Tag: Nigel Smith II

Oklahoma Sooners get prediction for 2025 3-Star offensive lineman

The Oklahoma Sooners continue their work on the recruiting trail, this time earning a prediction for a 2025 offensive lineman.

The 2023 regular season has come to an end for the Oklahoma Sooners. While they wait to find out their bowl game fate, the Sooners continue their work on the recruiting trail.

The early signing period is less than a month away for the [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag], and the Sooners have that class pretty much set, barring any last-minute changes. So, OU continues to put in work on their already impressive [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

This time they have received a prediction from Collin Kennedy of Sooners Illustrated at 247Sports for three-star offensive lineman out of Melissa, TX, [autotag]Owen Hollenbeck[/autotag]. Hollenbeck is listed as a 6-foot-3, 310-pound interior offensive lineman. He also plays at the same high school as 2024 commit, [autotag]Nigel Smith II[/autotag].

He got his offer back on Aug. 4, 2023. He was also named a Texas 7-4A-I first-team all-district selection as a freshman back in 2021. It’s clear he’s been a priority for [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] and Oklahoma. This year will be a big year when it comes to offensive line recruiting. The Sooners missed out on a lot of their high-end targets in 2024.

Oklahoma currently has eight commits and the No. 4 overall ranked class. They do not have any offensive linemen committed as of now. Hollenbeck, [autotag]Michael Fasusi[/autotag] and [autotag]Lamont Rogers[/autotag] are just a few of the names to watch along the offensive line for the 2025 class.

Hollenbeck currently doesn’t have a commit date set but as of right now, Oklahoma is in a very good spot.

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4-star in-state 2024 defensive end and Oklahoma Sooners target sets commitment date

4-Star EDGE and in-state product Danny Okoye set his commitment date on Sunday.

The Oklahoma Sooners have been on fire on the recruiting trail during [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ tenure in Norman. That roll continued this past week when the Sooners gained the commitment of four-star defensive lineman Nigel Smith II.

Now the Sooners turn to their attention to the defensive line and in-state standout [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag]. Okoye is a four-star prospect who plays at Tulsa NOAH homeschool.

For his age, he’s physically mature. He comes in at 6 feet, 4 inches and 241 pounds. Okoye took Oklahoma off his list of possibilities last year but has since admitted that was a mistake.

He originally planned to commit in October. However, after visiting Norman last week, he announced his top three and set his commitment date.

The final three are the Tennessee, Texas and, of course, Oklahoma. As for his commitment date, Okoye will announce on Sept. 20, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Since his visit, the Sooners have taken a big lead for Okoye, but after a dominating win over the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Longhorns may have piqued his interest. He tweeted, “May or may not have made an adjustment after last night,” with two crying emojis at the end of it.

Now, how seriously do you take that? I’m not sure. Recruits like to throw people off on where they are committing. Okoye is set to visit the Longhorns on the 16th, but that visit has been in jeopardy, so we’ll see if it actually takes place.
For now, the Sooners staff continues to push for his commitment.

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Texas A&M loses 2024 4-Star DL to future SEC opponent

With all the recruiting wins, there are always losses, as 2024 4-star DL Nigel Smith committed to Oklahoma on Friday night

Texas A&M’s 2023 football season is off to a solid start after defeating New Mexico 52-10 last Saturday while hosting several prospects and current commits, including 2025 five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez. This weekend, recruiting visits will take a short break, as the Aggies with face Miami inside a packed Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

On Friday, 2024, four-star defensive lineman and exceptional pass rusher Nigel Smith II finally announced his future collegiate destination, and while the Aggies stood in a solid position to land the Melissa, Texas native, Oklahoma, who has been leading his recruiting charge for quite some time, officially gained one of the more underrated prospects the cycle has to offer.

Heading into his final senior season at Melissa High School in Melissa, Texas, Smith’s epic 2022 junior season has skyrocketed his recruiting value, recording 103 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and two forced fumbles as a 3-tech defensive lineman and outside linebacker.

According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Smith is currently positioned as the 83rd-ranked player in the cycle, the 12th-ranked defensive lineman, and the 16th-ranked player in Texas. He is a current favorite from a projection standpoint to land with Oklahoma.

