Oklahoma 2012 Recruiting

Oklahoma Sooners 2012 ... Head Coach: Bob Stoops

Oklahoma Sooners

2011 Record: 10-3

Sep. 3 Tulsa W 47-14
Sep. 10 OPEN DATE
Sep. 17 at Florida St W 23-13
Sep. 24 Missouri W 38-28
Oct. 1 Ball State W 62-6
Oct. 8 Texas (in Dallas) W 55-17
Oct. 15 at Kansas W 47-17
Oct. 22 Texas Tech L 41-34
Oct. 29 at Kansas State W 58-17
Nov. 5 Texas A&M W 41-25
Nov. 12 OPEN DATE
Nov. 19 at Baylor L 45-38
Nov. 26 Iowa State W 26-6
Dec. 3 at Oklahoma St L 44-10
Insight Bowl Dec. 30 Iowa W 31-14
2010 CFN Prediction: 10-2
2010 Record: 11-2

Sept. 4 Utah State W 31-24
Sept. 11 Florida St W  47-17
Sept. 18 Air Force W 27-24
Sept. 25 at Cincinnati W 31-29
Oct. 2 Texas (Dallas) W 28-20
Oct. 9 OPEN DATE
Oct. 16 Iowa State W 52-0
Oct. 23 at Missouri L 36-27
Oct. 30 Colorado W 43-10
Nov. 6 at Texas A&M L 33-19
Nov. 13 Texas Tech W 45-7
Nov. 20 at Baylor W 53-24
Nov. 27 at Oklahoma St W 47-41
Big 12 Championship
Dec. 4 Nebraska 23-20
Fiesta Bowl
Jan. 1 Connecticut W 48-20
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The Entire 2012 Recruiting Class

Top 5 Oklahoma Recruits To Care About
Player writeups by Scout.com

1. WR Trey Metoyer
6-2, 185, Scout.com five-star receiver.

2. RB Alex Ross
6-1, 205, Scout.com 14th ranked, four-star running back. Ross is a big runner, who excels in the middle of the field. He has good vision and when he sees the hole there is no wasted movement, he hits the hole and hits it hard and fast. He has the power to bounce off of tackles and his frame will hold another 25 pounds of muscle when he matures. In the open field he is explosive and he has the tendency to make long touchdown runs. Could also play on defense at linebacker.

3. C Ty Darlington
6-3, 275, Scout.com, 2nd ranked, four-star center. Darlington says he can bench 315-pounds and squat 550.

4. WR Courntey Gardner
6-3, 215, Scout.com four-star JUCO transfer. Had 22 receptions for 405 yards and five scores in just eight games for Sierra as a freshman in 2010.

5. CB Kasseim Everett
5-10, 180, Scout.com four-star JUCO transfer. An undersized, but physical corner, Everett plays bigger than his listed size because of his willingness to support the run and make a big hit. A terrific hip turn and change of direction, Everett has little trouble turning and running with receivers. He gets good elevation on his jump making up for his lack of size.

The 2012 Class Was Heavy On... Oklahoma isn’t slipping under Bob Stoops, but it’s having to work a bit harder lately to not only bring in the four and five-star types, but keep everyone happy. The Sooners need running back help, and now. Everything was supposed to be set, but Jermie Calhoun, Jonathon Miller, and Brandon Williams all bolted and Dominique Whaley is coming off an injury. The receivers are flocking to Norman with the biggest boost to come when Trey Metoyer, a top recruit last year, is ready to roll after spending a year at the Hargrave Military Academy.

Team Concerns For 2012: Defensive back. The inconsistencies against Baylor and Texas Tech were costly, and while the secondary only loses corner Jamell Fleming, the pass D has to be tighter. With Landry Jones coming back and with a few terrific recruiting classes about to mature, OU doesn’t have any major worries.

