Oklahoma’s Long List of Recruiting Visitors Emphasize Importance of Bedlam Showdown

NORMAN — Brent Venables’ first season at Oklahoma definitely hasn’t gone like he needed.

However Saturday, Venables and the Sooners have an opportunity to actually change the fortunes of the OU program.

In what’s anticipated to be by far the largest recruiting weekend of the season and one of many three greatest recruiting occasions of the calendar yr, the Sooners will host some 40 prospects from the 2023, 2024 and 2025 courses for this yr’s Bedlam recreation.

The checklist of official and unofficial guests contains as many as seven 5-star prospects, in keeping with the 247 Sports activities rankings — simply in time for Nationwide Signing Day on Dec. 21.

What occurs over the following 4 1/2 weeks will decide a lot, however Saturday is the primary large step between from time to time within the workers’s efforts to land program-changing expertise.

Along with 2023 quarterback Jackson Arnold and edge rusher P.J. Adebawore — 5-stars who’re already verbally dedicated to Oklahoma — the Sooners will attempt to flip 5-star defensive deal with David Hicks (from Texas A&M) and 5-star security Peyton Bowen (from Notre Dame, although he’s additionally reportedly strongly contemplating A&M) throughout this weekend’s actions.

Uncommitted defensive deal with David Stone, one other 5-star and one of many prime prospects within the 2024 class, can also be visiting OU this weekend. Stone grew up a Sooner fan in Del Metropolis, OK, and just lately instructed AllSooners he’s been contemplating A&M however he additionally appreciated the OU coaches’ “vitality and keenness” and has heard “all good issues” about Venables and his workers.

A number of different intriguing tasks have reportedly organized unofficial visits to the OU campus for Saturday evening’s prime time showdown with OSU, together with 4-star 2023 linebacker Daymion Sanford (Hicks’ teammate and shut pal at Paetow Excessive College in Katy, TX), who’s additionally at the moment dedicated to Texas A&M and was provided by OU on Nov. 3.

Quite a few uncommitted 2023 prospects, like 3-star edge rusher Taylor Wein of Nolensville, TN, and Ashton Sanders of Los Angeles, are on the town evaluating Oklahoma as nicely.

A number of different 2023 prospects already dedicated to the Sooners are confirmed in Norman, together with 4-star offensive lineman Cayden Inexperienced of Lee’s Summit, MO, 3-star offensive lineman Joshua Bates of Durango, CO, 3-star offensive lineman Logan Howland of Princeton, NJ, and 4-star broad receiver/defensive again Jacobe Johnson from Mustang, OK.

Howland confirmed that he and Hun Excessive College teammate Owen Wafle, a 4-star defensive lineman and Notre Dame commit, flew into Oklahoma Metropolis collectively and can each go to OU this weekend.

Amongst different 2024 recruits anticipated to be on the town are 4-star operating again Stacy Gage of Tampa, FL, 4-star security Eli Bowen of Denton, TX (Peyton Bowen’s youthful brother), 4-star security Aaron Flowers of Forney, TX, and 4-star defensive lineman Nigel Smith of Melissa, TX.

Oklahoma can also be internet hosting a 5-star linebacker from the 2025 class in Noah Mikhail of La Verne, CA, who was provided by OU on July 25.

And if that is not trying forward fairly sufficient, the Sooners will even host 2026 offensive lineman Drew Evers of Flower Mound, TX, this weekend with the Cowboys on the town.

A Bedlam victory can be an enormous step in the appropriate route for Venables to push this system ahead. However a great present — an entertaining recreation, a loud, engaged crowd, and an electrified stadium environment (particularly these new LED lights for an evening recreation) — could possibly be one thing that units OU on monitor for a brighter future.