We're coming down the home stretch in the recruiting world and with only this weekend and the following left for official visits, many schools are pushing hard to get their remaining targets on campus. The Sooners are no different and will be hosting three recruits this weekend for official visits.
TE Sean Price - 6'4" 232 (Citra, FL)
Price is a tight end much more in that Jermaine Gresham mold (not necessarily in terms of talent level), think WR in a TE's body. He has the look of a guy that could be that threat up the seam against opposing defenses and something this offense has actually been missing ever since Gresham left and James Hanna never really developed into that kind of player.
Like so many h.s. tight ends, Price is not an outstanding blocker but has shown the willingness to do so when called upon which can sometimes be the biggest battle with young players. At 232 pounds, he's pretty light to play TE in OU's offense and what they ask of the position, so if he were to commit and play as a true freshman it would likely be as a passing threat as opposed to an every down TE.
As OU fans are well aware, the TE spot is basically wide open heading into 2012 so the depth chart can only be a selling point in Price's recruitment. Price currently holds offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, and Notre Dame among others but is believed to have a top two of OU and UGA.
RB Damien Williams - 6'1" 215 (Yuma, AZ)
You can check out some impressive highlights of Williams here. Williams is one of the two JUCO running backs the Sooners have been recruiting with an eye on someone who could come in and contribute right away. Oklahoma will have several talented options at RB next year, but no one who has either shown the ability to stay healthy or having started for an extended period. So a bigger JUCO back like Williams, who you'll see in the video still has break away speed, could pay big dividends for the OU backfield in 2012.
There has been some whispers that Williams could commit this weekend, but he has at least one other visit planned for next weekend and has said he's in no real rush to make a decision. He has been vocal, as most JUCO players are, about wanting to go somewhere he can play right away and you'd have to think Oklahoma could sell him on that. Williams currently holds offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Texas Tech.
CB Gary Simon - 6'1" 177 (St. Petersburg, FL)
Simon is the third recruit that will be in town this weekend though he isn't scheduled to arrive until Sunday (after a visit to Arkansas) and has plans to stay through Tuesday. Simon is a product of new DC Mike Stoops and is in the midst of a whirlwind recruitment having just recently picked up an offer from the Sooners, he also hosted both Bob and Mike Stoops this weekend, and will now obviously making the trek to Norman this weekend.
Simon looks like the perfect replacement for the player OU lost recently (De'Vante Harris) as a taller, lanky player who has excellent cover skill and could develop into that prototypical shutdown corner. He has very fluid hips, which is huge for a corner, and outstanding ball recognition skills as well. As he grows into his frame, with his long arms, and D-I coaching on technique he could be a special player. Oklahoma, as they often do, really believes they have found a kid many other schools have overlooked and are making a hard push in these final two weeks to try and get a steal late in the game. Simon currently holds offers from Iowa State, Miami, Nebraska, Ohio State, South Florida, and Washington State among others.
The Sooners were originally also expected to be hosting four star CB Brandon Beaver this weekend as well, but Beaver announced today that he has delayed his visit. He's said he hopes to still make it to Norman before signing day, but that may not happen and if Oklahoma can secure a commitment from one or more of the other CBs they are currently targeting the scholarship offer for Beaver may no longer be available.
These aren't just three kids taking advantage of a free trip (to Norman, OK in January?), Oklahoma is legitimately in on all three. Both Price and Williams would fill an obvious need and Simon's upside as a corner would be a huge get this late in the recruiting process. Hopefully all three will enjoy their visit and come to the realization that Oklahoma is the school for them. We can only wait and see, but the good part is we only have to wait a couple weeks instead of months (or more).