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Oklahoma Football Recruiting 2016: The Good, The Bad…and the Strange

By Sixto Ortiz

Nov 21, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners players run onto the field before the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners players run onto the field before the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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With Signing Day only a couple days away, the Oklahoma football Sooners have a great shot at putting together an excellent class.

The football coaching staff is looking to assemble a 2016 class that will add much needed depth at various positions and usher in a new era of potential Sooner stars. But as always, there is some drama as the hour draws near, and some Sooner targets have yet to commit.  

The Good

On Saturday, Oklahoma got some welcome news as it learned that former Michigan Wolverines commit Erik Swenson, a 6-7, 300-pound behemoth of an offensive lineman, has now verbally committed to OU. According to Rivals.com, Swenson is the No. 15 offensive lineman in the nation and the number three overall prospect out of Illinois.

Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;A general view of Oklahoma Sooners helmets in the third quarter of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;A general view of Oklahoma Sooners helmets in the third quarter of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

This is definitely a great pickup for Oklahoma offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, who will need to once again tweak the offensive line rotation in the fall to make up for senior departures. Swenson comes into an optimal situation with an excellent shot at playing right away.

Of course, recruiting news for Oklahoma wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the arrival, via transfer, of former Texas A&M QB Kyler Murray. Murray is a high school football legend in the state of Texas who went 43-0 at Allen (Texas) High School, leading the program to three consecutive state championships. It will be interesting to see how Murray and Austin Kendall compete for the backup role to starter Baker Mayfield.

The Bad

On Jan. 20, defensive tackle Chris Daniels, a 6-3, 301-pound prospect out of Euless, Texas, decided to decommit from the Sooners’ 2016 class and reopened his recruiting. This was definitely a blow to Oklahoma’s class, which could have used added depth to the defensive line. But recruiting being subject to the whims of 18-year-olds trying to figure out what to do with the next four years of their lives, there is a chance that Daniels might yet land in the Sooners’ fold. In January, Daniels took visits to Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M.

Nov 28, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners before the start of a game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners before the start of a game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

The story with Caleb Kelly, a five star outside linebacker from Fresno, Calif., could easily land in the “good” bucket if he winds up signing with Oklahoma. Obviously, if he signs with either Notre Dame, Oregon or Michigan, then this one will rank as a big one who got away. But, the departure of Dominique Alexander leaves the Sooner defensive woefully thin at the linebacker position, so Kelly will definitely have a chance to play right away. Given Oklahoma’s success at recruiting California and the immediate and pressing needs at linebacker, the odds are still pretty good that Kelly ends up a Sooner come National Signing Day on Wednesday.

The Strange

And now for the strange: On Jan. 23, Velus Jones, a four-star wideout from Saraland, Alabama, suddenly decommitted from USC and announced his commitment to Oklahoma. The Sooner Nation rejoiced at the prospect of nabbing a wide receiver with 4.4 speed who could contribute to OU’s wide receiver corps right away.

But the joy was short-lived. Less than 24 hours after committing to OU, Jones decided to recommit back to USC. This must be some kind of record for the shortest lived commitment to any school, ever.

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