners in this top-100 recruitment.

The Texas Longhorns are another of the teams on the shortlist for Smith. Also on the list are Ohio State, Penn State, Texas A&M and Rutgers.

Smith is the No. 84 player in the country according to the 247Sports composite and the No. 12 defensive lineman in the 2024 cycle.

At 6 feet, 5 inches and 260 pounds, Smith has the size to be a force at multiple spots along the defensive line. He’s an athletic player that plays with really good technique and a motor that will not quit. Smith is quick off the line of scrimmage, using a great first step to work through the offensive line to make plays in the backfield.

Oklahoma has a pair of defensive linemen committed to the 2024 class. [autotag]Wyatt Gilmore[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] are just the first in a grand plan set forth by [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag], [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] and [autotag]Miguel Chavis[/autotag] to construct a blue-chip defensive line through the 2024 class.

In addition to Smith, the Sooners are favored to land [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag] and [autotag]David Stone[/autotag]. Oklahoma is also in hot pursuit of Danny Okoye, Dominick McKinley and Zina Umeozulu.

There’s no telling if they’ll land all eight of their defensive line targets in the cycle, but with the way events are unfolding, the Sooners could add as many as six of these blue-chip talents.

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Jonah Laulu taking on leadership role amid move to defensive tackle

Oklahoma’s Jonah Laulu disccused his new role moving to DT from EDGE and guys he’s got his eye on for 2023.

To say Oklahoma lost a lot heading into last season is an understatement. Yes, Lincoln Riley’s departure was tough to swallow. Still, the players that departed for the draft or the transfer portal put a massive dent in the talent pool Oklahoma had to work with heading into last season.

One of the players Oklahoma brought in via the portal was Hawaii transfer Jonah Laulu, a seasoned defender who spent four years at Hawaii. He came to Oklahoma with two years of eligibility, and his first year saw him as a staple in Oklahoma’s EDGE rotation.

He played in every game and made starts against Iowa State, Texas Tech, and Florida State in the Cheez-It Bowl. He totaled 20 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, one pass breakup, and two QB hurries.

It wasn’t an earth-shattering performance by any means, but Laulu, like many of his peers who decided to return for 2023, knew they had to improve this year. For one of the worst defenses in recent Oklahoma memory, that just won’t cut it, especially with a defensive wizard at the head coach like Brent Venables.

Laulu fully bought in this offseason to the culture change and commitment to turning OU around defensively and accepted a position change to play along the defensive interior instead of just inside. To do that, Laulu added over 30 pounds in size. As Oklahoma prepares for fall camp, the former Hawaii transfer has gone from 260 pounds to 293 pounds.

At Big 12 Media Days, Laulu discussed how the position change came about, his motivation, and his overall thoughts. Laulu spoke about being in a leadership position and how he got there.

“I think it’s because of how well I took on the position change,” Laulu shared. “Because some people would kind of refuse it at first, and they wouldn’t want to change that position because you don’t want to let go with being on the edge. I mean, I just wanted to do what I needed to do to help this team be the best that they can be. So whatever I have to do, I’ll do it.”

Laulu continued and shared when the decision came that, he would move inside.

“We knew I was going to play DT before the season started last year,”  Laulu said. “So in fall camp, when we were maybe like little bit halfway through camp, my coach, Coach Chavis came up and talking to us, like, ‘We noticed that your movements on the inside,’ or ‘you look so natural,’ and ‘you’re way more comfortable on the interior. And, you know, we probably think about putting you on the interior next season.’ Putting me with Coach Bates. I’ll do whatever it takes. For this team to win. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Laulu’s ability to buy in is the core tenet of what Brent Venables and the rest of his staff have talked about in full regarding the shift in mindset and accountability needed for Oklahoma not just to be better this year but to compete for a Big 12 title.

He represents the type of buy-in Oklahoma needs, especially on defense, where accountability and a willingness to do the hard and gritty work. The stuff that may go unnoticed by the general audience resonates with the coaches and his teammates and permeates the rest of the locker room.

As one of their leaders on the defense, Oklahoma looks well-equipped to be better this year. Jonah also shared some names he thinks are primed for a breakout year or that the Sooner fans need to know about defensively.

