With about two weeks to go, recruiting news is hitting a frenzy. This update is as accurate as I could make it, but rest assured that in 24 hours something new will have happened.
Oklahoma currently stands at 14 verbal commitments, with nine more spots likely left to fill.
New Commitments
Johncarlo Valentin, OL – 6-4, 340, 5.4 (Philadelphia)
Four stars. On film, Valentin is a mauling guard who shows excellent feet and pulling skills. Needs to drop some bad weight for good weight, but he could be a monster interior lineman for OU. His verbal was a lightning bolt across all recruiting websites who had written off Valentin and OU. (My last update did not even mention him.) Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh pulled off a shocker, blindsiding every recruiting service.
Players Who Have Dropped Off
E.J. Price, OL
Jovan Wims, WR
Stephon Taylor, DT
Clifford Chatman, DB/OLB
Chris Daniels, DL
*Decommitted from OU on Jan. 20.
2016 Remaining Targets
The last targets fall into five distinct groups.
1. Uncommitted Targets Where OU May Hold a Lead
Amani Bledsoe, DL – 6-5, 275, 4.8 (Kansas)
Four stars. It’s down to OU and Kansas, with a decision expected any day now. KU has proximity as its main advantage.
Velus Jones, WR – 6-0, 180, 4.4 (Alabama)
Four stars. Just visited USC, and OU is just waiting to see if Jones will pull the trigger or take more visits to Tennessee or Notre Dame.
Marcel Southall, DL – 6-3, 275, 4.8 (Texas)
Four stars. Visited for OU for the TCU game, but he has visits scheduled through signing day to Ole Miss and Miami. I’m not sure whatever lead OU might have had will stand up against these visits.
Elysee Mbem-Bosse, LB – 6-3, 230, 4.6 (Georgia)
Four stars. Visited for TCU. Delayed his early enrollment to take some more visits. OU is in a battle with Florida, N.C. State and maybe Michigan.
Caleb Kelly, LB – 6-3, 215, 4.6 (California)
Five stars. Potentially the crown jewel of the Sooners’ recruiting class. His visits are done: It’s down to Oregon, OU and Notre Dame in a signing day decision. Hold on, Sooner fans.
Tramonda Moore, OL – 6-6, 340, 5.2 (OKC)
Four stars. He might be a top 100 national player if grades were not a lingering issue. OU grabbed a big lead with the official visit. Moore just visited OSU and might have one more official left. Another signing day decision.
2. Recent Decommitments Visiting OU
Kapri Doucet, LB – 6-3, 230, 4.6 (JUCO)
Three stars. Visiting this weekend after decommitting from Arizona. A perfect replacement for Dom Alexander. Arkansas and Louisville are the other contenders.
Jared Mayden, CB – 6-1, 185, 4.5 (Texas)
Four stars. OU is building an elite class of CB. Mayden is such a good prospect that OU cannot ignore the chance to get his pledge. He is a difference-maker, and in the Big 12, you can never have enough elite DBs. Mayden’s parents are both OU alums/ex-athletes. Mayden’s never seemed interested in OU before, so this official visit is huge.
3. OU Commits Under Attack from Other Schools
Parrish Cobb, CB – 5-11, 180, 4.45 (Texas)
Four stars. Just like Chris Daniels, it seems to have dawned upon the Texas schools that OU has grabbed arguably the best player at his position in the state. Now they are trying to get visits with this elite defender. He seems locked into OU, but it’s going to be a long 15 days.
4. Committed to Other Schools, but Still Taking Visits
Mark Jackson, OLB – 6-4, 230, 4.6 (Texas)
Four stars. Texas A&M verbal who is visiting OU at the end of the month, hopefully. OU appears to have made up serious ground on A&M. Would be a great fit at OLB for OU.
Brandon Bowen, OLB – 6-5, 230, 4.6 (Texas)
Four stars. A Baylor verbal who should visit this weekend. His true level of interest in OU is unclear.
Erick Fowler, OLB – 6-3, 230, 4.65 (Texas)
Seems locked into LSU, but OU and UT are trying to make it a race. Another late OLB target?
Patrick Hudson, OL – 6-5, 320, 5.2 (Texas)
Five stars. Elite offensive tackle verbaled to Baylor. He’s been talking to OU about a visit. Hudson might visit this weekend.
Briston Guidry, DL – 6-4, 280, 4.8(Louisiana)
Four stars. Fast-rising DL from Louisiana committed to Arkansas. OU is fighting for a visit. If OU gets Bledsoe, it might be whoever jumps first between Guidry and Southall for the last DL offer.
5. Long Shots
Jauan Williams, OL – 6-7, 300 (Maryland)
Four stars. Elite OT appears to be leaning to FSU, but OU is making an all-out push. A final visit over the weekend of the 29th is likely.
Aaron Hansford, OLB – 6-2, 215, 4.6 (D.C.)
Four stars. Was mentioning OU as a destination for his final visit, but no recent updates.
Maxs Tupai, LB – 6-2, 245, 4.7 (Utah)
OU is trying to get a visit for the end of the month. Tupai would be an ideal OLB – a physical presence for the OU defense.
John Jones, LB – 6-1, 220, 4.55 (Florida)
Four stars. No word if OU is going to get a visit from this athletic MLB prospect from Florida.
Jonathan Kongbo, DE – 6-6, 265, 4.7 (JUCO)
Five stars. The best JUCO DL in the country, but may not be eligible in the fall. OU is trying land a visit. Would be a huge late addition.
-Atlantasooner