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The hire of Bill Bedenbaugh continues to pay dividends as the Sooners pick up their first 2015 verbal commitment Thursday in the form of 6'3" 310 pound offensive lineman Josh Wariboko (VIDEO). Casady (Oklahoma City, OK) head coach, Koby Scoville, has confirmed Wariboko's commitment to multiple recruiting services.
Wariboko was raised in an OU household being the son of two Oklahoma alums, so at times it seemed somewhat inevitable he'd wind up in Norman. But for some time he had talked about possibly going to school farther from home and had expressed interest in schools on both coasts. However, he struck up a quick friendship with Bedenbaugh and seems to have won out with an early commitment to the Sooners.
Evidently, Wariboko was in Norman today and reportedly made his commitment to the coaches in person.
Casady's HC Koby Scoville tells me Wariboko and family went to OU's campus today and meet with coaches. That's where the commit happened.
— SoonerScoop.com (@SoonerScoop) June 28, 2013
Wariboko really impressed the OU coaches several weeks ago when he attended one of Oklahoma's summer camps. He took part in virtually all of the drills and came away with the scholarship offer his was coveting.
He moves well for his size and is the prototypical "big athlete" Oklahoma tends to target in their interior offensive linemen. He plays tackle for his high school team, but he projects as a guard at the D-I level. Still, you can see his athleticism on film playing on the edge and out in space. Granted, at this level and at his size once he gets his hands on a guy it's pretty much over regardless.
It's obviously still very early in the 2015 recruiting process, so Wariboko had yet to rack up a ton of offers. As of Thursday, he held offers from Oklahoma, Clemson, and Oregon State. That could easily change as he continues to progress even with his commitment.
Welcome to Sooner Nation, Josh!