“I’d say R Mason Thomas,” Laulu said. “He’s actually living with me right now. I mean, if you’re watching this defense, look out for Mason. He’s a great player. His ability to use his quickness, and his quick twitch and his high motor.”

Laulu also mentioned sophomore Gracen Halton, true freshman Ashton Sanders, and former five-star safety Peyton Bowen. As for some older guys, Laulu mentioned transfers Phil Paea and Da’Jon Terry are slowly acclimating themselves, learning the playbook, and trying to fit in amongst the rest of the guys.

Oklahoma should be well positioned to be better on defense next season simply due to more familiarity in the scheme, another year under strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt, and a massive infusion of talent from the transfer portal and their freshman class. Guys like Laulu will need to lead the charge, having been in the fire of the Big 12 schedule and knowing what it feels like to struggle. Leaning on that experience could help Oklahoma reach the top of the Big 12 mountain in their final year in the league.

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Williams Nwaneri moves into top spot in 2024 recruiting cycle

Oklahoma Sooners target Williams Nwaneri becomes the No. 1 player in On3’s updated 2024 rankings.

On3 has made updates to its 2024 high school recruiting rankings, and five-star defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri is now the No. 1 prospect in the class.

Nwaneri is someone the Sooners are favored to earn a commitment from, with the Georgia Bulldogs and his home-state team, the Missouri Tigers battling for his services.

He has yet to confirm a commitment date, although it’s been reported by 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong (subscription required) it will be on Aug. 1, 2023.

It will be no easy task for Oklahoma to fight off the other contenders and land Nwaneri. However, that’s the case for any five-star with a top program in pursuit.

After last season, the Sooners can sell a vision of what the program will look like. Georgia can sell results. They are the two-time defending national champions and continue to send numerous people to the league, especially on the defensive line.

The Tigers will be tough because it’s home. Some people have that hometown pride and don’t want to leave it.

If the Sooners can pull it off, it would be massive and would show how important relationships are as Nwaneri and Miguel Chavis are very close.

He’s a program-changing player. Earning a commitment from Nwaneri could help shape the trajectory of the Oklahoma Sooners for years to come, especially on defense.

The most physically-gifted defensive line prospect early on in the 2024 cycle. Has an elite frame, measuring in at over 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wing span and an 11-inch hand. Moves very well for his size. Clocked a sub-5.0-second electronically-timed 40-yard dash prior to his junior season. Also shows fluidity with change of direction in the camp setting. Flashed some of his high-end potential as a sophomore, showing the ability to create disruption from multiple spots on the defensive line. Has the range and athleticism to run down skill players from behind. Still developing in terms of technical skill at the position but has immense upside and capacity for improvement. Could project to a number of spots along the defensive front. But looks to be a defensive lineman long-term given his frame and potential to add substantial mass. – On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power

If that Aug. 1 date is correct, we’ll see in just a few short weeks if the vision Brent Venables and Co. have for the program will pay off.

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Sooners receive another prediction for 5-star defensive lineman

The Oklahoma Sooners picked up another prediction in favor of landing 2024 five-star DL Williams Nwaneri.

Just one day after picking up a commitment from blue-chip tight end Davon Mitchell, the Sooners received more good news: A prediction for five-star defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri.

Nwaneri is the nation’s No. 3 prospect and the top defensive lineman in the class. It’s believed this is an Oklahoma-Georgia Bulldogs battle after reports Nwaneri took an unofficial to Georgia a few weeks back.

The Sooners are the favorites for Nwaneri according to 247Sports, Rivals and On3.

On Sunday, Alec Busse, an Indiana Hoosiers insider for Rivals, issued a prediction in favor of Oklahoma.

It’s not a Georgia insider giving their prediction. However, anytime an insider for another team who isn’t involved in the race gives your team a prediction, that’s never a bad thing.

For Nwaneri, he’d be a big-time commitment for Oklahoma. Anytime you beat the two-time defending champs for a top defensive prospect, that’s a huge win.