Look, missing out on top-tier defensive prospects always stings, but after Jimbo Fisher and his staff landed five-star DL Dominick McKinley last Friday, Texas A&M’s fifth-ranked recruiting class now includes three defensive linemen with elite traits, as Mckinley joins four-star Dealyn Evans and three-star Gabriel Reliford in the future defensive trenches.

Texas A&M will face the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday, Sept. 9, which will air on ABC at 2:30 p.m. CT.

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Four-star DL Nigel Smith II chooses Oklahoma Sooners over Texas, Texas A&M

Oklahoma is the choice for four-star defensive lineman Nigel Smith II. Smith commits to the Sooners over Texas, Texas A&M, and Penn State.

Oklahoma landed another defensive lineman from the state of Texas, earning a commitment from consensus four-star defensive lineman Nigel Smith II. Smith represents its fourth defensive line commitment of the 2024 cycle. He picked Oklahoma over Texas, Texas A&M and Penn State.

Smith has been in Oklahoma’s sights since the summer of 2022. The Sooners made an early significant impression on the talented defender. Since their offer, the Sooners continued building a rapport with Smith and making him a priority in this recruiting cycle.

Smith’s decision came at the opening of his Melissa High School’s new stadium. The talented prospect shut his recruitment down nearly a month ago. Since then, Oklahoma has remained the overwhelming favorite to land his commitment.

Smith was once considered a five-star prospect. He has the requisite size and weight and versatility to star in Brent Venables’ defense, which employs both three and four-man defensive fronts. His power jumps off the tape, but he’s fleet-footed enough that he can win with his lateral agility as well.

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This is a massive recruiting win for Oklahoma, and one it could not afford to lose. The Sooners have multiple defensive linemen who will have no eligibility or will graduate following this season. Hence, Smith’s pledge to the Sooners is even more critical. There’s a chance he could earn a role as a freshman out of pure necessity.

That’s another conversation for another day.

However, as Oklahoma continues to try and transform this roster into one capable of winning in the SEC, securing the pledge of a 6-foot-5, 260-pound defender is a big step in the right direction.

Adding Smith to the Sooners’ class vaults them inside the top 10. It is ranked eighth, according to the 247Sports team recruiting rankings. The Sooners are less than a point behind Tennesseee for the seventh-ranked class in the nation.

Smith becomes the fifth highest-ranked prospect in this Oklahoma recruiting class at No. 83 on 247Sports’ composite and No. 115 on 247Sports’ rankings.

Oklahoma isn’t done adding across its defensive front, though. It is the trending choice for one of the Sooner State’s best, four-star edge Danny Okoye.

Oklahoma also may not be done at Melissa High School. One of Smith’s teammates is also being recruited by the Sooners: Owen Hollenbeck. Hollenbeck is a 2025 interior offensive line prospect who was at Oklahoma on an unofficial last week for their first game of the year. He’s a name to watch over the next few months as well.

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Oklahoma Sooners receive three more predictions for 4-Star defensive lineman

All eyes are on this Friday night as Sooners four-star target Nigel Smith II announces his commitment.

Recruiting never stops for the [autotag]Oklahoma Sooners[/autotag]. The Sooners are still on the hunt to close out their [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag] strong.

The next scheduled announcement is four-star defensive lineman and top 100 player, [autotag]Nigel Smith II[/autotag]. Smith is a 6-foot-5 and 260-pounder from Melissa, Texas.

Smith is set to commit this Friday at 7:25 p.m. CT. He is choosing between a number of schools with Oklahoma perceived to be the heavy favorite.

In fact, Oklahoma received three new predictions for Smith II. One was from 247Sports’ National Recruiting Analyst Mike Roach, another from Rivals National Recruiting Analyst Cole Patterson and the latest one from Rivals Midwest Recruiting Analyst Dylan Callaghan-Croley.

Good height and general build that fits myriad front-line defensive roles. Strength- and power-oriented defensive playmaker who often overwhelms high school blockers. Displays above-average first-step explosion. Capable of getting on top of offensive linemen quickly and getting them on their heels. Also flashes knife-through ability at times to make plays in the backfield. Encouraging redirecting suddenness for a bigger-bodied D-lineman. Legitimate high-major defensive line prospect with a desired multi-sport background (basketball) that often reflects in on-field functional athleticism. Ideally, more physical and athletic data becomes available between junior and senior seasons, but appears to own physical traits and on-field context to eventually become a quality P5 defender with a long-term ceiling that could lead to the NFL. – 247Sports National Scouting Analyst Gabe Brooks

Smith is kind of the forgotten man because his recruitment has been so low-key. He doesn’t talk about it much and you don’t hear rumors about him each and every day. But he’s a guy that in most years would be Oklahoma’s top defensive line recruit. People forget just last year he was a five-star prospect.