Looking Ahead To The 2012 Season: Let’s try this again. As always, Oklahoma has the talent and the potential to win the national title, but will this finally be the season Bob Stoops can get the program over the hump? Getting Landry Jones back for his senior year was a huge piece of the puzzle, and welcoming back Mark Stoops as an assistant coach should put the bite back in the D. Four starters return to an underappreciated offensive line, but the O needs Roy Finch and others to step up and shine for the ground game until Blake Bell can pound it in. Jaz Reynolds and Kenny Stills should blow up and be among the nation’s best receiving tandems.

The defense that broke down in key parts last year loses leader Travis Lewis at linebacker and has to go on without pass rushing end Frank Alexander, but eight starters are back with good depth expected on the line and in the secondary to form a good rotation. Michael Hunnicutt should be among the nation’s top kickers, while Tress Way is an all-star caliber punter.

The 2011 Class Was Heavy On … Defensive linemen. It’s more about quality than quantity across the board with some of the nation’s top prospects at most of the key positions. Kendal Thompson isn’t the typical OU star passer, but he has good skills. Brandon Williams might be the nation’s best running back in the 2011 class, and if Trey Metoyer isn’t the No. 1 receiver, he’s in the top three. Defensively, the line is loaded with some special prospects led by 6-5, 300-pound Jordan Phillips for the inside and pass rushing terror Nathan Hughes on the end. Dan Tapko will be a part of the end rotation soon, while Jordan Wade could be a special tackle with a little bit of time in the weight room.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 3. That Class Was Heavy On ... Offensive talent. Bob Stoops went after defensive backs last season, and this year he was out to step up the skill positions. Blake Bell will sit and wait his turn at quarterback with Landry Jones the likely starter for the next few seasons, but when it's his time, he should become a star. Brennan Clay and Roy Finch are runners who can fly, and Kenny Stills and Justin McCay lead an all-star cast of receivers who should bring in more firepower in the next few seasons. Defensively, OU came up with a big early story on Signing Day getting top linebacker Corey Nelson to change his commitment from Texas A&M. The Nelson signing overshadowed the addition of Tony Jefferson, a speedy outside linebacker from California who could've gone anywhere and played running back if he wanted.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 8. That Class Was Heavy On ... defensive backs. Everyone in the Big 12 went heavy on the secondary, seeing it as a must after the offensive explosion of this year, but Oklahoma got the best ones of the bunch. Gabe Lynn might be the nation’s best corner, and Marcus Trice isn’t all that far behind. Javon Harris and Kevin Brent will be starting safeties by 2011, while Demontre Hurst and Marshall Musil are interesting prospects.

Oklahoma 31 … Iowa 14
- CFN Thoughts on the Insight

Oklahoma: Landry Jones completed 16-of-25 passes for 161 yards and a score with a pick … QB Blake Bell led the team with 51 yards and three touchdowns on ten carries. … Kameel Jackson made three catches for 45 yards. … P Tress Way averaged 50.3 yards per kick on six attempts with one put inside the 20. … Jamell Fleming tied for the team lead with seven tackles with a pick and three broken up passes while helping to keep Iowa’s Marvin McNutt to just 46 yards on four catches.

Iowa: James Vandenberg completed 23-of-44 passes for 216 yards and two scores with a pick. … Jordan Canzeri ran 22 times for 59 yards and led the team with six catches for 28 yards and a score. … LB Tyler Nielsen made eight tackles, while DT Mike Daniels made five tackles with two sacks and three tackles for loss.

(AP) TEMPE, Ariz. -- Blake Bell ran for three touchdowns to help No. 19 Oklahoma survive a late rally and a crashing camera to beat Iowa 31-14 in the Insight Bowl Friday night.

Oklahoma (10-3) didn't get a particularly great game from quarterback Landry Jones and wasn't effective on the ground, either. Once considered national-title contenders, the Sooners grinded it out against the gritty Hawkeyes, ending a difficult year that included the death of linebacker Austin Box in the offseason.

Jones threw for 161 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and Bell put the game away with a 21-yard touchdown run with 45 seconds left.