Has verified size, length and testing data that is impressive for a player of his build and age. Rare change of direction and agility numbers at his size. Was a good young prospect as a freshman and sophomore but showed big developmental strides on the field as a junior. Quickness off the ball and foot speed in pursuit were improved and those qualities of his are at a high national level. Used his hands better and when combined with his physical gifts, makes him very tough to block. Does not let offensive linemen get clean punches off on him and is able to turn himself and get skinny to help with that. Can shade inside or play on the EDGE and is going to be able to project to any defensive scheme. Based on his size, strongside end or 3-4 defensive end are where we project him although he is rare enough athlete that he can be edge pass-rusher at his size. If the development we saw between sophomore and junior year continues, he is an elite national prospect who will be an impact college player and early draft choice. – 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Alan Trieu

Now, it’s unclear when Nwaneri will announce his commitment. There are rumors he could make his decision as early as this month.

That hasn’t been confirmed by Nwaneri or his camp, but it’s something to look out for. In the end, this would add to the momentum the Sooners have built on the recruiting trail over the last few weeks.

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Oklahoma in a good spot for two of Rivals remaining uncommited 5-star prospects

Rivals has 13 uncommitted five-stars and the Oklahoma Sooners appear to be in a good spot for two of the nation’s best.

The month of July is finally upon us, and we should start to see commitments funnel in favor of the Sooners.

Depending on where you look or who you talk to, the Sooners could see six to 10 commitments this month.

Rivals has 13 uncommitted five-stars, and Oklahoma sits in a really good spot for two of them, according to national recruiting director Adam Gorney.

The first is defensive lineman [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag]. Rivals ranks him the No. 3 overall player and the highest-rated player without a home.

Oklahoma has been the front-runner here for some time, but in recent months Georgia has made significant in-roads in this recruitment and it could come down to the wire for the five-star defensive end. Nwaneri has more connections to the Sooners especially with former teammate Cayden Green recruiting him there, but the success of the Bulldogs’ defensive linemen and development into the NFL – plus back-to-back national titles – cannot be understated. Tennessee, Missouri and others are also in this one. – Gorney, Rivals

What was long thought to be an Oklahoma versus Tennessee Volunteers race has turned into the Sooners battling the back-to-back defending champion Georgia Bulldogs.

This one could go all the way to signing day, but signs are pointing to a decision being made as early as this month. Gorney is predicting the Sooners to win out in the end.

The next on the list is defensive tackle [autotag]David Stone[/autotag]. Stone is the 10th overall player in the nation and second-best player at his position, behind Justin Scott, who committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday.

Stone has long been thought of as an Oklahoma lean since he is from Oklahoma, and his family still lives there even though he plays at IMG Academy in Florida.

There is going to be talk about Michigan State and Stone really likes Miami with Florida also trying to get in this thing with the five-star defensive lineman, but everything here comes back to Oklahoma. He’s from the state, any comments about his mother not wanting him at Norman were a little misguided and taken out of context and the Sooners have done everything possible to convince the Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy standout that he could shine in their system. – Gorney

Stone would be a huge get for Oklahoma as it heads to the SEC. He would bolster a defensive line that greatly needs elite defensive tackle play. Gorney also predicts the Sooners to be his choice in the end.

While there’s not been a date set for Stone’s commitment, there is a belief he wants to be done with it before his season starts in August. But we’ll have to wait and see.

If you are wondering about [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag], he’s not listed as a five-star with Rivals. But he’s someone Oklahoma feels confident with as well, although the LSU Tigers and Texas Longhorns are lurking. The long-held belief has been it would be difficult to lure McKinley away from the hometown Tigers. That Oklahoma is in the race for McKinley is a credit to Brent Venables and Todd Bates.

Ultimately, if Oklahoma lands Nwaneri and Stone, it would be the greatest defensive line recruiting class in a long time. It’s exactly why you bring in Brent Venables to be your head coach and why Miguel Chavis and Todd Bates came with him.

The Sooners have needed a bunch of game wreckers along the defensive line for years, and the they look to be on the verge of heading to the SEC with at least a pair of the best defensive line prospects in the 2024 recruiting class.

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Oklahoma Sooners earn commitment from four-star EDGE Wyatt Gilmore

Oklahoma’s 10th commitment of the 2024 class comes from four-star EDGE Wyatt Gilmore out of Minnesota.

Oklahoma’s recruiting momentum is starting to materialize indeed. For the second straight day, the Sooners landed a commitment. Yesterday it was three-star 2024 RB Xavier Robinson. Today, it’s four-star EDGE and the No. 2 player in Minnesota, Wyatt Gilmore.

