OU Football Recruiting - Sooners Hosting Both Commits & Targets On Football Banquet Weekend

The annual football banquet is always a popular recruiting weekend for coaches as it allows the team to host recruits in a different, more family like, type of atmosphere. There is certainly something to be said for bringing in a recruit on a game day weekend, but the demands on a coach's time are far less significant on a weekend such as this one versus on the day of an actual game.

The Sooners will be hosting a trio of 2013 recruiting targets as well as the better part of their currently committed 2013 class. Much like the coaches having more time to spend with recruits can be an advantage, having a bunch of guys who have already committed around can help to influence an uncommitted player's decision as well.

As for who is expected in Norman this weekend.

WR Laquon Treadwell 6'3" 198 lbs (Crete, IL)

Treadwell is the No. 1 wide receiver in this 2013 class and is coming off having just lead his team to a state championship. He had two trips to Norman previously scheduled only having to cancel the first (weather) and the second (state playoffs) as well. The third time appears to be the charm and while wide receiver isn't a huge need in this class, any time you can get the top player at their position on campus you do so.

Treadwell has a friendship with current Oklahoma redshirt freshman running back, David Smith, who would be the logical choice as Treadwell's host this weekend. Cody Thomas, the Sooners quarterback commit in this 2013 class, has also struck up a friendship with Treadwell via Twitter and rescheduled his official visit for this weekend so both would be in Norman at the same time.

Ole Miss is believed to be Treadwell's leader at the moment, but there has been considerable talk behind the scenes that Oklahoma could be a bit of a sleeping giant for the Illinois product. So much so that a possible commitment this weekend has even been discussed (in hushed tones, of course). Expect the Sooners to roll out the red carpet this weekend and do everything they can to make this trip live up to expectations after having been rescheduled multiple times.

CB Adrian Baker 6'1" 168 lbs (Hollywood, FL)

Baker is committed to Florida State at the moment, but following the loss of both Mark Stoops and Eddie Gran he's reopened his recruitment. He has not gone so far as to decommit, but it could eventually play out that way. In fact, his recruitment has been somewhat interesting thus far. He originally committed to FSU, but at one point appeared to have done so prematurely as some initially reported he had one of the infamous "uncommittable offer." Whether that was true or not, FSU accepted his commitment a day or two later and he'd been fairly solid ever since.

Then a short while back, he attempted to schedule a trip to Norman only to have the OU coaches tell him not to come. Bob Stoops wasn't high on actively pursuing a kid who was committed to his brother, the defensive coordinator at Florida State. Things have obviously changed considerably since then and now it would appear Baker is fair game.

OT Nico Falah 6'4" 267 lbs (Bellflower, CA)

This visit just came about very recently as Oklahoma coaches paid Falah a visit and were able to schedule a visit to Norman at that same time. However, for the sake of full disclosure the Sooners have virtually no chance here. Falah is committed to USC and by almost all accounts it would take something incredibly significant to change that.

Offensive tackle is certainly a need in this Oklahoma class and they currently have zero, so they have that angle to sell Falah on but the odds of anything happening here are minimal at best. He'll be on campus and anything can happen, but we're not here to sell you sunshine and rainbows when it's cloudy outside.

As we mentioned, in addition to the three above Oklahoma will also be hosting a majority of their currently committed 2013 class. Those players expected in Norman this weekend include:

Ed. note - Now that most players seasons have concluded, the senior highlight videos are starting to become more prevalent. I'll do my best to find them for you and add them here if you're interested in seeing the most recent highlights of Oklahoma's current class.

QB Cody Thomas 6'5" 220 lbs (Colleyville, TX) - (VIDEO)

RB Keith Ford 5'11" 195 lbs (Cypress, TX) - (VIDEO)

WR Austin Bennett 6'0" 170 lbs (Manvel, TX) - (VIDEO)

LB Jordan Mastrogiovanni 6'3" 225 lbs (Dallas, TX) - (VIDEO)

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

LB Dominique Alexander 6'2" 195 lbs (Tulsa, OK) - (VIDEO)