OU Recruiting: Positional Breakdown Of 2016 Class

<p>Since it's National Signing Day, here's a complete positional breakdown of the 2016 OU recruiting class</p>

Wednesday, February 3rd 2016, 6:11 pm

By: Brett Coppenbarger


We've almost completely made it through National Signing day, and OU's hard work on the recruiting trail has finally come into fruition as Bob Stoops and his staff were able to sign 19 recruits, with the Sooners biggest signee coming last with five-star linebacker Caleb Kelly's announcement. 

2/2/16: National Signing Day: Recapping The Last Ten OU Recruiting Classes

Here's a positional breakdown of what the Sooners are bringing in, but our very own Dean Blevins also had some thoughts on OU's recruiting efforts that can be seen here. 

All recruiting ratings are based off of 247Sports composite ranking, and we will be adding to the story throughout if there are any more updates. 

OFFENSE

Quarterback:

Austin Kendall (6-2, 210)-- Waxhaw, NC – He’s a four-star prospect and the No. 9 quarterback in the class and is already on campus in Norman. Bob Stoops has said a lot of good things about this kid, who was named the offensive MVP of his shrine bowl, so we can expect a bright future out of Kendall. He may be thrust in action right away, as he’ll likely be Baker Mayfield’s backup right out of the gates with both Cody Thomas’ and Trevor Knight leaving the team.

Running back:

Abdul Adams (6-0, 205)—Durham, NC—Adams is a four-star running back that bolstered offers from the likes of Alabama and Michigan State, and was committed to the Spartans for quite some time. He’s the No. 15 running back in the nation, and averaged more than 120 rushing yards per game in high school.

Wide receiver:

Zach Farrar (6-3, 210)—Southlake, TX—Farrar’s three-star prospect chose the Sooners over Mississippi State, and will play both football and basketball at OU. Farrar will be the lengthy receiver on the outside for the Sooners that they so desperately need.

Mykel Jones (6-1, 185)—Patterson, LA—Jones is a four-star prospect that chose OU over the likes of Alabama, Ole Miss and LSU. He’ll fit nicely into Lincoln Riley’s offense as a slot receiver, and Oklahoma can expect to hear his name often in the future.

Adrian Hardy (6-2, 185)—Houston , TX—Hardy played quarterback in high school, but is classified as an athlete throughout the recruiting process. He’s one of OU’s longest commits dating back to last March. Hardy is an incredible athlete, and may be one of the better players in all of Houston. Both Hardy and Mykel Jones should have successful careers as slot threats in Norman.

Offensive line:

Erik Swenson (6-5, 300)—Downers Grove, IL—Swenson made national headlines after Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh pulled his scholarship offer just a month before signing day, despite Swenson’s longtime commitment to the Wolverines. What was Michigan’s loss, is OU’s gain as Swenson will have time to develop behind current OU tackles Orlando Brown and Dru Samia.

Johncarlo Valentin (6-5, 330)—Philadelphia, PA—Valentin picked the Sooners over Arizona State, and comes in as the highest touted lineman in the class. He’s said a lot of good things about his recruiting process, and don’t be surprised to see him contribute sooner than later.

Ashton Julious (6-8, 330)—Scranton ,PA)—Julious is the No. 15 guard in the class and the No. 9 player in Pennsylvania. He’s already enrolled and on campus, but won’t be needed immediately. He’s very athletic for a lineman and should make a push for playing time.

Ben Powers (6-5, 315)—El Dorado, KS—Powers is a three-star prospect who’s also already enrolled on campus. He went the JUCO route out of high school, which resulted in many offers after just one season. Powers is a superb run blocker and should see the field relatively soon.

Logan Roberson (6-5, 318)—Harrah, OK—Roberson is an in-state prospect who’s already enrolled and on campus. He can run block with the best of them, and will have a solid career at OU. He will have a lot of competition early, but if he continues to develop like he has in the last year he should be in good shape.

DEFENSE

Linebackers

Caleb Kelly (6-3, 214)-- Fresno, CA-- Kelly was the biggest Sooner signee of the class, and will make an immediate impact in Norman as a five-star linebacker. With OU losing a lot of depth at the linebacker position, Kelly knew that coming to OU most likely meant early playing time, and no one questions what this kid is capable of. Kelly is a speedy linebacker and will be able to cover the entire field for OU, and his overall toughness should be contagious throughout Mike Stoops' defense. 

