Oklahoma Sooners: Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Heading into the spring, it was difficult to imagine any duo in the West region stealing the recruiting spotlight from Gardena (Calif.) Serra's Adoree' Jackson and Dwight Williams. And while the five-star cornerback and four-star linebacker still rank as two of the more highly-recruited players in the country, some of the buzz has shifted to another set of teammates in Southern California. You won't hear much complaining from Jackson and Williams, however, as they share a locker room with the new dynamic duo.
Outside linebacker John Houston and defensive end Rasheem Green -- stars of the 2015 recruiting class -- didn't step into the recruiting process this spring; they dove in. For both, it was outstanding performances at the Los Angeles Nike Camp that catapulted them onto the radars of college coaches. UCLA offered both shortly after the event and they have been on a roll since then.
Outside linebacker John Houston and defensive end Rasheem Green -- stars of the 2015 recruiting class -- didn't step into the recruiting process this spring; they dove in. For both, it was outstanding performances at the Los Angeles Nike Camp that catapulted them onto the radars of college coaches. UCLA offered both shortly after the event and they have been on a roll since then.
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The accolades are growing by the day for defensive tackle Garrald McDowell (Covington, La./Covington).
Becoming an Under Armour All-American, being invited to The Opening and getting ranked No. 105 in the ESPN 150 is not a bad way to start a spring.
Oklahoma has taken notice as the Sooners are the latest of many top schools to enter the race to land McDowell, who is 6-foot-3 and 257 pounds. With offers from Alabama and Florida and USC, among several others, it’s going to be a busy few months coming up for McDowell.
Becoming an Under Armour All-American, being invited to The Opening and getting ranked No. 105 in the ESPN 150 is not a bad way to start a spring.
Oklahoma has taken notice as the Sooners are the latest of many top schools to enter the race to land McDowell, who is 6-foot-3 and 257 pounds. With offers from Alabama and Florida and USC, among several others, it’s going to be a busy few months coming up for McDowell.
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Treadwell sets top 3, eyes another visit 
December, 30, 2012
12/30/12
6:54
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By
Corey Long | ESPN.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Laquon Treadwell (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee) seems to like the southeastern culture, and that could be a good thing for Ole Miss.
The ESPN 150 wide receiver says the Rebels are in his top three with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. He will take his official to Stillwater on Jan. 11.
“My recruitment got pretty wild there for a couple of weeks, but once I starting talking with the schools I was most interested in and put together a top three everything settled down,” Treadwell said. “I don’t expect any schools to challenge those three, but we’ll see.”
The ESPN 150 wide receiver says the Rebels are in his top three with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. He will take his official to Stillwater on Jan. 11.
“My recruitment got pretty wild there for a couple of weeks, but once I starting talking with the schools I was most interested in and put together a top three everything settled down,” Treadwell said. “I don’t expect any schools to challenge those three, but we’ll see.”
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ESPN 150 DT Bain: LSU clear favorite
December, 16, 2012
12/16/12
5:20
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
A leader has emerged for ESPN 150 defensive tackle Maquedius Bain (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./University School).
Following an official visit to LSU, Bain said he has no problem saying the Tigers are clearly his favorite. However, contrary to other reports, Bain said he has not committed to LSU and will make his selection at the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 4.
“Getting to know Coach [Les] Miles was my favorite part of the visit,” Bain said. “He made me and my mom feel real welcome and said he would love to have me because they need me. It’s a place I feel real comfortable about playing at.”
- Maquedius Bain
- Defensive tackle
- 2013
- Uncommitted: List
“Getting to know Coach [Les] Miles was my favorite part of the visit,” Bain said. “He made me and my mom feel real welcome and said he would love to have me because they need me. It’s a place I feel real comfortable about playing at.”
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DT Hooks to visit Miami, not Auburn
December, 12, 2012
12/12/12
12:31
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By
Dave Hooker | ESPN.com
There has been a significant change in Lavon Hooks' recruitment.
Originally scheduled to visit Auburn this weekend, the highly coveted junior college defensive tackle from Northeast Mississippi Community College will take an official visit to Miami instead. Hooks said Auburn is still a finalist despite not taking an official visit there.
