Tag: Williams Nwaneri

David Stone ascends to No. 1 Defensive Lineman in the nation for 2024

David Stone finishes out the 2024 cycle rising into the top 5 of Rivals player rankings as the No. 1 defensive lineman.

The most important recruitment of the 2024 recruiting cycle came on the defensive side of the football. That was the pursuit of five-star defensive tackle David Stone.

Though there were others in pursuit of the Oklahoma native, it was the Sooners that landed one of the best prospects regardless of position in the cycle.

Now, as recruiting services finalize their ranking for the 2024 class, Oklahoma’s five-star defensive tackle signee has another accolade to add to his ledger. Stone ascended to earn the top spot among defensive linemen, according to Rivals. In the process, he rose to be the No. 5 overall player in the class.

Stone overtook former Sooners target and Missouri signees Williams Nwaneri in Rivals’ rankings.

The tools are there for Stone to be an elite player at the collegiate level. But in addition to what he can do physically, he sounds like a player who is going to put the work in to make sure he does meet and exceed expectations.

With Stone’s arrival in the midyear, he’ll have a chance to be an impact player as a true freshman for the Oklahoma Sooners. OU needs interior pass rush help, and Stone’s ability to play with power and speed will create havoc on the inside.

His ascension into Rivals top five is just the latest sign in the tireless work ethic David Stone is bringing to Norman. If he isn’t already a fan favorite, it won’t be long before he is.

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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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Uncommitted five-star prospects include three Sooners targets

Sooners are in the running for three of the top nine uncommitted players, can they close on them?

The [autotag]Oklahoma Sooners[/autotag] saw a red-hot July and early August for recruiting. But with the most recent loss of the No. 1 player in the country, [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag], Sooner faithful are on the edge of their seats on how the rest of this class will play out.

The Sooners are currently in play for three of On3’s top nine five-star uncommitted players. Those players are [autotag]Terry Bussey[/autotag], [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], and [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag].

Stone is the first one of the trio that is set to make his announcement. He’s long been thought to be an Oklahoma lean, but lately, the [autotag]Miami Hurricanes[/autotag] are making a push.

After losing Nwaneri and [autotag]David Hicks[/autotag] the year before, the Sooners are still looking for their first five-star defensive linemen win with the new regime. But it’s not just the Hurricanes the Sooners are fighting off.

Many have penciled in David Stone to Oklahoma’s 2024 recruiting class for about two years. The Sooners could still be that choice, but others have asserted themselves in this race as contenders. A decision is coming on Aug. 26, live on ESPN during IMG Academy’s game against St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.) and it is coming down to Miami, Michigan State and Oklahoma. There is still some level of confidence in each office, but Miami may be the biggest competition for Oklahoma less than two weeks out. There was a time (or two) that Stone was close to committing to the Spartans too, so you cannot rule Mel Tucker‘s program out just yet. – Chad Simmons, On3

It’ll be an interesting week, and it just feels like Oklahoma really needs a win here.

Next up is [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag]. He’s another five-star defensive lineman who has long felt like a long shot for Oklahoma.

Then things started surfacing that it might be down to Oklahoma and the Texas Longhorns. But now it seems like Texas has stopped any strides Oklahoma has made.

Dominick McKinley continues to keeps his contenders close to the vest. In and around McKinley’s circle, much of the conversation has continued to center around three teams: Texas, LSU, and Oklahoma. But Ohio State remains a legitimate dark horse contender for the elite big man. He has maintained lines of communication with each of his finalists, including Texas A&M. LSU got him on campus at the end of July for a visit, and they continue to push for the No. 1 player in the state. But Oklahoma and Texas both check a lot of boxes and the most buzz around their names right now. With exactly two weeks to go, a lot can still play out with this one. – Simmons, On3

McKinley is someone Oklahoma fans shouldn’t get their hopes up for. He’s set to commit on Sept. 1, 2023.

Someone who is also in that same boat is Bussey. Bussey enjoyed his visit to Oklahoma in June but has long been thought to be a Texas A&M Aggies lean.

Terry Bussey, the do-it-all playmaker from Timpson (Texas) High will choose from LSU, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas and Alabama on September 28. The Aggies have been trending on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine for a good chunk of the past year, and there was a sense that the team could close with the state’s No. 5 overall recruit and top priority target in this cycle after his visit back to campus last month. LSU and Alabama have come on strong this summer though, and Bussey will take official visits to both programs before his late-September decision. If there is a team poised to give Texas A&M some run it might just be LSU. – Simmons, On3

Bussey cancelled his most recent trip to Oklahoma which seemed to end any momentum Oklahoma gained. But Oklahoma did make his top five before his commitment date. So, as Lloyd Christmas once said, “so, you’re telling me there’s a chance.”

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Sooners ranked 16th in ESPN’s team recruiting rankings with plenty of time to rise

Oklahoma’s 19 commits have them No. 16 on ESPN’s team recruiting rankings. Craig Haubert takes a look at Oklahoma’s class.

