During the summer months, SoonerNation will take a closer look at each player on Oklahoma’s roster in our Crimson Countdown series. Each day, we will analyze each player’s impact on the program since arriving on campus, his potential impact this fall and his long-term impact. Starting with No. 1 Kendal Thompson, the series will follow the roster numerically through our final analysis of No. 99 Chaz Nelson.
No. 64 Gabe Ikard
Center, 6-foot-3, 298 pounds, senior
Impact thus far: Ikard has started 37 of 39 career games for the Sooners. He has done anything and everything asked of him since arriving on campus in 2009. A high school tight end, he moved to offensive line during his redshirt season, starting 12 games at guard as a redshirt freshman. As a sophomore, he started games at guard and center, earning All-Big 12 honors. Last season he started 12 games at center and grabbed All-Big 12 honors for the second straight season.
No. 64 Gabe Ikard
Center, 6-foot-3, 298 pounds, senior
Impact thus far: Ikard has started 37 of 39 career games for the Sooners. He has done anything and everything asked of him since arriving on campus in 2009. A high school tight end, he moved to offensive line during his redshirt season, starting 12 games at guard as a redshirt freshman. As a sophomore, he started games at guard and center, earning All-Big 12 honors. Last season he started 12 games at center and grabbed All-Big 12 honors for the second straight season.
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NORMAN, Okla. -- These are trying times in Norman. That is, by Oklahoma's lofty standards. Last season, the Sooners won 10 games, beat Texas and Oklahoma State and shared the Big 12 title. Yet almost no one in Sooner Nation, Bob Stoops included, was satisfied. Underscoring that dissatisfaction, Stoops made three coaching changes during the offseason, increasing the total to five in two years.
There’s no denying that OU’s overall talent level has dipped the last five years. The Sooners were overmatched, especially in the trenches, in losses to Notre Dame and Texas A&M. Stoops is banking that new assistants Jerry Montgomery, Bill Bedenbaugh and Jay Boulware and their strong recruiting backgrounds will help reverse that trend.
There’s no denying that OU’s overall talent level has dipped the last five years. The Sooners were overmatched, especially in the trenches, in losses to Notre Dame and Texas A&M. Stoops is banking that new assistants Jerry Montgomery, Bill Bedenbaugh and Jay Boulware and their strong recruiting backgrounds will help reverse that trend.
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Signee Q&A: Three-star WR Austin Bennett
June, 18, 2013
Jun 18
10:00
AM CT
By
Jake Trotter | ESPN.com
Since position coach Jay Norvell arrived in Norman, the Sooners have been stockpiling talent at receiver. To complement bigger receivers like Trey Metoyer, Norvell signed inside playmaker Austin Bennett to OU's 2013 class.
As he prepared to arrive in Norman for summer workouts, Bennett checked with SoonerNation to talk about his future roommate, what he wants to major in and Texas making a run at him just before signing day:
SoonerNation: Who are you rooming with?
Austin Bennett: Keith Ford. We actually ended up becoming pretty good friends. We went on our official visit together. Went to a couple games together.
SN: What are you most looking forward to at OU?
Bennett: The experience of college. Getting on the field as quickly as possible, adjusting to the speed.
SN: What personal goals do you have?
Bennett: To try to earn a spot on the field and not be redshirted. If I do get redshirted, I’m not going to make a big deal about it, and [I will] take advantage of it. But short term, I want to help the team out as much as I can.
SN: What have the coaches told you about a potential role?
Bennett: Coaches have said my role is to be a slot receiver. Punt returner, kick returner, too. If my role is to play special teams, so be it.
OU has some good receivers. But I definitely think I have a shot to earn a position with my football knowledge. I think I can come in and make a big impact.
SN: What happened with Texas trying to get you to flip late?
Bennett: Well, a week to two weeks before signing day, they came to my school and told me they wanted a shot with me, that they had been looking at me my freshman year. Which was true, but they hadn’t really made a big impression on me. They haven’t produced a lot of great receivers in the last four, five years. Texas, it’s a great school to go to, but I chose Oklahoma over Texas.
SN: So you never gave it a second thought?
Bennett: I never thought about leaving Oklahoma. Once I make a commitment -- that’s where I wanted to be unless something major happened. Oklahoma is where I want to be.
SN: What are you planning to major in?
Bennett: Biology. I want to try to be a physical therapist.
