Oklahoma football: Sooners add top-ranked center to 2022 class
By Chip Rouse
The Oklahoma football program has added another top-rated recruit to its 2022 class.
Demetrius Hunter, rated as the No, 1 center in the 2022 class nationally, according to 247Sports, committed to the Sooners on Tuesday.
A four-star prospect out of Orange, Texas, Hunter helped lead West Orange-Stark High School to an 8-1 record his junior season and 6-0 in district play. He chose Oklahoma over offers from a number of other Power Five schools, including Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Arizona State.
Hunter said Oklahoma’s national reputation and history of success was probably the biggest drawing card in his wanting to cross the Red River and play for the Sooners, but he was also impressed with head coach Lincoln Riley, offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and the rest of the OU staff he talked with.
“They had a good season,” Hunter told 247Sports recruiting analyst Collin Kennedy. “They won, what is that, six Big 12 Championships. So I like that.
“It seems like (Coach Riley) has my best interests and wants to get me to the next level, because that is my dream.”
The Sooners are losing All-American center Creed Humphrey to the NFL, so the commitment of Hunter comes at a good time, although a year removed.
The 6-foot, 3-inch, 290-pound center becomes the seventh member of the Sooners’ 2022 class and he is the first offensive lineman. He joins a class that includes a five-star wide receiver (Luther Burden), two four-star receiving prospects (Talyn Shettron and Jordan Hudson), a three-star tight end (Jason Llewellyn), a four-star running back (Raleek Brown) and four-star linebacker Kobie McKinzie).
Oklahoma’s 2022 class is currently ranked fourth by Rivals and fifth by 247Sports.