Tag: Oklahoma Sooners recruiting

Oklahoma Sooners predicted to land 2023 4-star EDGE Tausili Akana

The Oklahoma Sooners earned several more predictions to land 2023 four-star EDGE Tausili Akana.

The opening of the early signing period is on Wednesday, and the Oklahoma Sooners No. 8 recruiting class has a chance to earn a significant bump come Christmas if recent predictions hold true.

Amidst receiving several predictions over the last couple of days to flip 2023 five-star safety Peyton Bowen, the Oklahoma Sooners have become the favorite for 2023 four-star EDGE Tausili Akana.

The No. 1 player in the state of Utah and the No. 16 overall player in the 247Sports composite, Akana has been heavily recruited by Sooners’ head coach Brent Venables.

Earlier this week, the Oklahoma Sooners received favorable predictions from 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong, Brandon Drumm, and Parker Thune. Rivals recruiting analysts Josh McCuistion and Tyler Bannerman also issued predictions to the Sooners.

Now, the Sooners picked up three more crystal ball predictions from 247Sports. Brandon Huffman, Greg Biggins, and Blair Angulo joined the folks predicting Akana to Oklahoma.

That’s six predictions from 247Sports, a pair of predictions from Rivals, and On3 has the Sooners with an 89.1% chance to land the talented Akana.

At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, Akana could play linebacker for the Sooners, or he could become another talented pass rusher for Miguel Chavis to work with in 2023.

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Where Texas’ 2023 recruiting class ranks after Anthony Hill’s commitment

Anthony Hill vaults Texas four spots higher in the On3 consensus recruiting rankings.

When the Texas A&M Aggies originally earned five-star linebacker Anthony Hill’s commitment, I wrote A&M landed a haymaker on Texas. In flipping Hill from the Aggies, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian landed a knockout punch.

The win on the recruiting trail skyrocketed the Longhorns up the recruiting rankings and gave Texas yet another impact player for the 2023 class.

The Longhorns now have the No. 3 recruiting class in the On3 consensus. The consensus combines the rankings from all four major recruiting websites.

Texas has eight Top 100 players committed according to On3. Among the Longhorns’ Top 100 players are the No. 1 quarterback, No. 1 running back, No. 1 linebacker, two elite wide receivers, the No. 5 cornerback, the No. 3 safety and an elite pass rusher.

Here’s a look at the top 10 recruiting classes in the country for the 2023 cycle.

Flip Season: Rivals’ Nick Harris hints at a potential recruiting flip

It looks like one talented Denton player will pick a new team soon.

All eyes are on Denton, Texas after Rivals recruiting expert Nick Harris tweeted about a potential flip. Continue reading “Flip Season: Rivals’ Nick Harris hints at a potential recruiting flip”

Pair of predictions have 5-star Peyton Bowen flipping from Notre Dame to Oklahoma

With buzz swirling on Peyton Bowen’s recruitment, On3 national recruiting analysts predict the five-star safety will flip to Oklahoma.

Less than a week from the opening of the 2022 early signing period, the Oklahoma Sooners appear to be gaining serious traction in the recruitment of five-star safety Peyton Bowen.

Bowen, who’s been committed to Notre Dame since January 1, 2022 has remained a high priority target for Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners. The athletic safety has been coveted by top schools across the country, and would make a tremendous addition to the Sooners secondary.

After Rivals led the way with a pair of flip predictions a couple of weeks ago, a couple more recruiting analysts have joined them on Thursday. On3’s senior national recruiting director Gerry Hamilton and national recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman are predicting Peyton Bowen to flip to the Oklahoma Sooners.

Bowen is the No. 2 safety in the 247Sports composite rankings and is the No. 14 player in the nation. If he indeed flips, he’d come in just behind Jackson Arnold as the Sooners second-highest rated commit for 2023.

Five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold has been relentless in his desire to continue playing with his high school teammate. And it’s looking more and more likely every day.

Flipping Bowen from Notre Dame would be a huge coup for Brent Venables and his staff. The Sooners are trying to create a defense that can compete with those of the SEC and flipping a five-star safety with coverage skills would provide another fantastic building block.

Nothing’s final until pen is put to paper, but this is very encouraging for the Oklahoma Sooners 2023 recruiting class.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

Oklahoma Sooners make top 5 for JUCO OL target Keyshawn Blackstock

Oklahoma Sooners made the top five for the No. 1 JUCO interior offensive lineman Keyshawn Blackstock out of Coffeyville Community College. From @john9williams

The Oklahoma Sooners will have questions at three of their starting offensive line spots heading into 2023. The departures of [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag], and [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag] have left opportunities for new starters that will be determined in spring and fall camps.

Though the Oklahoma Sooners have internal options, it would serve them well to attack the transfer portal and junior college ranks to create more competition.

