Oklahoma and Clemson lead way in weekend recruiting frenzy
Last weekend will go a long way in getting Oklahoma and Clemson into future College Football Playoffs.
The weekend was one of the most action-packed in recent memory in the recruiting world. Commitments came in like waves off a choppy sea.
A group of elite prospects committed to schools.
Tyler Booker committed to Alabama. Keon Sabb chose Clemson. Daylen Everette committed to Clemson. Gunner Givens committed to Virginia Tech. Kaytron Allen picked Penn State.
Kaden Helms announced he’d be an Oklahoma Sooner. TreVonte’ Citizen committed to LSU.
Benjamin Morrison committed to Notre Dame. Moses Walker committed to Rutgers.
Oklahoma lands two big pieces to their 2023 class
The Sooners landed their first commit in the class of 2023.
Trayaun Webb is the Sooners’ first commit in the class.
Malachi Nelson committed to Oklahoma. Nelson is a top quarterback in the class of 2023.
Which player will have the biggest impact on their new program?
A lot of good football players shuffled the power structure of college football last weekend.
Recent history shows us that landing a big-time quarterback leads to success. Clemson landed Trevor Lawrence and won the national championship the following season. LSU got Joe Burrow, albeit via transfer, and the national championship win followed.
Justin Fields transferred to Ohio State. As a result, the Buckeyes made two College Football Playoffs, one of those a National Championship Game. Fields was a five star in the class of 2018.
The easy answer is Nelson.
Nelson is in a position to play early in his career at Oklahoma. Lincoln Riley and staff have sent quarterbacks to the NFL for the last three of the last four years. As a result, Riley keeps landing talented quarterbacks.
Former five-star, Spencer Rattler is projected to go high in this year’s draft. Rattler was a Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist as a redshirt freshman.
If Rattler goes pro, the Sooners could hand the keys over to another former five-star recruit in Caleb Williams.
Williams would have at least year of separation between himself and Nelson.
Theoretically, Nelson could redshirt like Rattler did and have two or three years as the lead man in Riley’s offense.
The last quarterback that started for Riley for two or more seasons was Baker Mayfield. In his final season Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy.
Nelson’s path in Norman sets up to be an interesting and impactful one.
Which non-quarterback will have the biggest impact at their new program?
Picking the quarterback was easy. It was a cop out almost. So, the non-quarterback of this week’s commits that could have the biggest impact is Tyler Booker at Alabama.
Nick Saban and Alabama produce pros at a higher rate than any program in America. Alabama always seems to have a bookend offensive tackle selected high in the NFL Draft.
Booker could be the latest in that group.
He’s athletic, smooth in pass protection, physical, the works. He could plug in at many high power five programs as a freshman and be a solid starter. At Alabama, he may be forced to wait. Whenever Booker does find the field, it will be because he’s better than a lot of good football players.
Playing well for the Crimson Tide comes with high draft pick potential. In conclusion, this athletic tackle fits the bill as a high impact player for the defending national champions.
Commitments to watch
Dayne Shor, offensive tackle, Denmark High School, GA, Class of 2022
Shor will announce his college decision on July 31. He will choose between Georgia, Oregon, Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida, Texas A&M and Tennessee.
Branson Robinson, Running back, Germantown High School, MS, Class of 2022
The Germantown star will announce his commitment on July 22.
Robinson is a top five running back in the class of 2022. He will decide between Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, LSU and Tennessee.
Dani Dennis-Sutton, Defensive lineman, McDonogh, MD, Class of 2022
Dennis-Sutton will announce on July 22. He will pick between Alabama, Georgia and Penn State.