Oklahoma’s recruiting momentum seemed to hit a bump with the verbal commitments of J.K. Dobbins to Ohio State and Roshauud Paul to Texas A&M, both thought to be Sooner leans. However, OU is on a big roll with four new verbals, including three defensive backs in the Rivals 250.
OU now stands at nine verbal commitments in this class, with eight four-stars recruits who are members of the Rivals 250. Using Rivals’ methodology, OU’s 2017 class score is 1,199 points. OU finished last year with 1,968. A top 10 class needs to have about 2,400-2,500 points.
2017 Verbal Commitments
Projected Class Size: 1 QB, 3 RBs, 4 WRs, 1 TE, 4 OLs, 3 DLs, 3 OLBs/DEs, 2 ILBs, 3 CBs, 2 safeties
Chris Robison, QB – 6-2, 185 (Texas)
Four stars, Rivals 100, top 10 in Texas.
Levi Draper, LB – 6-3, 225, 4.6 (Oklahoma)
Four stars, Rivals 250, No. 1 prospect in Oklahoma.
Robert Barnes, S – 6-3, 195, 4.6 (Texas)
Four stars, Rivals 250, top 30 in Texas.
Cedarian Lamb, WR – 6-3, 180, 4.4 (Texas)
Four stars, Rivals 250, top 30 in Texas.
Tyrese Robinson, OL – 6-5, 300, 5.2 (Texas)
Four stars, Rivals 100, top 10 in Texas.
Trajan Bandy, DB – 5-10, 180, 4.5 (Florida)
Four stars, Rivals 250, top 50 in Florida.
Justin Broiles, DB – 6-0, 175, 4.5 (Oklahoma)
Four stars, Rivals 250, No. 2 prospect in Oklahoma.
Tre Brown, DB – 5-11, 175, 4.4 (Oklahoma)
Four stars, Rivals 250, No. 3 prospect in Oklahoma.
Marcelias Sutton, RB – 5-10, 190, 4.4 (JUCO)
Dipping into Florida
Several weeks ago, Trajan Bandy, a top-rated DB from Florida, pulled the trigger for the Sooners ahead of his unofficial visit in April for the spring game. Bandy is a big-time DB with excellent coverage skills who could fit in for OU at nickelback or cornerback. As an added bonus, Bandy is a big-time social media poster and is talking up OU to bunch of players. He dominated a recent combine where he was named the best CB ahead of Samford Samuels, a top 50 player nationally.
Broiles Blows Up
Justin Broiles somewhat surprisingly pulled the trigger after a visit to OU for the first day of spring practice. Broiles has seen his profile sky rocket with almost 30 offers since January from all over the SEC, Big Ten and Pac-12. Broiles is currently a Rivals 250 recruit.
It seemed likely that Broiles would take his recruitment into the late summer or fall. Instead, OU has another four-star commit and another one who will likely be a presence at future junior day events and home games this fall with official recruits. OU has a very tight group of verbal commits right now, and Broiles adds to that mix.
Another Oklahoma DB
Tre Brown, a four-star CB by just about every service, landed on March 11. Brown’s lean to OU was the worst kept secret in recruiting; the only question was when he would pull the trigger.
Like Broiles, Brown gives OU another speedy CB to counter the Big 12’s passing games. Broiles is more physical, while Brown is faster – they have a nice set of different skills at CB.
Sign of the Times at RB
The last verbal was a real surprise: JUCO running back Marcelias Sutton. Sutton (5-10, 195, 4.4) is an RB with excellent receiving skills. He fits what Lincoln Riley wants – at ECU, Riley recruited Sutton out of high school.
Before anyone goes freaking out, Sutton’s offer and verbal tells us that:
- OU is expecting a big class;
- OU is losing at least three, maybe 4, RBs and OU cannot afford to be short at the position; and
- OU’s going to aggressively pursue two high-profile, elite HS RBs.
