2012 Recruting Update 7-17
Written by atlantasooner
| 17 July 2011
2012 Recruiting Update 7-17
Verbals for 2012
Kyle Marrs OL 6-6, 310, 5.2
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MHrkW314AM
Alex Ross RB 6-2, 205, 4.5
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLBp2ScFBL0
Sterling Shepard WR 5-10, 180, 4.4
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2ZGfrXpG_A
Duron Neal WR 6-1, 190, 4.45
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYitnjYO3l0
Ty Darlington OC 6-3, 285, 5.0
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8UFzdkwL-k
John Michael McGee OL 6-4, 265, 4.9
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsyTDcgQMOY
Devante Harris 5-11, 165, 4.4
Daniel Brooks ATH 5-9, 180, 4.4
www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1fzCKKEKbU
Trevor Knight QB 6-3, 190, 4.7
youtu.be/12eana-QCQw
Eric Striker DB/OLB 6-0, 195, 4.6
youtu.be/9huo-8Ir3Xw
Laith Harlow TE 6-5, 235, 4.8
youtu.be/yeSN9oGp6lM
Connor Knight TE/DS 6-5,215, 4.7 (recruited walk-on)
youtu.be/uNdMdFZz8Fg
Position by Position Recruiting Update and Recap
QB: OU waited and waited on Gunner Kiel after making him THE QB recruit for the better part of 5 months. Obviously, something happened right before July 4th weekend for both OU and Missouri, two of the schools chasing Kiel. Missouri got a verbal from a QB July 7th, and OU got a verbal after the 7/11 weekend from Trevor Knight. Now, some folks will be disappointed with Knight over Kiel, but Kiel was never coming to Norman. He’s was scared off by the spring game performances of Bell and Allen and the driving distance is too far for his family. Better he decides that now than “Chad Davising” the Sooners in August. So who is Trevor Knight? Knight was actually one of Josh’s prime QB targets right before Kiel made his first road trip to Norman. Be sure to look at the youtube highlights linked above they are from Knight’s last 6 games when his OL and WR corps started improving after a bunch of early season injuries. Knight shows excellent accuracy, a good arm, and an ability to extend passing plays with his scrambling. Knight also shows a good QB running game. He’s a top 250 recruit by almost every service, this is no reach. Josh has scouted Trevor in person watching him throw on several occasions. Once Josh realized Kiel was gone, Josh didn’t offer anyone else like Wes Lunt from Illinois. Josh contacted Trevor Knight and got him on campus the first weekend after July 4th. Kiel was obviously choice 1. There’s no way to look at Kiel’s film and not realize how good he would be in our offense. But Knight is choice 2 or 3 depending on how serious OU’s offer to Jameis Winston really was. (I still think OU offered Winston to force Bama’s hand a bit. A little recruit gamesmanship with Saban after Bama got serious with Kiel). Finally you have to appreciate any recruit who knows the value of an offer from a program from like OU versus the chance to play at ATM. OU is at one level in college football, ATM is trying to be OU. Knight understands the value/importance of what being coached by Josh Heupel can mean for a QB.
RB: Done. Just watch Alex Ross vault up the recruiting rankings with a
great senior year.
WR:
OU already had Sterling Shepard who looks like a great weapon at WR, but out of almost nowhere OU in June during their summer camp sessions got Rivals Top 100 talent Duron Neal. Neal looks like a great pickup at WR. If I had to make a comparison he looks like Juaquin Iglesias with a bigger frame, more homerun speed and better acceleration. Neal’s been overshadowed in the state of Missouri by the unreal hype on DGB, any other year and OU fans would be going crazy for getting a WR as talented as Neal. Neal could make this WR class OU’s best in a while. Why is the potential for the WR class that high? OU is still very much involved with Dorial Green-Beckham or DGB.
DGB may take recruiting into his senior season, but right now it doesn’t look like that he will wait until February. I’ll repeat the stats, DGB is 6-5, 220, with 4.5 speed and moves like a 190lb WR. He’s the best prospect since AD. Here are the highlights.
youtu.be/tynxBw4dhFo
In other WR news, OU also appears to be in the final 5 for Top 100 WR Jordan Payton 6-2, 195, 4.45 from California, if for some reason OU loses out on DGB then OU could target Payton at WR.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVYtV52SPTM
In a year where OU had 25 ships to offer, OU would easily go all out for DGB and Payton. But this year, probably only has room for one.
TE:
OU always wants to add a TE and in Laith Harlow OU got an excellent blocking TE with under rated receiving skills. Harlow’s stats from his junior year are low due to their ground based offense, but his senior year should feature more passing. With the surprising transfer/departure of Dan Tapko, Harlow’s blocking skill is an added bonus. In addition, OU has recruited Trevor Knight’s brother as a preferred walk on. Connor Knight has a great frame at 6-5, 215 and shows excellent receiving skills, in addition Connor is a deep snapper. OU will move him to scholarship in a year or two provided he develops as everyone expects.
