Oklahoma Early Enrollees: Why CB Jasiah Wagoner Plays With a Fearless Versatility

Editor’s Word: That is Half 8 of a 14-part collection on Oklahoma’s early enrollees within the 2023 recruiting class.

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

Whereas early enrollees are navigating new realms of ache and dedication, a number of their mates are again dwelling — enjoying basketball, operating monitor or simply hanging out and taking full benefit of the affliction referred to 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 unattainable at first, after which the summer time grind is even more durable. In between, the teaching workers takes over, and spring soccer observe places them forward of their summer time counterparts.

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

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Jasiah Wagoner was at all times a candidate to graduate highschool early and get a head begin on his faculty soccer profession.

Sure, the 4-star cornerback most likely wants so as to add a bit of extra mass to his 170-pound body, and Oklahoma’s winter weightroom routines will accomplish that.

However for Wagoner, it’s deeper than simply his physique.

“I’ve at all times stated, he’s one of many brightest youngsters on the sphere and within the classroom that I’ve labored with,” stated Wagoner’s highschool coach, Cameron Robak. “He’s been prepared. He likes to be challenged, and I don’t assume highschool was difficult sufficient for him.

“He likes to be challenged on the soccer area as nicely, so I feel he needed to get to that atmosphere the place he’s challenged each day academically — and to be pushed each day within the weight room with these caliber sort of men.”

Robak coached Wagoner at Spanaway Lake, a Seattle suburb. There he noticed a considerably undersized defensive again and vast receiver play huge — and make huge performs.

“I don’t know should you watched the All-American sport down in (San Antonio) Texas,” Robak stated. “ … However on TV, he positively seemed like most likely one of many smallest guys on the market, however you may’t inform by the best way he hits. I imply, he’s not afraid of anybody. He flies round, he has a pure intuition to seek out the ball, whether or not it’s within the air or in any person’s arms. He simply performs nasty.”

Wagoner excelled on one of highschool soccer’s greatest phases similar to he did on fields round Washington: with a broad understanding of the opposing scheme, an instantaneous response to the offensive play, and a fearless end. He relishes contact, performs behind his pads, arrives with power and performs with a bodily nature that belies his body.

One other factor: Wagoner’s versatility helps him — and can power the Oklahoma coaches to discover a place for him.

“The primary three years for us, he performed nook and he set the sting,” Robak stated. “Nothing ever bought outdoors him. And we cherished that about him. Then this final 12 months, truly, we had a fairly respectable nook rotation and we moved him to security a bit of bit, which allowed him to get extra into the run. And he cherished that. He performed within the field. After which clearly within the all-star sport, he performed within the field a bit of bit, performed some nickel, performed some security. And he loves contact.”

CB Jasiah Wagoner

• 5-11, 170
• Spanaway, WA
• 247 Sports activities: 4-star, No. 289 total, No. 33 CB
• Rivals: 4-star, unranked total, No. 41 CB
• On3: 3-star, unranked total, No. 64 CB
• ESPN: 4-star, No. 200 total, No. 26 CB

Background: Wagoner was the top-rated recruit within the state of Washington, ranked as excessive as No. 26 at cornerback by ESPN. Wagoner performed three seasons on varsity and was arguably Spanaway Lake’s finest participant on offense and protection, main the crew all three years with 85 receptions for 1,221 yards and 15 touchdowns and in addition compiling 68 tackles in 15 video games over his ultimate two seasons, with three interceptions, seven passes defensed and one pressured fumble. Wagoner performed within the Adidas All-America Sport in San Antonio and picked OU over presents from Arizona State, Cal, Notre Dame, Washington, Oregon, Penn State, Texas and others.

2023 Projection: Nobody could profit extra from Jerry Schmidt’s offseason weight coaching than Wagoner, who comes on this spring at round 170 kilos. He’ll must bulk up shortly to play for the Sooners this 12 months, particularly together with his fearless type of play. A redshirt season is perhaps so as, as OU has loads of expertise on the place in three-year starters Woodi Washington and Jaden Davis, plus promising backups Kani Walker, Gentry Williams and Jayden Rowe.

That’s not all. Like many highschool defensive backs, Wagoner additionally performed vast receiver at Spanaway Lake. However not like many prep DBs, he was actually good at it.

Wagoner caught 24 passes for 412 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore, 34 for 521 yards and 6 TDs as a junior, and 27 for 288 and one rating throughout his senior 12 months.

Over three seasons, he caught 85 passes for 1,221 yards and 15 touchdowns — elite numbers for an undersized nook.

Might he even assist to the offense in Norman?

Oklahoma’s 2023 early enrollees

“I feel he might,” Robak stated. “I don’t understand how that teaching workers would really feel about that. However in our division, in our state, he positively was a top-tier man on the receiver place. Simply one other intangible that he has.”

At his Nationwide Signing Day press convention, OU coach Brent Venables included Wagoner amongst “a number of guys who can play on both aspect of the ball” but additionally talked about him with OU’s six (now seven) defensive backs who’re “lengthy and quick and instinctive” who’ve “intelligence, instincts and ball abilities.”

Extra urgent for Wagoner is his versatility within the secondary. He’s a pure cornerback with elite protection abilities and uncanny instincts. However Robak is assured he could possibly be developed into an excellent faculty security.

“I’ve talked to him a bit of bit about it,” Robak stated. “I feel he would possibly begin out in that slot place. However I’m not constructive.”

In a video saying his verbal dedication to Oklahoma, Wagoner credited his religion in addition to his dad and mom for placing him in place to succeed.

“I thank God, as a result of I feel the whole lot stems from Him,” Wagoner stated. “, He gave me — He blessed me with two dad and mom within the family. My dad, you realize, instilled laborious work in me. After which my mother, simply taking good care of me and being there for me. After which all my mates and stuff, they supported me loads, you realize, simply let me know that I used to be doing good, that I ought to maintain happening this path and never happening the unsuitable path.”

No matter course Wagoner’s profession path takes him, Robak thinks he’ll excel.

“I feel his x-factor is he’s gonna do regardless of the coach, no matter this system wants him to do,” Robak stated. “In the event that they advised him, ‘We want you to be one of the best vast receiver,’ he’s gonna do this. In the event that they stated, ‘We want you to play linebacker,’ he’s gonna do this. He’s gonna do no matter is finest for the crew and regardless of the coaches need him to do.

“He’s at all times had a swagger about himself that he desires to line up in opposition to one of the best participant and show that he can dangle with ‘em and in addition beat ‘em. I feel that’s the factor I’m most excited for: sadly over right here on the West Coast, we don’t have a number of of these guys on one crew, so I’m excited for him to have the ability to compete with top-tier expertise every day and see the place that may actually take him.”

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