Gilmore committed to Oklahoma over Miami, Minnesota, Oregon, and Kansas State.

Oklahoma offered the 6-foot-4 240-pound defender in February and, after visiting the schools in his top five, chose Oklahoma when all was said and done.

Landing Gilmore helps open the door for other defensive linemen to commit to Oklahoma too. Defensive line in particular is where some of Oklahoma’s most highly sought-after targets for 2024 play.

Gilmore’s official visit to Oklahoma for the ChampU BBQ was the cherry on top. Not long after, predictions from recruiting services started to pour in.

Oklahoma hasn’t recruited the state of Minnesota often, so being able to pull any talented defender away from the allure of playing in the Big Ten is a solid recruiting win. Miguel Chavis continues to find success on the recruiting trail.

Gilmore’s commitment gives Oklahoma No. 10 for the class of 2024 and brings them up to 35th in the nation.

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Oklahoma Sooners 2024 commitment tracker

Which players are committed to the Oklahoma Sooners 2024 recruiting class and what do they bring to the football field?

The Oklahoma Sooners are hoping to follow a pair of top-10 recruiting classes in 2022 and 2023 with another in the 2024 recruiting cycle. The Sooners’ 6-7 season didn’t affect the finish to the 2023 recruiting class, which finished No. 4 in the nation according to 247Sports.

Brent Venables and his staff are hoping to have a repeat of that success or better and have themselves well-positioned to be near the top of the rankings when it’s all said and done in 2024.

Much of the success of this class will be determined by how well the Oklahoma Sooners recruit the defensive line ahead of their move to the SEC in 2024. In a strong defensive line class, the Sooners are in a good spot with a number of highly-coveted prospects. They finally broke the ice on their defensive line recruiting with the addition of Wyatt Gilmore, the No. 2 player in the state of Minnesota and a four-star prospect.

All eyes turn to players like [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag], [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag], [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag], [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag], [autotag]Jayshawn Ross[/autotag], [autotag]Joseph Jonah-Ajonye[/autotag], and [autotag]Zina Umeozulu[/autotag].

They will not land all of their targets, but Venables, [autotag]Ted Roof[/autotag], [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] and [autotag]Miguel Chavis[/autotag] have made a strong impression on an impressive group of defensive line prospects.

Still just over five months out from the early signing period, here’s a look at who is committed to the Oklahoma Sooners as of July 1, 2023.

Two Sooners among PFF’s Big 12 highest-graded returning edge defenders for 2023

PFF listed the top 10 grades for returning edge defenders in the Big 12 and two Sooners made the list.

If the Oklahoma Sooners are going to be better on defense, they’re going to have to be better at rushing the passer and playing the run. The good news is, they have a pair of edge rushers that were among the highest-graded returning players in the Big 12.

According to Pro Football Focus, Rondell Bothroyd and Ethan Downs were two of the highest-graded EDGE players in 2022 returning for the 2023 season.

Wake Forest transfer Rondell Bothroyd came in at No. 1, and Ethan Downs came in at No. 6.

They were joined by Cincinnati’s Daniel Grzesiak and Justin Wodtly, Houston’s Nelson Ceaser, BYU’s Tyler Batty, Oklahoma State’s Anthony Goodlow, Baylor’s Byron Vaughns, UCF’s Tre’Mon Morris-Brash and West Virginia’s Sean Martin.

Oklahoma and Cincinnati were the only programs to feature multiple players in the top 10.

There’s a reason why Oklahoma’s staff is excited about the addition of Bothroyd. He’s coming off two seasons in which he totaled 93 tackles, 24.5 for loss, and 13 sacks.

Downs had 38 tackles, 13.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2022. It was an up and down start to the season, but Downs really came on strong in the second half of the year.

PFF named Downs to the All Big-12 third team last year and Sooners Wire managing editor John Williams had this to say about Downs’ 2022 season.

Ethan Downs finished the season tied for the team lead with 4.5 sacks. Though he was just 10th in the Big 12 in pressures among edge rushers, he finished fourth in the conference in stops at the position. He had a fantastic finish to the season, picking up seven tackles for loss and two sacks in the Sooners final three games. – Williams, Sooners Wire

The Sooners are going to need Downs and Bothroyd to take another step along with the others on the defensive line if they hope to take a big step as a defense and more importantly, in the win column.

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