As he prepared to arrive in Norman for summer workouts, Bennett checked with SoonerNation to talk about his future roommate, what he wants to major in and Texas making a run at him just before signing day:
SoonerNation: Who are you rooming with?
[+] Enlarge
Miller Safrit/ESPN.comThe Longhorns tried to flip OU receiver signee Austin Bennett late in his recruitment.
SN: What are you most looking forward to at OU?
Bennett: The experience of college. Getting on the field as quickly as possible, adjusting to the speed.
SN: What personal goals do you have?
Bennett: To try to earn a spot on the field and not be redshirted. If I do get redshirted, I’m not going to make a big deal about it, and [I will] take advantage of it. But short term, I want to help the team out as much as I can.
SN: What have the coaches told you about a potential role?
Bennett: Coaches have said my role is to be a slot receiver. Punt returner, kick returner, too. If my role is to play special teams, so be it.
OU has some good receivers. But I definitely think I have a shot to earn a position with my football knowledge. I think I can come in and make a big impact.
SN: What happened with Texas trying to get you to flip late?
Bennett: Well, a week to two weeks before signing day, they came to my school and told me they wanted a shot with me, that they had been looking at me my freshman year. Which was true, but they hadn’t really made a big impression on me. They haven’t produced a lot of great receivers in the last four, five years. Texas, it’s a great school to go to, but I chose Oklahoma over Texas.
SN: So you never gave it a second thought?
Bennett: I never thought about leaving Oklahoma. Once I make a commitment -- that’s where I wanted to be unless something major happened. Oklahoma is where I want to be.
SN: What are you planning to major in?
Bennett: Biology. I want to try to be a physical therapist.
Oklahoma isn’t even halfway done with its Class of 2014, but its nine commits have the Sooners off to a solid start.
Here is a look at 10 of OU’s biggest and most realistic targets as we hit the summer, ranked from most likely to least likely to commit to the Sooners:
Here is a look at 10 of OU’s biggest and most realistic targets as we hit the summer, ranked from most likely to least likely to commit to the Sooners:
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During the summer months, SoonerNation will take a closer look at each player on Oklahoma’s roster in our Crimson Countdown series. Each day, we will analyze each player’s impact on the program since arriving on campus, his potential impact this fall and his long-term impact. Starting with No. 1 Kendal Thompson, the series will follow the roster numerically through our final analysis of No. 99 Chaz Nelson.
No. 56 Ty Darlington
Center, 6-foot-3, 282 pounds, sophomore
Impact thus far: Darlington could easily be considered the surprise freshman of 2012. When he signed in February 2012, the Sooners had two quality options returning at center with Ben Habern and Gabe Ikard. Yet there was Darlington starting a game as a true freshman against Baylor, replacing an injured Ikard, in early November. And he excelled against the Bears, drawing praise from coach Bob Stoops after his first collegiate start.
No. 56 Ty Darlington
Center, 6-foot-3, 282 pounds, sophomore
Impact thus far: Darlington could easily be considered the surprise freshman of 2012. When he signed in February 2012, the Sooners had two quality options returning at center with Ben Habern and Gabe Ikard. Yet there was Darlington starting a game as a true freshman against Baylor, replacing an injured Ikard, in early November. And he excelled against the Bears, drawing praise from coach Bob Stoops after his first collegiate start.
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NORMAN, Okla. -- Not everything is a well-oiled machine for Oklahoma when it comes to recruiting. Though there are still issues to be addressed, with eight months left until signing day, time is on the Sooners' side.
The offensive and defensive lines need a lot of work and OU hasn’t secured a linebacker yet, despite the fact the position is a major need.
The offensive and defensive lines need a lot of work and OU hasn’t secured a linebacker yet, despite the fact the position is a major need.
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The last several days, ESPN Insider Phil Steele has been rolling out the rankings of his top individual position units in the country. In that vein, SoonerNation has ranked OU’s position units for the upcoming season, from best to worst:
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CEDAR HILL, Texas -- The second annual Mike Adams Camp of Conquerors 7-on-7 tournament featured 13 of the top 7-on-7 teams in the Dallas area on Saturday. The tournament, put on by the NFL defensive back, gives the opportunity to win $5,000 for the winning 7-on-7 program.
Early Saturday evening, Mesquite (Texas) Horn defeated Cedar Hill to walk away with the championship.