"It means a lot; these guys persevered," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "(They) came out here tonight and played an excellent game."

Iowa (7-6) fell into a 21-0 hole before rallying behind two touchdown passes from James Vandenberg. The Hawkeyes came up just short and dodged a potential disaster when an overhead camera crashed to the field next to receiver Marvin McNutt in the closing minutes. McNutt became tangled in the wire after the camera landed a few yards behind him, but wasn't hurt. The game was delayed 5 minutes while the camera was dragged off the field.

Vandenberg overcame an early interception to throw for 216 yards, but had two interceptions while the Hawkeyes rushed for just 76 yards to end a school-record three-game bowl winning streak.

Oklahoma's return trip to the desert wasn't expected, at least not this early in the bowl season.

Coming off a rout of Connecticut in last year's Fiesta Bowl, the Sooners were ranked No. 1 in the preseason, with hopes of a second national title under Stoops.

Those aspirations were gone after a string of injuries -- All-American receiver Ryan Broyles' torn ACL was the big one -- and two losses in the final three games, including a 44-10 rout by Bedlam rival Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship game.

The frustrating run knocked Oklahoma out of not only the national championship chase, but out of a BCS bowl and into the Insight Bowl.

Instead of making a statement in the desert, the Sooners seemed to stand still in the first half, gaining yards in little bits instead of their usual chunks. Oklahoma had just 89 yards on 27 plays in the half, but led 14-0 thanks a pair of 4-yard runs by Bell -- one set up by an interception and another on the Sooners' only sustained drive.

The Sooners finally started to click in the second half.

Oklahoma drove inside Iowa's 10 on its opening drive, though that ended with an acrobatic tip-and-catch interception by Iowa defensive lineman Broderick Binns.

The Sooners kept rolling after that, marching down on their next drive for a 3-yard, play-action touchdown pass from Jones to Trent Ratterree -- breaking a streak of eight straight TDs by Bell -- to go up 21-0.

The Hawkeyes fought back.

Iowa overcame the suspension of its top running back and a favored opponent to win last year's Insight Bowl, beating Missouri 27-24. The Hawkeyes did it behind Marcus Coker, who ran for 219 yards and two touchdowns after replacing suspended starter Adam Robinson.

This time it was Coker who had to watch. The sophomore, who ran for 1,384 yards and 15 touchdowns during the regular season, was suspended for violating the university's student-athlete code of conduct.

Without Coker, Iowa would have to rely on a group of unproven running backs -- none had more than 18 carries -- and lean even more on Vandenberg.

No one was particularly effective in the first half.

Vanderberg was off-target early and had a pass intercepted by Jamell Fleming at Iowa's 31-yard line in the first quarter, then exacerbated the miscue by being called for a late-hit penalty. Bell scored his first touchdown two plays later.

Iowa had just one sustained drive in the first half, but that petered out; the Hawkeyes lost three yards on a fourth-and-1 from Oklahoma's 6-yard line.

Their running game ineffective, the Hawkeyes bumbled around most of the next two quarters before finally moving the ball again late in the third quarter. Vandenberg completed seven of his eight passes on a 75-yard drive, the final an across-his-body throw for a 5-yard touchdown to C.J. Fiedorowicz that cut Oklahoma's lead to 21-7.

Vandenberg then got the Hawkeyes within seven with 7 minutes left, hitting Keenan Davis to convert on a fourth-and-10 to set up a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Canzeri on a screen.

That was it, though.

Oklahoma's Mike Hunnicutt followed a 35-yard field goal with just over 4 minutes left and Bell added his final scoring run after the falling camera nearly took out McNutt.

Dec. 3 at Oklahoma State 44 … Oklahoma 10  
CFN Analysis: Landry Jones picked the wrong time to come up with the worst game of his career. He threw 50 times with no touchdown passes, two picks, and just 250 yards. He and the offense ended up giving the ball away five times. … The defensive back seven did a nice job of keeping the big pass plays to a minimum, but it was gouged by the OSU running game. … The Sooners needed a steady running back to calm things down by grinding out drives in the first half, but the O line didn’t give the runners any room. 

