Tag: Oklahoma football recruiting

What Oklahoma is getting in class of 2021 3-star safety Jordan Mukes

Jordan Mukes ended Oklahoma’s recruiting lull on Monday. Here is what OU is getting in its latest commitment from the state of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma’s recruiting lull came to a stop on Monday night.

Soon after Lincoln Riley sent out his patented eye emoji tweet signaling out a new commitment, in-state class of 2021 safety Jordan Mukes went public with his commitment to the Sooners.

A Choctaw, Oklahoma, native, Mukes became the fourth member of Oklahoma’s 2021 recruiting class. He joined another in-state defensive player in Ethan Downs in Riley’s 2021 class.

Originally, Mukes’ tape doesn’t show the high-level potential that Oklahoma garners right now in the secondary. After a report from Brandon Drumm of OUInsider.com that he just recently picked up football again as a prominent basketball player, his junior tape shines a lot brighter.

Here is what Oklahoma is getting in its latest commitment from the state of Oklahoma.

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LENGTH

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 192 pounds, Mukes clearly has the length that defensive coordinator Alex Grinch desires.

This is a defensive back whose arms hang down to his knees. Mukes utilizes that by getting his hands on receivers breaking into a cut in bump-and-run or lined up 10-yards off the ball. He knocks receivers off their desired route and creates an opportunity to turn his head around to make a play. 

Grinch searches for speed, length and size and Mukes checks off everything but the top-end speed.

FRAME

Where Mukes ends up on Oklahoma’s defense will be a mystery up until he plays his first snap. Even then, I wouldn’t expect to him to stick anywhere. 

The Choctaw, Oklahoma, native can easily carry another 10, 15 or even 20 pounds and maintain his natural athleticism. Mukes long arms and big frame could allow him to play from anywhere deep as the center field safety to being the nickel back. 

Oklahoma director of performance Bennie Wylie’s body reformation program should treat him great.

ATHLETICSIM

When football players can really, really dunk on the basketball court, it is hard to stop watching. 

What Mukes is capable of on a basketball court has no translation to his football prowess, but it does display a level of explosiveness and athleticism that hasn’t shown up on tape yet. This tends to happen with players who are still green in their fundamentals from not playing football for a long time and not getting the most out of their feet and hips. 

This is the part that remains unknown on the football field for Mukes, but luckily, his basketball ground gives him the go-ahead on how much growth can be made between now and when his time comes for Oklahoma.

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Oklahoma five-star quarterback target Caleb Williams announces commitment timeline

Oklahoma five-star quarterback target Caleb Williams has the recruiting world at his fingertips. He details his commitment timeline.

While many thought Caleb Williams may wrap up his recruitment early last Monday, the five-star quarterback had other plans.

Oklahoma’s only quarterback target released a top-five instead, with the Sooners entrenched in the fight. Williams has wrote glowingly about his relationship with Lincoln Riley and how his last visit to Oklahoma checked off all the boxes in past blogs with Sports Illustrated.

The Washington D.C. native has another entry in his weekly blog, this time letting the world know of when he thinks about committing.

“With the timeline, I’ve always wanted to commit before my senior year of football,” wrote Williams. “That’s still the plan, I don’t want to move that unless I have to. I’m still wanting to stay before the season but if that has to change then it has to change.”

In the mean time, Williams wrote that he will spend his time building relationships with some of the other top recruits in the 2021 class. He says he’s not pressuring anybody in this role, but communicating with them constantly and building a friendship.

Williams says he’s been waiting to get to this part of the process in order to help put the best recruiting class around him.

“Being able to have the same options along with top guys in the nation is pretty cool, especially when you can build relationships and bring those guys with you,” he wrote. “You really don’t get that in high school, especially at Gonzaga because you have to get in the school first. So you’re not able to bring guys in like college. Then in the NFL, like my dad says, they choose you. You don’t choose what team you want to go to, at least not in the first contract you get. College is pretty unique and pretty special.”

The Sooners remain without a quarterback committed for the 2021 class and Williams remains the priority for Riley and Oklahoma.

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Lincoln Riley discusses impact of the coronavirus pandemic on recruiting, recruiting calendar

Lincoln Riley discussed the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on college football recruiting Tuesday.

There is no one that loves the challenge of recruiting more than Lincoln Riley.

It has almost become a game that Riley intends on winning. Oklahoma puts an emphasis as strong on recruiting as the Sooners do winning football games.

The coronavirus pandemic brought a new mandated recruiting dead period through April 15. That means no face-to-face contact for recruits and college coaches, but still means that coaches and recruits can communicate whether it is by a phone call, text message or message on social media.

