Recruiting is one thing the Oklahoma Sooners have achieved very nicely since Lincoln Riley took over for Bob Stoops in 2017. Within the 5 recruiting cycles Riley was head coach, the Sooners had 4 top-10 courses with a mean 247Sports composite rating of 270.77.
After bringing the 2022 class again to eighth within the nation following Riley’s departure, Brent Venables is nicely on his solution to getting the Sooners their first top-five recruiting class since 2010.
That class had 30 commits, the best being security Tony Jefferson, who’s at present with the Baltimore Ravens. Huge receiver Kenny Stills was additionally in that class.
Bob Stoops had fairly the yr.
With Oklahoma Soccer reasserting itself on the recruiting panorama, let’s have a look again on the final 5 recruiting cycles. All of the rankings are taken from 247Sports.com.
2021
Dec 29, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Caleb Williams (13) throws a cross throughout the first half of the 2021 Alamo Bowl towards the Oregon Geese on the Alamodome. Necessary Credit score: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports activities
| Nationwide Rating | tenth |
| Highest-Rated Recruit | Caleb Williams, QB |
Different Notable Recruits:
Mario Williams, WR
Ethan Downs, EDGE
Jalil Farooq, WR
Danny Stutsman, LB
The ultimate recruiting class of Lincoln Riley’s tenure at Oklahoma. The plain headliner is quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams can be a Heisman finalist and maybe winner throughout the the rest of his time in faculty soccer.
2020
| Nationwide Rating | thirteenth |
| Highest-Rated Recruit | Nate Anderson, OG |
Different Notable Recruits:
Marvin Mims, WR
Anton Harrison, OT
Perrion Winfrey, DT
This can be a little bit of an attention-grabbing one. The highest two recruits on this class have been each offensive lineman; not precisely widespread throughout the Riley period.
Perrion Winfrey was drafted by the Cleveland Browns within the 2022 NFL Draft.
2019
| Nationwide Rating | sixth |
| Highest-Rated Recruit | Jadon Haselwood, WR |
Different Notable Recruits:
Spencer Rattler, QB
Theo Wease, WR
Austin Stogner, TE
Notable Switch:
Jalen Hurts, QB (Alabama)
The participant who had the most important impression in a Sooners uniform was not a highschool recruit however a switch. Jalen Hurts was the most important identify within the switch portal and was an enormous get for the Sooners.
Hurts rehabilitated his NFL Draft inventory, and the Sooners received their ultimate bridge QB whereas Spencer Rattler held a clipboard.
Rattler and fellow Oklahoma signee Austin Stogner will each play for South Carolina this season.
2018
| Nationwide Rating | ninth |
| Highest-Rated Recruit | Brey Walker, OT |
Different Notable Recruits;
Ronnie Perkins, DE
DaShaun White, OLB
Nik Bonitto, OLB
Brian Asamoah, OLB
Delarrin Turner-Yell, S
Gabe Brkic, Okay
That’s numerous gamers that made it to the NFL. SMU QB Tanner Mordecai was additionally signed by the Sooners on this class.
2017
| Nationwide Rating | eighth |
| Highest-Rated Recruit | Justin Broiles, CB |
Different Notable Recruits:
Tyrese Robinson, OG
Tre Brown, CB
Charleston Rambo, WR
Kennedy Brooks, RB
Trey Sermon, RB
Isaiah Thomas, DL
Creed Humphrey, C
One other class that boasts its share of NFL expertise. Creed Humphrey was Professional Soccer Focus’ top-rated heart of 2021 and can be guarding the face of the NFL, Patrick Mahomes, for years to return.
Conclusion
Lincoln Riley did numerous issues proper whereas he was at Oklahoma, and recruiting is one thing that he and his employees did very, very nicely. For a faculty not recognized for its defensive prowess, there are fairly a couple of gamers on the defensive aspect of the ball that ended up within the NFL.
For no matter cause, there simply by no means gave the impression to be sufficient expertise on that one aspect of the ball to win a nationwide championship.
Venables is off to a superb begin with doubtless back-to-back high ten recruiting courses, however can he get that additional little bit of expertise to get the Sooners over the School Soccer Playoff hump?
Early returns look promising.