Oklahoma football: Big recruiting weekend during Bedlam ahead

Oklahoma football has struggled on the field in 2022, and while a strong close on the field is important, for Oklahoma standards the typical glory OU seeks at this time of the year is well out of reach.

But this weekend for Oklahoma has a lot of implications. Can Oklahoma finally wrap up a trip to a bowl game, beat a quality opponent, and protect home turf? Set the foundation to finish with a 24th consecutive winning season? All of those things are true, and they all matter, but the biggest thing about Saturday is the visitor list for recruiting. It’s extensive, and it’s filled with the best of the best around the country. With early signing day rapidly approaching the Sooners must shape their future.

Another crack at David Hicks

Hicks shocked everyone a few short weeks ago when he picked Texas A&M over Oklahoma who seemingly had it in the bag, and was the pick-up until a few minutes before it was time to make a decision. The Sooners never gave up, and have convinced Hicks to come back up for another visit, in hopes that he will double back to Norman for good this time. Hicks is bringing teammate and close friend Daymion Sanford, a four-star linebacker that is also a Texas A&M pledge. If Oklahoma can impress Sanford, a flip of both players could be in play which would be a big boost to the Sooners’ already impressive 2023 class.

Rumors swirled about NIL being a big factor in Hicks’s decision, and that may very well be the case, but with another collective Oklahoma may be in a better spot than ever to combat financial incentives given by other programs. Make no mistake, while Oklahoma’s struggles on the field have played a factor, the struggles for the Aggies have been far more dire. Oklahoma can take advantage and turn the tides back their way.

Time to close on the #flipmas magic from Peyton Bowen

The Bowen recruitment has been one of the most interesting ones nationally. Very much feels like the picking up of a flower, pulling each petal and mumbling “he loves me, he loves me not”. The Sooners hope the Notre Dame commit pulls the final petal off with the crimson and cream on his mind.

Prognosticators around the country have predicted this flip for months now, and each time it seems imminent something else happens, or he holds off. His girlfriend is a Sooner soccer commit, and one of his best friends and teammates is five-star QB Jackson Arnold. A short drive is all it takes to get to Norman, and Texas A&M who oddly felt like the bigger competition in this race is in a very unsavory position in their program currently under Jimbo Fisher. Could the Sooners finally put the final nail in this riveting story, and land the five-star safety?

Taylor Wein DE from Tennessee

Oklahoma got brutal news when Colton Vasek decided to flip to Texas. The Longhorn legacy flipping was hardly a surprise, however, but it did make it important for the Sooners to begin looking for a replacement. This is how the OU staff came across underrated DE prospect Taylor Wein. Wein has a similar frame to Vasek, and fits a similar play mold, as he stands 6’6, he is lengthy and athletic.

I asked Mike Farrell about Wein as a fast riser, and he told me he believed he would end up as a four-star by the end of the cycle based on the recent offers. He did maintain he would have him as a mid-three star in his own evaluations, but the respect and attention Wein is receiving is very real.

Wrap up

Recruiting is the lifeline of any college football program, and can change your fortune quite quickly. So a Bedlam victory and some great showings by the staff and players could be key to making the 2023 class a hard one to forget. QB Jackson Arnold has been critical in keeping the class together and recruiting new players that may yet come into the fold.