Oklahoma Sooners: Vanderbilt Commodores
When offer No. 31 came in for Washington (Pa.) running back Shai McKenzie last week, he figured it was time to start cutting his list. It sounds simple, but McKenzie had a harder time when it came to putting pen to paper.
“He struggled to make a list,” Washington coach Mike Bosnic said. “He’s really unsure.”
“He struggled to make a list,” Washington coach Mike Bosnic said. “He’s really unsure.”
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Forgive offensive tackle Jordan Sims (Homewood, Ala./Homewood) if he seems rather stunned. He has had a busy afternoon. After returning from Auburn on Saturday -- where he picked up an offer from the Tigers -- he received a couple messages to call various coaches after school. Sims did so, and now his offer list has grown yet again.
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Watch List S Springs talks combine, offers 
February, 23, 2013
Feb 23
7:24
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By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
SHENANDOAH, Texas -- ESPN Watch List safety Arrion Springs (San Antonio/Roosevelt) made the journey east to the Houston area to improve on his SPARQ score last season, and hopefully score an invite to The Opening, while at the Nike Football SPARQ Combine on Saturday at Woodforest Bank Stadium.
While he might not have scored what he wanted, he still put up an impressive performance.
While he might not have scored what he wanted, he still put up an impressive performance.
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Vandy, Ole Miss in front for TE Parsons
December, 16, 2012
12/16/12
2:00
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By
Damon Sayles | ESPN.com
After decommitting from Colorado in October, three-star tight end Mitchell Parsons (Parker, Colo./Chaparral) has been all about finding a college home that fits him. Whether that decision comes sooner or later is still the question.
Parsons said that while he is still open with his process, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss are current front-runners. Both schools have offered the 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end, in addition to Arizona State, Cal and Northern Colorado.
“I want it over with badly,” Parsons said of the process, "but I’m going to make an educated choice. It’s stressful, for sure, but I mean, I’m glad I opened it up.”
Parsons said that while he is still open with his process, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss are current front-runners. Both schools have offered the 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end, in addition to Arizona State, Cal and Northern Colorado.
“I want it over with badly,” Parsons said of the process, "but I’m going to make an educated choice. It’s stressful, for sure, but I mean, I’m glad I opened it up.”
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OT Sean Dowling decommits from UCLA
December, 14, 2012
12/14/12
7:55
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
Saying he needs to figure out what is the best situation for him, offensive tackle Sean Dowling (Fallbrook, Calif./Union) decommitted from UCLA late Thursday night, he confirmed via text message to ESPN.com.
Dowling, a 6-foot-6 and 260-pound three-star prospect, was the first offensive lineman to commit to the Bruins in April. UCLA has added seven more commits on the line since then, including two in the last seven days. Dowling declined to say if that was a factor in his decision.
He has taken official visits to Washington State, Oklahoma and Oregon State and has said in the past he is hopeful to take an official visit to Vanderbilt.
Dowling, a 6-foot-6 and 260-pound three-star prospect, was the first offensive lineman to commit to the Bruins in April. UCLA has added seven more commits on the line since then, including two in the last seven days. Dowling declined to say if that was a factor in his decision.
He has taken official visits to Washington State, Oklahoma and Oregon State and has said in the past he is hopeful to take an official visit to Vanderbilt.
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#BlueChipBattles: Nov. 30
November, 30, 2012
11/30/12
1:20
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By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN.comCarl Lawson, Dee Linerand Reuben Foster are still committed to Auburn, but the Tigers' coaching situation could change things for the three ESPN 150 recruits.Auburn bid farewell to head coach Gene Chizik on Sunday. Could the Tigers also be saying goodbye to a trio of ESPN 150 recruits who could take their talents elsewhere?
Each week, RecruitingNation summons its writers from around the country to compile a list of the top 10 battles for elite football recruits leading up to February's signing day.