OL:
There were 3 big time OL prospects that starred at OU’s summer camp of 2010, Ty Darlington, Evan Boehm, and John Michael McGee. Coach Patton/Kittle have locked down two of those kids (losing Boehm mainly due to Tiger legacy parents) added to previous verbal Kyle Marrs who also attended OU summer camp. That’s 3 years in a row where the majority of OU’s OL recruits have been OU summer camp attendees the year before. That familiarity has been important in recruiting and it will hopefully extend to the successful scouting and development of college OL prospects. OU has a nice OL class of 3 players right now. Darlington and McGee are both 4 star/top 250 players, and Darlington is probably the top OC prospect in the country. Darlington should be able to redshirt and then take over the center position after Habern and then Ikard graduate. McGee looks like a lighter version of Trent Williams. Just wait for OU to add the proper weight on him and McGee could be a dominant OG or OT for the Sooners he’s that athletic.
I’d love for OU to add another prospect at OL if the overall ship count permits, and that ideally would be an elite OT. There’s no clear blue chip that has OU out in front but there are several kids that are still listing OU that would fall in that elite OT category. Several of them are listing 8+ schools right now so the question is can OU last long enough to get an official visit.
Josh Garnett 6-5, 285, 5.0 Washington. Listing OU among a bunch of west coast powers. Extremely athletic, another kid who looks like Trent Williams.
youtu.be/izUPI7j16wE
Zach Banner 6-9, 330, 5.2 Washington. Phil Loadholt part 2? Listing all the west coast powers and others but still listing OU.
youtu.be/Or99jTarO10
Kyle Murphy 6-6, 275, 5.0 California. Right behind Garnett in terms of elite OT level. OU fighting for a visit.
youtu.be/B93cGrsSBmo
Patrick Miller 6-7, 285, 5.1 OT Florida: A new name but he’s now talking about visiting OU this summer.
youtu.be/qrXOz2r0VlU
Ronnie Stanley 6-7, 280, 5.2 OT Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman). OU was a bit late in offering Stanley but is in the chase. Can Bishop Gorman deliver another blue chip to Norman?
youtu.be/l4P8OXGffCY
Erik Magnuson 6-6, 280 San Diego. Verbaled to Michigan right now, but good friends with Kenny Stills. If OU is rolling and Michigan is struggling a bit, maybe OU can get him on campus some time this fall.
youtu.be/Rx34qIl372U
DT:
OU has no verbals here and no clear prospects. OU signing a DT might depend greatly if 2011 signee Jordan Wade is able to become eligible.
If 2010’s interior defensive issues has reminded us of anything, it’s that you can never have enough DTs and an elite DT can be the difference between a title game appearance or a conference title (who knows how far OU could have gone last year with a healthy Adrian Taylor at DT all year long)
There’s no clear DT target that is either in OU’s regular region or has OU out in front or OU in a final 3. And really if OU signs a DT, it needs to be an elite DT prospect who can make an impact as true freshman or 2nd year player when Stacy McGee and McFarland have left. So here are the targets but I’m not sure that OU can get any of these prospects, then again Jackie Shipp is an elite closer DT recruiter. OU being number number one and heading to a title game could be the kind of boost Jackie might need to get visits from some of these kids.
Jordan Watkins, 6-5, 270, 4.9 DT Atlanta. Watkins keeps listing OU along with most of the SEC/ACC, but it sounds like Jackie has made some kind of connection with Watkins and he attends a private school in Atlanta where the kids will attend colleges throughout the country.
youtu.be/zBN4ldz1lNA
Eddie Goldman 6-4, 300, 5.0 DT Washington DC. Best DT in the country, OU is trying to stay involved. Who knows if OU can get a visit. Again, it’s a long list of schools with OU fighting the best of college football
youtu.be/sKW7T9ODgPg
Ondre Pipkins 6-3, 320, 5.3 DT Kansas City. The only real in region prospect. KC area has been very kind to OU over the years, and Pipkins stock could rise now that his conditioning has improved. OU is probably in the top five, but not leading.
