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Sooners Continue to Draw Rave Reviews

by:Josh McCuistion•about 12 hours•

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Brent Venables44
OU HC Brent Venables. (Sarah Phipps - Imagn Images)

Oklahoma’s Future Freaks event has already been well documented as a big success and big reviews continue to roll in. The Sooners hosted a number of big men and few have seemed a bigger priority for Oklahoma from the outset than Gene Riordan of Hinsdale (Ill.) Central. The interior offensive lineman, On3’s No. 71 overall prospect in the class, is high on the Sooners and yesterday’s visit did nothing to stem that momentum.

“It was awesome. I had a fantastic day and loved watching coach (Bill) Bedenbaugh work hands on at practice. I felt very comfortable with the coaches and other recruits,” Riordan said.

“Besides Coach Bedenbaugh, I talked with Coach (Ben) Arbuckle and it’s always great to have a conversation with coach Clayton Woods.”

Riordan hasn’t finalized his official visit but it seems an incredibly likely visit for him.

Sooners Continue to Impress Specialist

Few players gush more about their visits to Norman than Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley Northwest kicker Trace Rudd. The talented specialist is ranked as a five-star kicker by Kohl’s kicking and continues to enjoy the bond he has built with Doug Deakin.

“Man it was awesome. The team and staff always are amazing to me,” Rudd said. “Seeing the practice and how quickly everything flows was eye opening. The dudes get after it every single play.”

While kickers can be dismissed sometimes Rudd said the Sooners kickers had plenty of eyes on their work during the practice he got to watch.

“[Oklahoma] ended practice with the team surrounding kickers and then letting it rip. I wanted to get my cleats on so bad,” he said.

Though Rudd remains without an offer from the Sooners he says that Deakin has been very transparent with him.

“No offer this visit and [I] just need to wait it out. With all the changes in rosters it will take time. I know where I stand with coach Deakin and we had a great talk,” he said.

Best of all for Rudd and the Sooners, he plans to return soon.

“It always feels like home when I am there and I’ll be back June 1 to kick again at the camp.”

OU Impresses Emerging In-State Star

Another prospect who arrived to Norman hoping to learn more about the Sooners thoughts on him was Edmond (Okla.) Santa Fe defensive tackle Jae’Lin Battle. The big defensive lineman, who took home DL MVP at Under Armour Dallas last month, came away far more informed on the Sooners.

“It was good, the whole coaching staff was welcoming and when we watched their practice I loved how fast it was and also how hype it was,” Battle said. “The d-line drills that [Todd Bates] works, I work them with my trainer so I could relate to them already.”

Battle also took some time to talk with a few of his former Wolves teammates who are now working in Norman.

“I got to talk to (David) Stone and my former teammates Bergin (Kysar) and Sosa [Josh Aisosa].”

For now though Battle is just going to work and continuing to try and garner the attention and interest of Bates and co. “I think they’ll come by for a practice and he also said come to camp so if I do good at camp I think I could get the opportunity.”

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