NORMAN — Losing soccer video games is one type of dangerous news. Losing recruits is one other.
Oklahoma apparently can anticipate some dangerous news on the recruiting entrance, as 247 Sports is predicting that 4-star defensive finish Colton Vasek will decommit quickly and is extensively believed will pledge to Texas.
Vasek, the No. 127-ranked participant within the 2023 class, in accordance to the 247 Sports Composite and the No. 17 edge rusher within the nation, has been dedicated to OU since Aug. 1, however the Longhorns and coach Steve Sarkisian have been following that dedication with a tough recruiting push.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Vasek is the son of Texas alumni dad and mom and hails from Austin, the place he performs for Westlake High School. His father Brian Vasek was a UT defensive finish from 1991-95.
Three 247 Sports recruiting analysts, together with director of soccer recruiting Steve Wiltfong and OU recruiting insider Parker Thune, posted their “crystal ball” predicting Vasek would quickly flip.
Vasek’s defection could be one other blow — and by far the largest thus far — for Brent Venables’ first recruiting class.
In Venables’ first 12 months, his 2023 class reached as excessive as No. 3 within the 247 Sports nationwide recruiting rankings, however slipped to No. 6 final week behind Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, LSU and Ohio State after Virginia linebacker Kaleb Spencer decommitted on Oct. 28. Wide receiver Ashton Cozart flipped to Oregon in February.
Now, after shedding to Baylor over the weekend, the Sooners are 5-4 this season, with consecutive losses to Kansas State, TCU and Texas.
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As anticipated, Vasek’s curiosity in Texas has picked up because the Longhorns’ curiosity in him elevated.
The 49-0 Longhorn blitzkrieg within the Cotton Bowl on Oct. 8 probably had as a lot to do with Vasek’s decisions as his burnt orange legacy or proximity to the Forty Acres. With Vasek watching as an OU recruit, quarterback Dillon Gabriel missed the sport with a concussion and the Sooners weren’t aggressive as they misplaced to Texas for the primary time since 2018.
Things improved barely for Venables because the Sooners beat Kansas and Iowa State, however the loss to Baylor — in addition to the blowout to TCU and the house setback in opposition to Ok-State — did nothing to impress recruits and future prospects.
Meanwhile, Vasek continued to take quite a few unofficial visits to Texas and started to just like the Longhorns increasingly.
Last spring, Venables made headlines for his stance on dedicated prospects persevering with to take visits to different colleges.
“Hey, we’re not trying to force commitment,” he mentioned. “Do not commit here until you’re ready to make a commitment. Because a commitment is not a reservation.
“I’m not gonna apologize for this. What we tell them … take as many visits as you want (before committing). I think, personally, that the Oklahoma brand will stick out.
“We’re trying to be the example of trying to do it the right way. Right, wrong or indifferent. But I tell ‘em, ‘I don’t want a guy to commit. Do. Not. Commit.’ Like, ‘Hey, Coach, I’m ready to commit.’ ‘Hey, buddy, here’s what commitment looks like, now. OK? I want to make sure that you know that you know that you know that you know.’
“I’m not gonna apologize for having a moral compass. I want to teach our young people what commitment is, what it looks like. And, you know, certainly, things can change, where maybe there’s flaws in that thinking. But I know this: there’s a lot of flaws in taking the commitment, making a reservation and, again, go do your thing.”
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