| 03 January 2010
Current Verbals:
- Blake Bell- QB
- Roy Finch- RB
- Brennan Clay - RB
- Sheldon McClain - WR- Mid Term
- Joe Powell- WR
- Trey Franks - WR/KR/PR
- Justin McCay- WR/ATH
- Tyrus Thompson - OT
- Bronson Irwin - OG/OT - Mid Term
- Austin Woods - OC - Mid Term
- Adam Snead - OG
- Darryl Williams - OT
- Trey Millard - HBack/TE
- Austin Haywood TE
- Daniel Noble - DT
- Torrea Peterson - DT
- Chuka Ndulue - DE
- Aaron Franklin - OLB
- Jarrett Lake - OLB
- Rashad Favors - MLB - Mid Term
- Quentin Hayes- DB
- Julian Wilson- ATH-DB
- James Haynes - DB
- Aaron Colvin- DB
- Kenny Stills- WR Mid Term
- Tony Jefferson- Mid Term
Recruiting Update:
So the Darius White story is finally over. White verbaled to UT this weekend surprising no one after he bailed on two OU visits after visiting Austin in late November. This was disappointing to OU fans since White was rumored to be leaning to OU this fall. Clearly, UT's strong season put them back in control after leading all spring and summer. White's verbal would appear to end WR recruiting for OU. It will be interesting to see if OU stands pat with their current WR recruiting class or tries to add one more WR (ex Tech WR Kadron Boone for instance?)
In other all star game news, OU's only verbal in the Under Armour, Blake Bell looked great at QB. He showed a great arm, good accuracy, and really should have gotten more series. You won't see any of this potential from the stats though. None of Bell's all star WRs could catch a damn thing on Saturday. I watched 3/4s of his series and every one was ended by a terrible drop by his WRs. I saw at least 5 flat out drops by his WR core. Finally, the overall level of play calling, preparation, and coaching in the game was awful. It was just painful to watch.
Much more entertaining at least from a football execution standpoint was the Offense Defense Bowl. OU had a number of players in the game, but the highlight was the 4 OL kids from OU that started for the West OL. Basically it was Tyrus Thompson/Adam Snead/Austin Woods/Bronson Irwin/OT going to USC. This OL generated all kinds of lanes for Brennan Clay (who looked awesome making me wonder if OU will miss Murray if he leaves early. Clay looked more like a top 30 player in the nation) and 5-7 RB going to UVA named Parks. I haven't seen stats but this OU OL must have generated over 250 yards rushing (100 for Clay probably) in an all star game. One play highlighted the cohesion of these OL kids. In a goal line series, Woods noticed that Irwin didn't need his double team help clearing out a DT and instead moved to seal off two other DL creating a walk into the end zone lane for Parks. Before you think that the OL was just blocking some scrubs. Teh East DEs are both 4 star kids going to to UF and UGA, and the DTs are 3/4 star kids heading to Penn State/Georgia Tech. The East DL talent was easily Army Game/Under Armour level. OU in addition had two WRs (Kenny Stills and Joe Powell) at the game but due to the OU OL dominating so much the WRs never really saw a pass. OU had one player on the defensive side of things, Torrea Peterson at DT. After getting pancaked early on a play, Peterson was pretty much unblockable by the East OL. Again, I don't have stats for Peterson but I saw him get two tackles for loss and a sack. In addition, he was consistently providing interior pressure forcing the QB from the pocket. Peterson showed a great burst, mobility, and pursuit on an every down basis. Peterson's been a bit of a mystery with offers far outweighing his rankings, this game showed perhaps what Jackie Shipp and Ken Norton Jr are seeing in Peterson. Probably because he was wearing 86, it's hard to not see Peterson looking like current Sooner Adrian Taylor.
Coming up this Saturday on NBC we have the last all star game, the Army All American game. OU has two verbals in this game Tony Jefferson and Justin McCay. Apparently, McCay and Jefferson are going to play LB in the game and not their OU positions of WR and SS respectively. Other players of interest in the game are Jackson Jeffcoat and Seantrel Henderson.
It's going to be an interesting month for OU in recruiting who right now has 4 or 5 ships available. OU has several 5 star kids on the board for visits, but do not clearly lead for any of them. In addition, OU has several DTs and a juco OT still in play and could clearly use another DT and an another OT. In addition, the last couple of years OU has lost verbals during January (OU has already parted ways with Eddrick Loften). Also, the last several years OU has stolen a verbal from someone near signing day (Travis Lewis - NU, Broyles- OSU, Demontre Hurst- OSU).
- Eric Humphrey 6-4, 275, 4.8 DT Dallas, TX. Humphrey has shot up recruiting charts with a great senior year and a high ceiling due to his frame and amazing mobility. The last time OU went after a fast rising defender like this, his name was Jeremy Beal (and that worked out well for OU). Humphrey visited in Mid December and OU appears to be a favorite for his verbal. Other big time programs may try to get involved in January.
- John Cullen 6-6, 285, OT Fullerton CC, Fullerton CA. Cullen visited OU in Mid December and is an August enrollee so he has some visits yet to take in January. Hopefully OU playing a 3rd string TE at OT in the Sun Bowl can convince Cullen that OU badly needs OT depth and players.
- Damon Williams. 6-4, 300, 5.1 DT Irving TX. Williams also had a great senior year and has a huge upside as well as as more of a run stuffing NG type prospect. Williams visited in Mid December and has OU in play along with KU and some others. Williams could move to OG if DT didn't work out.
- Jackson Jeffcoat: 6-5, 230, 4.6. DE. Plano, TX (Plano West). It's getting to be decision time for Jeffcoat. He has a scheduled visit to OU on 1/22. If that visit happens, I think OU might be more in play than is generally believed. I can also easily see Jeffcoat cancelling that visit though and focusing on alleged favorites USC and UT.
- Damien Robinson 6-8, 310, 5.3 OT Mississippi. Still has visits left with various SEC powers. When was the last time OU beat SEC teams for a prospect from Mississippi. Robinson in a recent all star game apparently really struggled with edge pass rushers so he's probably more of a RT prospect.
- Christian Jones 6-4, 225, 4.6 OLB/DE Winter Park, FL. Just visited OU. He's still considering UF, and Miami plus his other official visits (Tenn, Bama, USC). OU came very close to signing both his dad and his older brother. FSU is the presumed leader and they are on a serious recruiting roll since the Bowden/Fisher soap opera got resolved. Probably be a huge shock if he went anywhere other than FSU.
- JR "Ego" Ferguson: 6-4, 275, 4.8 DE/DT. Hargrave Military Academy. OU visit is for the same weekend as Jeffcoat the 22nd. I cannot even generate a guess as to where Ferguson has OU in his rankings. He seems to be a heavy lean to LSU?
- Seantrel Henderson: 6-8, 300, 5.0 OT Minneapolis, MN. Will OU get his final visit? Does it even matter?
