The Oklahoma Sooners have ignited their team walls with the historic signing of two new, lethal power ignitions.
One of the main talking points when Lincoln Riley moved from Oklahoma to USC was his potential to attract Californians.
California has long been regarded as the college football recruiting hub, along with Texas and Florida. Because Riley was known for his offensive style and USC was the state’s most well-known brand, people assumed he was going to put the state under lockdown.
However, such was definitely not the case during the 2024 hiring season.
Only one player in On3’s top 10 from 2024 was signed by the Trojans. The Sooners and Brent Venables signed the state of California with that same number. Actually, OL Eugene Brooks of Oklahoma was ranked higher in On3’s California industry player rankings than WR Xavier Jordan of USC, who was ranked in the top 10.
Meanwhile, the state produced several signees in the top 10 for Oregon and Alabama.
In California’s top 20, Oregon had seven signees. USC had two. Two of the top 20 players in the Golden State were also on the Oklahoma Sooners. Davon Mitchell fell in the rankings to finish at No. 14 after reclassifying to the 2024 recruiting class. He might have placed among the top 10 in the state if he had stuck to his 2025 ranking.
Oklahoma signed six athletes in the top 20 of the 2024 Oklahoma State Industry Rankings at On3. In contrast, Oklahoma State signed two players ranked in the top 20 while Tulsa signed three. In addition to dominating Oklahoma, the Sooners are attracting players from the Big Three recruiting hotspots.
Although Lincoln Riley is an excellent coach, the Trojans’ lack of success in the long run will be exacerbated as they prepare to enter the Big Ten. Oregon and Dan Lanning have taken over the state. Riley and his staff will have a difficult time recruiting in California since Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, and Georgia are also encroaching.
