Things aren’t so great in Norman right right. Scheme and coaching issues are legion and everyone is about to jump ship. However, often times in football, it’s not so much scheme or coaching as it is talented players.
It was obvious on Owen Field last Saturday night that the Ohio State Buckeyes had a clear talent advantage on the Sooners. Basically recruiting matters, and the Sooners are paying for a lack of talent.
And while it can be hard to find a silver lining after get beat in every facet of the game against the Buckeyes, the Sooners class of 2017 might just be the answer to what ails the Sooners program. Here is a look at the current Sooner commits as well as the players we predict will finish out the Sooners class of 2017.
COMMITS
- 4-Star QB Chris Robison 6-2/190 from Mesquite, TX – Robison talent is immense. While he is a bit undersized, he has what I would call the “it” factor. He is a natural leader, makes really good decisions, is just elusive enough to be able to scramble, and yet seemingly always plays within himself.
- 4-Star RB Trey Sermon 6-1/222 from Marietta, GA – At 222 pounds as a high school senior, Sermon is wrecking ball. Assuming Mixon or Perine (or both) declare early for the NFL draft (I don’t expect both to do so), I expect Sermon to be near impossible to keep off the field. He is a difference maker
- 3-Star JUCO RB Marcelias Sutton 5-10/195 from Lackawanna Community College in Scranton, PA – Sutton fits into a spread offense really well. He can catch the ball out of the backfield and be the change of pace guy for the Air Raid offense.
- 3-Star FB/HB Jeremiah Hall 6-3/225 from Charlotte, NC – Hall should fill in nicely in a role similar to that of Dimitri Flowers.
- 4-Star OL Tyrese Robinson 6-5/300 from McKinney, TX – Robinson will immediately become the highest ranked offensive line recruit on campus when he arrives in Norman. While he might not quite possess the size to play offensive tackle (although I could see him be REALLY good at RT).
- 4-Star OL Marquis Hayes 6-5/315 from Maryland Heights, MO – Hayes will likely find a home on the interior of the Sooners offensive line although RT isn’t outside the realm of possibility. He is a mauler.
- 3-Star OL Creed Humphrey 6-4/290 from Shawnee, OK – Creed was a former A&M commit before switching to the Sooners. He could find a home at either interior offensive line position, but also could play center.
- 4-Star WR Cedarian Lamb 6-3/190 from Richmond, TX – Lamb is a huge vertical threat and has game changing abilities.
- 4-Star WR Jalen Reagor 6-1/190 from Waxahachie, TX – Reagor is my early favorite to start as a true freshman. He should be the consummate underneath receiver who can break the big one.
- 4-Star WR Charleston Rambo 6-2/170 from Cedar Hill, TX – Rambo will likely need a redshirt, but has special talent in his own right.
- 3-Star WR/TE Grant Calcaterra 6-4/215 from Rancho Santa Margarita, CA- I don’t know how you keep him off the field. Basically should he be able to add the necessary weight, he is not unlikely current Sooner Mark Andrews.
- 4-Star DE Isaiah Thomas 6-6/240 from Tulsa, OK – He is a guy that is just growing into his body. By all accounts he has grown an inch this year and is just starting to put on weight. After a redshirt year, I expect Thomas to be 6-6/270+ and an absolute force should he put in the work.
- 4-Star LB Addison Gumbs 6-4/215 from Hayward, CA – He is exactly what you look for in an OLB as his frame will allow him to play at 240 pounds easily. Gumbs should make an early impact.
- 4-Star LB Levi Draper 6-2/215 from Collinsville, OK – Draper should factor in early at MLB given the Sooners depth issues at the position.
- 3-Star LB Kenneth Murray 6-2/210 from Missouri City, TX – Murray will need to add some weight, but after a redshirt year, he should be a factor for the Sooners defense.
- 4-Star S Robert Barnes 6-3/200 from Southlake, TX – Barnes is a huge safety who will add to really talented (but young defensive backfield)
- 4-Star DB Justin Broiles 6-0/170 from Oklahoma City, OK – He could either factor in at corner or safety (I’m guessing safety). Broiles always seems to make big plays
- 4-Star DB Tre Brown 5-11/180 from Tulsa, OK. Brown’s greatest attribute is his incredible speed. He has been able to add nearly 20 pounds to his frame before his senior year.
- 2-Star K/P Reeves Mundschau 6-0/170 from New Braunfels, TX – Seibert has struggled with both the kicking and punting duties. Adding Mundschau shouldn’t hurt things at all.
PROJECTED COMMITS
- 4-Star DT Greg Rogers 6-3/305 from Las Vegas, NV – Rogers visited for the Ohio State game and in spite of the Sooners loss appears to be really high on the Sooners. It doesn’t hurt that USC is self destructing.
- 3-Star DT Corey Bethley 6-1-275 from Katy, TX – Bethley is a bit undersized, but should be able to at 290 pounds plus.
- 4-Star OT Adrian Ealy 6-7/285 from Gonzales, LA – Ealy is exactly what you look for in a left tackle. His frame is massive. Should the Sooners survive an upcoming visit to LSU by Ealy (and I expect they will) then by all accounts, Ealy will land in Norman.
- 4-Star LB Jacob Phillips 6-3/230 from Nashville, TN – I fully expect Phillips to commit to OU within the next month. He is already bigger than most of the linebackers on the Sooners roster.
- 3-Star LB K’Jakrye Daley 6-4/215 from Riviera Beach, FL – Daley has the frame to play at 240 pounds and has a great first step.
- 4-Star DE Joshua Paschal 6-4/255 from Olney, MD – This a bit of a flyer, but I don’t think he locked into Maryland and had a really great visit when the Sooners hosted Louisiana Monroe.
- 4-Star DB Jaylon Johnson 6-0/170 from Fresno, CA – The Sooners track record in Fresno speaks for itself and Johnson would be a huge addition to solidify the Sooners defensive backfield.
Should this class come together you have easily the most talented class (on paper in the Bob Stoops era). While many things will need to fall into place for this class to happen, I don’t believe the final result is really a stretch at all.