Recruiting Wrap for 2010

I'm just going to link to the stats, rankings, and accomplishments from the OU official site instead of rehashing them in the wrapup.

http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/2010_signing_day.html

There are highlights reels on this site and Rivals also has footage on the signees. But, I'm going to include links to as much other free video highlights as I can find.

John Cullen chose UTAH. That should be it for recruiting. Bob's PC will be on at 3pm Central.

COREY NELSON TO OU- LOI received. Huge props to Joe Powell for breaking the news on KREF

John Cullen JUCO OT to decide around lunch time central time (Utah is the favorite).

Jarrett Lake will not be signing today with OU. Lake is not on progress to make it academically. He may sign with someone else like Arkansas, but will probably end up going the JUCO route.

Nice interview with Aaron Franklin on KREF (whose fax has not arrived yet). Franklin's 6-2, 207, running a 4.47 according to him.  Hopefully that's a recent time since Franklin hurt his knee in 2008. Tyrus Thompson reporting in at 6-6, 297. Torrea Peterson at 6-4, 295.

SIGNED

1. Kenny Stills 6-1, 180, 4.35 WR - Enrolled (Still not cleared by NCAA, but on campus)
2. Tony Jefferson 6-0, 200, 4.5 DB Chula Vista, CA  - Enrolled
3. Bronson Irwin 6-5, 310, 5. 2 OG- Mustang, Ok - Enrolled
4. Austin Woods 6-5, 290, 5.1 OC - Rockwall, TX - Enrolled
5. Sheldon McClain  6-2, 180, 4.5 WR Cibolo, TX - Enrolled
6. Blake Bell 6-6, 215, 4.6 QB, Wichita, KS (Bishop Carroll) - Signed
7. Quentin Hayes 6-1, 175, 4.4 DB  Lancaster, TX - Signed
8. Julian Wilson 6-3, 180, 4.35 DB Southmoore, OK- Signed
9. Geneo Grissom 6-4, 230, 4.6 DE Hutchinson, KS - Signed
10. Daryl Williams 6-5, 270, 5.0 OT  Lake Dallas, TX- Signed
11. Trey Millard 6-2, 245, 4.6 TE Columbia, MO - Signed (OU is listing him as a LB???)
12. Chuka Ndulue 6-3, 245, 4.6 DE Dallas, TX Signed
13. Aaron Colvin 5-11, 175, 4.5 DB Owasso, OK Signed
14. Tyrus Thompson 6-5, 290, 5.1 OT Pflugerville, TX Signed
15. Austin Haywood 6-5, 245, 4.7 TE Southmoore, OK Signed
16. Daniel Noble 6-4, 275, 4.8 DT Flower Mound, TX Signed
17. Eric Humphrey 6-4, 275, 4.75 DT Dallas, TX Signed
18. Justin McCay 6-3, 200, 4.5 WR Shawnee Mission, KS Signed
19. Adam Shead 6-4, 320, 5.2 OG Cedar Hill, TX Signed
20. Damon Williams 6-4, 295. 5.0 DT Irving, TX Signed
21. Torrea Peterson 6-4, 295, 4.9 DT San Antonio, TX Signed
22. Rashad Favors, 6-2, 225, 4.5 LB Ft Worth, TX Signed
23. Trey Franks 5-9, 170, 4.3 WR Orange, TX
24. James Haynes 6-1, 185, 4.35 DB Orange, TX
25. Roy Finch 5-8, 180, 4.45 RB Niceville, TX
26. Corey Nelson 6-0, 210, 4.5 LB Dallas, TX
27. Joe Powell 6-0, 175, 4.5 WR Dallas, TX
28. Brennan Clay 6-0, 190, 4.45 RB San Diego, CA

Recruiting Update 1/30:

• QB (1): Blake Bell 6-6, 230, 4.7
• RB (2): Brennan Clay 6-0, 190, 4.45  Roy Finch 5-8, 180, 4.45
• WR (5): Justin McCay 6-3, 204, 4.5   Kenny Stills 6-1, 180, 4.35  Sheldon McClain 6-3, 185, 4.5  Joe Powell 6-0, 185, 4.5  Trey Franks 5-9, 185, 4.3
• TE/FB (2): Austin Haywood 6-5, 245, 4.7  Trey Millard, 6-3, 250, 4.7
• OL (5): Austin Woods 6-4, 290, 5.0 OC  Adam Snead 6-4, 310, 5.2 OG  Bronson Irwin 6-5, 310, 5.2 OG  Darryl Williams 6-5, 280, 5.0 OT  Tyrus Thompson 6-6, 310, 5.1 OT
• DT (4): Daniel Noble 6-4, 280, 4.9  Torrea Peterson 6-4, 290, 4.9 Damon Williams 6-5, 320, 5.1  Eric Humphrey 6-4, 275, 4.75
• DE (2) : Chuka Ndulue 6-4, 245, 4.7, Geneo Grissom 6-5, 230, 4.6
• LB (3): Rashad Favors 6-2, 225, 4.5  Garrett Lake 6-2, 210, 4.5  Aaron Franklin 6-2, 210, 4.5
• CB (2): James Haynes 6-1, 185, 4.35  Aaron Colvin 6-0, 185, 4.5
• Safety (3): Tony Jefferson 6-0, 195, 4.5  Julian Wilson 6-1, 185, 4.35  Quentin Hayes 6-1, 185, 4.4