And that’s where they stand with JUCO interior offensive line target [autotag]Keyshawn Blackstock[/autotag]. Blackstock, who played for Coffeyville Community College in 2022, released his top five Wednesday evening and included the Oklahoma Sooners.

Oklahoma is joined by premier programs from across the country, like Oregon, Michigan State, Tennessee, and USC.

Blackstone is considered a four-star prospect in the 2023 JUCO recruiting class and the No. 1 JUCO interior offensive line target in the cycle, according to 247Sports. Blackstock is 6-foot-5 and weighs 315 pounds. He was a part of an offense that averaged 27 points per game and 137.1 rushing yards per game and went 8-3 in 2022.

Oklahoma has done a good job in recent years of adding offensive line talent in a variety of ways. Three starters on the 2022 offensive line came via the transfer portal Morris, Murray, and McKade Mettauer. Could the Oklahoma Sooners go the junior college route to find a starter at guard for their 2023 squad?

Time will tell, but they’re in a favorable position with Keyshawn Blackstock. Bill Bedenbaugh has quite the track record of helping offensive linemen get into the NFL and find success.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

New projections have Sooners as favorites for 2023 4-star edge Tausili Akana

Oklahoma has surged into the lead for four-star LB/edge Tausili Akana. From @thatmanbryant

We are eight days away from the opening of the early signing period for the 2023 football recruits across the country. Teams are making last-minute pushes to secure commitments those early signatures next week.

Along with the transfer portal, December is a crazy month. Especially if you factor in bowl prep for the teams fortunate enough to play in one.

Recruiting never stops, however. As Oklahoma looks to finish strongly, it is trending in a positive direction for another top-flight defensive prospect.

One of their remaining targets, four-star edge Tausili Akana is trending in favor of the Oklahoma Sooners.

Akana plays his high school ball in Utah but is a native of Hawaii. He’s been on the Sooners’ radar for months, and Brent Venables took the lead in his recruitment. It seems the head coach’s efforts have been rewarded. Three predictions in favor of Oklahoma hit the internet Tuesday afternoon

Not only are there three predictions, but one of them came from national recruiting director for 247Sports Steve Wiltfong. Wiltfong’s ears are everywhere, and if he’s confident enough to drop a crystal ball, that’s great news for the Sooners.

In addition to Wiltfong’s prediction, Brandon Drumm of OUInsider at 247Sports, Josh McCuistion of Sooner Scoop and Rivals and Tyler Bannerman also of Rivals issued predictions in favor of the Sooners.

Oklahoma on Monday secured the services of four-star safety Daeh McCullough as it continues to round out its 2023 class. It two big fish (Peyton Bowen and David Hicks) remain committed to other schools, but Oklahoma will fight to the end.

A commitment by Akana would help push Oklahoma closer to a top five finish in the team recruiting rankings.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

Oklahoma Sooners earn commitment from 2023 4-star S Daeh McCullough

The Sooners earned a commitment from 2023 four-star safety Daeh McCullough. From @john9williams

The Oklahoma Sooners 2023 recruiting class received a boost on Monday night with the commitment of four-star safety [autotag]Daeh McCullough[/autotag].

McCullough flips from the Cincinnati Bearcats, with whom he’d been committed since August. With Luke Fickell leaving Cincinnati for Wisconsin, the opportunity arose for the Sooners to add an impact safety to the 2023 class.

McCullough ranks as a top 35 safety in the On3 consensus and 247Sports composite and a top five player in the state of Indiana. McCullough joins his brother Dasan McCullough in Norman. The older McCullough committed to the Sooners out of the transfer portal.

The McCullough brothers are the sons of Deland McCullough, who currently coaches running backs at Notre Dame. Prior to landing his gig with the Fighting Irish, Deland was the running backs coach with Indiana. No longer there, the McCulloughs sought opportunities elsewhere, and Oklahoma was able to add two talented defenders.

Here’s what “Locked On Hoosiers” Jacob Rude and Sports Illustrated’s John Garcia had to say about the younger McCullough following his decommitment from Indiana this summer. There are some thoughts on the older McCullough from the two as well.

Just last week, the Sooners were projected to flip Daeh McCullough from the Bearcats. Now those projections have become a reality. Here’s what I had to say about what he brings to Brent Venables’ defense when the projections first hit.

On Daeh, the four-star safety brings good size at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. McCullough plays fast, coming downhill in a hurry in run support from single-high safety looks. Playing both ways for St. Joseph’s High School, Daeh shows off good ball skills, attacking the ball in the air and knows what to do with it when he has it in his hands. He times his blitzes well as both a pass rusher and run defender. He’s sticky in man coverage and able to carry players across the formation.

