Oklahoma football: Four-star WR commits to Sooners for 2021
By Chip Rouse
Oklahoma football recruiting added its third wide receiver in the 2021 class with the commitment over the weekend of Jalil Farooq.
It was believed that the four-star wide receiver from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, had been leaning toward OU because of his friendship with No. 1 quarterback recruit Caleb Williams, who committed to the Sooners in July, and the relationship he has developed with Lincoln Riley and receivers coach Dennis Simmons.
Maryland reportedly made a strong push to gain Farooq’s verbal commitment, but the No. 33 wide-receiver, according to Rivals, revealed his decision publicly Sunday night.
Although the NCAA has eliminated all official campus visits until 2021 due to the COVID pandemic, Farooq was able to visit Norman and the OU campus in August during as part of an unofficial weekend gathering of prospects who had already committed to Oklahoma and others who remained uncommitted. The event, billed as the “Sooner Summit,” was organized by Williams and his father and was reported to be a successful event.
“We have good relationships,” Farooq said about his conversations with Riley and Simmons in an interview with Brian Dohn of 247Sports. “The schemes, I love it. It played a huge factor because I love the history of Oklahoma and the schemes they use.
Farooq joins five-star WR Mario Williams and four-star receiving prospect Cody Jackson as commitments to the Sooners’ 2021 class. With 15 commitment, the OU 2021 class currently ranks 12th in the Rivals team rankings.
As a high school junior, Farooq had 31 receptions for 718 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had 668 rushing yards and 11 rushing TDs.