Oklahoma’s teaching workers by no means gave up, and because of this pulled off an unlikely recruiting victory — and a giant one.
Peyton Bowen, the nation’s No. 2-ranked security by 247Sports’ Composite Rankings and highschool teammate of OU quarterback signee Jackson Arnold, improbably signed his National Letter of Intent with Oklahoma on Thursday.
“As I reflect on yesterday’s whirlwind,” Bowen wrote, “I recognize that I made some mistakes that I regret and will learn from. Navigating this process has been a rollercoaster.”
Though the Sooners have lengthy been concerned in Bowen’s recruitment, OU’s hopes appeared useless on Wednesday.
It was Oregon coach Dan Lanning who appeared to have the final snigger on National Signing Day because the longtime Notre Dame commit publicly introduced he would flip his dedication to the Ducks, airing his announcement on Instagram Live.
Surrounded by household, Bowen solely had a Notre Dame hat and an Oregon hat helpful for his announcement yesterday.
In the second, the announcement didn’t come as a shock to Oklahoma, as a supply instructed to AllSooners.com that contact between Bowen and the OU teaching workers waned within the moments earlier than his streamed his announcement.
Peyton Bowen
Peyton Bowen by way of social media
But as Bowen apparently delayed sending in his signed NLI, Oklahoma’s teaching workers continued to recruit Bowen Wednesday night and into Thursday. Venables famous in his National Signing Day press convention there could be “more to come.”
AllSooners requested Venables Wednesday if, within the period of the switch portal, he needed to preserve sturdy relationships with prospects that signal elsewhere or if, after spending a lot time and sources on a single prospect, some bridges are simply burned.
“I wouldn’t say it’s burned,” Venables mentioned. “I wouldn’t say — I really don’t know. I think you would evaluate each situation and how the recruiting went. Haven’t really — I mean, in a day in the life of a recruiter, you have to already anticipate what’s next. OK, you have this amazing product, this amazing opportunity. But a lot of people have the same things to offer whether we like to see that or not. That’s how I’ve always looked at it.
“So what are you gonna do if that does not work? What’s the subsequent greatest plan, or possibility? What are we going to do? We prefer to be very individualized and as an alternative of going after three of them for one (scholarship), in a scenario like that, let’s go all in and, if we come up quick, we all know what we’ll do subsequent. But you attempt to be real and honest with the one which we would like. You know, one after the other.”
OU’s perseverance was rewarded, as the Sooners have finally added the consensus 5-star prospect. Bowen’s addition jumps OU from No. 7 in the 247 Sports team rankings to No,. 5.
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Bowen marks Oklahoma’s seventh defensive back signee in the 2023 class, as Jay Valai and Brandon Hall worked overtime to restock OU’s secondary with talent.
Defensive backs C.J. Coldon, Trey Morrison and Justin Broiles will all play their final game as a Sooner in the Cheez-It Bowl as their eligibility expires.
The attrition on the back end of the defense continued when Jordan Mukes, Joshua Eaton, Kendall Dennis and Bryson Washington all decided to enter the transfer portal after not breaking through in 2022 under the new defensive staff.
Bowen projects to be more than just a number for Hall, however.
The 6-foot, 185-pounder from Denton, TX, was one of the premier playmakers in the nation this past season at Guyer High School.
A fluid athlete, Bowen was a menace patrolling the back end of the defense. He has the athletic ability to close ground quickly, and the ball skills to step in and pick off opposing quarterbacks.
His production as a kick returner also flashes his ability to make plays with the football in his hands, as Bowen is a legitimate game-breaker.
With the addition of Bowen, Oklahoma has officially signed 25 players in the Early Signing Period, including 15 defensive signees.
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