Oklahoma Sooners

No position gets scrutinized more in the recruiting world than quarterback. A prime example of that was Oklahoma’s pursuit to find the perfect signal-caller for its 2013 class. In most years, schools are only looking for one quarterback. It takes time and a lot of effort.

For the Sooners, it wasn’t easy. There were a lot of bumps and turns in the road, but OU landed one of its prime targets in Cody Thomas (Colleyville, Texas/Heritage). Thomas, a four-star prospect, is ranked No. 11 as a pocket-passing quarterback and verbally committed to the Sooners on Tuesday even though he went public with the news on Thursday.

How did we get here? A timeline of Oklahoma's quarterback search for the class of 2013.

November 2011: Quarterback Tyrone Swoopes (Whitewright, Texas/Whitewright) attends Oklahoma’s victory against Texas A&M. It is on this weekend that Swoopes says his OU offer was implied, and he is clearly one of OU’s top choices.

Feb. 3, 2012: A day before OU’s first junior day, the Sooners make their first known offer at the position to four-star prospect Max Browne (Sammamish, Wash./Skyline).

Feb. 4: OU’s first junior day brings in two top quarterbacks. Swoopes is joined by top in-state signal-caller Brayden Scott (Tahlequah, Okla./Sequoyah). Swoopes is happy with the visit but not blown away by everything. Scott doesn’t receive an offer but is told by OU quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel they will stay in contact.

Quarterback Kelly Hilinski (Sherman Oaks, Calif./Notre Dame) is invited initially before being asked by Heupel to stay home. Quarterback J.T. Barrett (Wichita Falls, Texas/Rider) is also invited but cannot attend.

Feb. 17: Swoopes, ranked the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the country and coming off a fantastic visit at Texas’ junior day, commits to the Longhorns. He is ranked No. 9 in the ESPN 150.

March 3: On OU’s second junior day, there is not much focus on quarterbacks. Barrett once again is invited but cannot make it. Austin Robinson (Houston/Bellaire Episcopal) is invited, but the distance keeps him from making the trip.

March 9: Browne makes an unofficial visit to OU. He is given the red-carpet treatment by the staff. He is shown the Sooners’ target board. It’s Browne at No. 1 ... and then everybody else. Browne says he could not have had a better time and has OU and USC as his top two choices.

March 28: A new name enters in Cody Thomas. Busy with baseball, Thomas manages to sneak in an unofficial visit on a Wednesday. He is not offered and is told by Heupel they will keep in touch.

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The SoonerNation staff -- joined by ESPN.com Midlands recruiting writer Damon Sayles -- held a live chat on our forum Thursday night to talk about OU football and recruiting. Check out the full transcript here.

Here are a few highlights from the chat:

From ari20dal7: Of OU's current QB recruits, who has the highest ceiling as a Sooner? Who has the most bust potential?

Bob Przybylo: I think Cody Thomas has the highest ceiling. Love his film, love his measureables and enjoyed talking to him at the Elite 11 event three weeks ago. With that said, all three have questions.

1. Brayden Scott - Will he grow? 6-2 is nice, but 6-4, 6-5, would be better. He dominates the Oklahoma HS scene, but what does that really mean at a 3A level?

2. Kelly Hilinski - Got the passion, but does he have the game? His footwork is a real concern. Everybody thinks he will blow up with offers, but it's mid-April, and it still hasn't happened yet. Gotta be a reason, right?

3. Cody Thomas - It's all about baseball. If OU takes a chance on Thomas and then he elects to play baseball instead, well, yea, don't really to illustrate how tough that will be.

It's sad you have to nitpick like this, but when you're looking for your potential future quarterback, it's what you have to do. I've enjoyed getting to know all three. And regardless of what some have told me, no, I really don't have a dog in the race.

From SoonersFanSteve: Who do you seeing getting the most time at slot this year?

Jake Trotter: That's a tough one. Probably Trey Franks, but it wouldn't shock me if Kenny Stills gets a lot of time there.

Brandon Chatmon: Ideally you move Kenny or Trey Metoyer in there because the bottom line is you need a playmaker at slot so why not throw Metoyer in there a little bit this season, why wait? All this said, I wouldn't be shocked to see a freshmen come in and become a key rotation player in the slot, particularly late in the season.

From S O O N E R S: Looking ahead to 2014 recruiting.... Do you think OU will see a bounce in signings on the defensive side of the ball due to Mike Stoops and Tim Kish having been in place for a full year and being more rooted in the program?

Damon Sayles: A year in the system helps anybody ... even when your last name is Stoops. The Sooners will have a great chance to evaluate what they have and what they need probably by the fourth or fifth game, and the coaches will be ready to rock and roll with the 2014 class. Personally, I think it's all about taking the aggressive approach and gunning for who you want. Look where it's gotten Texas A&M with the 2013 class thus far.

SoonerNation writer Jake Trotter chatted with readers Monday. Here's the full transcript. If you didn't get your question answered, send it to Jake's mailbag to be published on Friday.

Here are a few highlights from the chat:

Jess (Oklahoma): Thoughts on Chaz Nelson and the D-line as a whole?

Jake Trotter: I think Chaz will help. His speed gives the position a change of pace off the sidelines. The starters there, though, will be King and R.J., with some combination of Walker, McGee and McFarland starting at tackle. The line has a chance to be good, but replacing Frank Alexander and Ronnell Lewis is not going to be easy.

Andy (OKC): Do u think Kenny Stills will play the slot receiver position this year?

Jake Trotter: I think that's a possibility, although I don't know if I see him as the full-time slot guy the way Broyles was. But with Metoyer coming on, they need to find a way to get both he and Stills on the field at the same time. That could require Stills sliding to the slot on occasion.

Adam (Wagoner, OK): What do you see as the biggest positive and negative to this upcoming team?

Jake Trotter: Positives: Veteran QB, several potential playmakers, veteran line, battle-tested LBs, 3 stars in the secondary; Negatives: No proven No. 1 WR, injury prone RBs, no experienced TE, questionable as to whether there are any difference makers on the d-line, return game.

Joshua (Lawton): With a QB corps of Blake Bell, Drew Allen, Kendal Thompson, Trevor Knight, and potentially Brayden Scott/Kelly Hilinski...which QB is most likely to transfer?

Jake Trotter: I can't see any of them transferring. Allen will be a senior next year, it makes no sense for him to transfer if he loses the job to Bell. Bell could still start his senior year, even if he loses the job to Allen, and could still operate the Belldozer. Thompson could always play another position if QB didn't work out. Knight is the only QB in his class, and really the only upperclassmen he would have to beat out would be Thompson.