It seems like a lot lately that the Oklahoma Sooners have been oh-so-close to landing a big-time recruit before they ultimately chose somewhere else. Time will tell the impact of those near misses, but it's nothing new for any program, including OU.
Many times before the Sooners have been among the final options for top recruits before they ended up somewhere else. And some of those players turned into stars that Sooner Nation had to watch from afar.
Sooners nearly landed these future stars
Bob Stoops nearly had another star receiver to catch passes from Sam Bradford. The Sooners were included in DeSean Jackson's final group, but Jackson, from Long Beach, California, decided to stay close to home instead.
Jackson's speed eventually made him into a two-time All-American at California before a successful NFL career as a three-time Pro Bowler. He would have been electric in OU's new no-huddle, fast-paced offense and on special teams.
Twice the Sooners almost had Cam Newton, who eventually won a Heisman Trophy and national title at Auburn. First, Newton picked Florida over OU as a five-star recruit, then as a junior college prospect, Newton was down to OU, Auburn and Mississippi State.
Even if OU got Newton for just that one season in 2010, he would had started over Landry Jones and it could have been the Sooners starting their reign of Heisman QBs early.
Considered by many to be the best overall player in the 2020 class, Bryce Young announced a group of final schools that included OU, Texas, Penn State, USC, Alabama, and Washington. He initially committed to USC, with the Sooners considered as the runner-up for the prized recruit. Young changed his mind, though, and although OU entered the mix again, the Sooners ultimately missed out again, but this time to Alabama.
Young won a Heisman Trophy and national title with the Crimson Tide during his career before being the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.
During the span of Young's career, OU's starting QBs included Spencer Rattler, Caleb Williams and Dillon Gabriel as the Sooners couldn't find consistency at the position. Young could had locked down the position, and who knows, maybe Lincoln Riley stays at OU or Young at least doesn't follow him to USC.
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