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Damon Sayles and Max Olson break down recent additions for the Bears and Longhorns, respectively. Baylor added its 19th commitment overall – and seventh this month – in four-star ILB James David, while Texas continued its 2015 recruiting in style.
Oklahoma didn’t have to do anything to sell Irving (Texas) Ranchview defensive lineman Brandon Glenn on Norman, Okla., being the place for him.
Whatever OU has asked of Glenn in the last month, he hasn’t batted an eye. Classified as a defensive end, OU wants him at defensive tackle.
No problem.
Originally scheduled to perform at just one session of OU’s camp two weeks ago, he was asked to stay for a second session to showcase his skills.
No problem.
He didn’t get the offer after the camp. He was told by OU defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery that he would get in touch with Glenn at a later date.
That later date came Tuesday when Glenn was offered and the final step was Friday, when Glenn confirmed his commitment to the Sooners while on an unofficial visit to campus.
“I couldn’t wait to commit,” Glenn said. “Coach Montgomery got me. He got me that first time he visited the school. I knew OU was the place for me.”
But it wasn’t just Glenn who had to be convinced. Glenn’s mother accompanied him to the camp two weeks ago, and she was back on campus Friday.
The visit answered all her questions, and she gave her full approval to the idea of Glenn committing.
Football wasn’t the issue Friday, but Glenn and his mother wanted to learn more about the academic side of OU.
“We were a little worried about the education,” Glenn said. “But after talking to the adviser and everything, we felt good. I fell in love with it, and it caught my mom’s eye.”
Glenn wanted to commit to OU on Tuesday after the offer, but he held off because he wanted to visit and because he wanted to weigh all his options. Glenn said Texas Tech was very interested, but he called the Tech coaches earlier this week and couldn’t get in touch with them. It made his decision that much easier.
Glenn also had offers from SMU and Kansas, among others. At 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, most schools were seeing him at defensive end. But OU put the idea into his head of being a tackle, and Glenn is excited about the opportunity.
Knowing he was going to visit OU on Friday, it wasn’t tough for Glenn to go to sleep Thursday night. Getting up at 5:30 a.m. was another story. But once Glenn and his mother hit campus, the countdown was on to the commitment.
“I told Coach Montgomery, and he got a big smile on his face,” Glenn said. “He said, ‘That’s great news.’ “
Glenn had an abbreviated tour of the OU campus at the camp, but he got to see everything about the university Friday. With OU coach Bob Stoops on vacation, it was Montgomery who guided the visit.
And what stood out? The shoe room.
“We saw the equipment room and that shoe room was something else,” Glenn said. “That’s the first time I’ve seen boxes of size 16 shoes. I wear a 16, and I never see more than one selection. They have so many choices. It’s cool.
“The publicity was nice about asking what I was going to do next and stuff like that, but I’m happy it’s over. I can concentrate on my senior season and my grades and get ready to go to OU.”
Glenn is OU’s ninth commitment in the Class of 2014 and the first defensive lineman. He is also the first commitment for Montgomery, who is in his first year at OU since leaving Michigan for the Sooners in February.
Whatever OU has asked of Glenn in the last month, he hasn’t batted an eye. Classified as a defensive end, OU wants him at defensive tackle.
No problem.
No problem.
He didn’t get the offer after the camp. He was told by OU defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery that he would get in touch with Glenn at a later date.
That later date came Tuesday when Glenn was offered and the final step was Friday, when Glenn confirmed his commitment to the Sooners while on an unofficial visit to campus.
“I couldn’t wait to commit,” Glenn said. “Coach Montgomery got me. He got me that first time he visited the school. I knew OU was the place for me.”
But it wasn’t just Glenn who had to be convinced. Glenn’s mother accompanied him to the camp two weeks ago, and she was back on campus Friday.
The visit answered all her questions, and she gave her full approval to the idea of Glenn committing.
Football wasn’t the issue Friday, but Glenn and his mother wanted to learn more about the academic side of OU.
“We were a little worried about the education,” Glenn said. “But after talking to the adviser and everything, we felt good. I fell in love with it, and it caught my mom’s eye.”
Glenn wanted to commit to OU on Tuesday after the offer, but he held off because he wanted to visit and because he wanted to weigh all his options. Glenn said Texas Tech was very interested, but he called the Tech coaches earlier this week and couldn’t get in touch with them. It made his decision that much easier.