The Oklahoma Sooners went from zero commits in the class of 2024 to 19 pledges in a little over four months. Their first one of the cycle came when four-star cornerback Jeremiah Newcombe out of Arizona announced his commitment out of nowhere on March 25. Since then, the Sooners have been rolling along, progressively claiming the recruiting rankings where they sit 16th with a massive commitment decision looming on August 26 for five-star defensive tackle David Stone. His commitment could help vault Oklahoma ever so close to the top 10.

ESPN has the Sooners ranked 16th overall (ESPN+) with seven commitments in the ESPN300. The Sooners are also the top team in the Big 12 in their latest update.

That seems right in line with other services like 247Sports, who also have Brent Venables’ team slotted at No. 16 in their team rankings. Craig Haubert of ESPN had this to say about Oklahoma. The Sooners’ win over USC for [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag] is the highlight of the class thus far.

One of the top RBs in the class, Taylor Tatum has put up impressive testing numbers on the camp circuit, and that translates to his play as he brings a dangerous blend of speed and power.  – Haubert, ESPN

Oklahoma’s recruiting haul has been heavy on the offensive side of the ball. 13 of their 19 commits will be featured in [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag]’s offense. The top three prospects in Oklahoma’s class, according to ESPN. Tatum comes in as the No. 38 prospect in the nation. But the Sooners also have other ESPN300 players like wide receivers [autotag]Zion Kearney[/autotag], [autotag]Zion Ragins[/autotag], and [autotag]Ivan Carreon[/autotag], four-star tight end [autotag]Davon Mitchell[/autotag], and four-star quarterback [autotag]Michael Hawkins[/autotag].

Defense is less represented right now, with [autotag]Jaydan Hardy[/autotag] the lone commit in the ESPN300 at No. 146. That could change if Oklahoma wins recruiting battles for blue chip defensive linemen [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] (8/26) and [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag] II (9/8) in the coming weeks. The Sooners enter the home stretch of both recruitments as leaders, but recruiting isn’t about how you start but how you finish.

Oklahoma knows that well. Last summer provided much of the same recruiting push we’ve seen this summer. They closed their recruiting class for 2023 by flipping five-star safety [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] from Oregon on signing day. Could they do the same to five-star EDGE player [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag]? Recent comments from the Lee’s Summit North prospect suggest the Sooners are still in pursuit despite his commitment Monday to the Missouri Tigers.

There are so many unknowns with this 2024 recruiting class despite Oklahoma’s hot summer. One thing Brent Venables and Co. can hang a hat on is that this staff has shown a penchant for finishing strong on the recruiting trail. The Sooners will look to do the same this fall as well.

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‘They’re still recruiting me’: Oklahoma isn’t finished pursuing 5-Star DE Williams Nwaneri

Speaking to media members after his Lee’s Summit North squad scrimmaged with Union, Williams Nwaneri shared that Oklahoma is still in pursuit.

In a high-profile defensive recruitment that’s become more and more commonplace for Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners, OU lost out to (former) Big 8 foe Missouri in the battle for five-star defensive end [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag].

But as Lee Corso might say, “Not so fast, my friend,” Nwaneri’s recruitment could be ramping up all over again.

Let’s be reasonable before we get into what Nwaneri said after his Lee’s Summit North team took part in a scrimmage with Union in Tulsa Thursday night. It’s difficult to flip a commitment.

Oklahoma did so with [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] in the 2023 recruiting class when he opted for the Sooners after committing to Notre Dame and then Oregon before ultimately signing with the Sooners.

That’s the exception, not the rule.

But Nwaneri’s comments Thursday evening seemed to open the door a smidge for the Sooners to pull off another late-cycle recruiting flip.

Speaking to media members after the game, Nwaneri said, “Oh yeah. They’re still recruiting me and all that. But I’m gonna let everything play out. I’ll let the whole season play out. I don’t know. I’m committed to Mizzou, though. Just having fun with it. Showing love. All that.”

Nwaneri still has an affinity for the Sooners, in particular co-defensive coordinator and defensive tackles coach Todd Bates and defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis.

“I probably had one of my best relationships with them,” Nwaneri said of his relationships with Oklahoma’s staff. “It was always love with the coaching staff. And I like the scheme there and all that.”

Earlier in the interview, Nwaneri shared that his comfort level with Missouri and his coaching staff played a big part in his decision to commit to the Tigers.

“Really, I felt like I was just most comfortable with that coaching staff and it’s close to home and all that,” Nwaneri said. “So I felt like it was just the right decision for me at the time.”

Williams Nwaneri is committed to Missouri. And that may not change. Though there’s always the possibility, it’s not something you’d want to bet on.

It’s easy to read into the words of a high school kid. Perhaps the door is open for Oklahoma. Perhaps it’s not. This simply could be a kid having fun ahead of his final year of high school ball. However, in all of this, the key is that Oklahoma hasn’t let off the gas in their pursuit of On3’s No. 1 player in the 2023 recruiting cycle.