Nov. 26 at Oklahoma 26 … Iowa State 6  

Nov. 19 at Baylor 45 … Oklahoma 38
CFN Analysis: Oklahoma’s secondary just couldn’t come up with a play. The offense was fine, with Landry Jones throwing for 447 yards, and Roy Finch was fine running the ball before Blake Bell closed time and again with four touchdown runs, but the defense didn’t do its part. … Punter Tress Way was great, averaging close to 41 yards per kick while putting four of his five punts inside the 20, but that just gave Robert Griffin more yards to crank out. … The absence of Ryan Broyles didn’t matter too much. Jones was great, spreading the ball around to ten different receives, and Jaz Reynolds stepped up and caught seven passes for 114 yards. … The national title probably wasn’t on the table anyway, but the Fiesta Bowl is still in play. First, the Sooners have to pick themselves up and beat Iowa State before thinking about the Oklahoma State showdown. 

Nov. 5 at Oklahoma 41 … Texas A&M 25
CFN Analysis: As if Oklahoma didn’t have to show enough mental toughness throughout the season, now it has to get even stronger. From the death of Austin Box, to the pressure of being a preseason No. 1 team, to the injury to Travis Lewis, to the loss of Dominique Whaley, to the loss to Texas Tech, there have been several different things to deal with, and now the Sooners have to go on without heart-and-soul leader, Ryan Broyles, to a torn ACL. The offense wasn’t exactly sharp against A&M, with Landry Jones only completing 18-of-38 passes and the ground game only coming up with 149 yards, but there was only one turnover, the defense came up with four takeaways, led by Ronnell Lewis, who came up with nine tackles, two tackles for loss, and a pick. The spotlight will be on Jaz Reynolds or Kenny Stills to see if either can be a No. 1 target, but the pressure will also be on Jones to make everyone better with Bryoles on the sidelines. 

Oct. 29 at Oklahoma State 58 … Kansas State 17
CFN Analysis: This was Oklahoma putting on a show to prove to the world that it really might be deserving of playing for the national title. Landry Jones threw for 505 yards and five touchdowns, but as good as he was, his receivers were better with Ryan Broyles catching 14 passes for 171 yards and a score, and Jaz Reynolds coming up with a few brilliant plays on his three grabs and two touchdowns. The loss of Dominique Whaley for the season is a problem, but Roy Finch ran well, taking off for 73 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. This wasn’t just some team OU destroyed; this was Kansas State in Manhattan in a perfect game to get over the Texas Tech upset. To really get back in the BCS Championship chase, OU needs to keep doing this up until the Oklahoma State game. The pollsters are going to want to see what this offense can do against the LSU/Bama winner if the Sooners can win out.  

Oct. 22 Texas Tech 41, at Oklahoma 38
CFN Analysis: Oklahoma’s amazing ability to strike back late makes the loss that much tougher. It would be one thing if this just wasn’t OU’s day, but the offense really was terrific once Landry Jones got a little time to work. He was never settled early on and the offense didn’t cluck, but the bigger issue was a secondary that got bombed on for the first time all year. One really, really bad half might have put a major damper on the season, but remember, the 2008 Sooners got to the national title game after revving up the offense and blowing everyone out of the water. If OU can blow out Kansas State, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma State on the way to an 11-1 record, there’s a chance to get back into the BCS discussion. To have a shot, though, there can’t be any more lapses. The offense might be able to make comebacks, but it would be nice if it doesn’t need to the rest of the way. 

