Oklahoma football recruiting is in a world of hurt

[Mazeppa]

FYI: The author is a Longhorn hack that writes for the USA Today's Longhorns wire:




The Oklahoma Sooners have been a national recruiting powerhouse in recent memory. Many players have been drawn to their winning tradition and innovative schemes.

Under the direction of Bob Stoops, the Sooners were quick to diagnose problems and adjust. Since Stoops’ departure, Oklahoma has been unable to identify weaknesses and proactively make changes.

Lincoln Riley had a great run as the Oklahoma Sooners head coach, but lacked the foresight his predecessor possessed. When Riley finally realized the state of the Sooners program, he packed his bags for Los Angeles. Five-star talents left with him for USC.

Now, Oklahoma recruiting is in shambles.

It’s still early and Oklahoma could finish with a great class, but the early returns for 2023 aren’t promising. Cole Adams, the No. 5 high school player in Oklahoma in the 247Sports composite rankings, chose Alabama over the Sooners.

The Sooners presently have a commitment from only one of the top ten players in their own state. Running back Kaleb Hicks and quarterback Jackson Arnold are the team’s only blue-chip commits. Both players are from Denton, TX.

With Texas taking over the Dallas area and Texas A&M’s success in Houston, the Sooners struggles in the 2023 recruiting class may continue.

https://longhornswire.usatoday.com/2022/07/01/texas-football-recruiting-longhorns-oklahoma-sooners-2023-class-rankings/

[EatLeadCommie]

The guy mentions two blue-chip commits from Denton, then says Texas has taken over the Dallas area for recruiting.

[R.D. Mercer]

The recruiting trajectory so far has not looked good. ND, LSU, Oregon, and Miami are seeing huge recruiting bumps since their coaching changes. OU has seen a massive regression so far which can change but there would be a lot of catching up to do at this point. There seems to be far less buzz around the program than before. With SEC entry looming there’s very little room for a loss in talent even if it’s for a year or two.

[OU48A]

The OP will not age well.

With a first-year coaching staff, it always best to wait until signing date to see what they come up with.
Often it takes 2 to 3 recruiting classes to get a real feel on how well a new staff can recruit.

Lots of players appear to be going to Texas and A&M based on money whereas with OU, it's for other reasons that go beyond money.

[Mazeppa]

The recruiting trajectory so far has not looked good. ND, LSU, Oregon, and Miami are seeing huge recruiting bumps since their coaching changes. OU has seen a massive regression so far which can change but there would be a lot of catching up to do at this point. There seems to be far less buzz around the program than before. With SEC entry looming there’s very little room for a loss in talent even if it’s for a year or two.

Relax about the Oklahoma Sooners 2023 recruiting class


I’ve seen a lot of chatter about how Oklahoma’s wheels are falling off because they currently sit 35th in 247 Sports’ 2023 Recruiting Rankings while the Longhorns are 3rd.

Let’s get this out of the way: these rankings mean absolutely nothing in June. As we saw last year after Lincoln Riley left, recruiting classes can change very quickly. After that, the 2022 class looked unsalvageable. Brent Venables and co. brought it back to eighth in the country.

The Sooners are in very good hands. Take a breath.

After Samuel Omosigho’s commitment, OU has nine commits for the 2023 cycle. That number will go up. Does anyone really think that Purdue and Boston College are going to have a better recruiting class than OU at the end of the 2023 cycle? They won’t. Just be patient.

Florida and Oregon are both below the Sooners at the moment. As are Ole Miss, Michigan and Texas A&M. The very same A&M that had the number one recruiting class for 2022. These rankings mean absolutely nothing right now.

I can’t find the tweet (they probably deleted it) but remember a few years ago when Fox Sports Knoxville tweeted about how the Sooners had a bad recruitment ranking?

How did that end up?

July is going to be a huge month for Oklahoma Football. It seems like everytime I open Twitter the Sooners are in the top three for a big-name high school recruit. The players will come. Let the coaches do their jobs and recruit the players.

I will revisit this in a month. Mark my words: the Sooners will be much higher than 35th by the end of July.

https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/2022/06/30/oklahoma-sooners-football-2023-recruiting-class-samuel-omosigho-jackson-arnold-daylan-smothers-brent-venables-texas-longhorns/

[OUwasp]

Tempted to make some quip about the Sooners being better by the 35th of July...

