Oklahoma Sooners: Beau Sandland
NORMAN, Okla. -- Tight end was the position that wasn’t for the Sooners in 2012.
OU’s first-year tight end triplets did not develop as rapidly as the coaches had hoped. Then Jalen Saunders was cleared, and the Sooners went almost exclusively with four-wide sets without a tight end.
OU’s first-year tight end triplets did not develop as rapidly as the coaches had hoped. Then Jalen Saunders was cleared, and the Sooners went almost exclusively with four-wide sets without a tight end.
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Stoops aims to use more tight end sets
January, 22, 2013
Jan 22
4:15
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By
Jake Trotter | ESPN.com
Not only did the Sooners seldom use the tight end position in 2012, they altogether abandoned it. Offensive coordinator Josh Heupel leaned on four-wide sets and lined up fullback Trey Millard at tight end whenever the situation called for it.
The Sooners scoured the recruiting trail for a junior college tight end but struck out with their top two targets, Beau Sandland and Emmanuel Bibbs.
Despite not landing a juco tight end, Bob Stoops said he wants the tight end packages to be a bigger part of the offense next season. And he feels that, with an extra year in the program, freshman Taylor McNamara and Sam Grant could be ready to hold down the position, along with juco transfer Brannon Green.
“I see it being a bigger part,” Stoops said. “I think it was more the inexperience. We tried it and there were too many, just overall, we didn’t feel they were quite ready to play at the level we needed.”
Coupled with the tight end inexperience, Stoops added that the emergence of transfer receivers Jalen Saunders and Justin Brown swayed the Sooners to run more four-wide sets, too.
“I think [that's the case] more than anything, and the experience that the wide receivers all had,” Stoops said. “As odd as it sounds to say, considering where we started with all of them, they were so productive and doing so well, we felt that was taking advantage of our personnel and experience the best.”
But with Brown and Kenny Stills gone, Stoops said he sees the Sooners returning to more tight end sets in 2013.
“We like our young guys and our guys coming up,” Stoops said. “We want our tight end packages to be more involved, definitely.”
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Jim Cowsert/US PresswireTight end Brannon Green had three catches for the Sooners in 2012.
Jim Cowsert/US PresswireTight end Brannon Green had three catches for the Sooners in 2012. Despite not landing a juco tight end, Bob Stoops said he wants the tight end packages to be a bigger part of the offense next season. And he feels that, with an extra year in the program, freshman Taylor McNamara and Sam Grant could be ready to hold down the position, along with juco transfer Brannon Green.
“I see it being a bigger part,” Stoops said. “I think it was more the inexperience. We tried it and there were too many, just overall, we didn’t feel they were quite ready to play at the level we needed.”
Coupled with the tight end inexperience, Stoops added that the emergence of transfer receivers Jalen Saunders and Justin Brown swayed the Sooners to run more four-wide sets, too.
“I think [that's the case] more than anything, and the experience that the wide receivers all had,” Stoops said. “As odd as it sounds to say, considering where we started with all of them, they were so productive and doing so well, we felt that was taking advantage of our personnel and experience the best.”
But with Brown and Kenny Stills gone, Stoops said he sees the Sooners returning to more tight end sets in 2013.
“We like our young guys and our guys coming up,” Stoops said. “We want our tight end packages to be more involved, definitely.”
Recruiting faceoff: Biggest disappointment? 
December, 7, 2012
12/07/12
2:00
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By
Bob Przybylo and
Brandon Chatmon | ESPN.com
Each week SoonerNation recruiting writers Bob Przybylo and Brandon Chatmon will faceoff on one issue regarding Oklahoma recruiting.
This week’s question: What has been the biggest disappointment for OU so far for its 2013 recruiting class?
Bob Przybylo: The popular choice is ESPN 150 defensive tackle Justin Manning (Dallas/Kimball), but he had been openly flirting with Texas A&M the whole time and seemingly had been looking for a reason to not pick OU.
This week’s question: What has been the biggest disappointment for OU so far for its 2013 recruiting class?
Bob Przybylo: The popular choice is ESPN 150 defensive tackle Justin Manning (Dallas/Kimball), but he had been openly flirting with Texas A&M the whole time and seemingly had been looking for a reason to not pick OU.
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Sooner Intel: Recruiting news and notes
November, 29, 2012
11/29/12
2:00
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
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:
- Crazy week continues for new OU commit
- More on the defensive end situation
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Sandland content with patient approach
November, 29, 2012
11/29/12
8:00
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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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Junior college tight end Beau Sandland (Woodland Hills, Calif./Pierce) released his top five schools on Thursday morning, as the 6-foot-5, 250-pound athlete whittled down a list of 25 offers.
Arizona State, Miami, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech are the schools standing at the top for Sandland, who announced the list in a text message and said there is no order among the five.
Arizona State, Miami, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech are the schools standing at the top for Sandland, who announced the list in a text message and said there is no order among the five.
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Sooner Intel: Recruiting news and notes
October, 4, 2012
10/04/12
2:00
PM CT
By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
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:
- An ESPN 150 defensive end/linebacker is still in play for OU
- Could the Sooners add a commitment on Monday?