Now the Sooners still have to close, but Smith is no slouch and someone who can make an early impact at Oklahoma. He’s the kind of guy you want and need when heading to the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

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2024 4-Star DL Nigel Smith will announce his commitment at the end of the week

2024 4-star DL Nigel Smith, one of the remaining priority prospects for Texas A&M, is set to announce his commitment on Friday, Sept. 8.

Texas A&M’s 2023 football season is off to a solid start after defeating New Mexico 52-10 last Saturday while hosting several prospects and current commits, including 2025 five-star cornerback Devin Sanchez.

This Saturday, the Aggies will travel to Florida to face the Miami Hurricanes inside what could be a packed Hard Rock Stadium, and first true test of the season for a team looking to find a momentum streak.

On the recruiting front, 2024 four-star DL Nigel Smith II is set to announce his commitment on Friday, Sept. 8, after announcing early last month that he planned to stop taking any more recruiting visits ahead of his announcement. As it stands, Smith will choose between Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State, Texas, Rutgers, Georgia, Arkansas and Texas A&M.

According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Smith is currently positioned as the 83rd-ranked player in the cycle, the 12th-ranked defensive lineman, and the 16th-ranked player in Texas. He is a current favorite from a projection standpoint to land with Oklahoma.

Heading into his final senior season at Melissa High School in Melissa, Texas, Smith’s epic 2022 junior season has skyrocketed his recruiting value, recording 103 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and two forced fumbles as a 3-tech defensive lineman and outside linebacker.

Listed at 6-5 and just over 260 pounds, Smith’s first-step explosiveness off the snap while using his natural strength to stack and shed blockers is one of the many reasons quarterbacks constantly run from left to right in mere seconds after the snap.

I do not usually rely on social media-related hints, but I’ll leave you with this. 2024 four-star safety and Aggie commit Myles Davis asked if Smith would be donning Maroon & White soon, leading to a cryptic yet encouraging emoji-based response.

Nigel Smith II has taken five visits to College Station, including two last year (June 21 and July 30) and three in the previous four months (April 1, June 23, and July 29.)

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SEC move helps the Oklahoma Sooners on the recruiting trail

There is no doubt Oklahoma has been recruiting at an even higher level than recently, how big of a role has the SEC move played into that?

The SEC has long been thought to be the best conference in college football and the closest thing to the [autotag]NFL[/autotag]. Many wondered what kind of recruiting bump the Sooners would see once they headed to their new conference. We might already be seeing it unfold.

The Oklahoma Sooners received a boost on the recruiting trail. Bob Przybylo with SoonerScoop (subscription required) wrote an article about all the ways the SEC is helping the Sooners. The coaches know how big a lift it gives them when they are sitting in the homes with recruits and their families.

“The Sooners have already proven they can recruit at a top-tier level under Venables,” Przybylo said in his piece. “But, honestly, there’s still another level it could reach with the SEC brand attached.”

One of the first things [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag] mentioned when he committed was the move to the SEC. He was looking forward to playing football and baseball in the premier conference.

To compete in the SEC, you need to recruit against the best in the nation. Oklahoma is coming off the No. 4 class in the nation in the 2023 cycle, which was one of the best classes in program history. That came after securing the No. 8 class in the 2022 cycle.

There’s no doubt Oklahoma’s future in the SEC is helping land guys such as Cayden Green, David Stone and Adeopoju Adebawore. It may not be the primary reason Oklahoma’s having success, but it certainly moves the needle on the recruiting trail.

Nobody creates more NFL draft selections or first round picks than the SEC. The level of competition

This year’s class is ranked 11th in the nation by [autotag]247Sports[/autotag]. No. 11 is a good spot to climb higher, but that is seventh among SEC schools thus far.

