For the 2016 class, Connor McGinnis (Heritage Hall) will receive a preferred walk-on spot at OU. McGinnis has been speaking with Coach Riley, and the preferred spot was discussed (and accepted) for next season. Obviously McGinnis will have an uphill battle to ever see action for the Sooners, and this news will not affect the current offers to QB prospects for the class, but it does provide a little cushion (depth) at the position. Additional info: Connor McGinnis Quarterback 6'4" 188 lbs Oklahoma City, OK Heritage Hall High School 247: 3 star ESPN: NR Rivals: 2 star Scouts: NR
Hey 8x, help me out...what is a preferred walkon versus a walkon who just wants to play/practice w/OU?
I'm gonna stick my neck out and say it's a player who the school has approached about coming and has signed a letter of intent, vs. a player who has approached the school. But I defer to the experts. Perhaps there are some perks available to a "preferred" that aren't offered to regular walk-on.
This: It doesn't sound like much, but it really is quite different. A "preferred" walk-on is considered good enough to recruit, but not quite good enough to use a scholarship on right now. In other words, Riley believes the kid could compete for the job at some point down the line. My feeling is that he's about 2 years away from really being able to battle for the starting job. He'll end up with some offers (small school), and probably a lot of D2 interest, but he clearly wants to play at OU. If nothing else, it takes a little bit of pressure off of Riley to find the next starting QB in this class. We'll probably end up taking a QB, but it's not looking like it'll be one of our top targets. When Riley has a full cycle to recruit, I think it'll pay off (in terms of QBs) more than it will for the next class.
As always I hope the kid does well but looking at film he doesn't seem to have a great arm. Kind of a left-handed poor man's Cody Thomas.
That's kinda how I would describe him too. He's got a long way to go to ever see the field, but he's got nothing but time to develop.