Filling out the Oklahoma football 2021 recruiting class and been a slow slog this year, especially with the stay-at-home status of most of the country so far this spring because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Lincoln Riley’s Sooners have just five commitments to date, picking up No. 5 on Monday: Danny Stutsman, a 6-foot, three-inch, 205-pound linebacker out of Winter Gardens, Florida. Stutsman is a three-star prospect rated as a top-50 outside linebacker and the No. 80 overall player out of the talent-rich state of Florida, according to 247Sports.
Stutsman, who plays high school ball for Foundation Academy, out of the Orlando area, has made steady improvement as he approaches his senior season, according to 247Sports’ Collin Kennedy. As a junior, Stutsman was credited with 110 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He also saw action on offense as a receiver. Last season, he made 44 catches for 891 yards and a dozen touchdowns.
Three of OU’s five 2021 recruiting commitments are defensive players. In addition to Stutsman, the Sooners also have a defensive back commitment (Jordan Mukes) and a defensive end (Ethan Downs), both out of the state of Oklahoma.
Stutsman committed to the Sooners over offers from several other schools, including Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Vanderbilt and Nebraska.
His father, Steve Stutsman, was a former college tight end who played for Baylor.
Riley and his staff recently hosted Stutsman on a virtual visit at Oklahoma. It apparently made enough of an impression on the recruit and his family to narrow his recruting decision and choose the Sooners.
Rivals.com ranks the OU 2021 class as the 47th best at this stage of the cycle. That is the lowest the Oklahoma recruiting effort has been ranked in the five years Riley has been at Oklahoma, the last three as head coach.