It’s new and something Riley addressed during a conference call with the Oklahoma media on Tuesday.

“We’re not doing anything different than what we usually do, just the amount of time that you have to invest in that right now is certainly different,” he told the media. “The biggest difference is just not having (the recruits) on campus right now. That’s the part you miss the most, especially for us. We’ve had a lot of great visitors through the years that have come out and spent time with us at spring practice. Obviously, the spring game has become a big, big deal for us from a recruiting standpoint. We had probably as many top prospects as we’ve ever had – probably more that were lined up this spring, whether it was unofficially for a practice or officially for the spring game.

“You hate to miss that, especially for the guys who haven’t been here yet. That part definitely feels different. But it has been fun to spend some time and connect with a lot of these guys and their families. A lot of these guys are on a pretty open schedule, too. Your whole day is in front of the computer. Whether it’s our staff meetings, whether it’s meetings with our players, whether it’s film study, whether it’s recruiting, Every waking hour is in front of a screen. That’s just the new normal.”

With most of the country shut down through late April, early May, the recruiting calendar could even have a more drastic change.

During the current NCAA mandated dead period, recruits were allowed to visit schools going through spring practice. On April 15, Football Bowl Subdivision programs were allowed to begin the evaluation period with two in-person contact possibilities at a recruits school. Recruits in the 2021 class were also allowed to start officially visiting schools after April 15, specifically geared towards spring games and other official visit weekends until June 21.

Riley says it’s too early to talk about the evaluation period set to begin on April 15.

“I think the next realistic time that most people are going to be looking at is going to be the summer periods,” he said.”Whether or not you have camps. Whether or not you are able to have prospects on your campus. I think that’s going to be the next realistic possibility. And then I think if we are able to do that or not able to do that, I think what we do the rest of the summer will probably hinge on how that plays out.”

He discussed further on the possibilities that could take place when the summer recruiting period starts on June 1.

“Hypothetically, if you are able to open up June 1 and start having guys on campus and all that, then I doubt they change much,” Riley said. “If you are not able to do that, then there’s going to be a lot of things that are going to have to be looked at. They are definitely going to have to take a peek at the early signing period.

“Evaluations, you can open up the times, but are players and schools even going to be available for evaluations? Which I think is going to be a good question mark. If we are playing ball in the fall, then you could potentially see them giving us more opportunities to go out and evaluate during the fall. Because right now it is a very, very limited number. You could see that potentially open up and allow coaches try to make up for some of the lost time that they are going to lose with spring recruiting. Yeah, I think it’s just a step-by-step process and I think once we get an idea of what we think June and July may look like from a recruiting standpoint, and specifically a visit standpoint, then I think the next steps will fall into place.”

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Oklahoma is reportedly on top for four of the top-16 recruits in the 2021 recruiting class

In the midst of an emergency mandated recruiting dead period, Oklahoma has surged on the trail for four of the top-16 recruits in 2021.

In the midst of an emergency mandated recruiting dead period, Oklahoma has surged on the trail.

The Sooners week got started on Monday when five-star and No. 1 overall quarterback Caleb Williams included Oklahoma in his final five schools after weeks of positive movement in his recruitment for Lincoln Riley. Within the next 48 hours, the momentum got bigger.

Four-star and No. 3 overall wide receiver Mario Williams has reportedly moved the Sooners near or the top of his list. Rivals’ national recruiting director Mike Farrell tweeted out that five-star and No. 1 offensive guard Bryce Foster was trending to Oklahoma—which was followed by Foster tweeting ‘BOOMER’ and Sooners’ center Creed Humphrey tweeting his pitch.

Foster has visited Norman, Oklahoma, twice since year turned in Jan., with one being an impromptu visit for the first practice of the Sooners spring.

The wave of momentum culminated with a report on Wednesday that Oklahoma is the No. 1 contender for the No. 1 running back in the 2021 recruiting class in Camar Wheaton.

“Wheaton has frequented Oklahoma’s campus as much as any school in the country and it should be poised out the success Lincoln Riley and the Sooners have enjoyed in North Texas,” wrote Sam Spiegelman, the south central recruiting analyst for Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma for Rivals. “Oklahoma was one of two schools to get the five-star on campus before the travel ban, which is probably a testament to the strong bond that has formed between Wheaton and the head coach. Right now, the Sooners have to like where they sit with the elite running back.”

Those four are four of the top-16 recruits in the entire 2021 recruiting class according to Rivals—Caleb Williams at No. 3, Wheaton at No. 7, Foster at No. 9 and Mario Williams at No. 16.