[zcaa0g]

Let me know when Texas can beat Kansas in football again. And then there is that impressive losing streak last season.

Way too early to worry about recruiting.

[Stinger_1066]

I will revisit this in a month. Mark my words: the Sooners will be much higher than 35th by the end of July.

https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/202...xas-longhorns/

Willing to put his neck on the line. I like it.

[MichSooner]

Not only will OU recruiting have a fine July and August but it will continue as the season progresses particularly if the players grasp the new offense and defense schemes quickly. If the Sooners are successful on the playing field, the December signing day may be very interesting. How many flips could the staff come up with after it "proves itself" to the football world?

[Stinger_1066]

One thing I have heard from both All-Sooners and SoonerScoop is that Venables will not accept a commitment from any recruit that plans to take more visits.

A risky move? I think so. But I'm willing to wait and see.

[novasooner]

Looks like another "worm is turning" moment to me. Texas will never learn.

[Ruprecht]

One thing I have heard from both All-Sooners and SoonerScoop is that Venables will not accept a commitment from any recruit that plans to take more visits.

A risky move? I think so. But I'm willing to wait and see.

Glad you posted this.

I put these comments on the recruiting board. What you posted alone is why this is happening. Dudes still want to take visits. I can't blame them. If you were 18 and had a chance to take five free visits and get wined and dined at various campuses across the country... Would you not be hesitant to just immediately sign with a school who insists you have to shut it down?

But Brent's reasoning for this is that I don't think he wants to play this "placeholder" game. It bites you in the ass so often because you have turned down guys while your guy is holding his place waiting for a "better" offer. Then he leaves and you are screwed trying to find somebody to replace him.

What he is doing is risky only because the pool might dry up on him... but my feeling is that there will be plenty of recruits still around who want to take fall visits and then commit.

My only concern about Brent is that we are recruiting an evangelizing team as opposed to a football team. I think Brent's idea of doing the chant after the game is nice but perhaps we should have an alter call instead. Let Turk and all those guys get us beer drinking heathen fans saved!!!

[Widescreen]

But Brent's reasoning for this is that I don't think he wants to play this "placeholder" game. It bites you in the ass so often because you have turned down guys while your guy is holding his place waiting for a "better" offer. Then he leaves and you are screwed trying to find somebody to replace him.

Either strategy has risks. Either you lose players on signing day or you never get them to commit to begin with and hope you can flip a bunch of players away from other schools on signing day.

[ChocoLab]

With Texas taking over the Dallas area

I laffed.

[Velo Sooner]

The Brent method may feel like the moral high road, but the final results of who gets signed will be the bottom line of success. OU will do fine either way I believe. I know if I were a blue chipper back in the day I would take my visits.

[Hermit]

What I see on twitter, July will be OU's month. There's a possibility of 7 four star commits before the end of the month. According to Parker Thune, OU is in good shape for 6 of those players. Now this kid could be blowing smoke, but we will see.

[drnlaw]

Could be a lot worse. You could be Michigan, sitting at number 53 in the country.

[OU48A]

Either strategy has risks. Either you lose players on signing day or you never get them to commit to begin with and hope you can flip a bunch of players away from other schools on signing day.

Very true...but the culture that Brent is trying to build closely resembles the culture that Patty Gasso has had such a great amount of sucess with.

Boys will be boys but I'm not worried. Once established the culture has a way of recruiting itself with the type of people that Brent wants to develop.

[Mindreader101]

As of today I saw new OU CBs for all the following 4*:

Derrick LeBlanc
Jaquaize Pettaway
Anthony Evans
Daytona Smothers
Tausili Akana

I think we are doing ok fellas.

[Highfligher]

Relax about the Oklahoma Sooners 2023 recruiting class


I’ve seen a lot of chatter about how Oklahoma’s wheels are falling off because they currently sit 35th in 247 Sports’ 2023 Recruiting Rankings while the Longhorns are 3rd.

Let’s get this out of the way: these rankings mean absolutely nothing in June. As we saw last year after Lincoln Riley left, recruiting classes can change very quickly. After that, the 2022 class looked unsalvageable. Brent Venables and co. brought it back to eighth in the country.

The Sooners are in very good hands. Take a breath.

After Samuel Omosigho’s commitment, OU has nine commits for the 2023 cycle. That number will go up. Does anyone really think that Purdue and Boston College are going to have a better recruiting class than OU at the end of the 2023 cycle? They won’t. Just be patient.

