Oklahoma Sooners: Stanford Cardinal
FRISCO, Texas -- Soso Jamabo (Plano, Texas/Plano West) would have liked to be a part of this weekend’s Nike EYBL series playing with the Texas Titans. With a sling on his right shoulder, however, the 2015 two-sport star was reduced to watching the Titans on the bench, offering instruction to teammates and being the team’s biggest supporter.
For the rest of the spring and most of the summer, Jamabo’s focus will be on rehabbing after undergoing shoulder surgery on April 30. Jamabo broke some bones and damaged some ligaments in his shoulder during a Texas Class 5A Division-I state quarterfinal playoff. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound athlete is expected to miss 6-10 weeks but is projected to return a couple of weeks before Plano West’s first scrimmage in August.
“It’s early in the process, but it’s going well,” Jamabo said of the rehab process. “I’m just trying to get the shoulder back to usual, if not better. Right now, I’m just doing basic stuff and keep everything as minimal as possible.”
Exactly what kind of football player will Plano West look to see back on the field? Jamabo’s first rush as a varsity player was against Flower Mound (Texas) Marcus on Aug. 31. It went for 12 yards. His second rush: A 75-yard touchdown run.
Since then, Soso has been ... well ... anything but.
Only the shoulder injury managed to slow the electrifying 2015 running back down. He rushed for a team-leading 1,697 yards and 24 touchdowns and also caught 20 passes for 453 yards -- an average of almost 23 yards per catch -- and four touchdowns. On the basketball court, Jamabo averaged 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 11 games.
For the rest of the spring and most of the summer, Jamabo’s focus will be on rehabbing after undergoing shoulder surgery on April 30. Jamabo broke some bones and damaged some ligaments in his shoulder during a Texas Class 5A Division-I state quarterfinal playoff. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound athlete is expected to miss 6-10 weeks but is projected to return a couple of weeks before Plano West’s first scrimmage in August.
“It’s early in the process, but it’s going well,” Jamabo said of the rehab process. “I’m just trying to get the shoulder back to usual, if not better. Right now, I’m just doing basic stuff and keep everything as minimal as possible.”
Exactly what kind of football player will Plano West look to see back on the field? Jamabo’s first rush as a varsity player was against Flower Mound (Texas) Marcus on Aug. 31. It went for 12 yards. His second rush: A 75-yard touchdown run.
Since then, Soso has been ... well ... anything but.
Only the shoulder injury managed to slow the electrifying 2015 running back down. He rushed for a team-leading 1,697 yards and 24 touchdowns and also caught 20 passes for 453 yards -- an average of almost 23 yards per catch -- and four touchdowns. On the basketball court, Jamabo averaged 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 11 games.
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Ohio OL comfortable on second OU visit 
April, 30, 2013
Apr 30
10:00
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
The first visit to Oklahoma was a good one for offensive lineman Alex Dalton (Troy, Ohio/Troy). Dalton and his father had a great time in Norman, Okla., last month, but something was missing.
His mother. If any school is going to be in serious consideration for Dalton, his mom would have to see the campus, as well. OU is now in serious consideration, as Dalton and both of his parents returned to campus last weekend.
His mother. If any school is going to be in serious consideration for Dalton, his mom would have to see the campus, as well. OU is now in serious consideration, as Dalton and both of his parents returned to campus last weekend.
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ESPN 150 DE Thomas pondering decision
April, 22, 2013
Apr 22
10:30
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By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
ESPN 150 defensive end Solomon Thomas (Coppell, Texas/Coppell) is about as unassuming a high-profile recruit as one will come across.
He doesn’t get tangled up in the vastness of recruiting. He's not one to openly speak of his achievements. He’s also not one to rush a decision as important as his commitment to the college program of his choice.
Go ahead and ask him where he’s going or who he’s favoring and you’ll get an answer you’d swear was stuck on loop.
He doesn’t get tangled up in the vastness of recruiting. He's not one to openly speak of his achievements. He’s also not one to rush a decision as important as his commitment to the college program of his choice.
Go ahead and ask him where he’s going or who he’s favoring and you’ll get an answer you’d swear was stuck on loop.
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#BlueChipBattles: ESPN 150 release edition
April, 19, 2013
Apr 19
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By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Student Sports, ESPN, ESPNSpeedy Noil, Adoree Jackson and Da'Shawn Hand are three of the most coveted recruits in the Class of 2014.
: RecruitingNation summoned its writers from around the country to outline the recruiting battles for the ESPN 150's top 10 prospects.
Plus, rank the battles in SportsNation.
#TopFBMixtapes: Athlete mixtapes are all the rage in this highlight-crazed era of sports. We reached out to our Twitter followers to find out which 2014 football stars had the best highlight reels on YouTube, then had our staff rank and comment on the top submissions.