Oct. 15 Oklahoma 47 … at Kansas 17
CFN Analysis: Yes, this was a sleepy effort by Oklahoma, but there was never any threat of losing and the offense opened things up when things started to get a little tight in the second quarter. Ryan Broyles became the all-time FBS leader in receptions after catching 13 passes for 217 yards, but he was helped by a few brilliantly thrown NFL passes from Landry Jones. Jones finished with 363 yards hitting Broyles from 57 and 43 yards out, while Dominique Whaley continues to be a special story with 165 yards and a score on 30 carries. OU cranked out 23 unanswered points to win in a blowout, but it wasn’t an even effort. Whatever. It was a 30-point win going into the Texas Tech game.  

Oct. 8 Oklahoma 55 … Texas 17
CFN Analysis: The Sooners pitched a near-perfect first half to show that yeah, they really do belong in the Best Team In America discussion with LSU and Alabama, with Landry Jones cementing a spot in the top five of the NFL Draft whenever he’s ready to come out. The most telling moment came at the end of the first half after giving up the kickoff return for a score to Fozzy Whittaker. Jones came down and boom, boom, boom, struck right back for a touchdown in the final minute, and 27-10 going into halftime, and with UT having all the momentum, became 34-10 and ballgame. This is a special Sooner team that’s playing with confidence, aggression, and apparently, a bit of an attitude. At a time when all the conference realignment talk in the Big 12 is focusing mostly on Texas, this was OU’s statement that it’s the premier program in the Big 12 at the moment.  

Oct. 1 at Oklahoma 62 … Ball State 6
CFN Analysis: It’s not like Oklahoma was going to lose to Ball State, but it was a major positive that the team came out focused and workmanlike to never let the game get close. Landry Jones bombed away for 425 yards and five touchdowns and Dominique Whaley ran for 109 yards and two scores ripping off big run after big run, but it was the defense that sparked the offense with three Tony Jefferson interceptions. The Cardinal offense never got moving and OU kept the attack working well into the second half, and now it’s time for Texas. After inconsistent wins over Florida State and Missouri, it was the perfect time for a blowout over an inferior team.  

Sept. 24 at Oklahoma 38 … Missouri 28
CFN Analysis: Oklahoma might have won the game against a strong team, but it showed a few holes. Last week, the offense couldn’t seem to get working against a good Florida State defense that got ripped apart by Clemson. This week it was the defense that had the big problems handling the option on the outside and the passing of James Franklin. While the final defensive stats might not seem that great, an explosion after getting down 14-3, with 28 straight points, put the game away as Ryan Broyles put on a show. Landry Jones was great, throwing for 448 yards and three scores, but this was Broyles’ game with 13 catches for 154 yards and three scores. Next week against Ball State is about keeping everyone healthy, and then it’s Texas time.  

Sept. 17 Oklahoma 23 ... at Florida State 13
CFN Analysis: Oklahoma showed its toughness both defensively and mentally. Things weren’t going quite right offensively and Florida State had all the momentum late, but the defense – led by the return of Travis Lewis and his eight tackles - came up big when it had to and the offense slugged it out for a tough double-digit win to solidify the No. 1 spot and show that this really might be the team to beat. It can light up the scoreboard in a shootout, and it showed against the Noles it can battle in the tough physical games. It might have been an ugly win, but it was a hard-hitting, effective one. 

Sept. 3 at Oklahoma 47 … Tulsa 14
CFN Analysis: It’s like OU fell out of bed and decided to put up a bazillion yards. Landry Jones got time, and he used it to pick apart the Tulsa secondary throwing for 375 yards and a touchdown. Ryan Broyles was his terrific self with 14 catches for 158 yards and a score, and 11 different receivers caught passes, but even with all the fun through the air it was Dominique Whaley’s game. The junior walk-on slipped and scooted his way to 131 yards and four scores averaging 7.3 yards per carry. The defense could’ve been a little tighter against the Tulsa passing game, but that’s nitpicking; this was an easy blowout with the Sooners looking every bit the No. 1 team in the nation.

