Rouse recently spoke on his decision to transfer to Oklahoma

You simply by no means understand how you’re going to act in that place till you’re the one which’s truly going via it.

Offensive deal with Walter Rouse used to surprise what recruits and gamers have been pondering after they would commit to one college on a day after which flip their dedication shortly after.

It by no means made sense to him.

“I’d never do that,” stated Rouse when requested by SoonerScoop.com final week. “That’s not the type of player I am.”

Whoops. Of course, that’s completely what occurred with Rouse, and all of it paid off for OU. And no second-guessing all the way in which round.

After a stellar profession at Stanford, Rouse entered the transfer portal. He was down to Iowa, OU and Nebraska.

Breaking it down extra after the visits, and it was actually down to the Huskers and Sooners. This is the place Rouse needs he had performed issues just a bit bit in a different way.

Rouse picked Nebraska, initially.

“I do regret me committing to Nebraska because I wish I took more time to consider my decision,” Rouse stated. “That’s a learning lesson.”

Rouse picked the Huskers on a Wednesday night time, and by Saturday afternoon he was shifting in completely in Norman and part of the Sooners program.

“I have no regrets,” he stated. “I’m happy to be at Oklahoma.”

Rouse remembers after making the Husker decision simply locking himself in his room and wrestling with himself about his decision.

Something didn’t sit proper. Rouse and OU offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh knew one another from when Bedenbaugh recruited Rouse popping out of highschool.

Rouse giving it a second thought led to a large victory for the Sooners and an enormous hit at a place of want.

The Sooners wanted an skilled offensive deal with to enter the fray. OU noticed its two beginning tackles, Anton Harrison and Wanya Morris, go away early for the NFL Draft. Both, for what it’s price, have been invited to the NFL Draft Combine, so you are feeling like they made a fairly good transfer.

An excellent transfer for them, nevertheless it put the Sooners in a bind. There weren’t many guys who checked as many packing containers as Rouse, which is why Bedenbaugh and employees merely weren’t about to let Rouse go away so simply.

“He’s a massive athlete on the offensive line,” head coach Brent Venables stated. “He’s had an outstanding career, very successful career at Stanford. I love, in a day and age where it could’ve been easy for him, ‘I’m going to get this postseason surgery and go to the NFL,’ he had a great deal of humility and looked at the man in the mirror and said, ‘I’m not where I know I’m capable of being as a player, mentally and physically. I need to improve. I need to get better. I need to be in a different type of environment that’ll strain me in a different type of way.’

“He’s got a big personality, really sharp, incredibly intelligent, really neat young man and meets a tremendous need for us on the offensive line there at tackle.”

Rouse checks that field off for the Sooners for the season, however the door is open throughout the spring. Rouse tore his labrum early final season with the Cardinal and didn’t determine to get surgical procedure till December.

He stated it could be good for him to be on the market within the spring, however he’s counting on his expertise to assist him get via it and miss a beat. Rouse stated he’s on his approach to a full restoration and will likely be prepared, completely, for the season.

When you commute like Rouse did with the Huskers and the Sooners, it’s pure to all the time surprise about what may need been.

Now greater than a month in Norman, although, it’s not a problem for Rouse. He is aware of he’s a Sooner. He is aware of he’s residence.

“And I can truly say with all my heart, I don’t regret this one bit,” Rouse stated. “Oklahoma was the school for me. And while I know it’s not in good taste — even me when I’d see other players flip, I’d say I’d never do that. That’s not the type of player I am. I know the people in Nebraska definitely disagree, and I wish it did not go down that way. But because of what I felt I had to do what was right for me and my family.”