Florida and Oregon are both below the Sooners at the moment. As are Ole Miss, Michigan and Texas A&M. The very same A&M that had the number one recruiting class for 2022. These rankings mean absolutely nothing right now.

I can’t find the tweet (they probably deleted it) but remember a few years ago when Fox Sports Knoxville tweeted about how the Sooners had a bad recruitment ranking?

How did that end up?

July is going to be a huge month for Oklahoma Football. It seems like everytime I open Twitter the Sooners are in the top three for a big-name high school recruit. The players will come. Let the coaches do their jobs and recruit the players.

I will revisit this in a month. Mark my words: the Sooners will be much higher than 35th by the end of July.



https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/202...xas-longhorns/

And you're not even taking into account how the transfer portal has devalued class rankings.

[Highfligher]

Glad you posted this.

I put these comments on the recruiting board. What you posted alone is why this is happening. Dudes still want to take visits. I can't blame them. If you were 18 and had a chance to take five free visits and get wined and dined at various campuses across the country... Would you not be hesitant to just immediately sign with a school who insists you have to shut it down?

But Brent's reasoning for this is that I don't think he wants to play this "placeholder" game. It bites you in the ass so often because you have turned down guys while your guy is holding his place waiting for a "better" offer. Then he leaves and you are screwed trying to find somebody to replace him.

What he is doing is risky only because the pool might dry up on him... but my feeling is that there will be plenty of recruits still around who want to take fall visits and then commit.

My only concern about Brent is that we are recruiting an evangelizing team as opposed to a football team. I think Brent's idea of doing the chant after the game is nice but perhaps we should have an alter call instead. Let Turk and all those guys get us beer drinking heathen fans saved!!!

I think it's better to be ultra selective in recruiting now. Then lean on the portal where you can actually see what a player can do on the collegiate level for the rest.

[BobStoopsReal]

From the very beginning BV has been open and honest about the type of player he wants in Norman. Give him time to build the culture he envisions. If it doesn’t happen overnight so be it. He’s building this for the long haul. Patience with the fan base will be crucial. Trust our guy.

[ab5sr]

Long ways to go...

[AdonijahAijalon]

Hype is a helluva drug.

[ousoonerman93]

I think a gifted athlete should go on as many visits as he is offered, and there's nothing wrong telling a school that's what he'll do, just like there's nothing wrong with the school being upfront about their offer not being guaranteed if the kid is still interested in looking around. OU shouldn't be a cuckold to a kid that's '100% committed' but going on visits only to flip 2 days before signing day. Fuck that, OU is better than any one individual and their pimp dad

Brent's playing the long game, decreasing the likelihood we'll see what we did last year with Riley's kids getting arrested for armed robbery. I like how Brent gets the kid's family involved, but in a way that makes them feel like they are part of a larger family and their son is in good hands. If I were a parent of a kid receiving an opportunity to play at the highest collegiate level, I would want my son molded into something besides a self-serving money whore.

OU will be totally fine. OU is not broke and will have a good balance of NIL opportunities, but promoting the message that nothing here is guaranteed, and all players will have to work hard to earn playing time. As long as Bruce Kittle isn't recruiting and Brent doesn't shut the lights of his office off at 5, OU will end up with a team much more cohesive than Texas A&M's roster of booster employees only in it for themselves. OU's 2000 team proves a unit working hard together and believing can whip any group of assholes wanting a big payday so they can get a diamond stud pierced on their dick.

[BoomerBilly]

Hype is a helluva drug.

Texas will always have hype. Hype works well until a real football team punches them in the mouth.

[LT-OU]

I’m not worried one bit because I think there’s just enough Purple Wizard in Venables’ blood to mix with OU’s Blue Blood. Just sit back and enjoy the ride, boys.

[SoonerHank]

Not worried. Damn near every recruiting cycle there’s panic somewhere along the line. The previous staff had a knack for getting commits in summer and losing them late in the cycle.

BV and staff are great recruiters. On NSD, we will have a great class and we will continue to compete for championships. The Pants pissers will piss their pants before, during, and after the season no matter what.

