Oklahoma football: Sooner 2021 recruiting closing in on top 10

Oklahoma football recruiting for 2021 is now ranked 12th nationally, according to Rivals, and closing in on the top 10.

That represents a noticeable advancement for a team that was ranked close to No. 50 by Rivals just six months ago, and the Sooners have quite a few hot irons in the fire that could easily move their 2021 recruiting class into the top 10.

The Sooners currently have 15 commitments, including two five-star recruits and seven rated as four stars. The most recent addition is four-star wide receiver Jalil Farooq, who also happens to be a close friend of Caleb Williams, the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback recruit, who has been active since his July 4 commitment announcement trying to persuade several other quality prospects to join him at Oklahoma.

The Sooners also have a five-star wide receiver, Mario Williams, and a four-star receiver, Cody Jackson, who committed earlier to Oklahoma.

More than half of OU’s 15 commitments in the 2021 class were obtained in the past four months, and with just a couple more months before the early signing period, there should be several more coming over the next few weeks.

This has been a very different year for college football recruiting, as it has been in practically all aspects of daily life, because of the coronavirus pandemic. We are in an NCAA-imposed dead period for recruiting, restricting any in person contact with recruits or their parents. This restriction, which also precludes any official on-campus visits, is in effect for the remainder of the year.

Coaches are still allowed, however, to communicate with prospective recruits by phone, email and social media during the dead period. Regardless, all of the restrictions imposed this year have made the recruiting process much different and more difficult than ever before.

Among the key recruiting targets the Sooners remain high on the list for are four-star offensive tackle Savion Byrd, out of Duncanville, Texas; five-star offensive guard Bryce Foster, from Katy, Texas; and five-star running back Camar Wheaton, the No. 1 running back recruit nationally, from Garland, Texas.

Landing any of those three would be a giant boost to the Oklahoma 2021 class.

Any way you look at it, the next few months should be real interesting as top programs like Oklahoma look to fill out their 2021 talent pipeline.