Hooks has already taken his other four official visits -- to Nebraska, Arizona State, Ole Miss and Baylor -- in November. Still, he's familiar with Mississippi State and Auburn from previous unofficial visits there. Despite not taking an official visit to see the Tigers up close, Hooks maintained that Auburn if a finalist.
Originally scheduled to visit Auburn this weekend, the highly coveted junior college defensive tackle from Northeast Mississippi Community College will take an official visit to Miami instead. Hooks said Auburn is still a finalist despite not taking an official visit there.
Hooks has already taken his other four official visits -- to Nebraska, Arizona State, Ole Miss and Baylor -- in November. Still, he's familiar with Mississippi State and Auburn from previous unofficial visits there. Despite not taking an official visit to see the Tigers up close, Hooks maintained that Auburn if a finalist.
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Sandland content with patient approach
November, 29, 2012
11/29/12
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
In the summer, junior college tight end Beau Sandland (Woodland Hills, Calif./Pierce College) made it pretty clear. His decision wasn’t going to happen overnight.
It wasn’t going to happen in the summer nor during the football season. He was going to make all of his visits, and he would be ready by the December signing period.
He admits it hasn’t been easy, but Sandland has been a man of his word. Because Pierce College played all of its games on Saturdays, Sandland has rarely been able to experience a game-day atmosphere on an official visit.
It wasn’t going to happen in the summer nor during the football season. He was going to make all of his visits, and he would be ready by the December signing period.
He admits it hasn’t been easy, but Sandland has been a man of his word. Because Pierce College played all of its games on Saturdays, Sandland has rarely been able to experience a game-day atmosphere on an official visit.
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Juco Josiah St. John enjoys first trip to OU
October, 29, 2012
10/29/12
8:00
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
Junior college offensive tackle Josiah St. John (Athens, Texas/Trinity Valley) has been talking to Oklahoma offensive line coaches James Patton and Bruce Kittle for several months.
This weekend he was finally able to put faces to the voices. St. John was one of several top recruits on official visits for OU’s showdown with Notre Dame.
“It was good to see those guys in person,” St. John said. “It was a chance to have better conversations and meet Bob Stoops. He’s a really cool coach, not as uptight as I expected him to be.”
This weekend he was finally able to put faces to the voices. St. John was one of several top recruits on official visits for OU’s showdown with Notre Dame.
“It was good to see those guys in person,” St. John said. “It was a chance to have better conversations and meet Bob Stoops. He’s a really cool coach, not as uptight as I expected him to be.”
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ESPN 150 DT Maquedius Bain sets visits
October, 23, 2012
10/23/12
2:09
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By
Corey Long | ESPN.com
ESPN 150 defensive tackle Maquedius Bain (Davie, Fla./University School) has rescheduled his official visit to Oklahoma on Nov. 23, according to his high school coach, Roger Harriott.
Bain, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound senior, will also take an official to LSU in November.
“Maquedius is taking his test this weekend and that was what was keeping him from taking his official visits,” Harriott said. “So he’s going to Oklahoma on the 23rd and I believe he’s heading to LSU on the 16th.”
Bain, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound senior, will also take an official to LSU in November.
“Maquedius is taking his test this weekend and that was what was keeping him from taking his official visits,” Harriott said. “So he’s going to Oklahoma on the 23rd and I believe he’s heading to LSU on the 16th.”
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DT Maquedius Bain ready to visit Sooners
September, 25, 2012
9/25/12
3:46
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By
Corey Long | ESPN.com
ESPN 150 defensive lineman Maquedius Bain (Davie, Fla./University School) will be taking a trip to Norman, Okla., this weekend to visit the Sooners pending some ACT paperwork.
"I just needed to get a couple of things in hand and I'll be visiting Oklahoma this weekend," Bain said. "They reached out to me back in July and I'm looking forward to the visit."
The 6-foot-3, 285-pound Bain, who committed to Florida State as a junior and re-opened his recruitment earlier in the year, appears to be leaning towards a future playing outside of the Sunshine State.
"I just needed to get a couple of things in hand and I'll be visiting Oklahoma this weekend," Bain said. "They reached out to me back in July and I'm looking forward to the visit."
The 6-foot-3, 285-pound Bain, who committed to Florida State as a junior and re-opened his recruitment earlier in the year, appears to be leaning towards a future playing outside of the Sunshine State.