Here are this week's top battles
, and you can take a shot at ranking the top 10 recruiting battles on SportsNation.#BlueChipBattles: Nov. 16
November, 16, 2012
11/16/12
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By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN.comUncommitted 2013 running backs Alvin Kamara and Derrick Green.ESPN 100 running backs Alvin Kamara and Derrick Green can score from anywhere on the field thanks to their breakaway speed, an attribute that makes them very attractive recruits to the Oregon Ducks. Oregon's pursuit of the duo headlines this week’s #BlueChipBattles.
Click through for our list to rank the top 10 recruiting battles
.
Tom Hauck for ESPN.comMax Redfield is out at USC -- is Leon McQuay in?.
You can also rank the battles this week in SportsNation.
ESPN 150 DT Maquedius Bain sets visits
October, 23, 2012
10/23/12
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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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DL De'Asian Richardson ready to decide
August, 17, 2012
8/17/12
12:50
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By
Corey Long | ESPN.com
Four-star defensive lineman De'Asian Richardson (Orange Park, Fla./Orange Park) will make a verbal commitment this weekend, Orange Park assistant coach Ryan Wolfe said.
The 6-foot-3, 280-pound senior will choose between West Virginia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Missouri.
"He's probably going to make the decision sometime Sunday and we might wait until Monday morning to call the school and announce it at that time," said Wolfe.
The 6-foot-3, 280-pound senior will choose between West Virginia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Missouri.
"He's probably going to make the decision sometime Sunday and we might wait until Monday morning to call the school and announce it at that time," said Wolfe.
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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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[UPDATE: Baker says he is officially committed to Florida State.]
ESPN 300 defensive back Adrian Baker (Hollywood, Fla./Chaminade-Madonna) has had an interesting 24 hours. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound senior announced Monday via Twitter that he had made a long-expected commitment to Florida State. But Baker clarified his situation Tuesday, saying that FSU was not ready to accept his commitment.
Now the four-star prospect says he will reset his recruitment.
ESPN 300 defensive back Adrian Baker (Hollywood, Fla./Chaminade-Madonna) has had an interesting 24 hours. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound senior announced Monday via Twitter that he had made a long-expected commitment to Florida State. But Baker clarified his situation Tuesday, saying that FSU was not ready to accept his commitment.
Now the four-star prospect says he will reset his recruitment.
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The expectations are big at Madison (Ala.) Bob Jones High. That’s OK for 2014 linebacker Nick Holman, who is in the process of making the move from tight end to linebacker.
Holman, who attended Oklahoma’s three-day camp last week, is ready for the big expectations. But if he turns out to be as good as the linebacker he is replacing, the school will have yet another gem on its hands.
Holman is set to take the spot of Reggie Ragland. No pressure there, right? Ragland, who signed with Alabama, was ranked as the No. 2 inside linebacker for 2012 and ranked No. 109 in the ESPN 150.
Holman, who attended Oklahoma’s three-day camp last week, is ready for the big expectations. But if he turns out to be as good as the linebacker he is replacing, the school will have yet another gem on its hands.
Holman is set to take the spot of Reggie Ragland. No pressure there, right? Ragland, who signed with Alabama, was ranked as the No. 2 inside linebacker for 2012 and ranked No. 109 in the ESPN 150.
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Sooners eyeing another Calif. quarterback
May, 7, 2012
5/07/12
10:00
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
Quarterback Hayden Rettig (Los Angeles/Cathedral) was getting tired of hearing questions about his health.
Rettig, who tore his right ACL and meniscus during his team's second game of last season, wanted to prove to everybody that he was 100 percent healthy. And at a quarterback academy event in California last month, he did just that, showing his mobility, arm strength and confidence. In other words, he showed he was back.
And the race to be Oklahoma’s 2013 quarterback has now added one more participant.
Rettig, who tore his right ACL and meniscus during his team's second game of last season, wanted to prove to everybody that he was 100 percent healthy. And at a quarterback academy event in California last month, he did just that, showing his mobility, arm strength and confidence. In other words, he showed he was back.
And the race to be Oklahoma’s 2013 quarterback has now added one more participant.
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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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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.