[Middle Aged Man]

I wonder if anyone has tracked the HS star rating of all NFL players and college All Americans. Recruiting is important, but how many kids have never developed beyond HS level 5* into an All American or NFL player. Not picking on the kid, but Bookie Radley Hiles comes to mind. Big time splash in hype and didn't pan out. Compare that to other 3 and 4 star kids who have improved over the years into the All Americans and NFL players.

I have worked with a ton of "potential" great employees over the years, even a few Harvard MBAs. Few really ended up being great. More likely, the average guy/girl came in, learned the job, worked hard and ended up doing very well.

[Middle Aged Man]

Not worried. Damn near every recruiting cycle there’s panic somewhere along the line. The previous staff had a knack for getting commits in summer and losing them late in the cycle.

BV and staff are great recruiters. On NSD, we will have a great class and we will continue to compete for championships. The Pants pissers will piss their pants before, during, and after the season no matter what.

That's a lot of pants.

[Arkansooner]

Not worried. Damn near every recruiting cycle there’s panic somewhere along the line. The previous staff had a knack for getting commits in summer and losing them late in the cycle.

BV and staff are great recruiters. On NSD, we will have a great class and we will continue to compete for championships. The Pants pissers will piss their pants before, during, and after the season no matter what.

Simple as that. There are definitely some new recruiting hurdles that we'll have to overcome with NIL and a significant amount of staff turnover, but to act like we're just going to fall off the face of the earth is moronic. Panicking about a class in early July is ridiculous especially considering BV has literally established a policy that will result in us not getting commitments until they're done with their visits.

[REDREX]

We really need to be more like Lincoln and recruit a bunch of 5 star receivers ------That turn out to be overrated

[Middle Aged Man]

We really need to be more like Lincoln and recruit a bunch of 5 star receivers ------That turn out to be overrated

Was a tour of the Cleveland County Jail a part of the LR recruiting pitch? Seems like their fine facilities brought in at least a few players for him.

[AdonijahAijalon]

I’m not worried one bit because I think there’s just enough Purple Wizard in Venables’ blood to mix with OU’s Blue Blood. Just sit back and enjoy the ride, boys.

Venables comes from a line of coaches that include Snyder, Stoops, and Leavitt. Guys who built programs from nothing. Think about that for a moment. I don't know how this class will shake out, but I take pleasure in knowing the guys who choose to play for Brent will be disciplined and hard nosed. Think about KSU or Iowa State with top 10-15 classes. Think about Lebby operating with a 5star QB and 4star running backs. Think about guys not getting arrested for armed robbery because there's a coach who actually cares. World of hurt my ass.

[Red Clay]

OMG! The sky is falling! BV has never put together teams that won Nattys and sent players to the big league ... oh, wait. Guess I'll climb back in the window, off the ledge.

(No DB commenter risked harm during the performance of this stunt, due to I live in a one-story house. But that ledge is narrow, coulda slipped)

[AdonijahAijalon]

Gas em up! I believe the sunset around 5:30pm when they lost to Kansas.

[EatLeadCommie]

Beyond the fact that Texas has almost twice as many commits as OU and it is thus not fair to compare at this point, they still have to retain all their current commitments until NSD (as do we). While I don't expect another 5-7 type of season, 7-5 isn't going to sustain a boner in some of these recruits either. 8-4 won't either. 9-3 probably would. They are currently excited over the recruiting momentum generated by Manning's commitment, and that's fine. I think our chance of winning 10 games is better than UT's chance of winning 9, and recruits are affected by results on the field (ok, and NIL too).

But the bleeding on our recruiting stopped once BV got his staff in place and still managed to retain a top 10 recruiting class. Believe me, I was in full-fledged panic mode too and started an entire thread on who we were losing and gaining in the recruiting game. Most of that happened when we were doing a coaching search. I'm slightly underwhelmed at the moment by our class other than at QB of course. But I've been around long enough to know that almost all of these kids are going to get a star boost from the OU commitment (just like they do at UT, and just like Manning is only a 1.000 perfect recruit because his last name is Manning), whether justified or not, or because they're Oklahoma kids who haven't been properly evaluated (McCarty).

I think OU is in a pretty good place right now. We are being slow to the NIL game on purpose-- waiting to see if the NCAA backs up its words with action. We should know that pretty soon.

[Slytherin]

Glad you posted this.

I put these comments on the recruiting board. What you posted alone is why this is happening. Dudes still want to take visits. I can't blame them. If you were 18 and had a chance to take five free visits and get wined and dined at various campuses across the country... Would you not be hesitant to just immediately sign with a school who insists you have to shut it down?