Bryce Youngquist (6-2, 210)—Rancho Cucamonga, CA—Youngquist is a hard commit for the Sooners, but has decided to not sign on NSD due to personal reasons. Youngquist is a four-star stud, and should be able to come in and compete immediately due to the Sooners lack of depth at linebacker.At his press conference, Stoops couldn't say whether Youngquist would for sure sign in the future, but did reaffirm his commitment. 

Joh-Michael Terry (6-3, 220)—Tulsa, OK—Terry is a three-star prospect, but Bob Stoops has said he could be the most underrated player in the class. He averaged 14.6 tackles per game last season and is very quick on his feet.

Kapri Doucet (6-2, 225)—Scranton, PA—Doucet was at a community college last season, but is a three-star prospect and the No. 3 player in the state of Virginia. Doucet is very versatile and will be able to play in on the inside or outside.

Emmanuel Beal (6-2, 215)—Scranton, PA—Coming from the same community college as Doucet, Beal chose the Sooners over Arizona. Beal is a tremendous pass rusher and should be able to get to the quarterback with his speed.

Defensive ends

Amani Bledsoe (6-5, 263)—Lawrence Kansas—Bledsoe had a plethora of top offers, but the Sooners were able to sneak Bledsoe out of the Sunflower State and he should be able to use his size to get on the field sooner than later.

Mark Jackson Jr. (6-2, 221)—Steele, TX—OU was able to flip this Texas A&M commitment earlier this week, and there’s a lot of hype surrounding the four-star Steele product. Jackson Jr. is a top 200 player in the nation, and should find himself making a heavy impact during his career at OU.

Defensive backs

Jordan Parker (5-11, 184)—Pittsburg, CA—Parker’s a four-star prospect that chose the Sooners over UCLA, partially due to his close relationship with current OU running back Joe Mixon. OU has done well in the state of California in recent years, and signing an elite talent like Parker is more evidence of that.

Parnell Motley (6-1, 170)—Washington, D.C.—Motley flipped his commitment from Maryland to the Sooners back in December, and he should be able to continue his success on the football field at OU. Motley had other offers from schools such as Clemson, Michigan State and LSU, so it’s obvious this kid can play.

Chanse Sylvie (6-0, 186)—Shreveport, LA—Sylvie is a stud safety, and is already enrolled and on campus at OU. He’s a four-star prospect and the No. 184 player in the country, so look for him to make an impact in a couple of years in the OU secondary. 

OFFENSE

Quarterback:

Austin Kendall (6-2, 210)-- Waxhaw, NC – He’s a four-star prospect and the No. 9 quarterback in the class and is already on campus in Norman. Bob Stoops has said a lot of good things about this kid, who was named the offensive MVP of his shrine bowl, so we can expect a bright future out of Kendall. He may be thrust in action right away, as he’ll likely be Baker Mayfield’s backup right out of the gates with both Cody Thomas’ and Trevor Knight leaving the team.

Running back:

Abdul Adams (6-0, 205)—Durham, NC—Adams is a four-star running back that bolstered offers from the likes of Alabama and Michigan State, and was committed to the Spartans for quite some time. He’s the No. 15 running back in the nation, and averaged more than 120 rushing yards per game in high school.

Wide receiver:

Zach Farrar (6-3, 210)—Southlake, TX—Farrar’s three-star prospect chose the Sooners over Mississippi State, and will play both football and basketball at OU. Farrar will be the lengthy receiver on the outside for the Sooners that they so desperately need.

Mykel Jones (6-1, 185)—Patterson, LA—Jones is a four-star prospect that chose OU over the likes of Alabama, Ole Miss and LSU. He’ll fit nicely into Lincoln Riley’s offense as a slot receiver, and Oklahoma can expect to hear his name often in the future.

Adrian Hardy (6-2, 185)—Houston , TX—Hardy played quarterback in high school, but is classified as an athlete throughout the recruiting process. He’s one of OU’s longest commits dating back to last March. Hardy is an incredible athlete, and may be one of the better players in all of Houston. Both Hardy and Mykel Jones should have successful careers as slot threats in Norman.

Offensive line:

Erik Swenson (6-5, 300)—Downers Grove, IL—Swenson made national headlines after Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh pulled his scholarship offer just a month before signing day, despite Swenson’s longtime commitment to the Wolverines. What was Michigan’s loss, is OU’s gain as Swenson will have time to develop behind current OU tackles Orlando Brown and Dru Samia.

