Oklahoma Sooners 2016 Class Influx but Lands DE Amani Bledsoe and LB Kapri Doucet
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The recruiting trail can give and take, and lately the Sooners have been experiencing the best (and worst) of both worlds. Oklahoma lost defensive tackle Chris Daniels this week but picked up ground over the last two days landing defensive end Amani Bledsoe on Thursday and junior college linebacker Kapri Doucet on Friday.
Bledsoe has all the potential in the world heading to Norman from Lawrence (KS). Listed at 6’5”, 272 pounds, the Lawrence High School product had over 20 scholarship offers but narrowed down the field to Oregon (Sept. 25), Oklahoma (Oct. 23), N.C. State (Oct. 30), Baylor (Dec. 4), and Kansas (Dec. 11), based on official visits. During his senior year, Bledsoe led the Lions to a 10-1 record and was named a Semper Fidelis All-American.
Doucet is a 6’1”, 225 pound, outside linebacker who is expected to contribute immediately for the Sooners. The sophomore from Virginia, had a solid season for Lackawanna coming up with a team-leading 59 tackles, 17.5 tackles for a loss, and six sacks. He also had one pick-six, and two fumble recoveries returning one for a score.
The heat for Doucet was ratcheted up a couple of notches after the dead period with top programs looking to fill an immediate need on their rosters. Pushing 20 offers, Doucet took official visits to Arizona (Dec. 11), Louisville (Jan. 15), and committed once on the Oklahoma campus on Friday. Other teams vying for him included Utah, Arkansas, West Virginia, Missouri, and Iowa State.
The Sooners class is solid in some areas like at linebacker and offensive line but lacking up front on defense and on the outside on offense. With 12 days left until National Signing Day, the Sooners have 10 spots left to fill if a full class is taken.
Oklahoma Sooners 2016 Verbal Commitment List (15)
ATH Adrian Hardy, 6’3”, 185 lbs, Dekaney HS, Houston, TX
CB Parrish Cobb, 5’11”, 175 lbs, La Vega HS, Waco, TX
CB Jordan Parker, 5’11”, 180 lbs, Pittsburg Senior, Pittsburg, CA
FS Chanse Sylvie, 6’0”, 185 lbs, Calvary Baptist HS, Shreveport, LA
LB Kapri Doucet, 6’2”, 225 lbs, Lackawanna C.C., Scranton, PA
LB Jon-Michael Terry, 6’2”, 225 lbs, Victory Christian HS, Tulsa, OK
LB Bryce Youngquist, 6’2”, 210 lbs, Los Osos HS, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
DE Amani Bledsoe, 6’5”, 272 lbs, Lawrence HS, Lawrence, KS
OT Ashton Julious, 6’8”, 330 lbs, Lackawanna C.C., Scranton, PA
OT Bennett Powers, 6’5”, 315 lbs, Butler C.C., El Dorado, KS
OT Logan Roberson, 6’5”, 318 lbs, Harrah HS, Harrah, OK
OG Johncarlo Valentin, 6’5”, 337 lbs, Imhotep Institute, Philadelphia, PA
QB Austin Kendall, 6’2”, 210 lbs, Cuthbertson HS, Waxhaw, NC
RB Abdul Adams, 5’11”, 200 lbs, Hillside HS, Durham, NC
WR/DB Parnell Motley, 6’1”, 180 lbs, Woodson H.D., Washington, D.C.
Decommitted
DB Maurice Chandler, 6’1”, 190 lbs, NEO A&M C.C., Miami, OK
LB Pernell Jefferson, 6’2”, 236 lbs, Warren Easton Senior, New Orleans, LA
WR Ryan Parker, 6’2”, 175 lbs, Tyler C.C., Tyler, TX
DT Chris Daniels, 6’3”, 300 lbs, Trinity HS, Euless, TX
Photo credit: 2kusports.com; No. 72 Amani Bledsoe celebrates a big play.