But Brent's reasoning for this is that I don't think he wants to play this "placeholder" game. It bites you in the ass so often because you have turned down guys while your guy is holding his place waiting for a "better" offer. Then he leaves and you are screwed trying to find somebody to replace him.

What he is doing is risky only because the pool might dry up on him... but my feeling is that there will be plenty of recruits still around who want to take fall visits and then commit.

My only concern about Brent is that we are recruiting an evangelizing team as opposed to a football team. I think Brent's idea of doing the chant after the game is nice but perhaps we should have an alter call instead. Let Turk and all those guys get us beer drinking heathen fans saved!!!

*altar. You fucking heathen.

I personally think we are going to shock the world. All these guys can play at this level. We’ve existed with a “fire coach xxx” mentality around here every time a player screws the pooch. Finger pointing and blaming. We now have a culture of accountability at every level. Coaches, players and support staff. Even fans.

We have seen a bunch of 4/5 * guys fail miserably, and some others with heart succeed. The prima Donna culture is over. Anything less than a big 12 championship and the playoffs will be a disappointment.

[TruthbetoldSooner]

*altar. You fucking heathen.

I personally think we are going to shock the world. All these guys can play at this level. We’ve existed with a “fire coach xxx” mentality around here every time a player screws the pooch. Finger pointing and blaming. We now have a culture of accountability at every level. Coaches, players and support staff. Even fans.

We have seen a bunch of 4/5 * guys fail miserably, and some others with heart succeed. The prima Donna culture is over. Anything less than a big 12 championship and the playoffs will be a disappointment.

Well said….I agree totally!

[Middle Aged Man]

5 stars means less in prison.

[M40]

Really think BV strategy has zero risk. Allowing visits after a commitment only helps the players by holding a spot and looking for a perceived better location.

[Stinger_1066]

Beyond the fact that Texas has almost twice as many commits as OU and it is thus not fair to compare at this point, they still have to retain all their current commitments until NSD (as do we). While I don't expect another 5-7 type of season, 7-5 isn't going to sustain a boner in some of these recruits either. 8-4 won't either. 9-3 probably would. They are currently excited over the recruiting momentum generated by Manning's commitment, and that's fine. I think our chance of winning 10 games is better than UT's chance of winning 9, and recruits are affected by results on the field (ok, and NIL too).

But the bleeding on our recruiting stopped once BV got his staff in place and still managed to retain a top 10 recruiting class. Believe me, I was in full-fledged panic mode too and started an entire thread on who we were losing and gaining in the recruiting game. Most of that happened when we were doing a coaching search. I'm slightly underwhelmed at the moment by our class other than at QB of course. But I've been around long enough to know that almost all of these kids are going to get a star boost from the OU commitment (just like they do at UT, and just like Manning is only a 1.000 perfect recruit because his last name is Manning), whether justified or not, or because they're Oklahoma kids who haven't been properly evaluated (McCarty).

I think OU is in a pretty good place right now. We are being slow to the NIL game on purpose-- waiting to see if the NCAA backs up its words with action. We should know that pretty soon.

This USC / UCLA to the B1G move will be a game changer.

The B1G and the SEC will be the only conferences that matter to the vast majority of the top level recruits.

That takes Oregon, Notre Dame, Clemson, FSU, Miami and some other big names that would otherwise be in the mix out of contention.

[M40]

Beyond the fact that Texas has almost twice as many commits as OU and it is thus not fair to compare at this point, they still have to retain all their current commitments until NSD (as do we). While I don't expect another 5-7 type of season, 7-5 isn't going to sustain a boner in some of these recruits either. 8-4 won't either. 9-3 probably would. They are currently excited over the recruiting momentum generated by Manning's commitment, and that's fine. I think our chance of winning 10 games is better than UT's chance of winning 9, and recruits are affected by results on the field (ok, and NIL too).

But the bleeding on our recruiting stopped once BV got his staff in place and still managed to retain a top 10 recruiting class. Believe me, I was in full-fledged panic mode too and started an entire thread on who we were losing and gaining in the recruiting game. Most of that happened when we were doing a coaching search. I'm slightly underwhelmed at the moment by our class other than at QB of course. But I've been around long enough to know that almost all of these kids are going to get a star boost from the OU commitment (just like they do at UT, and just like Manning is only a 1.000 perfect recruit because his last name is Manning), whether justified or not, or because they're Oklahoma kids who haven't been properly evaluated (McCarty).

