Stormin in Norman
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Lincoln Riley closing in an another top-10 recruiting class

By Chip Rouse

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 29: Head Coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners watches warm ups before the game against the Baylor Bears at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Baylor 66-33. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 29: Head Coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners watches warm ups before the game against the Baylor Bears at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Baylor 66-33. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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Lincoln Riley has won 36 of 42 games as the head coach at Oklahoma and has never finished lower than first in the Big 12 standings in three times around the block.

In fact, no Big 12 team other than the Sooners have worn a conference crown in the five seasons Riley has been at Oklahoma. Oh, yeah, Oklahoma has been to the College Football Playoff in four of those five years.

Needless to say, Riley’s glowing reputation and presence as one of the brightest offensive architects and most successful college head coaches has contributed greatly to the similar success Riley and the Sooners have achieved on the recruiting trail since he arrived at Oklahoma. One feeds the other.

Another Top-10 recruiting class

With the second national signing day window for the 2020 recruiting class coming up on Feb. 5 and running through April 1, Oklahoma currently has the ninth-best class, according to ESPN. If those rankings hold, it will be Riley’s third straight top-10 class.

The Sooners also had a top-10 class in 2017, but that actually was Bob Stoops’ final recruiting class at Oklahoma and was finalized several months before Riley transitioned from offensive coordinator to head coach.

Oklahoma’s 2020 class includes 23 commitments. Twenty of the 23 signed a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period in early December. According to OU athletic department officials, 15 of the 20 signees are rated as four-star prospects by ESPN, Rivals or 247Sports.

In announcing the 20 recruits in OU’s 2020 class who signed in early December, Riley said there will be more additions to the class before the regular signing period closes April 1. He did not specify how many, however.

Breaking down Oklahoma’s 2020 class

The Sooners added one more when QB recruit Chandler Morris announced his commitment to OU during the Under Armour High School All-America Game on Jan. 2.

The OU 2020 class is well balanced between offensive and defensive players. Of the 23 commitments, 10 are listed as offensive players, mostly offensive lineman (5) and receivers (two wide receivers and a tight end), and 10 on defense, including four defensive backs, two defensive tackles and two linebackers. The remaining three commitments are prospects listed as athletes.

The breakdown by geography is heavily weighted to the Lone Star State. Twelve of the commitments are from recruits from the state of Texas. Only two are from the home state of Oklahoma. Ten states are represented so far, plus the District of Columbia.

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