Glenn also had offers from SMU and Kansas, among others. At 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, most schools were seeing him at defensive end. But OU put the idea into his head of being a tackle, and Glenn is excited about the opportunity.
Knowing he was going to visit OU on Friday, it wasn’t tough for Glenn to go to sleep Thursday night. Getting up at 5:30 a.m. was another story. But once Glenn and his mother hit campus, the countdown was on to the commitment.
“I told Coach Montgomery, and he got a big smile on his face,” Glenn said. “He said, ‘That’s great news.’ “
Glenn had an abbreviated tour of the OU campus at the camp, but he got to see everything about the university Friday. With OU coach Bob Stoops on vacation, it was Montgomery who guided the visit.
And what stood out? The shoe room.
“We saw the equipment room and that shoe room was something else,” Glenn said. “That’s the first time I’ve seen boxes of size 16 shoes. I wear a 16, and I never see more than one selection. They have so many choices. It’s cool.
“The publicity was nice about asking what I was going to do next and stuff like that, but I’m happy it’s over. I can concentrate on my senior season and my grades and get ready to go to OU.”
Glenn is OU’s ninth commitment in the Class of 2014 and the first defensive lineman. He is also the first commitment for Montgomery, who is in his first year at OU since leaving Michigan for the Sooners in February.
During the summer months, SoonerNation will take a closer look at each player on Oklahoma’s roster in our Crimson Countdown series. Each day, we will analyze each player’s impact on the program since arriving on campus, his potential impact this fall and his long-term impact. Starting with No. 1 Kendal Thompson, the series will follow the roster numerically through our final analysis of No. 99 Chaz Nelson.
No. 54 Nila Kasitati
Center/guard, 6-foot-4, 309 pounds, sophomore
No. 54 Nila Kasitati
Center/guard, 6-foot-4, 309 pounds, sophomore
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Every Friday, SoonerNation releases the Sooner Intel, a sneak peek inside Oklahoma Sooners football recruiting with news and notes on the latest happenings around the program. Talk about it on our forum. A few things discussed in this week's update:
Read the Sooner Intel after the jump.
- Several schools are trying to get OU's wide receiver commit to visit.
- Will a defensive lineman become OU's next commit?
- A 2015 QB target is enjoying getting to know OU coach Josh Heupel.
- An in-state tight end had an eventful night before OU's camp.
- There's a fullback target on the Sooners' radar.
- OU made a good impression on one of its latest 2015 offers.
- What's next for in-state DE Jordan Brailford?
- Why OU's camp in the Dallas area can be seen as a success.
Read the Sooner Intel after the jump.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Tight end DeAndre Goolsby (Derby, Kan./Derby) admits he's nowhere near ready to pick his college destination.
"I'm just kind of out there, looking," he says. "There's still a lot to see, so I'll wait that out."
With cautious curiosity, Goolsby visited Ohio State and Florida this week -- two big steps in his plan to narrow a sizable offer list to a handful of top teams before his senior season and make a decision by the end of the fall.
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound tight end was in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday.
"I'm just kind of out there, looking," he says. "There's still a lot to see, so I'll wait that out."
With cautious curiosity, Goolsby visited Ohio State and Florida this week -- two big steps in his plan to narrow a sizable offer list to a handful of top teams before his senior season and make a decision by the end of the fall.
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound tight end was in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday.
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Oklahoma has gone an offer spree this week, most notably at linebacker. Some were expected, as OU had developed a relationship with the prospects.
Some, like Houston Summer Creek’s Dakota Allen, came out of left field. Not only had Allen not talked to any OU coach before Tuesday’s offer, he said he doesn’t even remember seeing an OU coach at one of his spring practices.
Some, like Houston Summer Creek’s Dakota Allen, came out of left field. Not only had Allen not talked to any OU coach before Tuesday’s offer, he said he doesn’t even remember seeing an OU coach at one of his spring practices.
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During the summer months, SoonerNation will take a closer look at each player on Oklahoma’s roster in our Crimson Countdown series. Each day, we will analyze each player’s impact on the program since arriving on campus, his potential impact this fall and his long-term impact. Starting with No. 1 Kendal Thompson, the series will follow the roster numerically through our final analysis of No. 99 Chaz Nelson.
No. 50 Austin Woods
Center, 6-foot-4, 310 pounds, senior
No. 50 Austin Woods
Center, 6-foot-4, 310 pounds, senior
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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.