The drama that used to surround college football’s National Signing Day is a thing of the past. When the letters of intent arrive Wednesday, there will be very few surprises for Oklahoma. It already has 22 verbal commitments for its 2009 recruiting class. Room remains for just three more scholarships to be handed out.
But where does the Sooners’ haul rank with others around the country?
It depends whom you ask.
Rivals.com currently has OU’s expected class at No. 12 with three days to go and ESPN.com has the group at No. 9. It isn’t higher only because the Sooners have yet to receive a commitment from a five-star recruit.
If it doesn’t happen by Wednesday it will be the first time in several years OU hasn’t landed at least one. Some would say that’s cause for concern. But national recruiting analysts don’t see any reason to view 2009 as a down season for the Sooners on the recruiting trail.
“Recruiting isn’t always about going and getting the best player,” ESPN Scouts Inc. recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill said. “It is also about getting the right player and looking at your depth chart and current roster and knowing where you’re light and where you need to fill holes, or where you might anticipate someone leaving early for the NFL draft.”
The Sooners’ current recruiting class fills those needs because it is loaded with players who fit two critical needs — linebacker and help at wide receiver. The Sooners have five linebackers committed to this season’s class. In-state recruits Ronnell Lewis (Dewar) and Gus Jones (Wagoner) are part of that group that should add depth for next season and become a bigger factor in coming seasons.
Cameron Kinney, from Garden City (Kan.) Junior College, leads a wide receiver group that also includes Jaz Reynolds (Alden, Texas) who could compete for playing time next season. The Sooners are also holding out hope that they can land at least one more receiver on Wednesday. Their obvious target is Bastrop, La., wide receiver Rueben Randle. Randle is ranked as the No. 2 overall player by Rivals.com and is one of 14 players in the Web site’s Top 100 who remain uncommitted.
Even if Randle doesn’t pick OU over LSU, Alabama or Auburn, it will still be a very respected recruiting class.
“They got the guys they wanted in Oklahoma and did a very good job finding guys that fit into what they do,” said CBS College Sports Network recruiting expert Tom Lemming, who currently has OU’s classs ranked No. 11. “Each year Oklahoma does a good job of doing that. The bottom line is: it’s a class that will allow Oklahoma to keep competing for national championships.”
Of course, there could be a few changes before Wednesday. You can bet if Randle decides to become a Sooner, OU’s ranking will shoot up a few spots. If he, or some other highly sought recruit doesn’t, life will go on.
There’s never a year when a team’s recruiting wish list is completely filled.
“It seems like in recruiting no one is ever happy. Everyone wants to be No. 1 every year,” Lemming said. “Well, no one ever is.”
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
Soner football close to a full house
- OU Sports
-
-
Sooners make winning look easy
As Oklahoma’s players locked arms around the pitching circle, coming together for what passed as a celebration following Saturday’s 7-1 NCAA Super Regional-clinching victory over Arizona, three gloves remained near second base....
-
There are no easy outs in the lineup
Looking for a gameplan to stop Oklahoma? Well, one may or may not be available, but walking two of the first three Sooners you face certainly isn’t part of it. Just ask Arizona’s Kenzie Fowler....
-
Sooners will play for Big 12 championship
OKLAHOMA CITY, — It’s been 16 years since Oklahoma won the Big 12 tournament. It’s closer now than its ever been to ending the streak. The Sooners rolled through Baylor, 7-2, on Saturday at Bricktown Ballpark to advance to the tournament’s ...
-
Sooners send five more to nationals
AUSTIN, Texas — Oklahoma track and field teams had five more individuals qualify for the NCAA Championship on Saturday evening at the NCAA West Preliminary. The men’s 4x100-meter relay team also advanced to the national semifinals....
-
OU sophomore Jao-Javanil wins NCAA golf title
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Oklahoma’s Chirapat Jao-Javanil made Oklahoma golf history Friday, becoming the first Sooner, man or woman, to win an individual NCAA national championship....
-
Pitching staff is exactly where Golloway wants it to be
When the Big 12 tournament began, Oklahoma felt like it had the pitching staff to make a deep run. Dillon Overton, Jordan John, Jonathan Gray and Damien Magnifico gave them four quality starters and a closer — Steven Okert — capable of ...
-
Sooners shut out Wildcats, need one more win for WCWS entry
Oklahoma might have scored more runs, not committed an error and starting pitcher Keilani Ricketts could have been just a little more efficient along the way....
-
Sooners send 4 more to NCAAs
AUSTIN, Texas – Oklahoma’s track and field teams added four individuals to the list of Sooners advancing to the NCAA championship Friday at the NCAA West Preliminary. In addition to the four new qualifiers, Brittany Borman advanced to the ...
-
Big 12, SEC deal breaks the mold
It is unclear what the on-the-field product of the game-for-which-there-is-not-yet-a-name will be. Indeed, all we really know is the Big 12 and SEC plan to play a game on Jan. 1, 2015 (and on every Jan. 1, thereafter) that will include ...
-
Rivalry helped shape program
For coach Patty Gasso, it goes all the way back to 1995, her first year at Oklahoma. That was when her Sooners played Arizona six times throughout the season. Those Sooners were “annihilated” in all six of those contests....
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
Sooners make winning look easy