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TE Beau Sandland has to eliminate SEC
October, 1, 2012
10/01/12
3:58
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By
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
Junior college tight end Beau Sandland (Woodland Hills, Calif./Pierce) is one of the most highly-recruited players at his position in the nation, but the 6-foot-5, 250-pound athlete said Monday that he had to eliminate an entire conference from his possible destinations. Sandland earned offers from Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas A&M out of the SEC, but he won't be at any of those schools in January.
Sandland said that in order to graduate in December and enroll early at his school of choice, he will need to take an online math class through a school other than Woodland Hills Pierce. He added that while the SEC made a recent change to allow student-athletes who have completed online math and English courses, they must be taken through the school the student attends, which is not possible for Sandland.
"I've been talking to the coaches and obviously they are disappointed," Sandland said of the SEC coaches. "They said it's a big problem for them and they've lost recruits to this."
Sandland said that in order to graduate in December and enroll early at his school of choice, he will need to take an online math class through a school other than Woodland Hills Pierce. He added that while the SEC made a recent change to allow student-athletes who have completed online math and English courses, they must be taken through the school the student attends, which is not possible for Sandland.
"I've been talking to the coaches and obviously they are disappointed," Sandland said of the SEC coaches. "They said it's a big problem for them and they've lost recruits to this."
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Sooner Intel: Recruiting news and notes
August, 30, 2012
8/30/12
2:00
PM CT
By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
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:
• Mike Stoops' connection to one California school and what's in store for 2014.
• Are the Sooners targeting another juco tight end and will Beau Sandland take another visit to Norman?
• OU's quarterback commit talks about another phase of his game.
• Mike Stoops' connection to one California school and what's in store for 2014.
• Are the Sooners targeting another juco tight end and will Beau Sandland take another visit to Norman?
• OU's quarterback commit talks about another phase of his game.
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Beau Sandland enjoys visit with Stoops
August, 27, 2012
8/27/12
9:30
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By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
Nobody was expecting an verbal commitment from junior college tight end Beau Sandland (Woodland Hills, Calif./Pierce CC) on his official visit to Oklahoma, but the Sooners have made sure they will stay in the conversation.
Sandland has thought hard about the recruiting process and will not make a commitment until he takes all five of his official visits.
His second official visit was to Norman, Okla., over the weekend. Sandland has developed a solid relationship with OU tight ends coach Bruce Kittle. But the weekend gave him an opportunity to interact with the entire OU offensive staff.
Sandland has thought hard about the recruiting process and will not make a commitment until he takes all five of his official visits.
His second official visit was to Norman, Okla., over the weekend. Sandland has developed a solid relationship with OU tight ends coach Bruce Kittle. But the weekend gave him an opportunity to interact with the entire OU offensive staff.
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Sooner Intel: Recruiting news and notes
August, 23, 2012
8/23/12
10:00
AM CT
By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
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:
• A three-star defensive end isn't ruling out the Sooners.
• OU offers a junior college teammate of a 2012 signee.
• Are the Sooners targeting an offensive lineman from a school with a Sooners commit?
• A three-star defensive end isn't ruling out the Sooners.
• OU offers a junior college teammate of a 2012 signee.
• Are the Sooners targeting an offensive lineman from a school with a Sooners commit?
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TE Sandland adds offer, preps for visit
August, 21, 2012
8/21/12
9:30
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By
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
Junior college tight end Beau Sandland (Woodland Hills, Calif./Pierce College) is making the most of his first foray into the recruiting process. A non-qualifier out of high school, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound athlete turned in an impressive showing on the recruiting trail this offseason. Beginning in February, Sandland said it felt as though he collected an offer -- and sometimes two -- each day, through the end of spring. Though things have slowed considerably since then with the end of the spring evaluation period and fall camps starting, Monday proved that it isn’t over completely, as Tennessee stepped forward with a scholarship offer.
“It’s been fun,” Sandland said of recruiting. “This is the first time I’ve ever gone through it, so I didn’t fully know what to expect. You hear stories and see the sophomores from last year, but it’s been a really exciting and fun time. It can get a little hectic, but in a good way. It’s been really humbling talking to these schools and having offers from some of the top programs in the nation.”
Several SEC heavyweights extended offers to Sandland, including Florida, Georgia, LSU and Mississippi, though he took opportunities this summer to get a better feel for programs in other conferences. Pac-12 programs Arizona State, California and UCLA received unofficial visits, while Nebraska was the recipient of an official visit. This weekend, Sandland will travel for Oklahoma for his second official visit.
“It’s been fun,” Sandland said of recruiting. “This is the first time I’ve ever gone through it, so I didn’t fully know what to expect. You hear stories and see the sophomores from last year, but it’s been a really exciting and fun time. It can get a little hectic, but in a good way. It’s been really humbling talking to these schools and having offers from some of the top programs in the nation.”
Several SEC heavyweights extended offers to Sandland, including Florida, Georgia, LSU and Mississippi, though he took opportunities this summer to get a better feel for programs in other conferences. Pac-12 programs Arizona State, California and UCLA received unofficial visits, while Nebraska was the recipient of an official visit. This weekend, Sandland will travel for Oklahoma for his second official visit.
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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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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.