OU Football Recruiting - Rounding Up The Sooners Visitor List For Bedlam

This is a bit of a tricky recruiting weekend for a couple reasons. The first being obvious, the fact that it is the week of Thanksgiving which understandably keeps a lot of kids home with their families. The second being a number of 2013 recruiting targets who are in the midst of their high school playoffs. Which is unfortunate given it's the final weekend Oklahoma will have to host recruits on a football game day.

Sure they'll still be able to host recruits on weekends following this one, but you don't need me to tell you seeing the campus and all it has to offer is drastically on a non-game day weekend. Adding to the sense of urgency is both the somewhat lackluster current 2013 class Oklahoma has put together and the fact that their previous two "big" recruiting weekends have produced virtually nothing.

That needs to change and this weekend is likely Oklahoma's best chance to make that happen.

Class of 2013

DT Quincy Russell 6'3" 311 lbs (Athens, TX)

Russell was originally a member of Texas' 2011 class, but failed to qualify academically and was forced to go the junior college route. Initially it was believed to be just a temporary delay before his arrival in Austin, however Texas eventually lost interest and Russell reopened his recruitment. He was an Army All-American coming out of high school and was one of the most highly regarded defensive tackle prospects in his class. He's a big, run stuffing inside presence who could come in and contribute immediately for an Oklahoma team that will desperately need that next year following the loss of three seniors at the position. Not to mention the obvious angle of getting dropped by Texas and the subsequent chip on his shoulder he's sure to play with.

Russell holds offers from Baylor, Houston, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, TCU, and Texas Tech.

DT Maquedis Bain 6'3" 308 lbs (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

Bain is your classic super raw prospect with an incredibly high upside. The word on him in recruiting circles is that he has the talent and ability to be a dominant defensive tackle (and then some), but more than a few question his desire to become that type of player. The only thing preventing it from happening is his effort, which at the moment can be hit or miss. When he wants to be, he's as disruptive a force as you'll see on the interior the problem being it only comes in flashes.

Bain initially committed to Florida State, but decommitted back in July of this year. FSU is still involved in his recruitment, but Bain also holds offers from a bevy of other schools. Alabama, Florida, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Texas A&M, and USC among them.

CB Lamar Robbins 6'3" 188 lbs (Miami, FL)

Mike Stoops has been hitting the state of Florida really hard, primarily in search of defensive backs for this 2013 class, and Robbins is just the latest example. He's a kid Stoops has had his eye on for some time and plans look to have finally worked out to get him on campus.

Robbins is a tall, rangy corner every bit in the mold of the kind of player Stoops typically looks for in a corner. He's probably more quick than fast, but uses his length and reach to his advantage. Will definitely need to add some bulk to his frame, but that's very common among high school defensive backs.

Robbins holds offers Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Michigan State, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Texas A&M among others.

S Jamal Carter 6'1" 190 lbs (Miami, FL)

Carter and Robbins are actually teammates, so can the Sooners pull a possible two-for-one this weekend? Only time will tell of course, but Carter is an impressive safety prospect in his own right. He has excellent speed and is a relentless pursuer of the football. He has the ability to smoothly change directions and the kind of acceleration to quickly get back up to top speed.

Carter is currently committed to Miami, but could potentially be opening things up given the turmoil currently surrounding the Hurricans program. Obviously, making the trip to Norman with a teammate who has legitimate interest in OU can only help the Sooners chances.

OT Trenton Brown 6'8" 350 lbs (Milledgeville, GA)

One of two JUCO tackles expected to be on campus this weekend, Brown is obviously a monster at that size. He's much bigger than the typical tackle Oklahoma has typically targeted, so could that be a clue to a possible shift in this offense next year with Blake Bell at the helm?

The only negative here is the perception that Brown has pretty strong feelings towards Florida. However, he has not committed yet so it could be a situation where he has the infamous 'uncommittable' offer the Gators. Maybe the Sooners can sneak in this weekend and impressive the big guy enough to at least fight their way into consideration.

