Sooners Continue Chasing Key Linemen

The Sooner Scoop September 8, 2023

Attention Ladies and Gentlemen, I have an urgent and breaking news story.

CANNONBALL!

As always on visit weekends, we’ll start with who we’ve already confirmed as visitors this weekend.

OFFICIAL VISITOR

2024 OL Josh Aisosa OU COMMIT ​

UNOFFICIAL VISITORS

2025 QB Kevin Sperry OU COMMIT ​
2025 RB Michael Turner OU OFFER ​
2025 WR Elijah Thomas OU COMMIT ​
2025 OT Jaylan Beckley OU OFFER ​
2025 OT Lamont Rogers OU OFFER ​
2025 EDGE Alex Shieldnight OU OFFER ​
2025 LB Christian Thatcher OU OFFER ​
2025 CB Cobey Sellers OU OFFER ​

2026 QB Legend Bey N/A N/A
2026 OL Drew Evers OU OFFER N/A
2026 S Markel Ford N/A N/A

Decision Day is Here for Nigel Smith

Roughly a month after his arrival in Norman Brent Venables and the Oklahoma staff made it clear the priority that, then, sophomore defensive lineman Nigel Smith would be for the Sooners. And now over 20 months later Venables and co. stand ready to find out their fate with the big defensive lineman.

Smith has gone radio silent to interviews and any sort of public statement for the last few weeks but there’s been belief for quite some time that his choice has come down to Oklahoma and Texas A&M. The Sooners were long believed to be the leader but a late July visit to Texas A&M rather than Norman gave some a moment’s pause.

Over the past few weeks the Sooners have seemed to have plenty of cause for optimism. We’ll all find out tonight if Oklahoma can cash ih their 84.7-percent chance at a commitment from On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Sooners To Know Future with Danny Okoye?

Coming out of last weekend, we talked at length about the Sooners chances growing with On3 top 100 EDGE Danny Okoye. In fact Scoop’s buddy Josh put in a prediction for Okoye to pick the Sooners. But at the time there was still a belief that Oklahoma would have to wait until October to know the future with Okoye.

However, as time has gone on this week it seems more and more that the Sooners could know their verdict before the end of this month. A big part of that belief is that Okoye now seems to have backed away from his plans to visit Texas next weekend. That’s a visit that Oklahoma’s No. 1 prospect said he’d take last weekend but as the week has gone on it seems less and less likely.

But even if the Longhorns aren’t part of the equation, they aren’t the only school to be concerned with. In fact Okoye mentioned a third school coming this week.

The program that has been a focal part of Okoye’s recruitment for quite some time is Tennessee. The Volunteers have his attention and still have their official visit to use if they can convince Okoye to take the trip.

Still though, the Sooners remain in very strong standing and are worthy of their 92.12-percent lead according to the Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Final Pieces of OL Coming Together?

With Oklahoma’s defensive line starting to take on a clear picture it’s worth looking at the offensive line. The Sooners have plenty of reason to feel good about Daniel Akinkumi, who Josh already has a prediction in for. But beyond Akinkunmi and the current commitments of Josh Aisosa, Isaiah Autry, and Eugene Brooks, who’s next?

The two most notable possibilities are Grant Brix and Eddy Pierre-Louis. Interestingly both felt like longshots for the Sooners back in June and July. However, as things stand there’s some belief that, notably, Pierre-Louis and the Sooners are trending in the right direction.

The big-time talent from Tampa (Fla.) Catholic is high on the Sooners after spending much of the summer close to a UCF decision. It’s hard to ignore that much of Oklahoma’s move in his recruitment has come following the arrival of his former Crusaders teammate Lewis Carter in Norman.

“Very good chance Oklahoma can get a second guy at Catholic in two years,” one source said.

He recently announced his top five in what was a fairly expected grouping.

Again, Pierre-Louis has called Oklahoma a ‘dream school’ before and the Sooners seem in good standing. The question is which of UCF, Oregon, and Miami might make a real run at his signature.

In the case of Brix, there is some thought that a decision could be coming this week but as one source said ‘he was going to decide before the end of June and before his season started also’.

If his decision were to come the Sooners remain in a dogfight with Kansas State and Nebraska.

Weekend Visitor High on Sooners

One weekend visitor who is ultra-excited about a return to Norman is Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek defensive back Cobey Sellers. The On3 Industry top 175 cornerback will be on campus this weekend with his family and has a clear idea of what he’s looking for.

“I’ve got to get that game day experience,” Sellers said. “(I want to watch) the defensive backs, the coverages, the defense. As well as the total game atmosphere.

“My parents want to see how the atmosphere is for pregame, tailgating and in-game for them would be.”

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