Early Enrollees: DB Erik McCarty Has Time to Grow Into Any Number of Roles

Editor’s Word: That is Half 9 of a 14-part sequence on Oklahoma’s early enrollees within the 2023 recruiting class.

Many instances, graduating highschool early and launching one’s school soccer profession pays off. Many instances, it doesn’t.

Whereas early enrollees are navigating new realms of ache and dedication, a variety of their associates are again house — taking part in basketball, working observe or simply hanging out and taking full benefit of the affliction often called “senioritis.”

In Oklahoma’s case, 14 newcomers have chosen to make that sudden transition from boys to males. Jerry Schmidt’s winter exercises might sound unattainable at first, after which the summer season grind is even tougher. In between, the teaching employees takes over, and spring soccer apply places them forward of their summer season counterparts.

On this sequence, AllSooners examines every of the 14 newcomers and initiatives their affect on Brent Venables’ soccer staff in 2023.

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The place Erik McCarty matches into Oklahoma’s plans is one thing that doesn’t must be determined immediately.

For now, McCarty is continuous to rehabilitate his knee harm — and studying the right way to be a school scholar. That’s a lot.

The Sooners’ versatile signee from close by McAlester has a vivid future within the sport, however in contrast to lots of his fellow early enrollees, he’ll be below no stress to carry out immediately.

The participant that McAlester coach Forrest Mazey calls “essentially the most full soccer participant I’ve ever coached” may just about have his decide of positions to play when he lastly will get wholesome.

S Erik McCarty

• 6-2, 180
• McAlester, OK
• 247 Sports activities: 3-star, No. 742 total, No. 54 Athlete
• Rivals: 3-star, unranked total, No. 9 All-Goal Again
• On3: 3-star, unranked total, No. 114 S
• ESPN: 3-star, unranked total, No. 47 S
• Background: McCarty is likely one of the finest gamers ever to come back out of McAlester — actually one of the vital versatile. He was a standout working again for the Buffaloes, with college information of 4,943 dashing yards and 101 touchdowns. He completed his profession with 5,863 all-purpose yards and scored 616 factors — however was even higher on protection, amassing nearly 350 tackles, seven fumbles and 5 interceptions.
• 2023 Projection: It’s extremely unlikely that McCarty does a lot within the spring or performs for the Sooners within the fall. His knee harm occurred Nov. 18, and though the newest studies are that he’s on observe for a full restoration, a return in 2024 could be extra sensible for everybody. Though he may assist in a lot of positions, McCarty’s most pure place, security, has two returning starters in Billy Bowman and Key Lawrence, plus a handful of others who’re positive to climb the depth chart this spring, like Damond Harmon, Justin Harrington and Robert Spears-Jennings.

Some recruiting providers label him a working again. Some name him a security. Others simply peg him as an athlete — and let the abilities fall the place they could.

That’s what being your staff’s finest working again, receiver, security, linebacker, punt blocker, kick coverer and generally quarterback will get you.

“Man, simply athletically, he’s a present,” Mazey stated. “He has a present.”

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound McCarty picked OU over Baylor, TCU, Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Pittsburgh and Marshall, amongst others.

Oklahoma’s 2023 early enrollees

As a working again, he went for 1,966 yards as a sophomore and a pair of,005 as a junior, with 72 touchdowns. Final yr, regardless of the knee harm and with a higher emphasis on protection, he ran for 929 yards and 16 TDs.

In the meantime, McCarty compiled nearly 350 whole tackles on protection and was at all times across the soccer.

“He’s thrown passes for touchdowns, he’s performed protection, he performs security, he can play linebacker, he can play working again, he has actually good palms, he can kick return, he can block kicks,” Mazey stated. “I imply, you identify it, and he can do it.”

Mazey stated he’s simply as impressed by McCarty the citizen.

“Extra importantly, he’s acquired a present to be a fantastic particular person,” Mazey stated. “All people issues to him. He doesn’t look down on individuals.

“You’ll by no means hear anyone say something dangerous about him. I’ll promise you that. He is a superb, nice younger man.”