Tag: Williams Nwaneri

Oklahoma comes up short against Missouri for the commitment of five-star Williams Nwaneri

Oklahoma just misses out as five-star EDGE Williams Nwaneri committed to Missouri over Oklahoma, Georgia, and Tennessee on Monday afternoon.

In what can only be described as game-changing, Oklahoma missed on its most significant recruiting prospect in a long time as five-star defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri committed to Missouri on Monday afternoon.

Chronicling the nature of this recruitment is likely a story for another day. Still, Oklahoma entered the final rounds for one of the nation’s most elite defenders. Ultimately, the Sooners couldn’t overcome Missouri’s hometown advantage. Nwaneri picked Missouri over Oklahoma, Georgia and Tennessee.

Missouri’s pitch to Nwaneri was simple. They are the in-state school with the added proximity bonus and NIL opportunities that Nwaneri could capitalize on before stepping foot on campus. He would be revered as a hero forever for being a high-profile prospect who decided to stay home and play for the Missouri Tigers.

Oklahoma’s advantages or connection with Nwaneri stem from his relationship with the coaching staff. There is a strong bond between Nwaneri and defensive coaches Miguel Chavis and Todd Bates.

Oklahoma has been building a pipeline to Lee’s Summit North (Nwaneri’s high school). Lee’s Summit North produced true freshman offensive tackle Cayden Green and 2025 nose tackle Ka’Mori Moore commit, both teammates of Nwaneri’s. The Sooners are also pursuing current teammate and 2025 four-star receiver Isaiah Mozee. Mozee is an Oklahoma legacy by way of his father and the head coach at Lee’s Summit North, Jamar Mozee. The elder Mozee played at OU when Brent Venables was at Oklahoma as a defensive coordinator.

It’s been tough for Oklahoma to land five-star defensive linemen consistently. While last year saw them land Adepoju Adebawore, the hit rate for Oklahoma in these five-star defensive line recruitments is hardly something to be proud of.

Even with the commitment to Missouri, Oklahoma will continue to pursue Nwaneri until the No. 1 player in the On3 rankings officially signs his national letter of intent. So the potential for his recruitment turning in Oklahoma’s favor remains until signing day. We saw last year how that worked out for Oklahoma for former five-star safety Peyton Bowen.

In the immediate future, Oklahoma turns its attention to the decisions of five-star defensive tackle [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] (Aug. 26), five-star defensive lineman [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag] (Sept. 1) and four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag] (Sept. 8). Oklahoma has more than a puncher’s chance to land at least two out of the three. If Oklahoma can land at least two, it still would be one of the better defensive line hauls in recent Sooners history.

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Vols’ five-star target Williams Nwaneri announces commitment time

Tennessee five-star target Williams Nwaneri announces commitment time for Monday.

2024 five-star defensive line prospect Williams Nwaneri will announce his college commitment on Monday.

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive lineman will announce his college commitment at 5 p.m. EDT on Monday.

Nwaneri will choose between Tennessee, Oklahoma, Missouri, Oregon and Georgia.

He is from Lee’s Summit North High School in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Nwaneri ranks as the No. 3 overall prospect and No. 1 defensive lineman in 2024 by 247Sports.

The Vols offered a scholarship to Nwaneri on Oct. 22, 2022. Nwaneri unofficially visited Tennessee on April 1, while officially visiting the Vols on June 16.

Nwaneri’s commitment can be watched here.

PHOTOS: A look at former Vol Reggie White through the years

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Oklahoma in top 6 for four-star edge Danny Okoye

Oklahoma makes the top six for four-star instate star EDGE Danny Okoye.

Securing the state’s best prospects has been essential for the Oklahoma Sooners under Brent Venables.

On Sunday, they received a commitment from in-state four-star wide receiver Jaden Nickens. Nickens raved about how they made him feel at home and how playing for his home state was essential.

While the 2024 class doesn’t have nearly the nationally recognized talent that the 2025 class does in the Sooner Stare, legitimate Power Five prospects are still available.

One of those talents is Danny Okoye, a 247Sports composite four-star who is ranked No. 158 in his class.

He’s been a target of Oklahoma for a while now. After he visited the Sooners for Party at the Palace, Oklahoma made themselves a prominent figure in his recruiting. Okoye dropped his top six schools on Sunday afternoon, and Oklahoma made the cut.

The Sooners join Texas, Tennessee, LSU, Alabama and Colorado in his top six. Tennessee has developed a notable relationship with Okoye, making them a real threat in this recruitment. Alabama has also positioned itself in a favorable spot as well.

When speaking to Brett Greenberg of 247Sports (Subscription required) about his thoughts on each school, Okoye said this about Oklahoma:

”OU has always been showing the love for me since the beginning. One of the reasons they are in the top six is just after their last season, the amount of work that they’ve put in and the amount of progress they’ve made as a team and program, it’s definitely worth being noticed. The coaching staff is a national championship coaching staff, and I can definitely see OU winning the national championship in the future.”

No timetable for a decision has been confirmed, but Okoye told Bama247 he is planning for a mid-October to early November commitment. So it’s plausible this recruitment could see itself lasting well into the fall.

