Sooners Recruiting Update: Fired coaches create opportunities

Commitment Update

OU has added Dominique Alexander, a defensive athlete from Booker T. Washington to its class. Alexander projects at either WILL linebacker or strong safety.

In addition OU received a 2014 verbal commitment from Devon Thomas, a running back from Broken Arrow. Thomas projects as a top 10 nationally rated RB if he can regain his sophomore form.

Feeding frenzy on fired coaches

So it’s the time of the year for coaches being let go, and this annual carousel always impacts recruiting. How might it help OU?

Well, for starters, the chaos at Arkansas has already allowed OU to flip Austin Bennett this summer and Dominique Alexander a couple of weeks ago.

OU and Tennessee, which just canned Derek Dooley, have both been recruiting DT Toby Johnson from Hutchinson Junior College, so that potentially removes one contender for his services.

OU will probably now recruit Tennessee verbal commitment Ben Bradley, also a Hutchinson JUCO DT. At 6-3, 315, would be a big-time addition to the Sooner DT rotation.

Finally, Tenn has a verbal from Hutchinson JUCO LB De’Vondre Campbell (6-5, 220) who has been a big-time playmaker for Hutchinson this season. If OU were to turn Bradley and/or Campbell, it could play a big role in getting Toby Johnson to commit as well.

That’s Tennessee, now on to California firing Jeff Tedford. There’s one big recruit – both literally and figuratively – here for OU, and that’s Aaron Cochran (6-7, 330). Cochran’s brother plays for Cal, but with Tedford being fired, the connection to Cal might mean less. Recruiting is all about relationships.

Maybe Aaron verbals to OU and convinces his brother, Matt Cochran, a freshman guard at Cal, to transfer to OU. (Zero indications that his brother is looking to leave Cal, but an OL-starved Sooner recruiting follower can dream, right?)

Victor Egu (6-3, 220, 4.6), an LB from powerhouse Concord, Clif., could be a player that OU might make a late run at. He’s had a very good senior year and is probably a little underrated currently.

At Auburn, Gene Chizik has not been fired yet, but with a terrible season and now a looming NCAA investigation targeting the program, the hammer appears ready to fall.

OU has finally parted ways completely with Greg Bryant, who will stay in the SEC, but OU has offered prep school receiver JaQuay Williams. Williams signed with Auburn last year and didn’t qualify. At 6-4, 210, Williams was the best WR from Georgia last year and is an elite big WR. OU will chase the rest of the SEC going after Williams, who is now a free agent able to sign anywhere.

Finally, while not quite a coaching change, the looming NCAA smackdown of Miami may lead to some openings for OU. OU right now is recruiting Lamar Robbins from the Miami area and now appears to have landed a visit for the OSU game from big-time Miami area safety Jamal Carter (6-2, 185, 4.5).