OU Football Recruiting - Catching Up With The Sooners Top 2013 Offensive Targets

The spring evaluation period is about to come to a close and the Sooners will be hosting a number of recruits this coming weekend for one of several camps they will have this summer. As most of you are aware, recruiting is a year round affair and things can change very quickly. Therefore, we figured now would be as good a time as any to give you a general update as to where the Sooners stand with a number of their top 2013 targets.

Oklahoma currently has eight verbal commitments for this 2013 class which include on quarterback, two running backs, one offensive lineman, one cornerback, one safety, and two defensive ends. By most accounts, it's a Top 10-15 class at the moment and there is still plenty of time before National Signing Day in February for things to improve. Couple that with the fact the Oklahoma coaches are in no hurry with their evaluations and it's really not a surprise the Sooners stand at just eight commitments.

QUARTERBACK - Likely to take (1), Commitments (1)

This one will be quick. After missing on their initial offer to Max Browne (who committed to USC), the Sooners targeted the top pro style quarterback in the state of Texas and landed their quarterback for the 2013 class. Cody Thomas is a four star player, currently the #96 overall player in the 2013 class (per Rivals), and also a well thought of baseball prospect.

RUNNING BACK - Likely to take (2), Commitments (2)

Assuming the commitments hold, the Sooners could be following up the #1 overall wide receiver class in 2012 with the top running back class of 2013. According to ESPN, Oklahoma holds verbal commitments from the two of the top three backs in the country. Both Greg Bryant and Keith Ford are considered to be the top prospects at their position in their respective states.

WIDE RECEIVER - Likely to take (3-4), Commitments (0)

Things have changed considerably for Oklahoma at this position after the suspension of three returning contributors heading into this season. Even after signing five wide receivers for 2012 in the previously mentioned top class at the position, the Sooners are still likely to take up to four wide outs in 2013.

• Laquon Treadwell 6'3" 183 (Crete, IL) - Treadwell is a four star recruit, a Top 5 player at his position (both per Rivals), and arguably the Sooners top target at wide receiver. He was originally scheduled to visit Norman the weekend of the spring game, but had to cancel due to the threat of severe weather. 2012 OU commit David Smith, also from Illinois, has reportedly been selling the Sooners hard to Treadwell. Michigan is believed to be the school to beat at the moment, but Treadwell has talked about still making the trip to Norman. Plus, it would be foolish to doubt the ability of OU WR coach Jay Norvell who has been one of the top recruiters in the country these last couple of years.

• Sebastian Larue 5'11" 185 (Santa Monica, CA) - Larue is a dynamic receiver and shows elite ability in the open field. He's reportedly close with 2012 OU signee Derrick Woods, so it's another player where the Sooners are using a personal connection to help build a relationship. Distance doesn't appear to be a factor, but aside from Notre Dame it would be a bit of a surprise if he got away from the west coast.
• Torii Hunter Jr. 6'1" 175 (Prosper, TX) - The son of major leaguer Torii Hunter, there certainly is no questioning his athletic pedigree. Hunter is a guy who could play in the slot for OU and shows good ability with the ball after the catch.

TIGHT END - Likely to take (1-2), Commitments (0)

The Sooners signed a whopping four tight ends in 2012, which is far from normal but so is losing every contributor at the position from the prior season. There will be an obvious lack of experience at the position in 2012, so OU could look to help mitigate by signing another JUCO player at the position just like they did in 2012.

• Beau Sandland 6'6" 250 (Woodland Hills, CA) - Sandland was a receiver coming out of high school, failed to qualify academically, and was forced to go the JUCO route. His recruitment has caught fire as of late as teams have recognized his considerable athleticism for the position. He's spoken highly of OU TE coach Bruce Kittle and the Sooners are likely pushing hard for a player of his talent that could come in and play right away.

• Danny Mattingly 6'5" 225 (Spokane, WA) - Mattingly is another very athletic player for the position who Bruce Kittle has his eye on. Oklahoma has done more than their fair share of recruiting out west and they continue to build relationship with the west coast schools. Mattingly has said on more than one occasion that he intends to make a visit to Oklahoma and been outspoken about liking the idea of choosing a school somewhat far away from his home state.

INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE - Likely to take (1-2), Commitments (0)

Oklahoma's last two signing classes have been pretty interior o-line heavy, so the Sooners aren't expected to take more than one or two players at the guard/center position this year. That self imposed limitation could potentially cost them one of the state's best players unless things change.

• Rob Boyd 6'4" 285 (Vian, OK) - Boyd is a Top 5 player in the state and Oklahoma has yet to even offer him a scholarship. At least in part because of the Sooners decision not to do so, Boyd took advantage of another in-state school who did an extend an offer when he committed to Tulsa in March. Even taking into account the limited spots available at the position, it's really surprising that Oklahoma would (at least to this point) pass on a player of Boyd's ability. He plays with a real mean streak and just punishes guys in the run game.
• Zach Hannon 6'5" 295 (Kansas City, MO) - Hannon plays for a powerhouse program (Rockhurst) in the state of Missouri and a school that Oklahoma always has their eye on. He has taken an unofficial visit to Norman, but did not come away with an offer. Outside of Boyd, who is obviously committed elsewhere, Hannon is the only known interior o-line prospect Oklahoma is actively recruiting.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE - Likely to take (3-4), Commitments (1)

Tackle is without question one of the biggest area of need for the Sooners in this 2013 class. Three would be the minimum they'd like to take, but four would be much more ideal. Oklahoma has made a number of offers at the position, but have yet to land more than the one commitment and seen several of their top targets (J.J. Gustafson, Darius James, Kent Perkins, Evan Lisle, and most recently Ethan Pocic) commit elsewhere. Admittedly their lone commitment is from one of the top players in the state in Dalton Rodriguez, but he has to be considered a bit of a project at tackle seeing that he's never played the position before.

• Kenny Lacy 6'6" 270 (Phoenix, AZ) - Lacy is easily one of the Sooners top remaining targets at the position and so much so that Oklahoma's success at tackle may rest on whether or not they can land his commitment. Lacy recently announced a Top 10 list of schools that included Oklahoma and he has already tentatively scheduled a visit to Norman in November. He's not likely to make a decision anytime soon, so the Sooners will have to continue to work hard for his services.

• Laremy Tunsil 6'6" 295 (Lake City, FL) - Tunsil is not just one of if not the top player at his position, but one of the elite 2013 talents in the country. He reportedly has OU in his Top 5 list of schools, but that fact has been debated by multiple recruiting sites. Regardless, it's almost impossible to imagine a scenario where he leaves SEC country. OU has done well in Florida of late and landing him would be a major coup for the Sooners, but this one feels like a bit of a pipe dream.
• Na'Ty Rodgers 6'5" 278 (Pomfret, MD) - Rodgers father actually played for Oklahoma during the 1989 season before eventually transferring to Washington. So he's kind of a Sooner legacy and has talked about that fact in interviews with respect to his interest in OU. He has started to garner attention from schools all across the country as of late and could be a fast rising prospect.

• Dan Skipper 6'10" 280 (Arvada, CO) - The legitimacy of his listed 6'10" height is somewhat in question, but if the kid is 6'9" or 6'8" would it really matter? He's obviously gigantic and a very intriguing prospect for a player of his size who can move around quite well. Skipper is the only player listed here who does not hold a scholarship offer from Oklahoma, but as their options at the position continue to get eliminated that fact could change soon.