Oklahoma Sooners

This weekend was about putting the final touches on Oklahoma’s 2013 recruiting class and setting the stage for the 2014 crop.

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Oklahoma is making a living out of flipping commitments for its 2013 class. The Sooners have done it five times out of their 20 commits.

And while OU coach Bob Stoops has been busy trying to get others to reconsider where they stand, other schools are making hard charges at some of Stoops’ prized recruits.

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The week started with one head-scratching moment, but it could not have ended any better for Oklahoma on the recruiting trail.

In an odd and almost unprecedented move, OU coaches postponed a previously planned junior day on Saturday so they could instead focus on the eight official visitors for the 2013 class.

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Tom Wort’s decision to leave Oklahoma for the NFL draft impacts the Sooners in 2013 but will allow a young playmaker to make a bigger contribution.

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Is it possible the last 72 hours have simply been a nightmare for Oklahoma? OU fans would certainly wish that was the case.

When it rains, it pours, and it’s a thunderstorm of bad news for the Sooners right now. The latest misstep is with OU’s junior day.

Originally scheduled for this Saturday, ESPN Watch List quarterback Justice Hansen (Edmond, Okla./Santa Fe) was among several expected visitors to confirm they have been notified that OU is postponing its junior day.

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The first trickledown effect of Texas A&M’s thrashing of Oklahoma has occurred, and it’s a major blow for the Sooners.

ESPN 300 linebacker Jordan Mastrogiovanni (Dallas/Jesuit) confirmed via text message on Sunday night that he has flipped his commitment from OU to the Aggies, giving Texas A&M 35 pledges for its 2013 class.

Mastrogiovanni, who is 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, was the first commit for OU’s linebackers coach Tim Kish, and the Mastrogiovanni family has numerous ties to the Sooners program.

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The wave of momentum Texas A&M has in recruiting right now has seemingly become a tsunami, especially considering the Aggies' latest pull.

ESPN 300 linebacker Jordan Mastrogiovanni, who has been committed to Oklahoma since June 14, has flipped his commitment to Texas A&M. The four-star inside linebacker confirmed the news to GigEmNation via text message on Sunday.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound prospect from Dallas Jesuit is the No. 7 inside linebacker in the nation. He will join his high school teammate, J.J. Gustafson, a four-star offensive tackle at Dallas Jesuit who is also committed to Texas A&M.

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After grading the performance of Oklahoma’s linebackers in 2012, it is the perfect time to take a closer look at the linebackers on the roster or the commitment list as SoonerNation evaluates the future at the position for Oklahoma. Here’s a look at one player who could be next in line to make a major impact, one player to keep an eye on and one current commitment who could be the future.

Next in line: Frank Shannon. Shortly after Tim Kish arrived at Oklahoma last spring, the Sooners linebacker coach began heaping praise upon the redshirt freshman linebacker. Kish spoke highly of Shannon’s natural instincts and playmaking ability. This fall, Shannon has lived up to the hype after a breakout game against Texas Tech on Oct. 6. His versatility and instincts should make him a cornerstone of OU’s defenses over the next few seasons.

Keep an eye on: Eric Striker. Although the Sooners will return Shannon, Tom Wort, Corey Nelson and Aaron Franklin, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Striker earn a role in the Sooners defense as a sophomore. He has pass rushing skills and versatility, which could make him a key contributor in 2013.

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Back in May some Oklahoma fans wondered if first-year linebackers coach Tim Kish was the right man for the job.

Few offers were out. And the ones that were, well, the Sooners were on the outside looking in with several top prospects.

Over the weekend, however, Kish got a look at his future, his first linebacker class. All three of OU's linebacker commits were on their official visits: ESPN 300 prospect Jordan Mastrogiovanni (Dallas/Jesuit), three-star athlete Dominique Alexander (Tulsa, Okla./Booker T. Washington) and three-star defensive end Jordan Evans (Norman, Okla./North).

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Each week SoonerNation will take a closer look at the Class of 2013 prospects currently committed to Oklahoma. The in-depth analysis pieces will take a look at the ranking, estimated year of impact and potential role of each future Sooner.

Vitals: Linebacker Jordan Mastrogiovanni | 6-foot-2, 225 pounds

Committed: June 14, 2012

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There is one glaring hole in Oklahoma’s defensive recruiting for the 2013 class. But it’s a big one. The Sooners are faring well or at least decently at every other spot, but OU is lacking defensive tackles.

Worse than lacking at them is the fact OU has been involved in several tight battles at the position only to have never come out on top.

With less than two months until national signing day, here is a position-by-position breakdown of OU defensive targets.

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Every Thursday, 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:

• It's decision day for DT target Justin Manning
• Has OU fallen behind on recruiting an ESPN 150 LB?

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It seemed like a matter of time before Jordan Evans (Norman, Okla./North) committed to Oklahoma. The in-state prospect chose the Sooners on Tuesday night over Air Force, Colorado State, Ohio and others.

Now the overriding question is simple. What position will Evans play?

Sooners linebacker coach Tim Kish has been recruiting Evans but the Oklahoma native could end up being a better fit at defensive end. Regardless, Evans has proven during his senior season that he has the physical talent and playmaking ability to make an impact on defense at OU.

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Each Week SoonerNation recruiting writers Bob Przybylo and Brandon Chatmon will faceoff on one issue regarding Oklahoma recruiting.

This week’s question: OU still needs a lot of help defensively for its 2013 class, but who is the most-coveted prospect the Sooners should focus on if they could only land just one?

Bob Przybylo: I think we can all agree that defensive tackle is the biggest need for OU’s class the rest of the way. But do you want a difference maker? Do you want someone who would make OU fans feel good about its defensive class in a heartbeat?

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