If you’re an offensive player then Oklahoma doesn’t really have to go into a, “hard sell” in recruiting. Finding success in Lincoln Riley’s offense is just about a guaranteed thing for talented players, which is why he often gets more looks than he has scholarships on the offensive side of the ball.
Across the board the Sooners have succeeded in boosting offensive players to the next level but two particular positions have been extraordinary for Riley. Quarterbacks and offensive linemen have elevated themselves at the University of Oklahoma among the best in their position groups in the country.
Oklahoma has found a replacement for Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray in Alabama transfer Jalen Hurts but how they’re going to replace offensive linemen still remains a bit of a mystery.
Four of OU’s five starting offensive linemen are moving on to the NFL this spring (Creed Humphrey isn’t eligible for the draft until next year) leaving some huge question marks among the unsung heroes of Oklahoma’s offensive success.
The Sooners may look to yet another graduate transfer to fill answer one of those questions though. Virginia left guard R.J. Proctor is coming off one of the best games of his career in the Belk Bowl. In UVA’s 28-0 win over South Carolina he graded out by Pro Football Focus (PFF) as highest UVA offensive player in pass pro (85.7) and third best in run blocking (72.4) while playing every snap of that game.
Using that game as a spring board into the transfer portal he’ll have immediate eligibility, as a graduate transfer, where ever he lands. That makes him an enticing prospect for Oklahoma.
The fact that Bill Bedenbaugh has already been to Charlottesville to visit Proctor shows that Oklahoma is certainly interested. Like Jalen Hurts, Proctor has to decide what he ultimately wants in his final year of college football.
Plenty of schools have shown interest so landing somewhere won’t be an issue. Florida State, Penn State, and Texas have all been on campus at UVA trying to woo him over to their respective programs. With 36 games of collegiate experience under his belt thriving elsewhere won’t be a struggle for Proctor.
However, few schools can offer him the opportunity to thrive at an institution with a track record of both putting offensive linemen in the NFL and competing for championships on a regular basis. Oklahoma is one of those schools though.
This is why Sooner fans should begin to familiarize themselves with R.J. Proctor. He could just be the key link to another championship run in 2019.