BBQ: The Three Keys

It's far from a secret that Oklahoma's barbecue is on Saturday July 29 and the Sooners are hosting a huge number of not only their commitments but their top targets. With so many players on campus at so many different positions, Scoop thought he'd start to give some ideas on just what Oklahoma fans should be watching this weekend as far as what positions, and which players at those positions, figure to be most crucial to Oklahoma's weekend success.

This one is just about as obvious as storylines can be with the Sooners currently lacking any linebacker commitments and there being real questions about just how the numbers could play out. The expectation has been, that the Sooners are looking at three linebackers but the interesting question is does Jalen Redmond count in that list? If so, the Sooners are in great shape and while a decision this weekend wouldn't be shocking, it's also not expected.

But players that clearly fit into the linebacker mold are two that seem to have the Sooners near the top of their list. In the case of Brian Asamoah some seem to have Oklahoma as his top choice but at the top, second, or elsewhere this visit is huge for the Sooners to try and get him looking farther from home.

A similar player is Dallas/Fort Worth area standout DaShaun White. The 6-foot, 205-pound linebacker has been to Norman repeatedly but this will be his first trip with an offer in hand. There is some under current that Texas A&M and Oklahoma State are at the top of the list but there is a real chance for Oklahoma to make an impact here.

In the 2019 class the possibility of Marcel Brooks and Nana Osafo-Mensah coming to Norman is a potential huge coup for the Sooners. Both are not only elite Texas talents but figure to be among the nation's elite outside linebacker targets.

Without question the Sooners have a chance to start to draw a picture of their future offensive line with Brey Walker already committed and Rivals250 offensive tackle Darrell Simpson coming to the barbecue - and plenty of chatter that a decision from his is imminent.

Walker won't be the only offensive line commitment in Norman this weekend with Independence (Kan.) Independence C.C. four-star Tramonda Moore.

In the class of 2019 Oklahoma also will be hosting a pair of early offers in center Branson Bragg as well as E.J. Ndoma-Ogar. Ndoma-Ogar hails from the same Allen, Texas program that produced current Sooner starting right tackle Bobby Evans.

As for 2020, there is a good chance Oklahoma will host one of it's few offers in the class in the form of Broken Arrow, Okla. standout Andrew Raym.

Oklahoma's defensive line recruiting has plenty of offers out and a huge commitment in the form of Rivals250 defensive end Ron Tatum. Aside from that there are questions everywhere. What type of target are the Sooners looking at for defensive tackle alongside Jordan Kelley - is it even a certainty they will take another?

At defensive end how does the possibility of Redmond fitting in as a pass rusher fit alongside Bobby Brown, Ronnie Perkins, Leonard Taylor, and others?

Brown and, possibly, Taylor are expected in Norman along with Tatum and Kelley.

For some time the Sooners had seemed to be sliding with Brown, who is expected to come with several friends, and this could be a big chance to right the ship and perhaps return to their previously believed perch to the top.