Editor’s Notice: That is Half 6 of a 14-part collection 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 number of their pals are again house — enjoying basketball, operating observe or simply hanging out and taking full benefit of the affliction generally known as “senioritis.”

In Oklahoma’s case, 14 newcomers have chosen to make that sudden transition from boys to males. Jerry Schmidt’s winter exercises may appear not possible at first, after which the summer season grind is even more durable. In between, the teaching workers takes over, and spring soccer observe places them forward of their summer season counterparts.

On this collection, AllSooners examines every of the 14 newcomers and tasks their impression on Brent Venables’ soccer staff in 2023.

— — — —

As soon as Cayden Inexperienced dedicated to Oklahoma, his recruitment was basically over.

Oh, different colleges, like Missouri and LSU, continued to name. However Inexperienced had a system for coping with these calls.

“I simply did not reply, actually,” he mentioned.

That’s how badly Inexperienced wished to play for Invoice Bedenbaugh. Now, as a mid-term enrollee at OU, he’s doing precisely that. The soccer staff is enduring Jerry Schmidt’s grinding winter exercises they usually’ll quickly get particular person and small-group consideration within the teaching stations. Then comes full-on spring observe, the place the 2023 freshman class will lastly get to check themselves towards their older, extra skilled teammates.

For Inexperienced, lastly getting coached by Bedenbaugh will really feel like fulfilling a mission he’s been on. Inexperienced attending to witness up shut the profession paths of former Sooners like Orlando Brown and Creed Humphrey — Inexperienced is from Lee’s Summit, MO, the place he grew up a Kansas Metropolis Chiefs fan — assured him that he, too, can ply tutoring from Bedenbaugh right into a spot within the NFL.

OT Cayden Inexperienced

• 6-5, 315
• Lee’s Summit, MO
• 247 Sports activities: 4-star, No. 86 total, No. 9 OT
• Rivals: 4-star, No. 44 total, No. 2 OT
• On3: 4-star, unranked total, No. 30 OT
• ESPN: 4-star, No. 54 total, No. 1 OT

Background: Inexperienced was born in Damaged Arrow, OK, the son of two Oral Roberts College basketball gamers. Due to that, he grew up an OU fan. However rising up in Kansas Metropolis, Inexperienced additionally was drawn to Missouri. At Lee’s Summit North, Inexperienced grew to become a MaxPreps and Beneath Armour All-American offensive sort out and helped lead his staff to the Missouri Class 6 state title sport. ESPN ranks him because the No. 1 offensive sort out within the 2023 class, and Rivals ranks him because the No. 44 total recruit.

2023 Projection: Inexperienced was a three-year starter at LS North whose first supply (from Kansas) got here throughout his sophomore yr. He developed right into a dominant left sort out, however has proven the flexibility to simply slide in and play guard. He’s naturally extra athletic than lots of his colleagues, in order that versatility will assist him get on the sector faster at OU, the place the left sort out spot ought to be manned by sophomore Jacob Sexton and left guard will belong to senior McKade Mettauer. At proper guard, Chris Murray and Wanya Morris have moved on, and whereas Tyler Guyton seems to be to have locked down the proper sort out spot, Inexperienced may vie for time at proper guard.

“After I first began getting recruited by them, realizing Coach B and realizing his historical past in placing guys within the league, that was the largest factor that stood out to me,” Inexperienced mentioned. “After which as I bought to know the brand new workers, I simply, I loved them increasingly more every time I bought to go to them.”

Inexperienced is 6-foot-5 and 315 kilos. With a body like that to go along with top-shelf athletic means, a excessive soccer IQ, pure intelligence and a robust work ethic, many consider Bedenbaugh can flip Inexperienced into the Sooners’ subsequent nice NFL star.

“I’ve at all times been an Oklahoma fan, however moved to Missouri and I grew to become a Mizzou fan,” he mentioned. “We went to a few video games, so these two colleges had been colleges I used to be huge followers of. However what Coach B does along with his linemen is simply second to none, and that finally helped with my resolution.

“It was a giant deal for me. He has success yr in and yr out. And I feel he is one of the best at what he does. And he places essentially the most guys into the league. So it was type of a no brainer for me.”

Oklahoma’s 2023 early enrollees

Now the query for Inexperienced is the place he’ll play. He’s the prototype left sort out, however his worth — no less than early in his profession — may very well be at guard. He willingly performed each throughout his week of practices forward of the Beneath Armour All-America Recreation in Orlando. 

There are main variations, in fact, however Inexperienced mentioned he’s up for something.

“I feel the largest distinction is the pace of every thing,” Inexperienced mentioned. “Whenever you’re at sort out, you are extra setting and ready. Whereas once you’re at guard, it is extra fast, proper in your face. I feel that is the largest distinction between the 2. And I feel that is the largest motive why sometimes you possibly can’t have a guard go (to) sort out — sometimes — as a result of the pace is so completely different.”

Does Inexperienced favor one or the opposite?

“I do not actually care,” he mentioned. “I’ve been enjoying each out right here (in Orlando). I have been engaged on sort out and guard.”

Has Bedenbaugh given any indication by some means?

“Oh, he is undecided if he needs me at guard or sort out,” Inexperienced mentioned, “so I am going to most likely simply work each. However yeah, he isn’t he isn’t too positive but.”

Wish to be part of the dialogue? Click on right here to turn into a member of the AllSooners message board group as we speak!

Join to your premium membership to AllSooners.com as we speak, and get entry to the whole Fan Nation premium community!

Follow AllSooners on Twitter to remain updated on all the most recent OU information.

Get your OU tickets from SI Tickets HERE.