Sheldon Day 6-2, 285, 5.0 DT Indianapolis. Would be an ideal 3 technique DT for OU. Great explosion off the line. Had a huge showing at the Nike The Opening camp in July.
youtu.be/N4h5tQ-wRjY
Ellis McCarthy 6-5, 310, 4.9 DT Monrovia. CA. It’s either Goldman or McCarthy for best DT in the country. Can OU take advantage of the probation at USC and turmoil at UCLA (Neuheisel as lame duck coach) to get a visit from McCarthy and pull this elite kid from the West coast? It’s doubtful, but Shipp could get OU a visit.
youtu.be/L06pcJQ44f8
Vincent Valentine 6-4, 295, 4.9 Illinois. Sometimes Valentine talks up OU, and other times he doesn’t list the Sooners. He appears set to go to Wisconsin or Nebraska (I’m sure the Huskers are selling their Big Ten membership and Valentine on becoming the next Suh). OU needs to get Valentine on campus early to get back into real contention.
youtu.be/EQBXG9monQk
DE:
OU’s DE recruiting has been a puzzle. At times it seems like OU is not sure what type of athlete they want at DE. OU passed on Devonte Fields who to me looks like the best DE in Texas including five star FSU verbal Mario Edwards. Also, OU appears to be looking to add only one DE when DE depth in particular looks thin with the signing day defection of Cooper Washington from this February. So who are the targets?
Danielle Hunter 6-5, 220, 4.6 Texas. Hunter looks like a sprinter playing the OLB/DE hybrid position. It’s hard to not look at his film and think ATM 1st rd pick Von Miller.
youtu.be/XcnB0A-jk2Y
Charles Tapper 6-4, 245, 4.7 Maryland. OU offered Tapper early, and he’s still listing OU. Distance is not in OU’s favor here, and you have to wonder if OU can stay in the top five.
youtu.be/HwluIB4RvaE
Polo Manukainiu 6-5, 265, 4.8 Texas. Cousin of OU freshman Nila Knilebuhl and could potentially be an answer at DT since he has the kind of frame to carry additional weight. Polo could easily be a 3-4 DE if OU wants to experiment with more hybrid 3-4 looks.
youtu.be/3YXFaWwt71s
LB:
OU has one verbal here in hybrid OLB/SS Eric Striker. I’ll admit to being very surprised that Striker actually visited Norman during the June summer camps, and even more surprised he left with an offer and verbal. Striker at 6-0, 195 looks to be too small to be a OLB and does not have the coverage skills for safety. However, after OU summer camps Striker has been doing great in 7 on 7 competitions showing the kind of coverage skills where he could excel in that hybrid role of Tony Jefferson/Joseph Ibiloye. OU has one spot left at LB and it appears to be dedicated for Brian Nance from Euless Trinity. Nance tore his ACL last year and OU has been tracking his progress. It looks like Nance is healthy and OU wants him at LB. Nance is 6-3, 215 with great sideline to sideline speed and coverage ability (in the highlight reel the first two plays are excellent coverage ints). He would be an every down LB for the Sooners at either MLB or OLB. Brian Nance’s highlights on youtube
youtu.be/Dfi9l5SKE2Y
If not Nance then who or if OU had another ship for the LB spot?
Quanzell Lambert 6-2 230, 4.6 New Jersey. Recent offer. If OU can get a Nance verbal before September, it will be interesting to see if OU continues to chase Lambert. Lambert is more of a pure MLB than Nance.
youtu.be/4cdNXahJi9w
DB
OU got an early verbal from Devante Harris who recently starred at the Nike The Opening event. In fact, Harris got an INT off UT verbal QB Connor Brewer, hopefully one of many INTs for Harris from UT QBs. Harris at 5-11, 165 just needs to add some weight to go with his excellent speed and agility. OU would like to add one more DB and Colin Blake from San Antonio would be the main target. Blake is a tall CB prospect at 6-3, 175. That kind of height at CB is rare to find, so Blake has a lot of offers. OU may have an edge with Kyle Marrs being Blake’s teammate. Blake may come down to an OU v UT battle if the Horns offer. OU is playing a 3 CB look right now and Blake could fit into the spot that Aaron Colvin is playing this fall in the future.
Ryan Reid 5-11, 185, 4.5 from Texas is another possibility but he is a similar player to Harris.
There does not appear to be a true safety on OU’s offer board right now.
Colin Blake’s youtube video
youtu.be/tfNLv2iZ1aA
ATH
OU has one verbal at this position and that’s Daniel Brooks. Brooks at 5-9, 180, 4.4 has legit breakaway speed. The question is where does he play at OU? RB, CB, or WR. He could fit in at any of these positions. UT has started making a run at Brooks. So far Brooks is staying with OU, but if he visits UT then OU might have to make a call. In addition, OU could find itself needing this spot for a DE or an OL.
So OU has 11 verbals, and with the loss of Tapko (add one more if Wade does not make it on campus, maybe two depending on Metoyer’s status) I think that OU could go up to 17. So who ideally gets the final 6
1 DGB (he can wait until February if he want, OU will make a spot for him). If DGB chooses somewhere else than OU this ship could be redirected to another position.
2 DE – Hunter and Polo or Tapper
1 DT – Not sure who but Goldman or McCarthy would be the dream pickup
1 CB – Colin Blake
1 LB - Brian Nance