Johncarlo Valentin (6-5, 330)—Philadelphia, PA—Valentin picked the Sooners over Arizona State, and comes in as the highest touted lineman in the class. He’s said a lot of good things about his recruiting process, and don’t be surprised to see him contribute sooner than later.

Ashton Julious (6-8, 330)—Scranton ,PA)—Julious is the No. 15 guard in the class and the No. 9 player in Pennsylvania. He’s already enrolled and on campus, but won’t be needed immediately. He’s very athletic for a lineman and should make a push for playing time.

Ben Powers (6-5, 315)—El Dorado, KS—Powers is a three-star prospect who’s also already enrolled on campus. He went the JUCO route out of high school, which resulted in many offers after just one season. Powers is a superb run blocker and should see the field relatively soon.

Logan Roberson (6-5, 318)—Harrah, OK—Roberson is an in-state prospect who’s already enrolled and on campus. He can run block with the best of them, and will have a solid career at OU. He will have a lot of competition early, but if he continues to develop like he has in the last year he should be in good shape.

DEFENSE

Linebackers

Caleb Kelly (6-3, 214)-- Fresno, CA-- Kelly was the biggest Sooner signee of the class, and will make an immediate impact in Norman as a five-star linebacker. With OU losing a lot of depth at the linebacker position, Kelly knew that coming to OU most likely meant early playing time, and no one questions what this kid is capable of. Kelly is a speedy linebacker and will be able to cover the entire field for OU, and his overall toughness should be contagious throughout Mike Stoops' defense. 

Bryce Youngquist (6-2, 210)—Rancho Cucamonga, CA—Youngquist is a hard commit for the Sooners, but has decided to not sign on NSD due to personal reasons. Youngquist is a four-star stud, and should be able to come in and compete immediately due to the Sooners lack of depth at linebacker.At his press conference, Stoops couldn't say whether Youngquist would for sure sign in the future, but did reaffirm his commitment. 

pic.twitter.com/K2D4PfpQaS

— Bryce Youngquist (@49BryceFootball) February 1, 2016

Joh-Michael Terry (6-3, 220)—Tulsa, OK—Terry is a three-star prospect, but Bob Stoops has said he could be the most underrated player in the class. He averaged 14.6 tackles per game last season and is very quick on his feet.

Stoops insisting that Tulsa Victory Christian 6-3, 230 ILB Jon-Michael Terry is highly underrated & a major get w "everyone" wanting him.

— Dean Blevins (@DeanBlevins) February 3, 2016

Kapri Doucet (6-2, 225)—Scranton, PA—Doucet was at a community college last season, but is a three-star prospect and the No. 3 player in the state of Virginia. Doucet is very versatile and will be able to play in on the inside or outside.

Emmanuel Beal (6-2, 215)—Scranton, PA—Coming from the same community college as Doucet, Beal chose the Sooners over Arizona. Beal is a tremendous pass rusher and should be able to get to the quarterback with his speed.

Defensive ends

Amani Bledsoe (6-5, 263)—Lawrence Kansas—Bledsoe had a plethora of top offers, but the Sooners were able to sneak Bledsoe out of the Sunflower State and he should be able to use his size to get on the field sooner than later.

Mark Jackson Jr. (6-2, 221)—Steele, TX—OU was able to flip this Texas A&M commitment earlier this week, and there’s a lot of hype surrounding the four-star Steele product. Jackson Jr. is a top 200 player in the nation, and should find himself making a heavy impact during his career at OU.

Defensive backs

Jordan Parker (5-11, 184)—Pittsburg, CA—Parker’s a four-star prospect that chose the Sooners over UCLA, partially due to his close relationship with current OU running back Joe Mixon. OU has done well in the state of California in recent years, and signing an elite talent like Parker is more evidence of that.

Parnell Motley (6-1, 170)—Washington, D.C.—Motley flipped his commitment from Maryland to the Sooners back in December, and he should be able to continue his success on the football field at OU. Motley had other offers from schools such as Clemson, Michigan State and LSU, so it’s obvious this kid can play.

Chanse Sylvie (6-0, 186)—Shreveport, LA—Sylvie is a stud safety, and is already enrolled and on campus at OU. He’s a four-star prospect and the No. 184 player in the country, so look for him to make an impact in a couple of years in the OU secondary. 

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Since it's National Signing Day, here's a complete positional breakdown of the 2016 OU recruiting class

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