The last time Oklahoma was able to accomplish that feat was in 2019 when Jadon Haselwood, Theo Wease, Spencer Rattler and Trejan Bridges signed when the four were in the top-21 of the entire ’19 recruiting class. The Sooners landed the No. 5 recruiting class in 2019 with those four leading the haul.

It’s a long way until the first national signing day in Dec., but Riley and Oklahoma have made big in-roads for four of the country’s best in the 2021 recruiting class. The Sooners can’t bring any visitors in or go see any on the road due to the mandated recruiting dead period for the coronavirus through April 15, but Oklahoma can still contact recruits on the phone.

Baker Mayfield works out with Oklahoma wide receiver target from 2022 recruiting class

Two worlds of Oklahoma football collided on Thursday. Former quarterback Baker Mayfield got a workout in with a top wide receiver recruit.

Two worlds of Oklahoma football collided on Thursday.

Former Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield is apparently back home in Austin, Texas, and decided to get a workout in at his old high school.

Joining him at Lake Travis High School was Austin area native and Del Valle High School prospect Caleb Burton. The top class of 2022 wide receiver is ranked as the No. 37 best recruit in his class, and has an offer from Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma.

Burton has visited Oklahoma before, including a trip to Norman for the ChampU BBQ recruiting event the Sooners put on every late July.

This was a pretty star-studded workout with Ohio State freshman phenom wide receiver Garrett Wilson, former Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer and current Detroit Lions receiver Danny Amendola in attendance.

“Baker had nothing but love for OU,” Burton told 247 recruiting director Steve Wiltfong. “He said positive stuff about them and me and Garret chatted about Ohio State for a second. Just how it is what I thought of Coach (Brian) Hartline and stuff like that. I know me and him will be talking more through the recruiting process!”

Oklahoma, like the rest of college football, is in a dead period for recruiting with zero face-to-face contact. The Sooners can still make contact with recruits on the phone.

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Oklahoma reportedly has shot to or near the top for four-star receiver Mario Williams

Oklahoma looks to be heating up on the recruiting trail as the Sooners have reportedly made a big move for one of 2021’s best.

It appears Oklahoma is heating up on the recruiting trail.

The Sooners made five-star quarterback Caleb Williams final five schools on Monday morning. They have also reportedly made a big move for four-star and top wide receiver prospect Mario Williams.

“Oklahoma once seemed like a long shot in the race to land Rivals100 wide receiver Mario Williams, but those days are long over,” wrote Rivals.com southeast recruiting analyst Rob Cassidy. “According to a source close to the touted prospect, the Sooners are now running at or near the front of his recruitment. A two-sport standout, Williams feels OU is most serious about letting him play baseball in addition to football and sees the school’s recent history with Kyler Murray doing the same as alluring. The catch will be getting Williams on campus, as he’s yet to see Norman, Oklahoma, with his own eyes. There’s a prevailing feeling that if OU is able to get him on campus this fall, Lincoln Riley will beat out Florida, Alabama and others for his letter of intent.”

Williams, a member of the 2021 recruiting class, is considered the 16th overall prospect in the country and No. 3 wide receiver recruit according to Rivals. Oklahoma last landed a receiver from the state of Florida in Marquise Brown thanks to the junior college ranks in California.

The Plant City, Florida, native has been offered by the likes of Alabama, Clemson and Florida among plenty of other of the top schools in the country. As Cassidy reported, Williams has not visited Oklahoma quite yet. That will be put on hold for the time being with the Sooners spring game being postponed.

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Oklahoma makes top-five schools for five-star quarterback Caleb Williams

Oklahoma has made the final list for one of the 2021 recruiting classes’ best. Five-star recruit Caleb Williams has cut his list to five.

Oklahoma has made the final list for one of the 2021 recruiting classes’ best.

Five-star and consensus No. 1 quarterback recruit Caleb Williams is ready to start winding down his recruitment. He announced a top-five on Monday morning with the Sooners included.

Oklahoma will be battling for his services against long-time leader LSU, Clemson, Maryland and Penn State.

“To Oklahoma, I mean, kinda speaks for itself,” Williams wrote in his weekly blog with Sports Illustrated about including Oklahoma. “Their history and what Coach (Lincoln) Riley has done these past three years — Baker (Mayfield) to Kyler (Murray) then to Jalen Hurts, then to whoever else is next and then maybe me.”

Williams recently saw the Sooners on March 5-7. It was his third unofficial visit to see Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma. One of those took place after then-No. 1 quarterback Brock Vandagriff committed in the summer of 2019.

