Oklahoma Recruiting Wish List: Five Possibilities to Close Shop For 2011

Oklahoma currently sports the No. 3 recruiting class in the country and with 18 commitments already on the books the Sooners are approaching the end of their 2011 recruiting campaign, barring any more decommitments. 

Based on the current makeup of the roster Oklahoma will likely utilize only three more scholarships so at this point it needs to start getting very selective as to whom it chooses to wrap things up for 2011. 

You can check out a great breakdown of the Sooners' scholarship situation at Yardbarker.com.

We've identified five high-profile prospects who are high on Oklahoma's radar and include the Sooners among their top choices. All of them fill areas of need and would each be great additions to the mix. 

Of course, the Sooners can't bring them all in, so it remains to be seen which among them will don a Sooners jersey in 2011. 

Oklahoma's Current 2011 Recruiting Class

Five-Star Commitments: 2
Four-Star Commitments: 7
Three-Star Commitments: 9

For a while the Sooners didn't have any recruits for 2011 that had received five-star grades, but that recently changed when running back Brandon Williams and wide receiver Trey Metoyer were finally elevated from their ranks among the four-star talent.

Add in four-star talent at quarterback, running back, tight end, defensive tackle, defensive end, linebacker, and safety, and things are looking very good for Oklahoma.

But there are still a few areas the Sooners could use some improvement to really make this class stand out. 

Colt Lyerla, ATH

Lyerla plays both tight end and outside linebacker in high school, but his future looks like it'll be on the defensive side of the ball. He's very athletic and displays some of the most fluid movements of any defender his size in the country. 

At 6'5" and 225 lbs, he moves like a wide receiver with the hitting ability and aggressive tendencies of a linebacker. 

It's a near-perfect combination of attributes for an outside linebacker who can either rush the passer or drop back in to cover depending on the down. 

There's a reason he's earned a five-star grade. Not many athletes out there offer his type of versatility on defense. 

The news on Lyerla has been quiet the last couple months beyond refuting that his final three choices were USC, Miami, and Oregon. He's previously listed Oregon State, Oklahoma, and UCLA as other options in the mix. 

Anthony Wallace, MLB

Wallace is a perfect fit at middle linebacker. He's got the prototypical size that's ideal for the position and a great natural frame to build off of. 

He's a very smart player who can cover both the run and the pass extremely well, but his coverage skills are really what stand out. Right now his technique is raw, but when he drops back the instincts are incredible. 

Watching him get free in pursuit is like watching a predator hunt. He zones in on the ball-carrier and just attacks them. Wallace is one of those players that is always around the ball. Once he gets bigger he might end up being the best linebacker from the class. 

He's probably going to wait until NSD to commit, but right now Miami, Arkansas, and Oklahoma are the favorites. He's had a lot of good things to say about all three schools, but when it came to Miami he seemed to brighten up the most. 

The Sooners have plenty of time to make up ground though and have a very good shot at landing Wallace.

DeAnthony Arnett, WR

Arnett is one of the top receivers in the country, but doesn't receive the same attention as the likes of George Farmer or Kasen Williams. The reality is while they might have more upside, Arnett is ready-now and could make a bigger instant impact. 

He's great at creating separation from defenders and runs some of the smoothest and polished routes of any receiver from the 2011 recruiting class. 

He's on the small side at 6' and 175 lbs, but he has great elevation and consistently gets up high to make the catch. His body control and catching ability are really impressive, especially when it comes to making plays in traffic. 

Arnett needs to bulk up so he doesn't get overpowered at the line of scrimmage, but thats a matter of when, not if. 

His top five choices are USC, Iowa, Michigan State, Tennessee, and Oklahoma, with the Trojans the favorites at the moment. 

Chris Barnett, TE

Barnett is one of the top tight ends in the country, ranked No. 7 at his position by Scout and No. 15 by Rivals.

He's one of the most versatile athletes in the class and literally can do it all on the high school level. He played both sides of the ball as a running back, receiver, tight end, quarterback, offensive lineman, defensive lineman, linebacker, and even safety.

Of course most of his minutes and production came as a tight end, but it speaks volumes toward his abilities as a football player that he was able to succeed in so many different roles.

As a tight end, he's the all-around package and one of the best pass-catchers in the nation.

Sooners fans might harbor ill-feelings toward Barnett considering he was originally committed to Oklahoma before decommitting earlier this year. 

But Oklahoma isn't out of the running yet. It joins Miami and Arkansas in Barnett's top three choices and very well may get the coveted prospect back. 

Charles Jackson, CB

At 5'11" and 180 lbs, Jackson has a great natural build for a cornerback with some wide shoulders, very long arms, and a strong pair of legs.

He's got a great nose for the ball and is an aggressive player who's always trying to make the big play, though that gets him into trouble at times; Jackson will need to learn to play more disciplined at the next level. 

Jackson moves really well and has quick feet and some of the best hip movement of the 2011 recruiting class. When he zones in on the ball-carrier or a pass in the air he can really turn on the jets and make things happen. 

If you're looking for a playmaker, he's one of the best out there. 

At this point in the recruiting game it looks like it's down to just Oklahoma and Texas A&M to land Rivals No. 8 cornerback and the Sooners are considered the favorites at the moment.