Oklahoma Football Recruiting: Grading The Sooners' 2011 Class
National Signing Day is here and with it comes another great class of players for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners did not get to the top of the college football world by sitting back and being lazy. They have worked hard on the recruiting trail year after year, building a solid foundation of great players that the program can build on for years to come.
2011 brings in a great class of 17 recruits. This class is not only full of talented players, but it is a class that is focused on addressing the needs of the team. That's the key in recruiting. Sure, it's great to stockpile lots of talent, but if you don't address needs, then all the talent in the world at other positions won't help you.
So without further ado, the grades for the top signings in the Oklahoma Sooners 2011 class.
To track the top signees, click here:
Trey Metoyer
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Position: Wide Receiver
Ht/Wt: 6-2, 185
Where he fits in best: On the outside. Metoyer is a big time player and can go up and get passes with ease. He's not going to blow you away with speed, but he will be a more physical receiver to complement Ryan Broyles and Kenny Stills.
Does it fill a void?: OU is certainly not lacking in the receiver department, but the addition of Metoyer makes this possibly the best wide receiver group in the country with him, Broyles, Stills, as well as Trey Franks and DeJuan Miller.
Grade: A+
Brandon Williams
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Position: Running Back
Ht/Wt: 6-0, 190
Where he fits in best: A very crowded backfield awaits Brandon Williams at Oklahoma. However, because he is such a talented player, it will be very difficult to keep him off the field. Williams could play the same role that Roy Finch did a year ago, coming off the bench to get a fair amount of the backfield work.
Does it fill a void?: Running back is a position that is never lacking at Oklahoma, but it certainly boosts the quality of the unit and lays a solid foundation for the future.
Grade: A
Marquis Anderson
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Position: Defensive Tackle
Ht/Wt: 6-2, 270
Where he fits in best: Anderson will see the field without a doubt. He needs to get some more bulk in order to be a force on the front lines, but some time in a college weight program will help him be able to do that.
Does it fill a void?: Yes. The defensive tackle position is the thinnest unit on the field for the Sooners, so this is a great pickup for Oklahoma.
Grade: A
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Nathan Hughes
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Position: Defensive End
Ht/Wt: 6-5, 257
Where he fits in best: Hughes has a ton of potential coming in to Norman. His frame is perfect for a defensive end and he could turn into a J.J. Watt-type player. Not sure how much he will see the field, but he will definitely make some appearances in 2011.
Does it fill a void?: Defensive end isn't as thin as defensive tackle, but it has a lot of more inexperienced players. Players like David King and RJ Washington are capable players, but haven't produced nearly as much as expected.
Grade: B+.
Jordan Wade
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Position: Defensive Tackle
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 290
Where he fits in best: Wade comes in with the size of a tackle and the potential to grow more. He will be on the field for the Sooners in 2011 and will also push the current players on the roster for more playing time
Does it fill a void?: As with Anderson, this is a big pickup for the Sooners in boosting the depth and talent pool on the interior of the defensive line.
Grade: A
Jordan Phillips
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Position: Defensive Tackle
Ht/Wt: 6-6, 290
Where he fits in best: Phillips is the third of the solid defensive tackles the Sooners have signed and will also play a key role in pushing others for playing time and seeing the field himself. Wade may be the best of the three when he is going full speed and at 100% effort.
Does it fill a void?: Absolutely. With the addition of these three tackles, the defensive line is pretty set for at least a few seasons.
Grade: A
Bennett Okotcha
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Position: Cornerback
Ht/Wt: 6-0, 175
Where he fits in best: An already crowded secondary awaits Okotcha. The Sooners' secondary is loaded with sophomores and juniors all vying for playing time, so the prospects of Okotcha seeing a lot of playing time are slim.
Does it fill a void?: The secondary was the deepest position for the Sooners before this signing, so this only strengthens that. Before Okotcha switched from Notre Dame to Oklahoma, there were no defensive backs in this class for OU.
Grade: B-
Danzel Williams
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Position: Running Back
Ht/Wt: 5-9, 190
Where he fits in best: Williams is listed as a running back, but really, he is just a great athlete. He can be used to fill in on kick returns as well as the running back position. He could possibly be used as a slot receiver as well.
Does it fill a void?: As an athlete, Williams will be able to play wherever the Sooners need him to play. He's a dynamic player and will see the field a lot during his time in Norman.
Grade: B+
Max Stevenson
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Position: Tight End
Ht/Wt: 6-6, 240
Where he fits in best: Stevenson is going to be a great tight end for the Sooners when his time comes. He is a great pass catcher and also a great blocker. A couple of people are ahead of him on the depth chart, but he will probably see the field some this season.
Does it fill a void?: With James Hanna, Trent Ratterree, and Austin Haywood already firmly in place at the tight end position, this move simply bolsters the depth there.
Grade: B
Kameel Jackson
10 of 11
Position: Wide Receiver
Ht/Wt: 6-0, 195
Where he fits in best: Jackson will definitely be a slot receiver at Oklahoma. His size and speed make him perfect for that role. Not sure how much he will be out on the field in 2011, but he will definitely have an impact in the future.
Does it fill a void?: Like with Metoyer, this signing bolsters an already great receiving corps.
Grade: B-
Summary
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Once again, the Oklahoma Sooners have brought in a stellar class. While not the biggest class or even the most dominating class it has ever had, it addressed some very important issues at key positions.
The biggest issue was defensive tackle and the depth at that position. Oklahoma addressed that by signing three great players, all highly rated. These three, Marquis Anderson, Jordan Wade, and Jordan Phillips will play a key role in bolstering the interior of the Sooners defensive line.
The key in recruiting isn't just getting the best players, but addressing needs. This is something that Oklahoma does extremely well and 2011 was not exception. This class helps the depth at various positions and also stockpiles talent for future seasons.
Overall Class Grade: A
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