Update:

So OU had a weird week in recruiting with one expected but disappointing result, one surprising result which is still not finished.

The expected news happened on Friday with Jackson Jeffcoat (DE 6-3, 230, 4.6) choosing UT. OU's spent a lot of energy the last 12 months plus recruiting Jeffcoat so losing him to UT was a tough blow. You could sense that OU knew that this would be the result when they put on the full court press to get Geneo Grissom (a very similar athlete to Jackson). Jeffcoat didn't give many specifics about UT over OU mainly saying that's where he felt more comfortable. Obviously, UT's great season compared to the struggles OU had all year long didn't help in this battle.

Now for the surprising result. Last weekend, Corey Nelson (OLB 6-0, 210, 4.5) visited OU and from all the rumors was seriously considering choosing OU. Friday it was reported by ESPN that Nelson had verbaled to OU. Now, no one could get Nelson on the record to support that claim and the rest of the day Friday there were more confusing updates. By the end of the day, Nelson seemed to be back in the ATM camp. Now, you can bet OU has a LOI ready for Nelson to fax on signing day if he starts to waver. In fact, I can easily see the dead period where ATM cannot contact him letting Nelson change his mind again.

So ignoring any signing day drama with Nelson, there are only two players left in play.

John Cullen JUCO OT 6-6, 285. Seems like he's down to OU, Utah, and maybe USC. Cullen throughout this process has seemed like he would stay out west.

Damien Robinson OT 6-8, 330. Massive OT from Mississippi. Down to OU, Ole Miss, Miss State. Probably stays in the SEC somewhere.

• QB (1): Blake Bell 6-6, 230, 4.7
• RB (2): Brennan Clay 6-0, 190, 4.45  Roy Finch 5-8, 180, 4.45
• WR (5): Justin McCay 6-3, 204, 4.5   Kenny Stills 6-1, 180, 4.35  Sheldon McClain 6-3, 185, 4.5  Joe Powell 6-0, 185, 4.5  Trey Franks 5-9, 185, 4.3
• TE/FB (2): Austin Haywood 6-5, 245, 4.7  Trey Millard, 6-3, 250, 4.7
• OL (5): Austin Woods 6-4, 290, 5.0 OC  Adam Snead 6-4, 310, 5.2 OG  Bronson Irwin 6-5, 310, 5.2 OG  Darryl Williams 6-5, 280, 5.0 OT  Tyrus Thompson 6-6, 310, 5.1 OT
• DT (4): Daniel Noble 6-4, 280, 4.9  Torrea Peterson 6-4, 290, 4.9 Damon Williams 6-5, 320, 5.1  Eric Humphrey 6-4, 275, 4.75
• DE (2) : Chuka Ndulue 6-4, 245, 4.7, Geneo Grissom 6-5, 230, 4.6
• LB (3): Rashad Favors 6-2, 225, 4.5  Garrett Lake 6-2, 210, 4.5  Aaron Franklin 6-2, 210, 4.5
• CB (2): James Haynes 6-1, 185, 4.35  Aaron Colvin 6-0, 185, 4.5
• Safety (3): Tony Jefferson 6-0, 195, 4.5  Julian Wilson 6-1, 185, 4.35  Quentin Hayes 6-1, 185, 4.4

So it looks like Pete Carroll is heading out of town right before the NCAA arrives in town to hit the Men of Troy where it hurts most (remember any football penalty will be amplified due to the Basketball program's indiscretions).

Everyone is wondering the obvious since it's January, what does this mean for recruiting?

Let's review the possible kids for this year that it might impact

Kyle Prater WR 6-5, 210 Illinois. Prater could decide that he no longer wants to be a Trojan. If he opens his recruiting back up, OU could be a possible school of interest, but far more likely is that Brian Kelly at ND will get a very early present. Prater is a mid term so any change will have to be quick. Now, I have been told that the Prater family continues to talk to OU. So things could get interesting, remember OU has one mid term ship left so OU could take Prater while leaving 2 ships still out there.

