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There is no easy way to put it, but the a lot of the recruiting momentum for the class of 2016 has halted. Here is a list of players that many assumed the Sooners were either at one time leading for or had a real shot to land. Each of the following players have either eliminated the Sooners from contention or committed elsewhere.
Committed Elsewhere
4 Star OL Parker Boudreaux- Notre Dame
3 Star OL Kellen Diesch- Arkansas
4 Star DE/OLB Mark Jackson- Texas A&M
4 Star DB Jared Mayden- Oregon
3 Star DB Rodarius Williams- OKState
3 Star DL Michael Williams- Stanford
3 Star LB Deonte Williams- Baylor
Missed the Cut
You might respond by saying, "We only want players that want to be at Oklahoma." Or still yet, "We will win with you or win with out you."
Both of those quotes sound great coming off a Big 12 Championship and BCS Bowls, but after an 8 win season, a recruit could just as easily say, "No you won't win without me."
So the million dollar question that this the focus of this article is this: "Is it Time to Panic Regarding the Class of 2016?
My answer: Not yet. (Now if we are still setting like this in November, then we could find ourselves with a real problem). While this has been a rough stretch and a kick in the teeth, there are three things around the corner which should go a long ways to getting the Sooners out of a recruiting rut.
1. The Season Needs to Start
The quicker the Sooners can put last season behind them and begin building towards the future the better. A favorable early schedule could find the Sooners sitting at 8-1 or 9-0 heading into Baylor on November 14th.
2. The New Opportunity to Sell the Stadium and Facility upgrades.
Check out the Oregon Facilities and then contrast is with the Sooners. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">#21 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SeanTaylorLegacy?src=hash">#SeanTaylorLegacy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoomerSooner?src=hash">#BoomerSooner</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoonerNation?src=hash">#SoonerNation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoomerSooner?src=hash">#BoomerSooner</a> <a href="http://t.co/QPPsrkV14D">pic.twitter.com/QPPsrkV14D</a></p>— Will Sunderland (@kp_projectt) <a href="https://twitter.com/kp_projectt/status/605139550646603776">May 31, 2015</a></blockquote>
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3. Winning Several Big Games
I don't expect the Sooners to run through 2016 undefeated, but should the find themselves once again winning the Red River Shootout, taking care of business against the Horned Frogs in Norman, and if they were to pull of a road win against the Bears, recruiting momentum would decidedly return in the favor of the Sooners.
The answer to the lull in recruiting has a fiix. Produce results on the field, combined that with top notch facilities, and maybe a new conference (I mean why not), and the recruits will flock to Norman.