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Sooners make top five for in-state cornerback Devon Jordan

Devon Jordan, a composite four-star corner out of Oklahoma, named his top five on Tuesday.

Oklahoma’s big miss on Williams Nwaneri will sting a bit, but the Sooners’ [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag] is far from done. There’s still numerous prospects Oklahoma is right in the thick of things for. While missing on the five-star is unfortunate, they must refocus and recalibrate so they can reel in more prospects from their big board.

Another high-priority target is four-star cornerback Devon Jordan, a prospect out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jordan plays at Union High School. He’s a composite four-star player in the 247Sports composite and has the makings of a player who may outperform his slot as he continues to develop.

Oklahoma hosted Jordan for the ChampUBBQ, at which [autotag]Jay Valai[/autotag] was able to spend a bit more time with him. This summer has allowed Jordan to focus on his recruitment. Earlier this summer, he released his top 10. Now he’s chopped that list in half and has named a top five.

The Sooners make the cut again along with TCU, Oklahoma State, Alabama and Texas A&M. Jordan eliminated Iowa State, Missouri and Miami from the mix when he cut it down. Oklahoma has one cornerback committed in the class of 2024, four-star [autotag]Jeremiah Newcombe[/autotag] out of Arizona.

Jordan’s elite speed and quickness allow him to match up well with receivers. He would make a great addition to Oklahoma’s cornerback room, where speed, athleticism and length are being prioritized.

No decision date is set for Jordan, so it remains to be seen when he’ll make his final decision. With Jordan only taking one official visit (Oklahoma State), he’s likely to take more of his officials during the season.

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Missouri gets commitment from No. 1 ranked DL recruit in class of 2024

33 other programs made Nwaneri offers, including Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee and Alabama.

Missouri had been quiet throughout the 2024 recruiting cycle. However, on Monday, they got a commitment from the best defensive line prospect in a class that is positively stacked with them.

Here’s how Lee’s Summit North (Mo.) five-star defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri announced that he’s staying in-state and committing to Mizzou.

Nwaneri (6-foot-5, 250 pounds) is not only ranked No. 1 at his position, he’s first overall in the state of Missouri and No. 3 nationally in his class behind Dylan Raiola and Jeremiah Smith.

According to Hayes Fawcett at On3, Nwaneri says he has a good relationship with the coaches at Missouri.

“Really how comfortable I was with the coaching staff. Knowing that I’ll have the opportunity to come in and have a chance to play as a freshman was also big and to do it at home makes it even better… I’m pretty close with Coach Drink and Coach Peoples. We talk often, almost everyday. They see me fitting into the defense rushing off the edge and maybe drop me into coverage sometimes.”

Thirty-three other programs made Nwaneri offers, including Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee and Alabama.

The Tigers’ class of 2024 now has 12 hard commits, of which Nwaneri is the only five-star recruit so far. This group ranks No. 55 in the nation.

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Vols’ five-star target Williams Nwaneri commits to Missouri

Vols’ 2024 five-star target Williams Nwaneri commits to Missouri.

Five-star defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri announced his commitment to Missouri on Monday.

He committed to the Tigers over Tennessee, Oklahoma, Oregon and Georgia.

The 6-foot-6, 265-pound defensive lineman is from Lee’s Summit North High School in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Nwaneri ranks as the 2024 No. 1 overall prospect, No. 1 defensive lineman and No. 1 player in Missouri, according to On3.

Nwaneri earned MaxPreps High School Junior All-American honors in 2022. He finished the season with 56 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 12 sacks and 20 hurries.

The Vols have 19 commitments in the 2024 class. Four-star Kellen Lindstrom, three-star Jeremias Heard and three-star Carson Gentle are defensive linemen committed to Tennessee.

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5-star DL Williams Nwaneri makes commitment

5-star DL Williams Nwaneri has decided where he plans to play at the next level

Five-star defensive line recruit Williams Nwaneri has committed to the Missouri Tigers.

Williams Nwaneri committed to Missouri over Tennessee, Oregon, Georgia and Oklahoma. The five-star joins Class of 2022 wide receiver recruit Luther Burden as recent in-state five-star recruits to commit to the Tigers over other elite college football programs.

The talented defensive lineman is a big addition to Missouri’s class of 2024. The Tigers held the nation’s No. 60 recruiting class before Nwaneri’s commitment. Nwaneri is a much-needed recruiting win for the Tigers.

Nwaneri plays football for Lee’s Summit North High School, which is located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive lineman is the top-ranked player at his position in the class of 2024. Nwaneri is the top-rated player in the state of Missouri and the No. 3 recruit in the 2024 class, per 247Sports.

Williams Nwaneri is a disruptive pass rusher. He can play on the edge or along the interior. Nwaneri is explosive and shows good pursuit and effort. The Lee’s Summit standout makes an impact on special teams, where he blocked several kicks during the 2022 high school football season.

The Missouri commit is also a strong run defender. He frequently wins with quickness and his hands at the point of attack.

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