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Oklahoma football: Sooners 2021 recruiting rolls on, adding 4-star linebacker

By Chip Rouse

NORMAN, OK - OCTOBER 18: Members of the Oklahoma Sooners cheerleaders perform during the game against the Kansas State Wildcats October 18, 2014 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Wildcats defeated the Sooners 31-30. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - OCTOBER 18: Members of the Oklahoma Sooners cheerleaders perform during the game against the Kansas State Wildcats October 18, 2014 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Wildcats defeated the Sooners 31-30. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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Friday was the biggest news day yet for 2021 Oklahoma football recruiting. Not only did the Sooners pick up a commitment from a highly ranked five-star wide receiver on offense, but also a four-star outside linebacker on the defensive side.

The big get on Friday was Mario Williams, the No. 2 wide receiver in the 2021 class, according to Rivals, but the Sooners weren’t through for the day. They also added a defensive standout in four-star linebacker Clayton Smith out of the Lone Star State.

Smith is a 6-foot, 4-inch 220-pound linebacker from Texarkana, Texas, the third player from the neighboring state south of the Red River in an Oklahoma 2021 class that now numbers seven overall. Four of those seven have committed to the Sooners in the last month.

In a little over a week, Oklahoma has moved from 47th in the Rivals 2021 class rankings to 32nd after receiving the commitment from Williams and now 24th with Smith’s verbal notification.

As many as 25 schools had shown an interest in Smith, but on Mother’s Day weekend he narrowed the list down to his top three: Oklahoma, Texas and LSU. On Friday, he cut the list to one, choosing the Sooners.

Oklahoma has been recruiting Smith for over a year. “With Oklahoma, everything was straightforward to me,” he told Rivals college football recruiting analyst Sam Spiegleman. “No lies. They check every single box, literally.

"“There’s nothing negative about Oklahoma,” Smith said, “and we looked and we couldn’t find one.”"

Smith is the No. 14-ranked player at his position and No. 211 overall, according to Rivals. He is the second linebacker in OU’s 2021 class, joining Denny Stutsman from Winter Garden, Florida, who committed to the Sooners a week ago.

The scouting report on Smith is: a raw physical force coming off the edge; noticeably long with a tremendous wing span; incredibly explosive and disruptive when he is coming out of a two-point stance.

As a junior in high school in Texarkana, Smith was credited with 94 tackles, 40 for loss, and 20 sacks. He also produced eight forced fumbles.

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