The SEC recruiting advantage in full effect for Sooners

It didn’t take long for Taylor Tatum to answer the question. He didn’t beat around the bush whatsoever. When it came to why he committed to Oklahoma last month, Tatum told the truth.

“One of the main things was going to the SEC,” Tatum said. “Being a big dog in football and baseball… I’m going to be part of the big dogs. Getting a chance to play baseball and football in the SEC is just something I couldn’t deny.”

The Longview (Texas) High running back is ranked the No. 1 overall back by the industry composite rankings and was a major addition to OU’s recruiting class this summer.

And it’s no secret, the SEC matters.

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables couldn’t plan it, but it really couldn’t have worked out any better. Just days before OU had its annual mega-recruiting ChampUBBQ event in June, the SEC schedule for the 2024 season was released.

Going to LSU? Home vs. Alabama, Tennessee? This is what playing the elite of the elite on a weekly basis can feel like. OU and Texas are about to join in on that fun.

The Sooners have already proven they can recruit at a top-tier level under Venables. But, honestly, there’s still another level it could reach with the SEC brand attached.

“It’s big. You’re going into the SEC, which I like to say has been the strongest and most elite conference over time and stood test of time,” defensive tackles coach Todd Bates told SoonerScoop earlier this month. “Where I played at and know all about. Competed against them in national championships. You have to bring it every single week.

“You don’t have an opportunity to rest on your reputation one week and you can’t bet on somebody not bringing their best. At a place like Oklahoma, you’re going to get everybody’s A game. They want to make you their highlight. You’re going to get everybody’s best and prove they can play at the next level with how they play against you. That’s what scouts are going to watch. It’s made a big impact because guys want to play against the best.”

Maybe Venables’ ability to recruit would have won over the day anyway with guys like Tatum, tight end Davon Mitchell and, most recently, five-star-plus defensive lineman David Stone. However, there’s no doubt the future of where OU is going means something.

“Aw, man, that was a real big reason why I committed to OU,” said 2025 Oklahoma City Millwood receiver Jaden Nickens two weeks ago. “The SEC. That’s great football. Having Oklahoma a part of that, those games are going to be home games. The Alabamas, the LSUs, those games are going to be big games for me.”

Ever since the announcement was made more than two years ago, everything has been about getting ready for OU’s SEC moment.

A lot of that is behind the scenes. But the coaches know if you want to compete at the SEC level, you’re going to need to recruit to it as well.

“Don’t flinch. You want to be successful in the SEC, don’t flinch,” said cornerbacks coach Jay Valai when asked by SoonerScoop earlier this month. “We’re recruiting for the SEC as well. If the guy is scared, he’s not going to make it in the SEC. You want guys that embrace the moment. I get to go one-on-one with this guy. I get to go hit this dude in the hole.

“The difference between the SEC and other conferences is it’s built on hate. Straight hate wherever you go. I love it. The passion and intensity that makes the SEC so different. To me, embrace the hate and feed off the hate. I don’t want to be loved. If somebody hates you, they have to respect you. I want to be hated because of how annoying we are, passionate we are.”

It’s not just the passion. It’s the production. The NFL Draft numbers that speak to everybody. If you want to make it to the next level, the SEC is your best bet.

You can still be noticed no matter where you go. But the week-to-week grind of battling the SEC is going to have you a lot more prepared for the next level.

It’s not arrogance or opinion. It’s fact.

“When you play against that every single week and practice against it every single week, it’s just another day,” tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley told SoonerScoop. “It’s not a huge step. If you went from seventh grade to varsity, how much faster would it be? Playing in the SEC, it’s like going from freshman year to varsity instead of going from seventh grade to varsity. It’s a big deal.”

It, when it’s all said and done, can’t be the only reason for a recruit to pick the Sooners. Venables knows that. The coaching staff recognizes that. But it’s a nice bonus. One heck of a nice bonus that the Sooners are using to their full advantage right now.

“Careful what you wish for, right?,” said Venables when asked by SoonerScoop. “When you can promote Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee, or promote going on the road to Baton Rouge or to Auburn, Alabama, or to Oxford, Mississippi, you know, it gets the people charged up. ‘Your freshman year, your first game here you’re going to play…’ whatever that is.

“I love creating vision. I love talking about the future, and they like it when you can create vision for them, and they can see it. It’s exciting. Great, great challenge.

“I think that’s been another ‘and’ reason for young men and their families to be interested in the University of Oklahoma. It’s not been the ‘the,’ but it’s been another ‘and’ from a reasoning standpoint.”

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