Oklahoma football: Sooners continue success in JUCO recruiting

While the Sooners have made waves on the national recruiting scene, Oklahoma football hasn’t forgotten about the JUCO ranks that has brought it success in the past.

When Jacoby Jones announced his commitment to Oklahoma football this past weekend it was a boost to a Sooners’ recruiting class in need of another defensive end, especially with the recent departure of Addison Gumbs.

Jones is a natural athlete who looks like a perfect fit in Mike Stoops’ multiple scheme. He can put his hand on the ground and defend the run, but looks to be at his best when he is coming after the quarterback on passing downs.

He is also the fifth defensive line commit, a big number as the Sooners continue to try and change the culture up front to compete with elite programs.

Still there’s more than just the immediate benefit of an experienced player planning on joining the team in January, it continues a strong tradition of recruiting the junior college ranks for Oklahoma.

Despite the stigma that sometimes comes with taking players from the JUCO ranks, the Sooners have scored far more hits than misses from them over the years.

Current standout Marquise Brown came in after spending his freshman year at College of the Canyons in Florida. Current all-Big 12 guard Ben Powers came from the same Butler County Community College as Jones.

Last year Oklahoma went up to Lakawana Community College in Scranton, Penn. to snag current offensive contributor Marcellious Sutton. (No word on whether or not the staff made a stop at Dunder Mifflin while they were there). The year before that they went to Blinn College in Texas to grab some guy named Dede Westbrook.

The last OU quarterback to win a national title was Josh Heupel, who came to the Sooners by way of Snow Junior College in Utah.

Recruiting services often downgrade players who come from junior colleges. The schools exist in rural communities with poor facilities. Many of the talented players in the JUCO ranks are there because of some sort of baggage, while others are overachievers who some might think have already hit their ceiling, but that hasn’t stopped the Sooners from scoring their ranks to find some diamonds in the rough in the past few years.

While the Sooners are hard at work to change their national perception and become a every-year recruiting heavyweight, don’t expect them to forget about the talent-rich, often-overlooked group of players that have brought them success in the past.