Tom Luginbill writes
: After talking to many coaches across the country and hearing their frustrations, here are their five biggest complaints about homemade highlight videos.Simmons talks Stanford; OU trip unlikely
April, 14, 2013
Apr 14
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By
Damon Sayles | ESPN.com
With his commitment to Stanford Saturday afternoon, ESPN Watch List safety Brandon Simmons (Arlington, Texas/Mansfield Timberview) had Oklahoma fans asking one question: Will he still visit Norman, Okla.?
Simmons had a five-school tour planned from Thursday through Tuesday, and Oklahoma was the last stop on the itinerary. After committing to Stanford on his visit, Simmons said plans for the immediate future have changed.
“I don’t think I’ll be taking that visit now,” Simmons said. “I found everything I wanted [in Stanford].”
Simmons had a five-school tour planned from Thursday through Tuesday, and Oklahoma was the last stop on the itinerary. After committing to Stanford on his visit, Simmons said plans for the immediate future have changed.
“I don’t think I’ll be taking that visit now,” Simmons said. “I found everything I wanted [in Stanford].”
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Q&A: Ohio OT Dalton has list of top three
April, 10, 2013
Apr 10
1:30
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
Oklahoma first-year offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh has been putting in a lot of work since coming to OU from West Virginia. And it’s clear his connections with some recruits have carried over and put the Sooners squarely in the mix for some linemen prospects.
One example is offensive tackle Alex Dalton (Troy, Ohio/Troy). Offered by Bedenbaugh at West Virginia, he was offered again by Bedenbaugh for OU last month and made an unofficial visit to campus last week.
Dalton has offers from schools such as Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan State, but last week was the first time he flew to a campus as he saw OU and Stanford on his spring break.
One example is offensive tackle Alex Dalton (Troy, Ohio/Troy). Offered by Bedenbaugh at West Virginia, he was offered again by Bedenbaugh for OU last month and made an unofficial visit to campus last week.
Dalton has offers from schools such as Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan State, but last week was the first time he flew to a campus as he saw OU and Stanford on his spring break.
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Want to know where Solomon Thomas (Coppell, Texas/Coppell) will end up? Good luck with that.
Truth is, the ESPN Watch List defensive end is wide open with his recruiting process -- and by “wide open,” that doesn’t mean, in this case, that he has a favorite but is keeping it under wraps.
Truth is, the ESPN Watch List defensive end is wide open with his recruiting process -- and by “wide open,” that doesn’t mean, in this case, that he has a favorite but is keeping it under wraps.
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Sooners 17th in Way-Too-Early Top 25
January, 8, 2013
Jan 8
5:30
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By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesAlabama, with three of the past four national titles, is No. 1 in the Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2013.There are still seven months before the start of the 2013 season, and the teams and their order figure to change frequently, but it's never too early to take a look at the Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2013.
And with three national championships in the past four years, there's no reason to change the team that's on top. Oklahoma will try to make it back to the top from the No. 17 spot.
Also see:
2014 QB Cornwell with plenty of options
January, 6, 2013
Jan 6
3:00
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
Quarterback David Cornwell (Jones, Okla./Jones) came out of nowhere to have an exceptional junior season and is now unquestionably one of the top in-state prospects for the Class of 2014.
Problem is, though, neither Oklahoma nor in-state power Oklahoma State have shown much interest. Cornwell camped at OU and had good contact with former OSU quarterbacks coach Todd Monken.
With Monken’s departure to become the Southern Mississippi head coach combined with little interest from OU quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel thus far, right now it looks like one of the state’s best prospects will have to look elsewhere.
Problem is, though, neither Oklahoma nor in-state power Oklahoma State have shown much interest. Cornwell camped at OU and had good contact with former OSU quarterbacks coach Todd Monken.
With Monken’s departure to become the Southern Mississippi head coach combined with little interest from OU quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel thus far, right now it looks like one of the state’s best prospects will have to look elsewhere.
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DT Maquedius Bain ready to visit Sooners
September, 25, 2012
9/25/12
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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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Q&A: 2014 Okla. receiver Jeffery Mead
September, 19, 2012
9/19/12
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
It’s bound to happen if you watch Oklahoma high school powerhouse Tulsa (Okla.) Union enough times. Eventually somebody will stick out -- someone who previously wasn’t on anybody’s radar. That looks to be the case with 2014 wide receiver Jeffery Mead. He is still learning the position, but at 6-foot-7 and 168 pounds he has the height to turn some heads and has shown the potential to be a prospect worth watching. His size has also made him a popular recruit for basketball, the sport he spent most of his summer playing. Now in his first year on varsity, Mead has nine catches for 177 yards and a touchdown through the first three games.