2017 Top 10 to Watch
The following players have visited OU or will be visiting between now and the spring game.
1. Charleston Rambo, WR – 6-2, 180, 4.4 (Texas)
Rambo is an all-everything WR who can play in the slot or outside. Explosive with the ball. My best guess at the next commitment.
2. Grant Calcaterra, TE – 6-4, 210, 4.6 (California)
Very high on OU, with a visit apparently scheduled for late March.
3. Addison Gumbs, OLB – 6-4, 215, 4.6 (California)
Forget bulking him up into a 3-4 DE. Addison is awesome in pass coverage and a terror off the edge. OU needs a big OLB who is not a liability in coverage to counter the spread-to-run attacks in the Big 12. He’s another prospect trying to make it to Norman for spring practice.
4. Jacob Phillips, LB – 6-3, 225, 4.6 (Tennessee)
Looks fantastic on film. On Twitter, he seems really excited about his OU visit.
5. Omar Manning, WR – 6-3, 200, 4.5 (Texas)
In a great receiver class from Texas, Manning might be the best big WR of the group – the elite flanker OU needs. TCU might lead for Manning, but OU seems likely to get one more visit this spring.
6. Hunter Echols, OLB – 6-5, 220, 4.6 (California)
Yet another OLB offer from California. Echols is committed to UCLA, but he’s road-tripping to visit other colleges. Again, he seems very excited about his OU visit.
7. Deiontae Watts, DT – 6-3, 300, 5.0 (Texas)
The No. 2 DT in the state of Texas behind Marvin Wilson. A huge offer list. I don’t think he stays a 3 star prospect for very long. An OU visit is scheduled for late March.
8. Trevor Kent, DE – 6-5, 250, 4.8 (Kansas)
A top target at 3-4 DE. He has the frame to be a a big DE at around 280 pounds with speed. A visit to OU by the spring game sounds very likely.
9. Hunter Rison, WR – 5-11, 190, 4.45 (Michigan)
The son of former NFL All-Pro WR Andre Rison was committed to Michigan State. He seems very interested in OU and is visiting during spring practice.
10. Isaiah Thomas, OLB/DE – 6-5, 230, 4.6 (Tulsa)
Thomas will probably be the fourth four-star player in Oklahoma once all the services really evaluate him. He’s not in a hurry to make a decision, but then again neither was Broiles. An elite athlete who could stay at OLB or grow into a DE.
2018 Recruiting Update
The offers continue to go out for 2018 kids. They include:
Jaiden Woodbey, DB – (6-1, 195, 4.5 (California)
Seems pretty excited about OU. A visit this fall is definitely possible.
Curtis Dunlap, OG – 6-5, 340, 5.3 (Florida)
Dunlap tweeted out that OU was his dream school. I guess we will find out how interested he really is. He’s one of the many blue-chip kids for the 2017 and 2018 classes enrolled at IMG Academy in Florida.
Joshua Moore, WR – 6-3, 175, 4.44 (Texas)
Could be the next great big receiver from Texas. OU offered and now he’s getting a host of other offers.
Xavier Williams, WR – 6-0, 185, 4.4 (Florida)
An elite talent who probably would be a slot WR in the OU system. OU is going after Florida hard in 2017 and is laying a foundation for 2018 as well.
Isaiah Bolden, DB – 6-1, 170 4.5 (Florida)
Shows OU lots of love on Twitter. Another Florida kid interested in OU. Bandy hitting him up on Twitter as well.
Emil Ekiyor, OG – 6-4, 310 (Indiana)
A nationally rated guard for 2018. He seems very interested in visiting OU.
Taron Vincent, DT/DE – 6-3, 285, 4.8 (Florida)
Another IMG product recently offered by OU. He’s trending to be a top DT target in 2018.
T.J. Pledger, RB – 5-9, 185, 4.4 (California)
OU is making 2018 RB offers, and Pledger might be the best target so far showing interest in OU.
-Atlantasooner