Obviously, Oklahoma isn’t close to being done recruiting this cycle. Five-star defensive lineman [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag] is committing on Friday. Then Friday, Sept. 8, four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag] II is announcing his decision.

Right now, Oklahoma is the favorite for Smith, but not for McKinley. There aren’t decision dates for four-star prospects Grant Brix and Danny Okoye. The Sooners are in a good spot with those top prospects. There are targets that could end up in their 2024 signing class. At No. 11, the Sooners may not end up with a top-five class in the SEC, let alone the nation.

Oklahoma knows what it has to do and how well it needs to recruit. It’s why it went after [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. He knows what it takes to compete against the best in the nation.

It’s why you haven’t heard any doubt after a 6-7 season from the administration. They know they’ve got the right guy for the job.

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Can the Oklahoma Sooners land another top five class in 2024?

The Sooners’ staff are working to get another top five class under their belt but can it be done?

[autotag]Oklahoma Sooners[/autotag] fans woke up Sunday morning with big smiles on their faces. The team closed on a five-star defensive lineman.

Now, people forget the staff signed Adeboju Adebawore last year, but if you ask Sooner fans, you’d think they can’t land anyone, and the coaches aren’t doing a good job.

People only remember the misses such as [autotag]David Hicks[/autotag] and [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag] (TBD). They forget the Sooners wouldn’t even be in those battles if it wasn’t for [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag], [autotag]Miguel Chavis[/autotag], and, of course, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag].

On Saturday night, they received the great news that five-star [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], the No. 6 player in the nation, is coming back home.

With the commitment of Stone, the Sooners vaulted to No. 10 in Rivals‘ team rankings, No. 13 in 247Sports‘ rankings and No. 14 in On3‘s team rankings. Can the Sooners land another top-five class two years in a row?

The answer isn’t one people will be satisfied with, but it is possible. A lot of things would have to go their way. Some notable commitments Sooner fans are waiting for are [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag], [autotag]Nigel Smith II[/autotag], [autotag]Brayden Platt[/autotag], [autotag]Grant Brix[/autotag] and [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag].

Oklahoma is a finalist for McKinley and Platt, but neither appear heading the Sooners’ way. Now, Oklahoma has shocked people come decision day as recently as Jayden Jackson this summer.

If Oklahoma lands Smith II, Brix and Okoye without any other schools getting commitments, the Sooners would pass the Alabama Crimson Tide for fourth in 247Sports team rankings. That would solidify a top-five class. However, assuming Alabama or other schools in the top 10 don’t add players is unlikely with four months remaining until the early signing period.

The rankings will change throughout the fall. But Oklahoma has to close on those three to give it a chance at a top-five class.

Smith II plans to announce on Sept. 8 and is deciding between Oklahoma and the Texas A&M Aggies.

Brix hasn’t set a date, but it could happen any day. Oklahoma, the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Kansas State Wildcats are the final three.

Okoye hasn’t set a date yet either. Many think Oklahoma has a good chance of landing him. If I had to bet right now, I’d bet Oklahoma lands in that 7-9 range, which is still a really good class.

It’s no secret since coming to Norman, Brent Venables and his staff have shown you can recruit at a high level on both sides of the ball. No matter what a previous coach made you believe.

They now have to work to close a class that will be the first to play their entire career in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

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Five-star defensive tackle David Stone commits to the Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma finally breaks through and lands their first five-star defensive tackle in over a decade as David Sone committed to the Sooners on Saturday

The drought is over. After a decade-plus with no five-star defensive tackles coming through Norman, the Oklahoma Sooners finally broke Saturday evening through by landing one of the nation’s best players: five-star defensive tackle [autotag]David Stone[/autotag].

Stone was arguably the highest priority for the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2024 recruiting cycle. Defensive tackles that move the way Stone moves can be transformative for a defense.

It’s hard to quantify what it means for Oklahoma. However, after missing on five-star edge [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag], landing Stone became more paramount.

The Sooners entered August with the possibility of landing Nwaneri, Stone and [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag]. Two out of the three would have been spectacular, but not landing any would be concerning, especially if they missed on Stone.

Stone is a native Oklahoman who went to IMG Academy after his sophomore year to take his game and education to another level. He’s been open about being a fan of the OU after growing up in the Sooner State.

