Yesterday was a massive day for the Sooners class of 2017 with the addition of 4-star LB Jacob Phillips (6-3/230 from Nashville, TN). Phillips gives them 22 commits, of which 16 are 4-star prospects. With 22 commits in the fold (I really think that the Sooners are in a position where they won’t lose any of their current commits), the obvious question is what is next? How many more additional players will the Sooners add between now and National Signing Day in February.
To answer that question, you would seemingly have to speculate on who might transfer at the conclusion of this season. I will not do so in this post, as it’s not really fair to the current players and something we won’t engage in on this website. That being said I believe the Sooners will take at least 6 additional players and quite possible as many as 8. For that to happen the Sooners would need multiple scholarships to open up.
So who might these next 6-8 prospects be? I would assume that OU would be looking at the following number of players at each position
- WR: 0-1 (1 additional WR is possible if they just find the right guy)
- OL: 1-2 (1 player for sure, but 2 is possible if both are elite offensive tackles)
- DE: 1-2 (adding 2 players is likely)
- DT: 1-2 (1 DT is necessary, but it would be impossible to turn away 2 elite DTs)
- LB (adding 1 more ILB is likely after Tay Evans career being over from multiple concussions)
- CB: 1-2 (1 for sure, but 2 is very likely)
- S: 0-1 (Like WR, 1 safety is possible if they find the right guy)
With these number in mind, here is my predicted finish to the Sooners class of 2017
- 4-Star OT Adrian Ealy 6-7/285 from Gonzales, LA. Easy should decide before the end of October. Even though he holds an LSU offer, they are seemingly pretty far down his list.
- 4-Star DE Joshua Paschal 6-4/255 from Olney, MD. Paschall appears to be down to the Sooners and the instate Maryland Terrapins. Sooners fans should hope that Maryland has a rough season.
- 3-Star DE/DT Joshua Rogers 6-5/280 from Houston, TX. Rogers was seemingly set on Texas A&M, but I don’t think they will have the room for him.
- 4-Star DT Greg Rogers 6-3/305 from Las Vegas, NV. Rogers was thought to be a USC lean, until their entire season and team imploded. This is a battle between UCLA, the Sooners, and the Colorado Buffaloes.
- A Middle Linebacker Not Currently Having an Offer. I am really close to sticking 4-star LB Tyler Taylor 6-3/220 from Sugar Hill, GA in this spot, but something tells me he stays in the SEC.
- 4-Star CB Jaylon Johnson 6-1/170 from Fresno, CA. Johnson was thought to be a heavy USC lean as well, but like Greg Rogers, the mess at USC has changed things. The Sooners also have a stellar track record in Fresno, CA.
- 3-Star CB Kobe Boyce 6-0/170 from Lake Dallas, TX (Texas Commit). Boyce’s commitment status with Texas is incredibly shaky. In fact, I believe his de-commitment could come at any time. Look for the Sooners to flip him.
- 3-Star S Evan Fields 6-2/190 from Midwest City, OK (No OU Offer Yet). Fields has yet to pick up an OU offer, but I expect that to change soon.
This final list could change, should the Sooners find themselves in the driver’s seat for any of the following players:
- 5-Star DB Jeffrey Okudah 6-190 from Grand Prairie, TX
- 5-Star DT Marvin Wilson 6-4/320 from Houston, TX
- 5-Star WR Joseph Lewis 6-2/200 from Los Angeles, CA (visiting for the Baylor game)
- 4-Star WR James Robinson 6-3/200 from Lakeland, FL
- 4-Star OT Chuck Filiaga 6-6/330 from Aledo, TX
- 3-Star CB Latavious Brini 6-2/185 from Hialeah Gardens, FL (visiting for the Baylor game)