Tilting at Windmills

OU’s Top Ten Targets:

7-3 Update:

Recent Commitments of Interest: Roy Finch to OU!! Torrea Peterson to OU!! Austin Woods to OU

Additions: Tony Jefferson

Subtractions: Jonathan Mincy to Auburn

Notes:  OU is continuing their recruiting momentum with the verbal of top five OC Austin Woods. Woods had a great camp at OU in fact giving a future glimpse perhaps of OU’s offensive line when he worked with verbals Tyrus Thompson and Bronson Irwin and another possible Sooner in Daryl Williams from Dallas. A huge advantage in getting Woods is that he can easily move to either OG positions to provide depth there. He’s already got great size at 6-5, 290, so he will be ready next year to provide depth behind Ben Habern at OC. In other sort of recruiting news, it appears that OU has hired David White, former head coach at Bishop Gorman, to fulfill a new recruiting coordinator position. White is not replacing Gundy, his new position does not count against the official NCAA allotment of coaches. So White will be planning official visits, scouting and evaluating, everything but contacting recruits, almost a project manager helping the recruiting process. UT recently created a similar position for a former position coach when they brought on Applewhite to their staff. I don’t think it can be a coincidence that this position has been created in the same recruiting year that OU has really increased their national recruiting focus. Finally, not since the AD/Bomar recruiting class has OU had a realistic shot at 3 of the Rivals Top 10 in the nation (Henderson #1, Darius White #3, Jackson Jeffcoat #6). In 2004, OU got AD and Bomar but missed out on Early Doucet who verbaled to LSU.

1. Jackson Jeffcoat: 6-5, 230, 4.6. DE. Plano, TX (Plano West). Jackson is even harder to come by than news about McFarland from last year. So there’s rumor making its’ way across the various OU message boards that Jackson’s dad prefers USC (to be coached by former NFL teammate teammate Ken Norton Jr) while his mom and Jackson prefer OU and UT. No clue if this rumor is a complete fantasy or rock solid intel. The only other news to add is that his twin sister when talking about her OU verbal strongly hints that the family has a lot of positive connections to OU.
2. Darius White: 6-4, 200, 4.45. WR. Fort Worth, TX (Dunbar). White doesn’t really give many interviews, more interviews than Jeffcoat for sure. White in a recent update doesn’t give much away. Final five are OU, USC, UT, Tech, and OSU. That’s the order White listed them. Let’s hope that relevant.
3. Seantrel Henderson: 6-8, 300, 5.0 OT Minneapolis, MN. OU should get a visit, and it appears that there’s some level of connection between OU and Henderson. OU can seriously pitch Henderson starting at OT his second year.
4. Kyle Prater WR 6-5, 190, 4.5  WR Hillside, IL. Prater is probably going to end with a final five of OU, UF, USC, Illini, and maybe ND. Of those five schools, OU’s been involved longer and got a huge edge with his visit for OU’s spring game.
5. Justin McCay: 6-4, 200, 4.5. WR/ATH Shawnee,KS (Bishop Miege). I’ve reviewed every interview that I can find with McCay. OU is the only school that received a substantial visit from McCay this spring. The interesting thing about McCay is that he could easily also be a Taylor Mays type dominator at SS as well.
6. Demarco Cobbs: 6-2, 190, 4.45. WR. Tulsa, OK (Tulsa Central). Okay the news with Cobbs after his USC camp visit is all over the place. Cobbs had a great camp and is ready to verbal to USC. Cobbs had a good camp, and USC now leads. After the USC camp, Cobbs is ready to name a final five. Cobbs had an average camp, and USC is ready to drop him. Cobbs got dominated by California HS CB prospects, and USC has dumped him. The truth. I have no idea. All I can say is that if OU keeps up this level of momentum with the 3 WRs listed above Cobbs. Cobbs won’t have an OU ship to fall back on.
7. Tony Jefferson, 6-0, 200, 4.5 LB/Safety Chula Vista, CA. No update on OU, but Jefferson is talking up Miami and Tenn as well so OU might have help in fighting off USC. Brennan Clay talking up OU to his buddy Jefferson could be a factor in OU’s favor.
8. Garrison Smith, 6-3, 255, 4.7 Atlanta GA, DL. Still listing OU. Why am I still listing him although nobody else really does? How often has Jackie Shipp recruited Georgia? Never. How often has Jackie Shipp made a Georgia DT his primary recruiting target? Never.  In a weak class, Smith appears to be the only Harris/McCoy level guy out there based on Shipp’s previous recruiting MO.
9. Christian Jones 6-4, 220, 4.6 OLB Winter Park, FL. No updates, but we are getting closer and closer to when Jones should be talking about setting up a visit.
10. Corey Nelson 6-0, 210, 4.6 LB. Dallas (Skyline), TX. Another week, and OU is still in the lead.

