Big John
3/12/2008, 10:22 PM
I was basically bored and ready for the new football season to start, so I decided to go on about the backfield recruiting situation to give people something to discuss. Please excuse any typing mess-ups.
At QB, I can't imagine anyone commiting here. The position is loaded with Bradford, Nichol, and Jones all likely being here for the next few years. The only reason I would commit to OU if I was a QB is if I was a blue chip, homegrown kid whose always dreamed of playing at OU. I think the same would be true for any other QB recruit considering OU.
I'm really bored, so I decided to type about the backfield recruiting situation.
It would be nice to get A.J. McCarron though. He has nice height (6'3"), though not a burner (4.8 40), but he has a great touchdown to interception ratio (25-4 sophomore, 26-3junior year). I bet it's a long shot to get him since a lot of other great schools across the south have offered him such as LSU, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Miami.
At RB, we appear to be stacked in this department as well with Murray, Brown, Madu, Calhoun, and Johnson all comming back for the next couple of years. The situation is much like the QB situation, which is a good one.
We have too much young talent. Brown has already followed his brother to Miami and Chris Whaley has already committed to Texas. Whaley has to be the most intriguing recruits physically this season as he is around 6'2" and 220 pounds. The real impressive measureable is his speed to compliment to great size running in the 4.4-4.5 range. His stats will turn heads as well with 2,100 yards last year, averaging over 8 yards a carry, with 28 touchdowns. While I'm not completely heartbroken to see him go elsewhere, it sucks he had to choose Texas.
OU did however pickup a running back commit out of Garland, Texas named Jonathan Miller (6'0" 190 4.5). He racked up nearly 2,000 yards last season, averaging nearly 8 yards a handoff, with 25 touchdowns. While he is not on any all-american lists early on, the Sooner coaching staff had to have been impressed with him to offer him so early.
Offers have also been made to Eddie Lacey (5'10" 205 4.4) out of Louisiana who rushed for 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore, along with Dexter Pratt (6'0" 215 4.5) out of Texas.
One suprise thus far is Carl Albert product David Oku (5'8" 175 4.4) not listed as having received an offer yet. He is rated as a 4 star (****) recruit by both major recruiting sites.
It would be nice to get a fullback, but it's difficult when you never handoff and rarely pass to the guys at the position. That might change as Matt Clapp is getting reps at running back, recieving handoffs because of the lack of spring depth. Judging by the past though, it seems like the fullback spot could remain primarily a blocker for yet another season. OU doesn't come off as being very worried about the current situation as they decided not to offer instate fullback recruit Cameron Gladd last season. That may be somewhat understandable because it's always a possibility to move a linebacker or someone else over to play fullback (ex: Lamont Robinson).
As far as I know, they haven't offered any fullbacks this season. With Clapp and Eldridge both being juniors this upcomming season, a replacement for next season shouldn't be completely neccesary.
OU has already picked a commit from in-state recruit Ronnell Lewis (6'2" 220). He rushed for 2,000 yards and 40 touchdowns on offense, but also picked off 11 passes. Scout.com and Rivals.com both think that he will play outside linebacker.
At QB, I can't imagine anyone commiting here. The position is loaded with Bradford, Nichol, and Jones all likely being here for the next few years. The only reason I would commit to OU if I was a QB is if I was a blue chip, homegrown kid whose always dreamed of playing at OU. I think the same would be true for any other QB recruit considering OU.
I'm really bored, so I decided to type about the backfield recruiting situation.
It would be nice to get A.J. McCarron though. He has nice height (6'3"), though not a burner (4.8 40), but he has a great touchdown to interception ratio (25-4 sophomore, 26-3junior year). I bet it's a long shot to get him since a lot of other great schools across the south have offered him such as LSU, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Miami.
At RB, we appear to be stacked in this department as well with Murray, Brown, Madu, Calhoun, and Johnson all comming back for the next couple of years. The situation is much like the QB situation, which is a good one.
We have too much young talent. Brown has already followed his brother to Miami and Chris Whaley has already committed to Texas. Whaley has to be the most intriguing recruits physically this season as he is around 6'2" and 220 pounds. The real impressive measureable is his speed to compliment to great size running in the 4.4-4.5 range. His stats will turn heads as well with 2,100 yards last year, averaging over 8 yards a carry, with 28 touchdowns. While I'm not completely heartbroken to see him go elsewhere, it sucks he had to choose Texas.
OU did however pickup a running back commit out of Garland, Texas named Jonathan Miller (6'0" 190 4.5). He racked up nearly 2,000 yards last season, averaging nearly 8 yards a handoff, with 25 touchdowns. While he is not on any all-american lists early on, the Sooner coaching staff had to have been impressed with him to offer him so early.
Offers have also been made to Eddie Lacey (5'10" 205 4.4) out of Louisiana who rushed for 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore, along with Dexter Pratt (6'0" 215 4.5) out of Texas.
One suprise thus far is Carl Albert product David Oku (5'8" 175 4.4) not listed as having received an offer yet. He is rated as a 4 star (****) recruit by both major recruiting sites.
It would be nice to get a fullback, but it's difficult when you never handoff and rarely pass to the guys at the position. That might change as Matt Clapp is getting reps at running back, recieving handoffs because of the lack of spring depth. Judging by the past though, it seems like the fullback spot could remain primarily a blocker for yet another season. OU doesn't come off as being very worried about the current situation as they decided not to offer instate fullback recruit Cameron Gladd last season. That may be somewhat understandable because it's always a possibility to move a linebacker or someone else over to play fullback (ex: Lamont Robinson).
As far as I know, they haven't offered any fullbacks this season. With Clapp and Eldridge both being juniors this upcomming season, a replacement for next season shouldn't be completely neccesary.
OU has already picked a commit from in-state recruit Ronnell Lewis (6'2" 220). He rushed for 2,000 yards and 40 touchdowns on offense, but also picked off 11 passes. Scout.com and Rivals.com both think that he will play outside linebacker.