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Sooners Working to Host First Junior Day

by:Sooner_Scoop•12/29/24
OU Brent Venables
Nov 9, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables reacts prior to a game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

The Sooner Scoop – December 29, 2024

Attention Ladies and Gentleman, I have an urgent and breaking Sooners news story!

With the Sooners 2024 season now at an end focus turns a bit toward the portal and, beyond that, 2026 recruiting. The Sooners already have a trio of commitments in Will Conroy, Ryder Mix, and Jaden O’Neal but they clearly have plans of signing a bigger group in ’26 than the 18 they signed in 2025.

And with that in mind the Sooners have set their first junior day for Jan. 25.

Obviously Oklahoma has some upheaval going on at the moment but already some strong names have confirmed they’ll be on campus soon.

Noah Best – OL – Midlothian, Texas – OU OFFER
Tavian Branch – DL – Taylor, Pa. – OU OFFER
Kevin Ford Jr. – EDGE – Duncanville, Texas – Top 250 – OU OFFER – Probable
Aljour Miles – WR – Kaufman, Texas – OU OFFER
Ryder Mix – TE – Frisco (Texas) Lone Star – OU COMMIT
Deacon Schmitt – OT – Windsor, Colo. – Four-Star – OU OFFER

Obviously there’s more names to be added but it’s a solid start for Oklahoma and we’ll keep updating the list over the next four weeks.

Sooners Impressing Big 10 Area DL Already

One of the names on the list that isn’t familiar to everyone yet is Tavian Branch, the big man from Pennsylvania caught the Sooners attention in November and has been connecting with Todd Bates ever since.

Branch says that he and Bates have talked a lot about the culture in Norman and those conversations have him ready to visit on Jan. 25.

As for what makes that culture the way it is?

“Just how they operate and what they believe in and what type of program they are,” Branch explained.

Branch seems pretty open to the process but obviously there’s a long way to go to be Oklahoma’s first Pennyslvania preps signee since Johncarlo Valentin in 2016.

OU in Surprising Shape

One player on the list that continues to surprise many with his interest in Oklahoma is Duncanville, Texas EDE Kevin Ford Jr. As Scoop continues to talk to sources, the Sooners have made a real impression and some around him even think Miguel Chavis has Oklahoma as high on his list as anyone.

“He really likes Oklahoma, his family likes Oklahoma, there’s a lot of comfort there,” a source said.

There has been some concern about how things are projecting into the future with Oklahoma but after the Alabama game it seems that Oklahoma is firmly in the race.

Linebacker Target Ready to See Sooners Again

A player that Oklahoma impressed during a visit last spring was St. Louis (Mo.) University safety Keenan Harris. For those that don’t remember Harris was a bit jarred during his visit that the Sooners were focusing on him at linebacker But he is set to return so it seems Oklahoma has come to an understanding.

“I plan on visiting Oregon, Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma for sure and we are planning for others,” Harris said. “We haven’t locked down any dates yet.”

Two Out of State Stars Ready to See Norman this Spring

While IMG’s Jake Kreul and Midland, Texas Pulelei’ite Primus won’t be able to make it on Jan. 25 that’s not to say they don’t have future plans.

“The only one I’m going to that I know of for sure is OU but that’s in February,” Primus admitted before saying he doesn’t have many plans for the spring to take trips.

A Portal Name to Watch

If you’re looking for the Sooners to make a move in the coming days, one name Scoop has heard is Oklahoma State transfer Kendal Daniels. The Sooners have had some interest but so far there hadn’t been a lot of action. On Sunday though some sources closer to Beggs seemed to indicate that he was listening to Oklahoma for the first time since entering the portal.

If the Sooners can truly put their foot to the pedal this seems like a situation that could come to pass.

We’ll keep watching.

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