“I got the clarity that I needed,” Williams wrote in an earlier blog about that visit to Oklahoma. “Having the trust in coaches and mentors Mark and Russ, my dad and my mother being with me, it also helped that they asked a few questions that I wouldn’t know to ask and they gave us the answers. It felt like it was the truth, what they were telling us.”

His dad gave the same glowing remarks about the visit to the Sooners.

“From my perspective it feels like you go to Oklahoma and get into the lab for three or four years,” said Carl Williams in the same blog. “You get glimpses of what they’re developing on Saturdays and they prepare you for the NFL. That’s what I really see there. We had detailed explanation. We didn’t get a chance to see a lot of Norman, we didn’t get a chance to see a lot of Oklahoma City, but we will when we return.

“In terms of meetings and things we did there, I think we got an in-depth look at what student life will be like as an athlete at Oklahoma. I think that’s really important. We feel really good about it.”

With the recent recruiting dead period mandated by the NCAA, Williams will have to wait to return to Oklahoma, but he can still remain in contact with Riley and the OU coaching staff.

The Washington D.C. native could become the second No. 1 quarterback recruit to commit to Oklahoma in the last three recruiting class, joining presumed 2020 starting quarterback Spencer Rattler.

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Georgia, Ohio State target four-star RB makes commitment

Four-star running back Evan Pryor plays for Hough High School. He chose between Ohio State, Georgia, UNC, and more.

The Georgia Bulldogs were among the top six schools for four-star running back Evan Pryor. Pryor plays for Hough High School in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Hough plays in one of the toughest divisions in the state of North Carolina.

Pryor is currently rated as the fifth best back in the class of 2021. He announced his commitment to the Ohio State Buckeyes via Twitter:

Georgia and UNC, USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Penn State made Pryor’s final six, but it wasn’t enough.

The 5’10”, 190 pound back has awesome highlights. He’ll be fun to watch at Ohio State. Fortunately, Georgia won’t have to play against him regularly.

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UGA, Florida among four-star receiver’s top schools

The Georgia Bulldogs are among the top schools for 2021 four-star Plant City, Florida wide receiver Mario Williams.

The Georgia Bulldogs are among the top schools for 2021 wide receiver Mario Williams. Williams is a talented four-star recruit, who plays high school football for Plant City High School in Plant City, Florida.

The entire NCAA is currently in a dead period for recruiting as a result of the Coronavirus. That doesn’t stop players from listing their favorite schools, but it will result in a very different feeling spring from the past couple of seasons.

Kirby Smart and Georgia haven’t canceled the spring game, but it will be delayed in the best of scenarios. Here’s who elite wide receiver Mario Williams put in his top schools:

Williams is picking between four SEC teams: LSU, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and one Big-12 team (Oklahoma). Georgia is continuing to battle the Florida Gators for talented recruits in the Sunshine State.

In recent years, elite talent in Florida has been eluding the traditional in-state programs to go to Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and others. Mario Williams is a high-stakes recruit to watch in 2021. If he doesn’t come to Athens, then the Dawgs will in all likelihood have to play against him, unless he goes to Oklahoma.

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Big 12 Conference suspends all organized team activities, cancels spring sports seasons

The final touches on the spring season have been put to rest. The Big 12 Conference has shut things down until March 29 and beyond.

The final touches on the spring college sports season have been put to rest.

The Big 12 Conference canceled the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday afternoon. They suspended regular season competition for everyone, on-and-off campus recruiting and out-of-season practices later Thursday afternoon. Now?

Everything is shut down through March 29 and all spring sports seasons for its 10 member league have been canceled.

“Due to the on-going developments related to COVID-19 the Big 12 Conference announces that all organized team activities whether organized or voluntary, including team and individual practices, meetings, and other organized gatherings, have been suspended until March 29 and will be re-evaluated at that time,” the Big 12 announced in a release on Friday evening.  “In addition, all conference and non-conference competitions are cancelled through the end of the academic year, including spring sports that compete beyond the academic year.”

This will be the end of Oklahoma baseball’s promising season. The end of Patty Gasso’s late-season reign on college softball. The end of Oklahoma men’s golf’s run to another NCAA Championship.

What has not been decided is the potential for spring football to return. The Big 12 Conference have not decided whether to cancel it all completely, which includes spring games.

The University of Oklahoma has moved to online only classes for the two weeks after spring break. It has not been determined what Oklahoma football is going to do once the March 29 date of the end of the suspension of activities is over.

Sooners Wire will post updates as more information becomes available.

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