NORMAN — It has been the most fruitful of recruiting grounds. For nearly five decades, Oklahoma has recruited so well in Texas that it’s basically considered an in-state school.
But take a look at the current crop of 22 prospects who’ve already signed or pledged to do so on Wednesday (National Signing Day) and it gives the appearance OU is shifting it’s recruiting focus well beyond the Lone Star State. Only seven of the impending 2012 recruiting class are Texans.
Wide reciever Trey Metoyer (Whitehorse), offensive lineman John Michael McGee (Texarkana), offensive lineman Kyle Marrs (San Antonio Brandeis), quarterback Trevor Knight (San Antonio Reagan), cornerback Zack Sanchez (Keller Central), running back Daniel Brooks (Rockdale Calhoun) and Jordan Wade (Round Rock Stony Point) are those seven. Metoyer and Wade both signed with OU last season, but weren’t able to enroll until this year.
“They really didn’t make the state of Texas a huge priority this year, which they have in the past,” Rivals.com recruiting analyst Brian Perroni said.
Of the 281 players the Sooners have signed since OU coach Bob Stoops’ first recruiting class in 1999, 45 percent (128) have been Texans. It is far and away the No. 1 source of Sooner talent.
This season’s recruiting haul is expected to bring in players from at least eight different states and from both coasts.
OU already has commitments from four Floridians. Tight end Taylor McNamara and wide receiver Derrick Woods are both from California.
Could it become the new normal?
Doubtful.
Last season, OU signed 15 recruits and 10 were from Texas. This will mark the first time in the last five years the Sooners didn’t sign at least 10 players from south of the Red River (and west of Louisiana and Arkansas, and south east of New Mexico).
One thing that’s been proven over the last 60 years is OU’s appeal as a national program. It has the ability to draw interest from recruits from around the nation. The Sooners are beginning to exploit that appeal more and more.
That far and wide appeal could become more important with the changes to the Big 12 Conference. Most recruiting analysts believe Texas A&M jumping to the Southeastern Conference is going to open Texas more and more to other SEC schools.
The addition of TCU to the Big 12 and the rise of Baylor is going to hurt one of the most effective recruiting pitches the Sooners had with Dallas-Fort Worth area recruits. Geographically, OU was just as close, or closer to home, than Texas, Texas A&M or Texas Tech.
Staying close to home, playing in a major conference and being able to win at a national level are all huge selling points.
TCU, with BCS bowl appearances the last three years and Baylor, coming off a 10-win season and producing a Heisman Trophy winner in Robert Griffin III, have put a dent in OU’s traditional argument.
Of course, things can change quickly and OU has proven the ability to adjust. This year’s class of prospects may not be from the same old places, but it’s still expected to be one of the nation’s best.
John Shinn 366-3536 jshinn@normantranscript.com
