Amani Bledsoe to Oklahoma: Sooners Land 4-Star DE Prospect

The Oklahoma Sooners added to their talent stockpile Thursday when they received a commitment from 4-star defensive end Amani Bledsoe. 

According to Randy Withers of KansasGridiron.com, Bledsoe chose the Sooners over the Kansas Jayhawks. 

247Sports' composite rankings list Bledsoe as the 155th overall player in the class of 2016 and as the eighth-best strong-side defensive end. Among players in the state of Kansas, only one rated higher than him. 

Based on Bledsoe's measurements alone, it's easy to see why schools such as Baylor, Oregon, N.C. State, Kansas, Miami, Missouri, UCLA and Oklahoma State coveted him. The Lawrence, Kansas, native checks in at 6'5'' and 263 pounds, and he tormented high school opponents as he evolved into a physical freak. 

"So explosive, so powerful, sometimes it’s not fair," Bledsoe's high school head coach, Dirk Wedd, said, per 247Sports' Steve Wiltfong.    

Wedd also spoke highly of Bledsoe's character and his ability to double as a special teams ace: "He’s the most unselfish kid I’ve ever seen. He has two blocked punts for touchdowns. When you get your best football player to sell his soul on special teams that rubs off on everybody else. He cares about his teammates. He’s a very caring kid and an unbelievable student."

Since he's already physically qualified to compete at the collegiate level, Bledsoe is a compelling candidate to make an impact as a freshman. But regardless of when his breakout moment occurs, Bledsoe is a fascinating under-the-radar candidate to monitor after building a stellar track record of success in Kansas. 

The pickup is also huge for the Sooners, who watched 4-star defensive tackle Chris Daniels decommit Wednesday. Bledsoe's decision should allow head coach Bob Stoops and Co. to breathe a sigh of relief as they seek to add more top-tier defensive line prospects in the coming weeks. 

Recruit rankings courtesy of 247Sports.