Our generation grew up watching the movie “Back to the Future” where we were able to relive the good old days. It would be cool to do that with the Bud years. Bud and OU put Oklahoma on the map with winning streaks and National Championships. One of the things that stood out during those years was recruiting and player development.
After a lull, the Sooners welcomed in the next generation of National Championships with Barry Switzer who was the greatest recruiter of all time. Three more National Championships went on the board.
With the exception of a temporary respite in 2000 for Bob’s National Championship, the OU terrain has been parched since the Barry days, some 35 years ago. While Bob Stoops was never considered a great recruiter perse’, he did add a major recruiting piece to the puzzle that in the end may best them all.
Bob Stoops recruited Lincoln Riley who in turn recruited a staff full of top-of-the-line coaches and yes, recruiters. Lincoln has brought back visions of Barry Switzer with the talent he has brought to campus this year.
Between previously recruited players, players recruited via the transfer portal and this incoming freshman class, we are headed to the top of the college football world once again. Taking a look at the Class of 2021 tells the tale of the tape.
Ten members of the Class of 2021 enrolled in school back in December and went through spring drills. I have borrowed some of the comments from John Thune from OUinsider and two upperclassmen to underscore the prowess of this group.
Here is a quote from Linebacker Dashaun White… “I will honestly say that I think this class came is light-years ahead of where our class was”. “They’re so locked in; they’re so mature, which is really rare to see from a group of freshmen. I think the sky’s the limit for this group.”
Defensive back Jaden Davis concurs with White by saying “They came in with a different kind of hunger, with a different kind of mentality. And it’s a testament to Coach Grinch, the recruiting and the mentality and the standard that we’re building at Oklahoma.”
John Thune writes… Throughout the spring, every player and coach that’s spoken to the media has echoed one common sentiment: Oklahoma’s freshman class is special.
If this does not get your Crimson blood pumping, I would call my doctor. As elder statesmen we love to revel in the glory days of OU football, but we also want more. We want a return to the top of college football world on a permanent basis and we want National Championships.
And I believe it’s coming…move over Dabo and Nick, there’s going to be new Lincoln parked in the National Championship garage Sooner rather than later.
Boomer Sooner…
sportsprofessor 