Oklahoma Sooners Head Coach Brent Venables is taking the Sooners into their first year of SEC Conference play. Heading into a new conference means that, from top to bottom, everything is changing for the Sooners. If they are going to succeed, Venables needs to put together an era-defining recruiting class- and it looks like he may have done just that with these key wins in the Oklahoma Sooners’ 2024 recruiting class.
Key Wins in the Oklahoma Recruiting Class of ’24
Key Defensive Recruits
All the points scored in the world mean nothing with a lackluster defense. Venables has proven he has the skill to create an impenetrable defense. His time at both OU in the 2000s and Clemson in the 2010s has undoubtedly shaped his recruiting strategy. Nowhere is that more evident than the key wins he picked up for the Sooners’ defense.
Floyd Boucard, who Oklahoma has been chasing after hard this year, committed this past Saturday. A gem in the making, some of the biggest names in college football, including Alabama, USC, and Miami, were courting Boucard during the offseason. The commitment of the 6′-3, 315-pound Boucard is a big win. Rated as a speedy and adaptable big man who can stuff runners and passers, Boucard is a valuable commodity. When college offenses are getting ever more versatile, a player like Boucard can make all the difference.
David Stone is another huge win who comes in as the 17th best high-school player nationwide, per 247Sports. As a Defensive MVP and All-American winner, Stone’s play style is not as flexible as Boucard’s. However, his ability to get off the block and put pressure on the quarterback is nearly unparalleled. The divide between high school and college is immense, but Stone is likely to be a key threat for the Sooners in the years to come.
Other big gets this year include Nigel Smith II, James Nesta, and Danny Okoye. Each of them possesses that fast, intense rushing ability that puts pressure on opposing quarterbacks and running backs alike. Each of them has proven they can outpace offensive lines, and their recorded number of forced fumbles and sacks makes them elite prospects. Slotting them into what is looking to be one of the most up-tempo teams in football is a no-brainer. Venables and associate coach Todd Bates are clearly preparing to attack with speed and strength to rival their new conference opponents.
Key Offensive Wins
In recent memory, the Sooners have only had two losing seasons: Once in 1998, and once in 2022. Powerful offenses have always been the defining testament to the Sooners. The 2024 Oklahoma recruiting class is no different. A less-than-spectacular core around returning quarterback Jackson Arnold isn’t an option this year, and Head Coach Brent Venables recognizes that.
Recruiting Zion Kearney to the wide receiving core is a big boost. With 100-meter run times just below 11 seconds, Kearney appears to fit right in with the rest of the Sooners’ receivers. He’s also ranked as the 26th best wide receiver overall, and the 133rd best high school player in the nation, per 247Sports. Coming in alongside him, from Odessa, Texas, is Ivan Carreon, another huge get for the Sooners.
Ivan Carreon stands at a massive 6’-6 and 219 pounds. Ranked as 247Sports’ 35th-best wide receiver in the nation, Carreon, like Kearney, is another multi-threat athlete determined to put those skills to good use. Carreon could undoubtedly be a threat as a very flexible tight end as well if he begins to bulk up.
Arguably, there doesn’t seem to be a better tight end in the nation, though, than Davon Mitchell, from Los Alamitos, California. Standing at 6’-3 and over 250 pounds, Mitchell is a big man’s big man who can play both sides of the ball. Mitchell looks to be a versatile player who has the speed and toughness that make him an elite threat. He can not only run his assigned routes but easily bounce off defenders as needed.
Josh Aisosa, from Edmond, Oklahoma, and Daniel Akinkunmi, from London, England, have also committed. Notably, nearly every school in the ACC and SEC had courted Akinkunmi, so it’s interesting he opted for Oklahoma instead. His unorthodox path to the Sooners leaves many wondering how he’ll perform in the fall.
All that remains is to finally settle on who their running backs of the future will be. Tawee Walker and an injured Gavin Sawchuk helped to carry the run game for the Sooners last year. However, it certainly wasn’t pretty to watch OU attempt to figure out what their ground game would look like weekly.
Taylor Tatum, one of the best running backs in the nation, has indicated he’ll commit to OU. As long as Tatum doesn’t back out, he’s likely to become the star running back for this year and beyond. Tatum possesses both the athletics and instincts to overcome any issue once the ball is snapped. If he falls through, however, Xavier Robinson looks to be another solid bet for this Oklahoma recruiting class.
Conclusions
Kalen DeBoer at Alabama is having to find his footing after the shock retirement of the legendary Nick Saban. Likewise, Venables is going to have to brave the uncertain path ahead. The question that everyone keeps asking is: Can he do it?
Although this first year in the SEC is likely to be a rough one, the development that both young and veteran talent alike will undergo in the face of this adversity will be invaluable. With big wins in players such as Tatum, Mitchell, and Stone, the future is looking undeniably bright for the Oklahoma Sooners, who have put together a masterclass in recruitment to bring this many talented players together under the Sooner banner.
