Oklahoma Early Enrollees: How Josh Bates Can Follow Creed Humphrey’s Path

Editor’s Be aware: That is Half 3 of a 14-part collection on Oklahoma’s early enrollees within the 2023 recruiting class.

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

Whereas early enrollees are navigating new realms of ache and dedication, a variety of their pals are again dwelling — 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 might sound not possible at first, after which the summer time grind is even more durable. In between, the teaching employees takes over, and spring soccer follow places them forward of their summer time counterparts.

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

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Creed Humphrey is the brand new normal for facilities at Oklahoma.

A former 4-star recruit out of close by Shawnee, Humphrey redshirted in 2017, then emerged as a star for the Sooners, blocking for Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts and Spencer Rattler because the Sooners received three straight Huge 12 titles and made two playoff appearances behind their three-time All-Huge 12 heart.

Within the NFL, Humphrey has continued that trajectory with all-rookie honors final 12 months and All-Professional accolades this 12 months for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.

Joshua Bates believes he can comply with an identical path enjoying for Humphrey’s outdated coach, Invoice Bedenbaugh.

“He’s a terrific coach,” Bates advised AllSooners. “I can’t wait to be developed into hopefully one other Creed Humphrey. That’s the purpose.”

C Joshua Bates

• 6-3, 290
• Durango, CO
• 247 Sports activities: 4-star, No. 370 total, No. 20 int. OL
• Rivals: 4-star, unranked total, No. 3 C
• On3: 3-star, unranked total, No. 75 int. OL
• ESPN: 3-star, unranked total, No. 4 C

Background: Bates is the Sooners’ lone holdover of the 2023 class from the Lincoln Riley period. A 3-time Colorado All-State choice and observe and area athlete, Bates has the imply streak, the angle and the toughness to play faculty soccer. However throughout the previous 12 months or so, he’s additionally proven unusual persistence and intelligence, too.

2023 Projection: Andrew Raym is the Sooners’ heart. He’s a three-year starter and is a robust candidate to play a very long time within the NFL. However versatile and useful backup Robert Congel has graduated. Raym has yet another 12 months, so it’s crucial Bates spend his first season of faculty soccer studying as shortly as he can and getting larger and stronger, as a result of subsequent 12 months the job ought to be his.

Along with merely enjoying the identical place, there are different parallels between Humphrey and Bates. For instance, when the 6-foot-4, 301-pound Humphrey was a recruit, his 247 Sports activities participant ranking was .8962. Earlier than arriving in Norman this week for his first semester of faculty, the 6-3, 305-pound Bates’ participant ranking was .8958. Each performed within the All-American Bowl in San Antonio.

You need synchrony? Bates and Humphrey first crossed paths in 2021 in Norman as each’s profession was transitioning to the following degree.

“I met Creed on one in all my first or second visits there,” Bates stated. “That was a shock. He was there and he was superior. He was an enormous purpose why I wished to make my resolution. I dedicated proper as he was drafted. He was drafted that 12 months and I used to be capable of see that and see how profitable he was as a rookie. He ought to have been a Professional Bowler his rookie 12 months.

“However seeing how effectively he did, and the way Bedenbaugh developed him over a span of a pair years is basically spectacular, and one thing that actually caught my consideration. And he’s fairly superior to speak to. I shot questions at him enjoying at Oklahoma. He was an enormous assist.”

It’s Bates who was an enormous assist in rebuilding Oklahoma’s 2023 class. After Lincoln Riley left for USC, Bates was the one member of the 2023 class who didn’t decommit. The brand new teaching employees appreciates his dedication and his persistence.

Oklahoma’s 2023 early enrollees

• Jan. 19: DE P.J. Adebawore
• Jan. 20: QB Jackson Arnold
• Jan. 21: C Joshua Bates
• Jan. 22: Peyton Bowen
• Jan. 23: CB Kendel Dolby
• Jan. 24: OT Cayden Inexperienced
• Jan. 25: RB Kalib Hicks
• Jan. 26: DE Derrick LeBlanc
• Jan. 27: DB Erik McCarty
• Jan. 28: LB Phil Picciotti
• Jan. 29: DT Ashton Sanders
• Jan. 30: RB Daylan Smothers
• Jan. 31: DB Makari Vickers
• Feb. 1: CB Jasiah Wagoner

I get right here, Josh is dedicated already,” stated offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby. “He’s been unbelievable. His household’s been unbelievable. However I believe the factor that’s actually distinctive about him, I’d been right here a few month and Josh sends me a textual content of him watching tape and type of the breakdown of our offense and the way we operated at Ole Miss. So this dude’s sitting within the movie room on the home, simply watching ball continuous. So he’s a junky. He’s ate up with it —and a terrific addition.”

Bates stated he’s a scholar of the sport, and defined why he thinks it’s one thing that comes naturally.

“If you understand me as a participant, I’m very sensible on the subject of the sport of soccer,” Bates stated. “I’ve simply been gifted. Like, from an aerial standpoint, I can type of see myself and see everybody else and know the place they’re going; I’ve simply all the time clicked like that, and I take advantage of my psychological toughness within the sport to set a bonus (in opposition to) my opponent.”