Sooners Recruiting Update: Michiah Quick, Steven Parker headline OU's remaining targets
This will be the last recruiting update for the 2014 class before signing day.
The class is really down to six realistic names. No new prospects are expected to visit this weekend; Oklahoma will be focused on 2015 recruiting instead.
Michiah Quick, DB/WR (6-0, 185, 4.45) – Looks like this will come down to OU versus Notre Dame.
Steven Parker, DB (6-2, 185, 4.5) – The Jenks Trojan visited OU officially on the Jan. 17, which was great news A visit to an SEC school will probably happen this weekend leading up to a signing day decision from Parker. Texas A&M is the main challenger for his services, but it will be a big surprise if he does not choose OU.
Kenyon Frison, OT (6-6, 290, 5.2 OT) – After visiting Arizona State, Frison finally decommitted from Utah. It looks like a three-way battle for his services between ASU, OU and Nebraska. Like Quick, a final decision could come down this weekend. Frison is OU’s best shot at a legit left tackle. I’m picking OU – hoping the prediction is right.
Lukayus McNeil, OT (6-7, 270, 5.0) – OU is still visiting McNeil, but all signs indicate he will stick with his original commitment to Louisville or stay close to home and choose Indiana. Distance is the main factor.
Deondre Clark, DE/OLB (6-3, 245, 4.6) – Clark visited LSU officially right after his official visit to OU, and he’s talking about seeing ASU for his last visit. It appears to be down to OU versus LSU – distance versus LSU’s rep for producing NFL defenders. I honestly think he will stick with his early pick of LSU, but funny things happen the night before signing day when distance is a real factor.
Courtney Garnett, DL (6-3, 280, 4.8) – Garnett is heading to ND for his final visit, but all signs seem to be pointing towards an OU verbal commitment.
2014 Verbal Commitments: 21
(Class Size: 26-28)
Signed jucos
Devante Bond, OLB
(6-3, 240, 4.6)
Isaac Ijalana, TE
(6-5, 240, 4.6)
Projected early enrollees
Dallis Todd, WR
(6-5, 210, 4.5)
Justice Hansen, QB
(6-4, 200, 4.6)
Dimitri Flowers, TE/FB
(6-3, 225, 4.6)
Verbal commitments
Vontre McQuinnie, DB
(6-1, 200, 4.6)
Samaje Perine, RB
(5-11, 225. 4.45)
Carson Meier, TE
(6-7, 220, 4.7)
Marcus Green, DB
(6-1, 175, 4.6)
Tito Windham, DB
(5-11, 180)
Alex Dalton, OL
(6-4, 280)
Jordan Thomas, DB
(6-2, 185, 4.5)
Jeffrey Mead, WR
(6-6,175, 4.55)
Jonathan Alvarez, OG/OC
(6-3, 300)
Tay Evans, LB
(6-3, 210)
Curtis Bolton, LB
(6-2, 220)
Mark Andrews, WR
(6-6, 225)
Dwayne Orso, DE
(6-6, 255, 4.8)
Joseph Paul, OL
(6-5, 335, 5.3)
Joe Mixon, RB
(6-2, 200, 4.5)
Natrell Curtis, OL
(6-3, 340, 5.3)
Verbal Update
One key verbal commitment came down over the last 10 days, and it was OU’s biggest surprise visitor on Jan. 17, Jordan Thomas, a super-athletic talent from the Houston area who was committed to Northwestern. Thomas is the classic best-athlete-on-the-team type who played running back, quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back for his high school. His senior footage has highlights from all four positions.
This is the sort of athlete who ends up being underrated by the recruiting services because there’s not enough film to figure out where his strengths reside, but Mike Stoops appears confident that Thomas can be an elite big CB. After securing Thomas' verbal, OU ended its involvement with a number of prospects, mostly notably Kendall Randolph from Florida.
Thomas should be the last big surprise in this recruiting cycle.
*Brandon Glenn will not be signing with OU. Instead, he is heading to junior college.
*There are reports that Tee Shepard might be back on the market late with an ability to graduate this summer from his junior college. It’s unclear if OU will throw its hat into the ring again with this recruiting saga. If OU gets Parker, then the DB position looks filled.
*If OU strikes out completely at OL, don’t be surprised to see the Sooners make a late JUCO addition in the spring or in June as they did with Tony Feo last year. OL coach Bill Bedenbaugh will see if a talented OT prospect slips through the cracks or if a prospect thought to need another semester at JUCO can graduate this suumer. If so, OU will likely redshirt this player to get him ready for 2015-16.
Final Class Prediction
1 QB: Hansen
2 RB: Perrine, Mixon
4 WR: Todd, Mead, Andrews, Quick
3 TE/H-Back: Meier, Ijalana, Flowers
5 OL: Dalton, Alvarez, Paul, Curtis, Frison
1 DT: Garnett
1 DE: Orso
3 LB: Evans, Bolton, Bond,
5 DB: McQuinnie, Green, Windham, Thomas, Parker
-Atlantasooner