Mead talked to SoonerNation about playing receiver and his recruiting interest:
SoonerNation: How much more comfortable do you feel now as opposed to when the season started three weeks ago?
Mead talked to SoonerNation about playing receiver and his recruiting interest:
SoonerNation: How much more comfortable do you feel now as opposed to when the season started three weeks ago?
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CB Johnny Johnson names leaders, visits
August, 22, 2012
8/22/12
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By
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
With football season under way, Fresno (Calif.) Central will receive attention from virtually every college defensive backs coach in the country. The trio of safety Hatari Byrd and cornerbacks L.J. Moore and Johnny Johnson could rival any group at this level.
Oklahoma has already struck at Central, getting a commitment from Byrd. But the cornerbacks said they would like to take their time with the process, and Johnson’s recruitment is becoming clearer.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound cornerback said Stanford and UCLA top his list at this point. The Cardinal offered Johnson early in the process and the Bruins have been working hard on all three players.
Johnson added that he's sure of four official visits so far: Notre Dame, Oklahoma, UCLA and Washington. He hasn’t set dates yet, but it would be somewhat surprising if he doesn’t accompany his teammates on visits to Notre Dame on Sept. 21 and Oklahoma on Oct. 26.
Oklahoma has already struck at Central, getting a commitment from Byrd. But the cornerbacks said they would like to take their time with the process, and Johnson’s recruitment is becoming clearer.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound cornerback said Stanford and UCLA top his list at this point. The Cardinal offered Johnson early in the process and the Bruins have been working hard on all three players.
Johnson added that he's sure of four official visits so far: Notre Dame, Oklahoma, UCLA and Washington. He hasn’t set dates yet, but it would be somewhat surprising if he doesn’t accompany his teammates on visits to Notre Dame on Sept. 21 and Oklahoma on Oct. 26.
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Seven schools on Caleb Benenoch’s list
July, 29, 2012
7/29/12
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By
Damon Sayles | ESPN.com
Since reopening his recruitment last month, four-star offensive guard Caleb Benenoch (Katy, Texas/Seven Lakes) has been enjoying the process on all angles. Part of his fun has been hearing from the already-committed players on a regular basis.
“I hear from Jake Raulerson a lot,” Benenoch said of the Celina, Texas, offensive lineman who has committed to Texas. “We’re pretty good friends and very good competitors. It’d be fun to be teammates with him. I’m probably going to let him know which school I’ll commit to before I announce it.
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According to multiple sources, ESPN 150 tight end Hunter Henry (Little Rock, Ark./Pulaski) will announce his college decision at 4 p.m. ET Thursday. His finalists include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Stanford and Vanderbilt.
The Crimson Tide already have a verbal from another top tight end and Under Armour All-American, O.J. Howard (Prattville, Ala./Autauga).
Three-star Deondre Skinner (Patterson, La.) is on board with the Razorbacks, the Cardinal picked up a commitment from three-star Eric Cotton Jr. (Nampa, Idaho/Columbia) in late June, and the Commodores secured three-star Nathan Marcus (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) back in April. Georgia and Oklahoma do not have tight end commitments at this time.
The Crimson Tide already have a verbal from another top tight end and Under Armour All-American, O.J. Howard (Prattville, Ala./Autauga).
Three-star Deondre Skinner (Patterson, La.) is on board with the Razorbacks, the Cardinal picked up a commitment from three-star Eric Cotton Jr. (Nampa, Idaho/Columbia) in late June, and the Commodores secured three-star Nathan Marcus (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) back in April. Georgia and Oklahoma do not have tight end commitments at this time.
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Four-star guard Caleb Benenoch (Katy, Texas/Seven Lakes) has enjoyed the courting that began when he decommitted from Michigan State last month, but two schools still remain out front for his pledge.
Benenoch told HornsNation he considers Texas and Oklahoma his two favorites so far, but several new schools have entered the mix since he ended his pledge to MSU on June 12.
“After Texas and OU, I like Northwestern and I like Texas A&M, too. That’s where I’m at right now,” he said. “I’m going to visit Stanford, take a trip to Baylor, Texas A&M, hopefully Arkansas and possibly a return trip to Texas.”
Benenoch told HornsNation he considers Texas and Oklahoma his two favorites so far, but several new schools have entered the mix since he ended his pledge to MSU on June 12.
“After Texas and OU, I like Northwestern and I like Texas A&M, too. That’s where I’m at right now,” he said. “I’m going to visit Stanford, take a trip to Baylor, Texas A&M, hopefully Arkansas and possibly a return trip to Texas.”
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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.