We’ve covered the Sooners’ current verbal commitments in the 2019 class and their top offensive targets. Let’s talk about the other side of the ball.
Oklahoma’s top defensive prospects for 2019
Defensive Tackle
Two spots are available, depending upon need. It’s not a great year nationally or regionally for DTs right now. OU has one DT committed and will look to add at least one big guy who could play inside.
Carl Williams – 6-4, 300, 5.1
Three stars. Might be the best DT in Texas. OU graduate assistant and Lufkin native Jamarkus McFarland might help OU here.
Sua’ava Poti – 6-3, 280, 4.9
Four stars, Rivals top 150. Poti is really high on OU, talking up the Sooners on social media. Another key Californian I expect to take advantage of a spring official visit.
Hunter Spears – 6-5, 275, 4.9
Four stars. Texan who could play inside or outside. Spears is recovering from a knee injury. His frame could easily carry into the range of 300 pounds.
Defensive End
Two to three spots are available. OU continues to need pass-rushing DEs in the Big 12 and dominant DEs to handle everyone else. Defensive line coach Calvin Thibodeaux is in the third year of building relationships – we should see some big results.
Marcus Hicks – 6-6, 235, 4.7
Three stars. This Kansan is not going to stay at three stars for long. Hicks has great junior film and just walked away with best DL award from a major camp event.
Collin Clay – 6-5, 235, 4.7
Three stars. Almost an exact copy of Hicks’ situation: Clay had a great camp workout recently, and his offer list is going to skyrocket.
Marcus Stripling 6-5, 245, 4.7
Four stars, Rivals100. The film from the first half of his junior year is elite, like top 10 in the country. The Texan has OU in his top five and has indicated a desire to commit early.
Stephon Wright – 6-4, 260, 4.7
Four stars, Rivals top 150. Has already visited OU twice on his own dime. The Sooners are in his top five and will likely bring out Wright on an official visit.
Kayvon Thibodeaux – 6-5, 235, 4.6
Five stars, No. 1 DE in the country. OU is in Thibodeaux’s top 12. Will the Sooners make the cut to get an official visit? OU’s momentum is crazy strong right now in California. After Brendan Radley-Hiles’ verbal commitment, Thibodeaux was asking for OU fans to follow him on Twitter.
NaNa Osafo-Mensah –6-4, 225, 4.6
Four stars, Rivals top 150. Truly an off-the-bus first-teamer, Mensah is an incredible athlete. He’s mentioning OU recently on social media.
Linebacker
The Sooners have three open spots. It does not appear to be a great year in Texas or regionally for LBs. The true MIKE ILB that OU really needs seem to be in even shorter supply. However, OU is off to a pretty good start, getting some attention from top prospects.
Marcel Brooks – 6-3, 205, 4.5
Four stars, Rivals250. The best LB prospect in Texas by a wide margin on film, and maybe the best-looking LB on the move on film since Malik Jefferson. OU and TCU are involved.
Shammond Cooper – 6-2, 205
Three stars. An inside linebacker out of St. Louis who is another friend of Ronnie Perkins. Cooper flashes a physical style of play and has the frame to easily carry into the 230s.
Jonathan Perkins – 6-0, 200, 4.5
Three. California native could be a safety on the next level as well. He was committed to UCLA and has family in Oklahoma.
Cade Stover – 6-4, 220, 4.6
Four stars, Rivals top 150. Looks great on film playing from sideline to sideline with a high level of physicality. Probably a SAM LB – flashes excellent pass-rushing skills.
De’Gabriel Floyd – 6-3, 215, 4.6
Four stars, Rivals100. Not much connection between OU and Floyd right now. He will be another prospect OU will push for a spring visit to determine the Sooners’ real chances.
Anthony Solomon – 6-1, 205, 4.65
Four stars, Rivals top 150. Teammate of Nik Bonitto. Another fast, physical LB. He has the frame to play MIKE LB.
Defensive Back
Probably two safeties and two corners.
Chris Steele – 6-1, 180, 4.5
Four star, Rivals top 30. The Californian is probably the top DB on the West Coast. He’s been all over OU in social media for the last three months along with friend Stephon Wright. USC is the presumed favorite, but Texas and OU are making a big move. Wait for the April visits.
Max Williams – 5-10, 170, 4.4
Four stars, Rivals100. Right behind Steele in the rankings and already talking about scheduling an April visit to OU.
Marquez Beason – 5-11, 180, 4.4
Four stars, Rivals100. Beason is an elite athlete who could excel at slot receiver or cornerback. You already saw OU’s insane WR list, so the coaching staff is focusing on CB for Beason.
Jashon Watkins – 6-4, 190, 4.5
Four stars. OU offered Watkins as a sophomore. He’s still talking up OU. The Sooners will likely try and get him on campus. He’s a great athlete with great range who would be ideal for what the Sooners need in the secondary.
Jalen Catalon – 5-10, 185, 4.4
Four stars, Rivals top 200. OK, Catalon is not the 6-3, 200 pound prototype. He’s in the Earl Thomas/Tyran Matheiu mold at safety. OU’s in good shape to be one of his top choices.
Brian Williams – 6-1, 190, 4.5
Ranked by one service as the best safety in the country. OU is fighting to stay in the battle with Arkansas having a family connection.
Daxon Hill – 6-0, 190, 4.4
Four stars, Rivals top 50. Finally, an in-state player shows up on this list. His brother is Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill. There are rumors that OU has a great shot here, but in my recruiting experience, once an Aggie family, always an Aggie family.
Lewis Cine – 6-2, 185, 4.5
Four stars, Rivals100. OU recruiting in Massachusetts? It’s a longshot, but, again, OU has the advantage of using early official visits to shake out the pretenders.
Jayln Phillips – 6-1, 190, 4.5
Three stars. OU has been working Georgia hard the last couple of years trying to build some connections. Expect Phillips to visit unofficially this spring as OU evaluates secondary options.
Athlete
Isaiah Williams – 5-10, 165, 4.4
Four stars, Rivals100. Another St. Louis prospect now that OU has a foothold again in that region with Ronnie Perkins. The Sooners can now get more kids down for visits and camps. Perkins will be a key host for visits as well. Williams is probably an elite slot receiver, but he could easily be a shutdown corner. OU probably tells him just to sign and figure it out later.
Bru McCoy – 6-3, 215, 4.5
Four stars, Rivals top 20. He’s probably staying on the West Coast, but this LB/safety/WR is the best athlete in the class. OU will look to get a visit and see where the Sooners stand.