Recruiting Update 1/7:

OU has just received verbals from two Dallas area DTs

Eric Humphrey 6-4, 275, 4.8 Dallas, TX Parish Episcopal

Damon Williams 6-5, 320, 5.1 Irving, TX Nimitz HS

These two huge DTs pickups put OU at 28 verbals (5 midterm- Stills, Jefferson, Irwin Woods, McClain), so just two verbal slots left. Before going into some detail on what the two DTs bring to the Sooner class let's recap OU's current verbals by position

Current Verbals:

1. Blake Bell- QB
2. Roy Finch- RB
3. Brennan Clay - RB
4. Sheldon McClain - WR- Mid Term
5. Joe Powell- WR
6. Trey Franks - WR/KR/PR
7. Justin McCay- WR/ATH
8. Tyrus Thompson - OT
9. Bronson Irwin - OG/OT - Mid Term
10. Austin Woods - OC - Mid Term
11. Adam Snead - OG
12. Darryl Williams - OT
13. Trey Millard - HBack/TE
14. Austin Haywood TE
15. Daniel Noble - DT
16. Torrea Peterson - DT
17. Chuka Ndulue - DE
18. Aaron Franklin - OLB
19. Jarrett Lake - OLB
20. Rashad Favors - MLB - Mid Term
21. Quentin Hayes- DB
22. Julian Wilson- ATH-DB
23. James Haynes - DB
24. Aaron Colvin- DB
25. Kenny Stills- WR Mid Term
26. Tony Jefferson- Mid Term

I feel like this recruiting update should have an amusing line from Anchorman.

Anyway breaking news from San Diego tonight.

OU got two huge verbals from

• Tony Jefferson 6-0, 200, 4.45 Safety
• Kenny Stills 6-1, 175, 4.35 WR

Jefferson is ranked is a five star recruit according to ESPN and is ranked as the 10th best player in the nation. He's an elite defender who is doubtless going to draw nothing but comparisons to the gold standard at safety for OU, Roy Williams. OU coaches did a great job staying involved with Jefferson even after he verbaled to UCLA back in August, and getting Jefferson to visit Norman in November. Jefferson de-committed from UCLA and OU was even able to hold off a late charge from USC. Finally Jefferson will enroll early, and be ready to go through spring ball and challenge for a safety spot next to Quinton Carter.

Stills is a five star recruiting according to Scout, 6th ranked WR nationally, and 37th ranked player in the nation. Stills had over 1500 yards receiving as a junior, and had nearly 1000 yards receiving as a senior. The 40 speed is electronically timed at a combine this summer so it's legit, and Still has the track times to back it up. Stills is an elite deep threat but also excels at the slot WR routes. Just like Jefferson, Stills enrolls early, so he will in Norman in spring to provide some much needed competition at WR.

Huge props to OU verbal commitment Brennan Clay whose constant work on both Jefferson and Stills put OU in position to get the official visits needed to lock down both kids. Clay's early verbal to OU (having never been to Norman once), gave OU the needed "in" to start recruiting Stills and Jefferson.

I strongly recommend watching the highlight reels and interviews with Clay, Jefferson, and Stills on the KUSI Prep Pigskin Report website.

Strategically, this is the most California OU verbals under Bob, and probably for OU since the early 80s Switzer days. This increased focus on California is attributed to a more national recruiting strategy by David White (former Gorman coach who is now OU's recruiting coordinator). It's quite possible that these 3 very popular players in region could be the start of an OU Southern Cal/San Diego pipeline.

I'll end the article with a great image

OU Recruiting Update 12/4

Current Verbals:

1. Blake Bell- QB
2. Roy Finch- RB
3. Brennan Clay - RB
4. Sheldon McClain - WR- Mid Term
5. Joe Powell- WR
6. Trey Franks - WR/KR/PR
7. Justin McCay- WR/ATH
8. Tyrus Thompson - OT
9. Bronson Irwin - OG/OT - Mid Term
10. Austin Woods - OC - Mid Term
11. Adam Snead - OG
12. Darryl Williams - OT
13. Trey Millard - HBack/TE
14. Austin Haywood TE
15. Daniel Noble - DT
16. Torrea Peterson - DT
17. Chuka Ndulue - DE
18. Aaron Franklin - OLB
19. Jarrett Lake - OLB
20. Rashad Favors - MLB - Mid Term
21. Quentin Hayes- DB
22. Eddrick Loften- DB
23. Julian Wilson- ATH-DB
24. James Haynes - DB
25. Aaron Colvin- DB

OU has recently received two more football recruiting verbals from Southmoore teammates Austin Haywood and Kendal Thompson.