Editor’s Note: This is Part 1 of a 10-part series on Oklahoma’s early enrollees in the 2022 recruiting class.
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The future is now in Oklahoma.
That’s evidenced by the number of incoming freshmen Sooners who chose to finish high school early and started classroom work at the OU last week.
But they didn’t just start their collegiate academic careers. They also submitted to the rigors of Brent Venables’ new strength and conditioning boss Jerry Schmidt.
Of the 17 Sooners freshmen in the class of 2022 – 17 so far, that is; more will sign in February — a total of 10 are already on campus, undergoing the infamous Schmitty workouts.
Meet Oklahoma’s Early Enrollees of 2022
- Sunday January 23: WR NICHOLAS ANDERSON
- Monday January 24: RB Jovantae Barnes
- Tuesday 25 January: QB Nick Evers
- Wednesday, January 26: WR Jayden Gibson
- Thursday, January 27: TE Caden Helms
- Friday January 28: LB Years Kanak
- Saturday January 29: LB Chicken Lewis
- Sunday 30 January: TE Jason Llewellyn
- Monday, January 31: LB Kobie McKinzie
- Tuesday February 1: DB Robert Spears-Jennings
It’s a bold move for a 17-year-old — new head coach, new staff, new strength coach, new attitude around the OU program — but it’s one that will almost certainly yield immediate results. While the other freshmen are running or playing basketball or lifting weights or otherwise just enjoying their last semester of high school, these 10 are now Division I college football players.
Plus, this spring, these 10 will kickstart their college football careers with 15 legit practices (including real-life scrimmages). Anyone looking to make an immediate impact on the depth chart these days would do well to sign up early and peruse the spring exercise. That’s where coaches really start to see the full picture of the freshmen they’ve recruited.
Leading up to National Signing Day, SI Sooners presents the 10 early entrants in the 2022 recruiting class and their projection for playing time this season.
W.R. Nicholas Anderson
- 6-3, 195
- Katy, Texas
- 247 Sports: 4-star, No. 235 overall, No. 39 WR
- rivals: 3-star, no overall ranking, No. 69 WR
- Background: He is the little brother of former Sooner RB Rodney Anderson and has a deep-seated passion for Sooner football. Anderson was also offered by Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, USC and others. Won against Katy as a junior. As a senior, Anderson caught 29 passes for 529 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran hurdles on the high school athletics team.
- 2022 Projection: The wide receiver position is moving. Two former 5 stars (Jadon Haselwood, Mario Williams) just left. Mike Woods went to the NFL. According to Wease recovering from an injury. Inexperienced players like Trevon West, Brian Darby and Jalil Farooq are looking for an opportunity behind Marvin Mims and Drake Stoops. Anderson is young, but hungry and eager to learn and very athletic. He immediately gets the chance to contribute as everyone tries to learn the new offense and bond with the new quarterbacks.
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