Okoye would also be a take regardless of what happens with the impending decisions of five-star edge target Williams Nwaneri and five-star defensive tackles David Stone and Dominick McKinley. Oklahoma could take up to seven defensive linemen in this class, and if they land Okoye, he would be one of them.

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5-star DL Williams Nwaneri locks in commitment date

Where does UGA football stand for five-star defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri ahead of his commitment date?

Five-star defensive line recruit Williams Nwaneri is ready to announce his commitment. Nwaneri’s commitment date is set for Aug. 14.

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

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

Williams Nwaneri is a disruptive pass rusher, who can play on the edge or along the interior. Nwaneri is explosive and shows excellent pursuit in his tape.

The Lee’s Summit star makes an impact on special teams. Last season, Nwaneri recorded several blocked kicks. Nwaneri is a strong run defender. He often wins with quickness and his hands at the point of attack.

Who are Williams Nwaneri’s top schools and who is the favorite to land his commitment?

Sooners receive prediction for 4-star defensive lineman from Texas

August and September could be a big month for OU recruiting, it could be capped off with a top 100 defensive line commitment.

The [autotag]Oklahoma Sooners[/autotag] are hoping to finish one of the best defensive line classes in program history. They have had two dominos fall: [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] and [autotag]Wyatt Gilmore[/autotag] committed to OU.

Several more big fish plan to announce their college destinations in the coming weeks. [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag], [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] and [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag] top that list. However, there is also someone whom not enough people are talking about, [autotag]Nigel Smith II[/autotag]. Smith is a top 100 player and he has been an Oklahoma lean for some time.

He announced recently he would not taking any more official visits and planned to stick with his Sept. 8, 2023, commitment date. That is a big development for Oklahoma. Smith was expected to be in Austin the weekend before he commits. The Sooners received even more good news when [autotag]247Sports[/autotag]’ Collin Kennedy put in a crystal ball prediction in favor of Oklahoma.

Smith is a high four-star prospect, someone who would have been the best defensive lineman in the entire class for the previous regime. He would be the one Sooner fans would be drooling over, hoping to get. But with the Sooners in the thick of a race for three five-star defensive linemen, he almost gets pushed to the side.

If you’ve watched him though, you know he’s no afterthought. He would be a massive addition to the class.

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. Dangerous bull rusher vs. high school opponents. Will take a blocker into the quarterback if required. Also displays encouraging pursuit athleticism and range relative to size and role, including some chase-down examples. – Gabe Brooks National Scouting Analyst 247Sports

Smith was named Texas District 7-5A-II Defensive Lineman of the Year as a junior, Texas District 7-4A-I unanimous Defensive Lineman of the Year as a sophomore, and Texas District 7-4A-I Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a freshman.

The Sooners have a little more than a month until Smith announces his commitment. If it can land him, it’ll be well worth the wait.

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No. 3 recruit, DL Williams Nwaneri names Oregon in top five and sets commitment date

No. 3 recruit, DL Williams Nwaneri names Oregon in top five and sets commitment date

The summer is nearing its end, and as it does, more of the top recruits across the country are naming their future schools. One of the few players yet to announce their decision is defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri. Rated by 247 Sports as the best DL in the 2024 class, and the No. 3 player overall, Nwaneri is one of the most sought-after prospects across the nation, which has made his commitment a highly-anticipated event.

At 6’5″ and 250 pounds, Nwaneri is a force on the D-line, but he maintains an ability to make quick cuts that can make blockers miss. This versatility is one of the things that has skyrocketed him up the recruiting rankings for his class.

Last Thursday, Nwaneri named his top five schools — which includes the Oregon Ducks — as well as his commitment date — which is August 14th. The Ducks have already had a successful recruiting season, but the addition of a diamond-like Nwaneri on the D-line would do wonders for the future of Ducks football. With the Ducks now joining the Big 10 and leaving the pass-happy Pac-12, stopping the run will become more of a defensive focus, so a bolstered D-line becomes paramount.

Even though he named Oregon as a top 5 school, it is unlikely Nwaneri will end up in Eugene. As a Missourian he may be inclined to stay closer to home at schools like Oklahoma or Missouri itself — both of which are schools included in Nwaneri’s top five. Furthermore, 247 Sports experts have aggregated a crystal ball prediction of 100 percent confidence that Nwaneri will commit to Oklahoma when the time comes less than two weeks from now.

If the unlikely occurs and Nwaneri chooses the Ducks, he will be a welcome addition that will likely make a quick impact, but I wouldn’t expect it to be the way things shake out on August 14th.

Sooners target Nigel Smith Jr. shuts down recruitment, sets commitment date

Four-star DL and top 100 prospect Nigel Smith announced his commitment date. The Sooners are well positioned for the Melissa, Texas prospect.

Amid the hysteria and hype of Oklahoma’s pursuit of five-star defenders, the Sooners are in a major recruiting battle for another blue chip defensive lineman.

Four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag] Jr. is an exceptional talent in his own right. While Oklahoma’s pursuits of [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] and [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag] have been covered relentlessly, Smith, a top 100 player, is another priority recruitment for the Sooners.

