Tag: Oklahoma football recruiting

Oklahoma football has ceased on, off-campus recruiting with new NCAA mandated dead period

No more eyeballs for the time being or something like that. Oklahoma football has ceased on-and-off campus recruiting with new dead period.

No more eyeballs for the time being or something like that.

Earlier on Friday, the NCAA established a new NCAA recruiting dead period that extends through “at least” April 15 and will reevaluate the situation then. The current recruiting period is a quiet period* through April 14 before the in-person spring evaluation period from April 15 through May 30.

Oklahoma football has responded, with Annie Hanson, the assistant athletic director and recruiting strategy, administrative engagement for the program, announcing that the Sooners have ceased on-and-off campus recruiting through the end of the dead period.

Hanson reminds everyone that they can still contact recruits via texting or direct messages on Twitter until the dead period is over. The Oklahoma Athletics’ compliance department has also tweeted out its response to the new NCAA mandated dead period.

Oklahoma football, in the craziest way possible, actually benefits from this. The Sooners hosted three, five-star recruits from the 2021 recruiting class for unofficial visits over the last week in No. 1 quarterback Caleb Williams, No. 1 running back Camar Wheaton and No. 1 offensive guard Bryce Foster before the sports world was shut down. The Sooners are putting themselves in a situation to bring in a haul of elite recruits for the 2021 class.

Sooners Wire will continue to post updates on how the coronavirus is impacting Oklahoma athletics.

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*According to the NCAA’s bylaws for the 2019-20 recruiting calendar, a quiet period is that period of time when it is permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts only on the member institution’s campus. No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts or evaluations may be made during the quiet period.

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Five-star offensive lineman Bryce Foster announces visit to Oklahoma on Tuesday

Oklahoma is getting a return visit from one of the top prospects in the country. Bryce Foster will visit on Tuesday.

Oklahoma is getting a return visit from one of the top prospects in the country.

The No. 1 offensive guard, No. 2 prospect from the state of Texas and No. 9 overall recruit in the 2021 recruiting class, Bryce Foster, just made the trip up from Houston to Norman, Oklahoma, just over a month ago.

Foster tweeted out that he will return to visit Oklahoma on Tuesday for the first spring practice for the Sooners of 2020.

This is one of many visits the highly touted prospect has made on his own dime and time to Oklahoma. Foster put the Sooners in his top-5 that also includes LSU, Oregon, Texas and Texas A&M on Feb. 3, two days after his last visit to Oklahoma on Feb. 1.

Lincoln Riley has four commitments for the 2021 class thus far, including one offensive lineman in Cullen Montgomery.

Oklahoma begins spring practice on Tuesday and will have its spring game on April 18. Foster is schedule officially visit the Sooners for the spring game.

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Five-star quarterback Caleb Williams recaps March visit to Oklahoma in latest blog

Oklahoma had one of its most important recruits from the upcoming class of 2021 recruiting class on campus this past week. 

Oklahoma had one of its most important recruits from the upcoming class of 2021 recruiting class on campus this past week.

Five-star recruit and No. 1 quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class, Caleb Williams, took in the sights and sounds of Norman, Oklahoma, from Thursday through Saturday. It was Williams third visit to Oklahoma and Lincoln Riley.

“I got the clarity that I needed,” Williams wrote in his personal blog on Sports Illustrated. “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.”

Joining Williams on the trip was his mom and dad and two of his mentors.

He says that he met with Jalen Hurts and Oklahoma president Joseph Harroz on the visit. Williams says Harroz laid out out a strategic plan over the next few years and how important Oklahoma football is to the university.

The five-star quarterback wrote that his mom enjoyed the visit and “how peaceful it was”. Williams says that his mom “thought it was a very mellowed out campus and that the vibe was very cool”.

His dad also had beaming remarks.

“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 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.”

The Sooners have four commitments already for the 2021 recruiting class. Oklahoma took a 2020 quarterback late in the son of Auburn offensive coordinator Chad Morris, Chandler Morris and are expected to be going with the top quarterback from the 2019 class in Spencer Rattler through the 2021 season.

Williams has not announced when he is returning to Oklahoma for a visit.

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Five-star quarterback Caleb Williams talks upcoming visit to Oklahoma, relationship with Lincoln Riley in personal blog

Five star quarterbacks and Oklahoma remain a thing. Caleb Williams talks upcoming visit and relationship with Lincoln Riley in personal blog.

Oklahoma and five-star quarterbacks remain a thing.

The Sooners landed Spencer Rattler in the 2019 recruiting class, who ended up as the top quarterback in that class. Then it was Bryce Young, who ended up the same in the 2020 class but chose hometown USC before flipping late to Alabama, though the prevailing thought was that he’d pick Oklahoma if it weren’t for Rattler.

Enter Brock Vandagriff in the 2021 class. He was the No. 1 ranked quarterback at the time of his commitment to Oklahoma last summer and eventually de-committing for hometown Georgia.