With the early signing period less than two weeks away, Oklahoma looks to close the 2023 recruiting class in a big way. Peyton Bowen and David Hicks are the big names the Sooners remain in contention for, but there will likely be a few surprises as well.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

Oklahoma Sooners make top 9 for 2024 4-star OT Josiah Thompson

Oklahoma included in the top 9 for 2024 top 100 prospect Josiah Thompson out of South Carolina.

The Oklahoma Sooners have been one of the better recruiting schools over the last year, the first year under [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag].

They closed out the 2022 class No. 8 in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings and look to be headed for a strong finish in the 2023 cycle. Looking ahead to 2024, there’s little doubt that Venables and his crew can continue the recruiting momentum.

They’ve gained some steam in recent weeks as 2024 prospects begin to narrow their recruitment. Recently, the Sooners made the top nine for South Carolina prospect Josiah Thompson.

In addition to the Sooners, Thompson included Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, South Carolina, and Tennessee in his top nine.

Thompson is a top 100 prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, ranking inside the top 100 in the 247Sports composite and the On3 consensus at the position.

One of the top players in South Carolina, Thompson is currently projected to stay home and play for the [autotag]Shane Beamer[/autotag] and the Gamecocks. The Sooners have been active in the southeast since Brent Venables’ arrival in Norman. Earning a commitment from one of the region’s best prospects would be a huge pull for Venables and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh.

Josiah Thompson’s Recruiting Profile

Projections

Film

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Sooners receive crystal ball flip for 4-star S Daeh McCullough from 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong

The Oklahoma Sooners received a crystal ball from 247Sports Steve Wiltfong and Brandon Drumm to flip 2023 four-star safety Daeh McCullough from Cincinnati. From @john9williams

The Oklahoma Sooners are entering the stretch of the 2023 recruiting class. The early signing period is only a couple of weeks away, and Oklahoma looks to be closing in on top prospects from across the country.

As we eagerly away the decision of five-star safety [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag], the Oklahoma Sooners appear on the verge of flipping another safety. Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports flipped his previous crystal ball for 2023 four-star safety Daeh McCullough from the Cincinnati Bearcats to the Oklahoma Sooners. Since Wiltfong’s crystal ball flip, Brandon Drumm of OUInsider at 247Sports has also flipped his commitment from Cincinnati to the Sooners.

McCullough has been committed to the Bearcats since June, but the Sooners have made a late run on McCullough, issuing an offer in early November. With Luke Fickell making the move to Madison to take over the Wisconsin Badgers, Oklahoma looks to be in a prime position to add McCullough.

The South Bend, Indiana, native, is a top-five player in the state and ranks as the No. 34 safety in the 247Sports composite.

According to Drumm, the McCulloughs have a strong tie with Oklahoma cornerbacks coach Jay Valai. Deland McCullough, a running backs coach that was with Indiana and is now with Notre Dame played with Valai during their time with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Daeh’s older brother Dasan just entered the transfer portal after a strong season with the Indiana Hoosiers. Dasan, a defensive end, posted 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

Could the McCullough brothers unite to play college ball for the Sooners? It looks like they’ll get the younger Daeh if the Steve Wiltfong prediction flip holds true.

On Daeh, the four-star safety brings good size at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. McCullough plays fast, coming downhill in a hurry in run support from single-high safety looks. Playing both ways for St. Joseph’s High School, Daeh shows off good ball skills, attacking the ball in the air and knows what to do with it when he has it in his hands. He times his blitzes well as both a pass rusher and run defender. He’s sticky in man coverage and able to carry players across the formation.

Daeh McCullough’s Recruiting Profile

Crystal Ball

Film

Hudl

Oklahoma Sooners receive commitment from JUCO CB Kendel Dolby

Oklahoma added to their 2023 recruiting class with a commitment from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M cornerback Kendel Dolby. From @john9williams

The Oklahoma Sooners 2023 recruiting class picked up another commitment Wednesday afternoon with a pledge from junior college defensive back Kendel Dolby.

Dolby comes from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami. That’s the same school that produced former Sooners defensive tackle LaRon Stokes.

Dolby played in five games for NEO in 2022 and recorded 19 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, and four pass breakups. His best game of the year came back in August when Dolby recorded six total tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, and three pass breakups.

The recruitment of the junior college prospect moved quickly as Oklahoma offered him on Nov. 2. He visited Norman during Bedlam weekend, and just a few days later committed to Oklahoma. According to 247Sports, he had planned on taking a trip to visit Washington, but will now be a member of the Oklahoma Sooners.

Dolby also had offers from Washington State, Kansas, Arkansas, Boise State, Houston, Liberty, Mississippi State, Missouri, and Oklahoma State.

The 23rd commitment to the Sooners’ 2023 recruiting class, Dolby joins Makari Vickers, Jacobe Johnson, Jasiah Wagoner, and Erik McCarty coming in to join the Sooners’ defensive backfield next year.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.