National recruits that I would love to add to the list, but it’s not clear that OU has a real shot at all (each week this list gets longer):

Brandon Burroughs, 6-3, 245, 4.6 DE. Atlanta GA. OU visit in the works?

Christian Thomas, 6-4, 245, 4.5 TE. Palmdale, CA. No recent updates. I’m hoping OU is still involved with probably the only TE left capable of comparing with Grimble.

Brian Vogler 6-7,250, 4.7 TE Columbus, GA. Vogler took an unofficial visit to OU last week, so his level of interest in OU is clearly very high.

TJ Stripling 6-6,220, 4.6. Atlanta, GA. Gator or Dog

Kendrun Malcome 6-0, 215, 4.5. Atlanta, GA. Dog

Kenny Stills 6-1, 175, 4.35 WR San Diego, CA. The speed is legit and he had a huge junior year. Buddies with Brennan Clay. Will OU get a visit when Clay visits?

Joshua Shaw 6-1, 180, 4.4 CB. CA. Another OU California target. Shaw likes ND a lot but seems likely to visit OU as well

George Uko 6-4, 290,4.9 CA. It’s a down year for DTs but OU has offered Uko. Uko consistently mentions OU in his updates

Cassius March 6-4, 285, 4.9 CA. Verbaled to Cal, but now reconsidering after getting big time offers from OU and others.

Demetrius Wright 6-2, 190, 4.4 CA. Another great DB/CB prospect from California, stealing him from USC will take a major recruiting effort.

Victor Burnett 6-2, 225, 4.6 CA. This ideal MLB prospect has been talking up OU ever since he got the offer from Venables.

On the verge of being on the list next week or could pull the trigger for OU any time

Marcus Lucas WR 6-4, 185, 4.5 Liberty, MO. OU in the lead? When is he deciding? Unknown.

Aaron Franklin LB 6-1, 215, 4.5 Marshall TX Decision should be coming soon. Early interviews indicated he grew up a Horn fan and he now has an offer.

Giovanni Bernard RB 5-8, 190, 4.5 Tampa, FL. Have to think that Finch took Bernard’s scholarship offer and OU won’t take 3 RBs not with the 2011 RB class looking awesome

Nick Demien OL 6-6, 300, 5.0 Missouri. Really talking up OU. A top ten OT.

Rashad Favors OLB 6-2, 215, 4.5 Fort Worth TX. Could fall for OU any moment. Mid term graduate and could seriously enhance OU’s chances with Darius White. Ignoring all that Favors will get to play LB this fall and could skyrocket up the rankings with his level of athleticism.

James Haynes 6-1, 180, 4.4 CB. West Orange, TX. Was in the top ten, OU still very much in play

Trey Franks 5-9, 180, 4.4 CB. West Orange, TX. Teammate of Haynes, with OU now recruiting smaller CBs than before, Franks could be a good choice

Trayvon Henry MLB 6-2, 220, 4.6 OKC Millwood. Verbal appears to be in limbo.

DeAndrew White WR/CB 6-0, 170, 4.4 Galena Park, TX (Houston). No updates.

Tommie Saunders DB 6-1,190, 4.5 San Antonio, TX. OU cooling on Saunders?

Dominique Sanders ATH 6-2, 190. 4.5 Fort Worth, TX (Will OU offer Sanders and go for a clean sweep of the Dunbar Three?)

Evan Washington OL 6-5, 290,5.0. Still in play for OU and LSU it would appear. Although Demien and Williams might decide before he does.

Jarrett Lake 6-1,205, 4.6 ATH/LB Jenks, OK. Huge OU summer camp

Aaron Colvin 5-11,180, 4.5 CB  Owasso, OK. Huge OU summer camp. Now has OU offer. OU verbal seems to be inevitable in the coming weeks. Another Tulsa CB to continue the line from Franks to Lynn to Colvin??

Julian Wilson 6-2, 175, 4.4 DB Southmoore, OK. Huge OU summer camp. Now has OU offer. Verbal to anyone but OU would be shocking. Serious track speed.

Darryl Williams 6-5, 280, 5.0 OT Dallas, TX. Dominating OU summer camp.