Brandon Inniss: 'I love everything about Oklahoma'
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Oklahoma Sooners are red-hot in 2023. Lincoln Riley and the staff in Norman have landed commitments from elite offensive playmakers from Florida to California, and from the home state of Oklahoma already.
Top 100 wide receiver Brandon Inniss joined five-star quarterback Malachi Nelson, four-star athlete Makai Lemon, four-star running back Treyaun Webb and four-star tight end Luke Hasz on the Sooner commitment list Sunday afternoon.
The stars on the offensive side of the ball are lining up to play in Riley’s offense and Inniss can’t wait.
“What coach Riley and Oklahoma do on offense is the best in the country,” Inniss said. “You can’t help but get excited when you watch Oklahoma play. I love the plays they run, how they spread the ball around and I just see it as the perfect fit for me.”
Picking Oklahoma was easy for Brandon Inniss
Brandon Inniss, the well-known wide receiver in south Florida, had around 40 offers when he committed to Oklahoma. Of course, there is a lot of Miami fans in his ears, then you have Florida and Florida State fans all around as well.
It was his decision, though. He talked it out with his family and it was not very difficult.
“My dad was always about it being about what I feel best about,” Inniss said. “My mom did like the idea of me staying close to home, but once we talked about it and she knew how I felt about Oklahoma, it was great.
“For me, it wasn’t too hard. I knew it was Oklahoma for me because of the feeling I had. I felt differently about them. I can’t even describe the feeling I had when I was at Oklahoma. It was something I hadn’t felt before. I love everything about Oklahoma.”
Inniss said Alabama, Miami and Ohio State were others he considered and that he still will visit over the next 16 months before he signs.
OU jumped on Inniss in spring of 2020
Brandon Inniss was a receiver picking up offers very early in his high school career. Oklahoma jumped in over a year ago in March 2020. Right around the time COVID-19 hit, Oklahoma really got involved in Inniss’ recruitment and it never slowed down from there.
“They have been recruiting me so hard from the very beginning of spring last year,” Inniss said. “We got on the phone a good bit. Mario Williams is a receiver there from Florida, and he would set things up for me to call the coaches. That is how it started.
“Over time, we started doing Zoom calls, virtual visits, FaceTime calls and we just developed a strong relationship.”
Riley was highly involved, but wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons was the lead recruiter. Inniss feels very close with the coaching staff and people in Norman.
“I was out there for the cookout in June and it couldn’t have gone any better,” Inniss said. “I loved being around the players and the coaches. That feeling I had then let me know I had made my decision.
“The people at Oklahoma are great, and I get along with them all.”
Lincoln Riley offense excites Inniss
Oklahoma scores points. A lot of points. Under Riley, they are averaging 44 points a game over the last five seasons.
The numbers show the head coach of the Sooners has an offensive mind.
“Coach Riley has a lot of energy, and I love his mind about offense,” Brandon Inniss said. “His mindset is just different when approaching offense. He thinks different. He approaches it differently at practice. It is different for him on game days. Coach Riley knows how to call games and prepare his team, so playing in his offense has me so excited.
“I would call his offense electric. They run different concepts to get the ball to open receivers and running backs, so I love what he does. He knows how to draw up plays, be creative and get his playmakers the ball. It is crazy to think about how good the Oklahoma offense is.”
Brandon Inniss expects to win titles at OU
Lincoln Riley has won Big 12 titles and taken the Sooners to the College Football Playoff, but he has not won the national championship – yet.
Brandon Inniss feels that is coming soon.
“I feel Oklahoma can win it all this year,” Inniss said. “They have talent. People are sleeping on the defense. The offense is always top-notch, so the points will be there. I think it is coming.”
His class will only help make that even more possible in the coming years.
“I don’t think I am the missing piece or we are the class that takes it over the top, but this 2023 class is strong and we expect to do big things,” he said. “I know we are going to come in with the plan to with everything.
“I think Oklahoma can do it before we even get there though. The team is ready now.”