The 2011 Recruiting Class Is Heavy On … Defensive linemen. It’s more about quality than quantity across the board with some of the nation’s top prospects at most of the key positions. Kendal Thompson isn’t the typical OU star passer, but he has good skills. Brandon Williams might be the nation’s best running back in the 2011 class, and if Trey Metoyer isn’t the No. 1 receiver, he’s in the top three. Defensively, the line is loaded with some special prospects led by 6-5, 300-pound Jordan Phillips for the inside and pass rushing terror Nathan Hughes on the end. Dan Tapko will be a part of the end rotation soon, while Jordan Wade could be a speial tackle with a little bit of time in the weight room.

Five Oklahoma Recruits You Should Care About
Player writeups by Scout.com

1. WR Trey Metoyer
6-2, 185, Scout.com’s 1st ranked receiver. Great size for a receiver and though he does not have elite top end speed he has enough quickness and enough moves to get free from the defender and break long runs. He is a big target as a receiver and runs tight routes, his size and strength allow him to beat jams. He is not a blazing fast receiver but a good sized receiver with good hands and is very reliable. He is also a player that has a flare for making the dramatic catch.

2. RB Brandon Williams
6-0, 190, Scout.com’s 3rd ranked running back. Has the special ability to be a home run threat every time that he touches the ball. He is a slashing type of runner that hits the seam extremely hard and his explosion allows him to leave defenders sometimes just grasping at air. He brings a little bit of everything to the table. He catches the ball well out of the backfield, he has good speed, and can run with power at times.

3. DE Nathan Hughes
6-5, 257, Scout.com’s 5th ranked defensive end. Nice sized defensive end he plays with a lot of heart and intensity. An absolute disrupter at defensive end against the run and pass. Only real knock is he loses his feet at times, but considering he gets multiple blockers then it is understandable. Has a ton of talent and can make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

4. DT Jordan Phillips
6-5, 300, Scout.com’s 6th ranked defensive tackle. Phillips is a freak athlete. For a big man he moves extremely well and even splits out wide as a tight end at times in high school. he is strong at the point of attack and uses his hands well. He will be a terror on the next level because of the mismatches he should create with his strength and size.

5. TE Max Stevenson
6-5, 215, Scout.com’s 11th ranked tight end. Tall receiver, he is a bit on the thin size but is still young. Good running tight end, he lines up as a receiver most of the time. Very good downfield blocker, he has some upper body strength because he knocks the defenders back when he hits them. Knows how to coil up and deliver a big block.

2011 Entire Recruiting Class
Marquis Anderson DT 6-2 270 Fr. Cibolo, Texas/Steele
Dylan Dismuke OT 6-6 292 Fr. Duncan, Okla./Duncan
Derek Farniok OT 6-9 320 Fr. Sioux Falls, S.D./Washington
Nathan Hughes DE 6-5 257 Fr. Spring, Texas/Klein Oak
Kameel Jackson WR 6-1 185 Fr. Arlington, Texas/Sam Houston
Nila Kneubuhl OL 6-4 280 Fr. Euless, Texas/Trinity
P.L. Lindley LB 6-2 205 Fr. Round Rock, Texas/Stony Point
Trey Metoyer WR 6-2 185 Fr. Whitehouse, Texas/Whitehouse
Bennett Okotcha CB 6-0 175 Fr. Coppell, Texas/Coppell
Jordan Phillips DT 6-6 290 Fr. Towanda, Kan./Circle
Frank Shannon S 6-3 205 Fr. Dallas, Texas/Skyline
Max Stevenson TE 6-6 240 Fr. Spring, Texas/Klein Oak
Dan Tapko DE/TE 6-5 235 Fr. Kansas City, Mo./Rockhurst
Kendal Thompson QB 6-2 175 Fr. Moore, Okla./Southmoore
Jordan Wade DT 6-4 290 Fr. Round Rock, Texas/Stony Point
Brandon Williams RB 6-0 190 Fr. Brookshire, Texas/Royal
Danzel Williams RB 5-9 190 Fr. Arlington, Texas/Martin