Now?

Current five-star and No. 1 quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class Caleb Williams*, who is set to visit Oklahoma over the next three days.

“If you just go look at their recent history with Coach (Lincoln) Riley, that should be enough to get me back on campus,” Williams wrote in his personal blog with Sports Illustrated. “With Baker (Mayfield), to Kyler (Murray), to Jalen Hurts. They were all Heisman contenders, two Heisman winners and two were first overall picks. Jalen is coming up in this draft and he should go high.”

When Vandagriff committed last summer, Lincoln Riley never stopped communicating with Williams.

The Washington D.C. native visited Oklahoma soon after Vandagriff made his commitment and the Sooners not having a spot for him. Williams has visited Norman, Oklahoma, twice, and wrote on his relationship and upcoming visit the next three days.

“I’ve already visited there twice and I’ve liked it,” he wrote. “I like Coach Riley. He and I were in the war room—they call it—the offensive meeting room. We were going through a bunch of plays; we were talking and connected very well. I think it was for a long time and it wasn’t supposed to be, it was supposed to be 20 minutes or so and it went way longer. I have a good connection with Coach Riley. The recent history is enough for me to come back.

“Still trying to figure out if that is one of the places for me out of all the schools I’m choosing from. And just the feeling of being there and if I could be out there for three or four years and call it my home.”

Oklahoma is the perceived leader in the clubhouse with LSU and Clemson being the stiffest competition.

It has not been announced or reported if Williams will be making a return visit to the Sooners after this weekend.

*according to Rivals.com

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Five-star quarterback Caleb Williams will reportedly visit Oklahoma next week

Hello, Lincoln Riley. The No. 1 quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class will reportedly visit Oklahoma next week.

Hello, Lincoln Riley.

The Oklahoma head coach lost his head honcho of the 2021 recruiting class when former No. 1 quarterback Brock Vandagriff de-committed on Jan. 1. Now, the current No. 1 quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class is set to visit.

Caleb Williams, the third overall prospect and top quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class according to Rivals, will reportedly visit Oklahoma from March 5-7. It was first reported by 247Sports director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong and later confirmed by Rivals.com east coast recruiting analyst Adam Friedman.

Williams is one of two quarterbacks who were offered by Riley in the 2021 recruiting class. He visited Oklahoma after Brock Vandagriff committed in the spring of 2019. The upcoming visit will be his first without the Sooners having a quarterback committed and the first as Riley’s main target in the class.

LSU was the perceived leader for Williams until offensive wizard Joe Brady moved up to the NFL with the Carolina Panthers.

Clemson is another at the top of the race, but Dabo Swinney is bringing in the No. 2 quarterback in the 2020 class as the heir apparent to Trevor Lawrence. If we learned anything about that in 2020, Oklahoma was unable to snatch Bryce Young due to Spencer Rattler becoming a Sooner in the 2019 class.

Oklahoma only has three commitments thus far in the 2021 recruiting class.

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Class of 2021 Alabama commit, top recruit announces plans to visit Oklahoma on Sunday

Maybe Oklahoma can get something in return for Alabama swooping in to steal Jase McClellan. The Sooners are set to host an Alabama commit.

Maybe Oklahoma can get something in return for Alabama swooping in last minute to steal Jase McClellan.

The Sooners are after Alabama commit and four-star, top-100 class of 2021 recruit Latrell McCutchin. The Austin, Texas, native was offered by Oklahoma in May of 2019. McCutchin’s interest and activity geared towards Alex Grinch and the Sooners has picked up as of late.

He announced on Twitter that he would be visiting Oklahoma when the month turns and the recruiting dead period is over on Sunday.

McCutchin is listed as the 64th best prospect and fifth-best corner in the 2021 recruiting class on Rivals.

He has been committed to Alabama since June of 2019. Georgia, Penn State and Florida are amongst other schools that have thrown their hat in the ring with offers this winter.

Oklahoma is expecting in a large contingent of the top targets along with McCutchin from the 2021-23 recruiting classes on Sunday.

The Sooners already have three commitments for the 2021 class in three-stars Cullen Montgomery, Ethan Downs and four-star wide receiver Cody Jackson. Oklahoma brought in the No. 15 ranked recruiting class for 2020.

Blazing fast 2021 four-star RB announces top-6 schools

The Georgia Bulldogs are among the top six schools for 2021 four-star running back Evan Pryor.

The Georgia Bulldogs are among the top six schools for 2021 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 his class. He announced his top schools via Twitter:

In Pryor’s top schools, which he calls his final six are: UNC, UGA, USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Penn State.

Pryor has some time before he’ll need to commit to a school (next December/February). . Georgia is heavily recruiting the state of North Carolina, where the Dawgs have found some excellent talent over the years including: Todd Gurley, Jordan Davis, Keith Marshall, and Zamir White.

Will Pryor be the next great North Carolinian to join the Dawgs? The 5’10”, 190 pound back has some excellent highlights.