Oklahoma had its foot in the door with the previous coaching regime, but [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] grabbed this recruitment when he was hired and ran with it. Last year, Michigan State had positioned itself well. Oklahoma found a way to fend off the Spartans before battling the Miami Hurricanes in recent weeks.

Stone committed at halftime of IMG’s second game of the season. He chose the crimson and cream over Miami, Michigan State, Oregon Ducks, Florida Gators and Texas A&M Aggies. With him committed, Oklahoma has back-to-back years with multiple five-star prospects and back-to-back years with five-star defenders.

Oklahoma rises from 15th to 12th in team recruiting rankings, leapfrogging Clemson, Auburn and Oregon.

Stone is Oklahoma’s 22nd commit for the class of 2024 and will likely be its highest rated.

He’s a consensus five-star across all the primary recruiting services. He’s the No. 10 prospect and No. 3 defensive lineman in the country, according to 247Sports. He’s the third-ranked defensive lineman in the country. He’s the sixth-ranked player on the 247Sports composite.

Bates has been an extremely busy man this summer. This commitment culminates two years of work and building a relationship with Stone and his family.

With Stone in the boat, Oklahoma’s defensive staff will turn its attention to ensuring four-star defensive lineman Nigel Smith II is a Sooner come Sept. 8 when he plans to make his announcement.

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Defensive line depth Oklahoma’s biggest need for its 2024 recruiting class per ESPN

ESPN analyzed the biggest needs for the top 25 schools in their 2024 recruiting rankings. DL depth the biggest need for the Sooners.

This week, ESPN examined the 2024 recruiting landscape as less than four months stand between us and the early signing period. For Oklahoma, they sit in an advantageous position. They comfortably have a top-25 recruiting class and are on the cusp of potentially landing three more commitments over the next week. It all starts with five-star defensive tackle [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] on Saturday evening.

David Stone’s recruitment means a lot to Oklahoma. He’s been arguably the top priority in the cycle for two years. Not only is he a must-get because of his talent, but the Sooners have to earn his commitment because of how many upperclassmen they have on their defensive line.

After this season, they could see a multitude of interior defensive linemen depart the program for graduation or to play in the NFL. Because of that, ESPN lists Oklahoma’s most significant need for their 2024 class as defensive line depth.

Craig Haubert of ESPN analyzed the biggest needs for the top 25 recruiting classes, and here’s what he had to say about the No. 15 ranked Sooners (ESPN+).

The Sooners must improve their defense and get stronger in the trenches as they prepare to move to the SEC. They began to address those changes last cycle with several signings led by elite edge prospect Adepoju Adebawore, multiple three-stars and transfer portal additions. But 2023 ESPN 300 signee Derrick Leblanc has already transferred from the program, and Oklahoma’s current unit is heavy on upperclassmen. Five-star DL David Stone is expected to decide soon, and the Sooners are in a good position for the Oklahoma native, who plays at IMG. Stone is an explosive and agile big man that could immediately contribute. ESPN 300 DE Nigel Smith could be another key addition and is expected to decide in early September. LSU would love to keep Dominick McKinley at home, but the Sooners are contenders here as well, as they look to address this need in a potentially big way. – Haubert, ESPN

Oklahoma’s surplus of upperclass defensive linemen should serve them well as they look to bounce back from an abysmal defensive performance in 2022.

As Haubert points out, the interior of the defensive line is dependent on the veterans making an impact this season. There are intriguing youngsters inside like [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag], [autotag]Ashton Sanders[/autotag], [autotag]Kelvin Gilliam[/autotag], and [autotag]Markus Strong[/autotag], but we’ve yet to see them take significant snaps at the collegiate level.

It makes Stone’s decision even more critical. It also adds to the importance of [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag] II’s impending decision. Four-star EDGE [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag], a star from Oklahoma, also becomes a must-have for the Sooners.

The Sooners don’t just want these three talented defensive linemen. They need them. Oklahoma looks like they have been lapped by Texas, who seems to have run away from OU in the recruitment of [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag].

Oklahoma has commitments from defensive tackle [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] and [autotag]Wyatt Gilmore[/autotag]. With all that said, Oklahoma has a promising chance to add some defensive line depth for next season in the coming weeks and months. It’s about finishing and closing the deal for the Sooners, something they have shown us they aren’t afraid to do.