I think OU is in a pretty good place right now. We are being slow to the NIL game on purpose-- waiting to see if the NCAA backs up its words with action. We should know that pretty soon.

NCAA is not going to enforce the NIL rules and put half of the top 20 on probation including the best teams from the SEC and Big 10. SEC and Big won’t allow it

[Sooner Schooner]

Article impresses me as a bunch of wishful thinking...hoping they don't get their asses stoved in again. Kinda like the other folks that we know who wear orange.

[keef]

Relax about the Oklahoma Sooners 2023 recruiting class


I’ve seen a lot of chatter about how Oklahoma’s wheels are falling off because they currently sit 35th in 247 Sports’ 2023 Recruiting Rankings while the Longhorns are 3rd.

Let’s get this out of the way: these rankings mean absolutely nothing in June. As we saw last year after Lincoln Riley left, recruiting classes can change very quickly. After that, the 2022 class looked unsalvageable. Brent Venables and co. brought it back to eighth in the country.

The Sooners are in very good hands. Take a breath.

After Samuel Omosigho’s commitment, OU has nine commits for the 2023 cycle. That number will go up. Does anyone really think that Purdue and Boston College are going to have a better recruiting class than OU at the end of the 2023 cycle? They won’t. Just be patient.

Florida and Oregon are both below the Sooners at the moment. As are Ole Miss, Michigan and Texas A&M. The very same A&M that had the number one recruiting class for 2022. These rankings mean absolutely nothing right now.

I can’t find the tweet (they probably deleted it) but remember a few years ago when Fox Sports Knoxville tweeted about how the Sooners had a bad recruitment ranking?

How did that end up?

July is going to be a huge month for Oklahoma Football. It seems like everytime I open Twitter the Sooners are in the top three for a big-name high school recruit. The players will come. Let the coaches do their jobs and recruit the players.

I will revisit this in a month. Mark my words: the Sooners will be much higher than 35th by the end of July.



https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/202...xas-longhorns/

Worst case scenario you end up 35th or so........








......and 35th is about where fOSU ends up every year (that might be a tad high actually)









........and we are 8-4 vs texass since 2010........

[Ruprecht]

Worst case scenario you end up 35th or so........








......and 35th is about where fOSU ends up every year (that might be a tad high actually)









........and we are 8-4 vs texass since 2010........

You bring up a good point. OSU has done a really good job of mining really good 3 star type players. There are so many of them out there that it's probably a crap shoot as far as getting the better ones. Coaches who can identify those type of guys can really outperform their recruiting rankings.

Perhaps Brent can enhance OU's ability to do that.

[soonerquest]

You bring up a good point. OSU has done a really good job of mining really good 3 star type players. There are so many of them out there that it's probably a crap shoot as far as getting the better ones. Coaches who can identify those type of guys can really outperform their recruiting rankings.

Perhaps Brent can enhance OU's ability to do that.

OSU’s strength and conditioning program is top notch and deserves some praise. Surprised some big time program has not come after Rob Glass.

[Balko]

Okie State's 2023 QB, Zane Flores, looks to be very good.

[SEC]

Well said….I agree totally!

We glad you agree and participated, truth be told!

However, Sly not a good reference to this point on the new alliance with OU’s coming partners. He’s just spitballing as usual and in this instance, they are dry.

[CrimsonOberon]

I don't care about getting the highest ranked players. I care about getting the right ones. Jackson Arnold was a pretty good, not elite QB according to the rankings when our staff got on him--one Elite 11 MVP later and he may be the best QB in the entire class.

Don't get it twisted: nothing changed. He's no different now than he was then, it's just that he showed out at a big event.

That's a win for our staff evaluation. +1 to Lebby.

This guy doesn't know our program. If he did, he'd know that we're no longer in the business of pressuring recruits to commit early to pump up our ratings. Hell, some of those commits from other teams could end up in OU uniforms, especially if we end up having a strong season.

Venables isn't looking for kids that commit just to hold a spot. He wants them to commit when they're ready to shut everything down. That means we're not going to have 20 kids committed by July. None of this should be a surprise, except to guys like this who know virtually nothing about this program.