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Oklahoma football: Four-star DL Derrick Leblanc commits to Oklahoma

By Timothy Bailey

Derrick Leblanc, a class of 2023 defensive lineman who helped Osceola High to the Florida 8A state championship game, at the Dabo Swinney Football Camp 2021 day one in Clemson Wednesday, June 2, 2021.Dabo Swinney Football Camp 2021 Day One
Derrick Leblanc, a class of 2023 defensive lineman who helped Osceola High to the Florida 8A state championship game, at the Dabo Swinney Football Camp 2021 day one in Clemson Wednesday, June 2, 2021.Dabo Swinney Football Camp 2021 Day One /
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July is typically hot in the state of Oklahoma, but perhaps never as white-hot as the Sooners have been on the Oklahoma football recruiting trail this seventh month. Brent Venables and company just added their ninth commitment in July., and their tenth in a 30-day period as there was a commitment on June 30th as well.

Who is Derrick LeBlanc?

Today the Sooners nabbed a coveted defensive lineman from Kissimmee, Florida. LeBlanc chose Oklahoma over Florida, Penn State, and many others, as he had a minimum of 42 official offers.

The 6-foot. 4-inch, 270 pounder attends Osceola High School and has been a major reason for Osceola making the 8A Florida high school playoffs. Last season he was credited with 38 tackles, and 8 sacks. The season before, he racked up 65 tackles and 15 sacks. So, he has been highly productive as a high school player. It appears he grew up knowing all along he would be a Sooner.

Scouting and impact for Oklahoma

This is the kind of young man that is coming to the Sooners in large part because of the coaching staff changes. Sure, Lincoln Riley and his staff did get big-time defensive lineman recently, but not quite like this. Venables and Todd Bates add a different level of recruiting and development pedigree by walking into the state of Florida and taking away one of the best players in the state head-to-head against the Florida Gators, Miami Hurricanes, and others. This is a big testament to the new OU coaches, and Oklahoma should continue to feel good about this moving forward.

LeBlanc is a baller, he is already 270 pounds, and can play both the three- and five-technique for Oklahoma. In simpler terms, Leblanc can play both inside and outside, much like Jalen Redmond currently does for the Sooners.

LeBlanc is very strong, and he is extremely long and athletic. Strong anchor in the run game and twitchy and frustrating for interior linemen as a pass rusher. Excellent knee bend and pursuit when on the edge. Has room to add more weight onto the frame to be a more ideal tackle, or shape into a bigger defensive end.  I would imagine the Sooners will do what they can to allow Derrick to contribute right away because he is the kind of young man that will not be returning to school after three seasons on campus.

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