OT Desmond Harrison 6'8" 305 lbs (San Pablo, CA)

The second of two JUCO tackles we mentioned, Harrison is a guy Oklahoma hasn't been in on for that long but in that short time have made a ton of progress. He, like so many JUCO players, is taking a business approach to his recruitment in searching for his best opportunity to get to the next level. Harrison has also developed a solid relationship with the Oklahoma coaching staff which he has mentioned in several interviews.

Harrison has listed a top five of Arizona State, North Carolina State, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech.

TE/OT Cameron Clear 6'6" 285 lbs (Yuma, AZ) - VIDEO

Oklahoma fans will love this one. Clear, another JUCO guy, is currently listed as a tight end, but is expected to play offensive tackle at the next level. At 6'6" 285, playing tight end, he's obviously very athletic for his size, which is something we're familiar with the OU coaches seeking out.

Clear currently holds offers from Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech.

LB Jordan Evans 6'3" 205 lbs (Norman, OK) - VIDEO

Evans is a player Oklahoma fans have almost unanimously championed as someone the Sooners should have offered months ago. He has put together an absolutely fantastic senior season making plays all over the field, including multiple punt returns for touchdowns. From a linebacker, mind you.

Evans has been to several OU games this season, but could this finally be the weekend he gets his offer? He's been patient while the OU coaches seemingly ignore him and evaluate options they clearly believe to be better. It would be a shame if they miss out on a player this talented, right in their own backyard, simply because they slow played him for too long.

Additional 2013 Info

Current Sooners commit, safety Ahmad Thomas, is also expected in Norman which could definitely help with Robbins and Adams as all three hail from the state of Florida. There is also the possibility of JUCO defensive tackles (and teammates) Toby Johnson and Ben Bradley make the trip to Norman this weekend.

Johnson is a guy OU has been in on for some time, but recently suffered a serious knee injury and has stated he was only going to consider those schools that continued to call him following news of the injury. Oklahoma was one of those schools. His teammate, Bradley, is a Tennessee commit but as reopened things following the firing of Derek Dooley. The Sooners recently offered him and has wasted no time in their pursuit, looking to get him on campus this weekend.

Class of 2014

S Steven Parker 6'2" 185 lbs (Jenks, OK) - Already one of the top 2014 prospects in the state, Parker can also claim an Alabama offer. He could eventually be one of the top safety recruits in the country for 2014 and he loves Oklahoma.

DE Deondre Clark 6'4" 250 lbs (Oklahoma City, OK) - Clark has become a bit of an enigma, having plans on multiple occasions to make it to a game only for those plans to fall through at the last minute. He is immensely talented and a potentially elite rush end that doesn't come around all that often from a local perspective. His older brother, Steven, is a coveted basketball recruit and is supposed to announce his decision in the coming weeks, which could play a role in where Deondre eventually commits.

S Kendall Adams 6'1" 190 lbs (Fort Worth, TX) - Adams is likely to be one of the top players in the state of Texas for 2014 and a guy Oklahoma has already been chasing.

QB Coleman Key 6'5" 210 lbs (Broken Arrow, OK) - Key was a guy a lot of people were expecting big things from this year, but didn't have the junior season many were hoping for. Justice Hansen is still the Sooners primary target at quarterback, but they are keeping the lines of communication open with Key as well.

RB Lawrence Evitt 5'7" 165 lbs (Wagoner, OK) - Don't let that size fool you, Evitt is like a bowling ball with legs. Really, really fast legs. Oklahoma running backs coach, Cale Gundy, seems to have taken quite a liking to the Wagoner workhorse and an offer could even be in his future. The only complication in things is the idea of having room for three running backs in this 2014 class.

RB Devon Thomas 5'10" 190 lbs (Broken Arrow, OK) - Thomas committed to Oklahoma almost a week ago and if you haven't read it already, we have a full write up on him here.