As his recruitment winds down, Smith took to social media on Friday to offer an update on his recruitment.

This declaration, in particular, signals a decision has likely been made. It’s also probably fair to infer that Smith would like to focus on his responsibilities as a student-athlete for the remainder of the summer.

He plans to commit on Sept. 8, the day of his season opener for Melissa. He also announced his recruitment is closed and doesn’t plan on doing any interviews or taking any more visits until after his commitment.

“I will be committing on September 8,” Smith said via social media. “From the point on I will be closing my recruitment and not doing any interviews until after the date along with not taking anymore college visits.”

Most notably, a visit to Texas is no longer happening for Smith. Texas and Texas A&M appear to be the biggest threats to Oklahoma securing a commitment from Smith. Penn State and Ohio State have also been notable schools pursuing the talented defensive line prospect.

It remains to be seen if that will matter in the long run. However, with him shutting down his recruitment, having that last little bit of contact would surely help. Oklahoma likely feels comfortable and has remained steady in this recruitment since last year. The projections from 247Sports, On3 and Rivals favor the Sooners for Nigel Smith.

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Five-star priority target Williams Nwaneri announces commitment date

Elite defender Williams Nwaneri announces his decision date via social media.

The date is set. [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag]’s recruitment is coming to a head. The talented five-star edge from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, announced via social media that he plans to announce his collegiate decision on Aug. 14.

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Nwaneri plans to choose between five finalists: Oklahoma, Missouri, Oregon, Georgia and Tennessee. The talented five-star took official visits to Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Missouri in June and traveled to Oregon on an unofficial visit last week.

Nwaneri has visited Oklahoma’s campus multiple times this year, and his connections to the Sooners are plentiful.

He plays at the same high school true freshman offensive lineman Cayden Green played at. The two went up against each other in practice before Green graduated and moved to Norman. His current teammate, 2025 nose tackle Ka’Mori Moore, committed to Oklahoma in late July. Another current teammate and close friend, Isaiah Mozee, is an Oklahoma lean. And if that isn’t enough to highlight it, his head coach, Mozee’s father, is a former Sooner.

There are a number of reasons Nwaneri might choose the Sooners. When asked about Oklahoma, he told On3’s Hayes Fawcett: “I have a great relationship with coach (Miguel) Chavis and (Todd) Bates. It’s always great vibes in Norman.”

No one knows where he may go, but Oklahoma has put its best efforts into landing a transformative defensive talent. With recent rumblings, Oklahoma and Missouri seem like the two schools duking it out as this race comes around the final turn.

With a decision less than two weeks away, Oklahoma will continue applying the pressure as much as possible. Aug. 1 started the dead period for NCAA recruiting, meaning there can only be digital and non-face-to-face contact. So, no visits in any capacity are allowed.

August is a massive month for Oklahoma recruiting; decisions from not one but two five-star defenders are incoming. Nwaneri’s decision will get things started before [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] makes his announcement on Aug. 26.

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Nation’s No. 1 2024 prospect sets commitment date, Vols named finalist

Nation’s No. 1 2024 prospect sets commitment date and includes Tennessee as a finalist.

Five-star defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri will announce his commitment on Aug. 14.

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

As a sophomore, Nwaneri totaled 43 tackles, two tackles for a loss, five sacks and 11 hurries.

Nwaneri officially visited Tennessee on June 16. He would be the second-highest rated commit in Vols’ history.

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Rivals FutureCast favors Oklahoma for In-state prospect Marcus James

Oklahoma received a FutureCast to land Carl Albert LB Marcus James on Tuesday. James is a rising prospect in the 2025 class.

Oklahoma’s 2024 recruiting efforts are reaching a critical month as the calendar turns to August. The Sooners are currently waiting on two of the nation’s best prospects to make their decisions later this month.

Decisions will come for five-star David Stone and five-star Williams Nwaneri, and Oklahoma can then push forward and try to round out the rest of their 2024 class. After recruiting exploded in the summer months for the 2023 and 2024 recruiting classes, the Sooners’ 2025 class may be bucking that trend.

In just the 2025 class alone, Oklahoma has received four commitments this year. Four-star prospects wide receiver Elijah Thomas, Kevin Sperry Gracen Harris, and defensive tackle Ka’Mori Moore.

It’s a stark contrast from how the 2024 cycle has gone. Oklahoma didn’t earn their first commitment until the end of March when Jeremiah Newcombe broke the ice.

Momentum is continuing to brew for Oklahoma with another 2025 prospect. The Sooners were projected to land three-star linebacker Marcus James of in-state power Carl Albert High School. OUInsider’s Parker Thune issued a Rivals FutureCast favoring Oklahoma.

James, a talented rising junior, hasn’t even come close to tapping into his potential. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 215 pounds. He shows some good athleticism and looks tailormade to be a candidate to play cheetah in Oklahoma’s defense.

No commitment looks imminent, but Carl Albert teammates 2025 quarterback commit Kevin Sperry and 2024 running back commit Xavier Robinson in his ear, you have to like the Sooners chances of locking down James’ pledge.

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