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247 Sports director of recruiting predicts Oklahoma to land 5-star quarterback

For the second time in three years, Oklahoma is looking to bring in one of the best signal-callers in the country. 

For the second time in three years, Oklahoma is looking to bring in one of the best signal-callers in the country.

After landing the No. 1 quarterback in the 2019 class in Spencer Rattler, Lincoln Riley has his eyes on class of 2021 five-star quarterback Caleb Williams.

Soon after the de-commitment of fellow 2021 five-star quarterback Brock Vandagriff, Williams became the priority target for Oklahoma. The Sooners never stopped recruiting him despite Vandagriff’s commitment, and it seems to be paying off.

Steve Wiltfong, the director of recruiting for 247 Sports, predicted Williams to be a Sooner on Monday.

“While I’m riding with the Sooners right now, I could easily flip back to LSU depending on who the Tigers hire to replace offensive whiz Joe Brady,” Wiltfong wrote. “They were the clear team to beat following a visit to Baton Rouge in the fall. Brady taking a job with the Carolina Panthers changed the dynamic and opened the door for Oklahoma with Lincoln Riley keeping in nearly daily contact. They’ll return to Norman in March. Clemson, Oregon and Penn State are also still in the thick of this recruitment. A recent visit to see Dabo Swinney and company moved the needle.”

Since that article was published, LSU has reportedly hired longtime NFL coach Scott Linehan to fill offensive aficionado Joe Brady’s position as the Tigers’ quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. He last worked as the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive coordinator from 2016-18 before parting ways with the Cowboys after the 2018 season.

Williams is the fourth-ranked quarterback on 247 Sports and the 15th overall prospect for the 2021 recruiting class. He was named the No. 3 overall recruit and the No. 1 ranked quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class on Rivals on Monday.

He has not set a timetable for a decision.

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Bill Bedenbaugh named one of the top-25 recruiters of 2020 by Rivals

The glue of Oklahoma football receives some recognition. Bedenbaugh was named one of the top-25 recruiters in college football for 2020.

The glue of Oklahoma football receives some recognition.

Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh has turned the Sooners’ offensive line room into one of the more respected offensive line rooms in all of football regardless of level.

His development is the main reason for that, the other is for recruiting and landing the best talent among the offensive line in the country.

Bedenbaugh was named one of the top-25 recruiters in college football for the 2020 recruiting class by Rivals on Friday.

“Already a multiple winner of this award, Bedenbaugh makes the top 25 again with an outstanding haul of five four-star offensive linemen, four of which are in the Rivals250,” wrote Rivals’ recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt. “What makes this 2020 group so impressive is that Oklahoma’s offensive line coach went into Washington D.C. – not exactly a recruiting hotbed for the Sooners – to grab a pair of four-star offensive tackles in Aaryn Parks and Anton Harrison. The other four-star offensive linemen in this class came from Arizona, Texas and, finally, from the Sooners’ own back yard with Tulsa-area offensive guard Andrew Raym, the top-ranked player in-state for the 2020 recruiting cycle.”

Bedenbaugh is already out ahead for the 2021 recruiting class with one commitment in three-star tackle Cullen Montgomery.

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Where Oklahoma’s 2020 recruiting class ranks amongst recruiting services, past

OU has officially signed all 23 members of its 2020 recruiting class. Here is where the Sooners’ class ranks amongst the recruiting services.

National Signing Day(s) has come and gone.

Oklahoma has officially signed all 23 members of its 2020 recruiting class from the early signing day and the national signing day. The Sooners, in a tight scholarship recruiting year, recruited well, but not to the level it has as of late.

Lincoln Riley lost some of the juice from his 2020 class as former commitments Jase McClellan (Alabama), Drew Sanders (Alabama) and Dontae Manning (Oregon) can all be found in the Rivals’ top-100 ranking.

Oklahoma, despite the defections from the class, finished with the 15th ranked recruiting class in the country, according to Rivals. The Sooners finished 11th on the 247Sports composite of all the services and 10th on ESPN.

Texas A&M (No. 6), Tennessee (No. 8), Oregon (No. 9) and Miami (No. 12) signed higher ranked 2020 classes than Oklahoma.

The 2020 class follows three-straight top-10 recruiting classes on Rivals, with Oklahoma’s 2019 class finishing No. 5 (2017, No. 7; 2018, No. 8). The Sooners last finished this low in 2016 at No. 16—the last recruiting year before Riley was hired as Bob Stoops’ offensive coordinator.

For the third-straight year, fifth time in the last six years and seventh time in the last decade, Texas has finished with a higher ranked recruiting class than Oklahoma on Rivals. The Sooners have never been lower than second in the Big 12 in that span.

Oklahoma’s 2021 recruiting class is already being put together with three commitments. It is too early in that process to gauge if Riley and the Sooners will get back into the top-10.

*Rivals is the recruiting service used unless noted

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