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Video: Sooners DT target Maquedius Bain
August, 29, 2012
8/29/12
11:15
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By SoonerNation staff | ESPN.com
It wasn’t unanimous, but when RecruitingNation asked prospects at Nike's The Opening last weekend what the worst part of being recruiting was, the consensus answer was being bugged by the media. While recruits might enjoy the initial attention, the daily calls and text messages from media members becomes more of an annoyance than anything else.
And that’s true if you’re a four-star or five-star prospect in high school. But what if you knew going into your senior season in high school you weren’t going to qualify? What if you were at a smaller school that didn’t stress recruiting?
Junior college tight end Beau Sandland might have some problems, but having to answer calls from the media is not one of them.
And that’s true if you’re a four-star or five-star prospect in high school. But what if you knew going into your senior season in high school you weren’t going to qualify? What if you were at a smaller school that didn’t stress recruiting?
Junior college tight end Beau Sandland might have some problems, but having to answer calls from the media is not one of them.
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Sherit updates offers, recruiting status
March, 22, 2012
3/22/12
4:15
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By
Corey Long | ESPN.com
Hillsborough (Tampa, Fla.) defensive end Jordan Sherit continues to receive new offers each week and with it there is a new group of programs that are aggressively recruiting the 6-foot-3, 235-pound junior.
"Last week Notre Dame, Stanford and Mississippi State all offered," Sherit said.
Last week was Sherit's spring break but he failed to visit any programs.
"Last week Notre Dame, Stanford and Mississippi State all offered," Sherit said.
Last week was Sherit's spring break but he failed to visit any programs.
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St. Petersburg (Fla.) Gibbs athlete Maurice Hall passes the eye test on first view. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound sophomore can play wide receiver, safety, corner, linebacker, running back or quarterback if necessary.
Hall, who is also a starter on the basketball team and a sprinter and high-jumper for the track team, received a verbal offer from Oklahoma in January when the Sooners were successfully recruiting former teammate Gary Simon.
"Oklahoma saw my film when they sat in with my coach and they liked me," Hall said. "I've gotten a lot of interest from schools and I think they will see me in the spring."
Hall, who is also a starter on the basketball team and a sprinter and high-jumper for the track team, received a verbal offer from Oklahoma in January when the Sooners were successfully recruiting former teammate Gary Simon.
"Oklahoma saw my film when they sat in with my coach and they liked me," Hall said. "I've gotten a lot of interest from schools and I think they will see me in the spring."
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ESPNU's national signing day coverage kicks off at 9 a.m. ET. Here's the list of the announcements and time for some of the top prospects.
NOTE: Bold names are announcements, all others are interviews.
NOTE: Bold names are announcements, all others are interviews.
Puyallup, Wash., offensive lineman Josh Garnett took an unofficial visit to Stanford over the weekend and the Cardinal could be tough to beat.
“I got there Saturday morning and spent the whole day there,” Garnett said.
“I actually stayed the night as well and came back home on Sunday. This was my second time visiting Stanford, and I really like it there. I think what stands out is my relationship with the players on the team. Stanford recruits a very unique kind of athlete. Out of the top 100 players nationally, they can probably only recruit two or three guys and the ones they recruit are all about academics and football.
“I got there Saturday morning and spent the whole day there,” Garnett said.
“I actually stayed the night as well and came back home on Sunday. This was my second time visiting Stanford, and I really like it there. I think what stands out is my relationship with the players on the team. Stanford recruits a very unique kind of athlete. Out of the top 100 players nationally, they can probably only recruit two or three guys and the ones they recruit are all about academics and football.
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ABOUT SOONER NATION
Jake Trotter
Jake Trotter joined ESPN.com in 2011 after four years with The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman, covering OU and Big 12 football. He's a graduate of Washington and Lee (Va.) University and lives in Oklahoma City with his wife. Email him at trotterjake@gmail.com.
Brandon Chatmon
Brandon Chatmon joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending eight years with The Oklahoman, covering Oklahoma State University, high schools and recruiting. Chatmon lives in Norman, Okla. Email him at bchatmonespn@gmail.com.
Bob Przybylo
Bob Przybylo joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending four years with The Oklahoman, covering high schools and recruiting. Przybylo lives in Oklahoma City. Email him at bprzybyloespn@gmail.com.