Recruiting: OU’s latest targets
By Blake Jackson
The silver lining in Oklahoma losing juniors Malcolm Kelly, Curtis Lofton and Reggie Smith to the NFL Draft is that OU coaching staff now has three extra scholarships to offer this recruiting season.
With 19 verbal commitments already in the bank and Signing Day less than three weeks away, here’s a quick glance at the Sooners’ top remaining targets:
Julio Jones, WR, 6-4, 215, Foley, Ala.
Jones is an unmatched physical specimen, the nation’s No. 1 wideout and No. 4 player overall according to Rivals.com. Commitments from Jameel Owens and Josh Jarboe have eased Kelly’s loss. A commitment from Jones would help make folks forget the lanky kid from Longview.
Jones will be on an official visit in Norman this weekend. He has one other trip — Feb. 1 to Texas Tech — before Signing Day.
J.R. Bryant, LB, 6-3, 230, Garden City, Kan.
Oklahoma holds just two commitments at linebacker, one of its thinnest positions heading into next season. Adding Bryant — a junior college transfer — would allow the Sooners to plug-and-play a college-ready body alongside Ryan Reynolds.
At this point, Bryant favors OU. But he’s received increased recruiting pressure down the stretch from Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.
Victor Johnson, DB, 6-0, 170, Waco, Texas
Of Oklahoma’s three official visitors this past weekend, only Johnson opted to delay his commitment. The four-star defensive back has narrowed his list from eight down to OU and OSU.
Fans could be looking at a Signing Day decision from one of the top defensive players remaining on the board.
Lamar Harris, ATH, 6-2, 180, Gilmer, Texas
Harris has been committed to Texas A&M since March. Until December, he’d been at odds with his teammate and best friend Justin Johnson — a 2008 Sooner commit.
But Dennis Franchione’s ouster and Mike Sherman’s hiring has shaken the four-star athlete’s status. Now, Oklahoma is making its move. Harris will be in Norman on an official visit this weekend.
D’Anton Lynn, S, 6-1, 180, Celina, Texas
According to a report on SoonerScoop.com, Bob Stoops and Bobby Jack Wright visited Lynn at his house in Celina last week, signaling the Sooners’ reemergence in the race for this three-star prospect.
Lynn — a Penn State commit since November — said his outlook on Oklahoma improved when Reggie Smith declared for the NFL Draft. The late courtship could mean a shift from Nittany Lion blue to Sooner crimson come Feb. 6.
Zaviar Gooden, S, 6-2, 195, Pflugerville, Texas
Oklahoma hasn’t yet offered Gooden a scholarship. It has offered him an official visit to Norman this weekend.
Gooden just returned from a visit to Missouri and, according to Rivals.com, the Tigers are leading the pack to land him. But an offer from OU this week could make things interesting.
Freddie Smooth, OT, 6-5, 300, Baton Rouge, La.
Phil Loadholt and Duke Robinson surprised some folks when they elected to return to Oklahoma for their senior seasons rather than enter the NFL Draft. That gives the Sooners one more year of an experienced front before it’s time to reload.
Smooth doesn’t come with the fanfare of a Ben Habern or Stephen Good, but his size has drawn Oklahoma into a tight race with Auburn for Smooth’s services.
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