Video Breakdown: The Class of 2017

In this day and age, there are so many metrics to help quantify these recruits.

Prospects are ranked nationally, by state, by position, and given both a star and numerical rating.

Throughout the years, Rivals has proven that their curation and evaluation are a reliable tool for predicting success in a macro sense. However, each individual has the opportunity to surpass expectations or disappoint, and still the best way to determine that is through one's own two eyes.

A player's "tape" has long been the portal that connects them with college coaches. Even though those highlights are digital and no longer on a physical tape, they still represent the optimal showcase of a recruit's potential.

As all 27 commitments from Oklahoma's class of 2017 now have their letters of intent signed, let's examine the on-field play of the next batch of Sooner football players.

When watching Barnes play safety, one only needs to look at his feet to realize how special of a safety he has a chance to be.

The 6-foot-3, 198-pound defensive back has an amazing fluidity to the way he moves and changes in direction, which allows him to quickly adjust to the best possible angle to break up a pass, make a tackle, etc.

Every move the Rivals250 safety makes is efficient and that is never more evident than when witnessing the impressive power Barnes brings with him when making a hit. His size, speed, and ability to stay behind his pads and explode through the target make Barnes the type of safety you can trust in all facets of the game.

Kerry Cooks should be able to trust the four-star signee as a centerfielder in coverage, manning up with an inside receiver, or as a physical presence in the box against the run game.

In a growing specialized world of football, Oklahoma signee Justin Broiles is a refreshingly well-rounded defensive back.

The 6-foot, 170-pound corner out of Oklahoma City (Okla.) John Marshall has a solid frame and upper-body strength with an explosive base. Broiles is a smooth athlete that plays with great burst, but never out of control.

In man-to-man, the No. 176 player in the class of 2017’s fluidity in his hips allows him to play tighter coverage and take more risks without worry of a sharp break by the receiver. Plays with great technique, squares up receivers, and can lock them out with strong hand placement.

When in zone, and his eyes are able to read the quarterback, the No. 2 player in the state of Oklahoma may be at his best. Can often read the receiver’s route before it happens and will beat them to the spot. Has the ball skills of a receiver to not only high-point a throw and come down with the interception, but Broiles often maintains his balance and becomes a weapon with the ball in his hands.

After rushing for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2014 as a sophomore, the No. 15 running back in the country exploded for 3,500 yards and 43 touchdowns as a junior a year ago.

In 2016, the senior totaled over 2,800 yards and 40 touchdowns in 11 games.

This preponderance of production is no fluke and the 6-foot-0, 197-pound tailback shows signs that he can translate his successes to the next level.

The first thing you notice about Brooks is his exceptional vision. He isn’t over-eager, he doesn’t rush; instead, the Mansfield star is patient and utilizes his quickness not just to make the immediate defender in front of him miss, but to set up his blockers and create a hole that allows him to make the entire front seven miss.

Brooks is able to trust what he sees and not hesitate due to his ability to accelerate and burst through a hole once it materializes. There’s no wasted motion once his mind is made up. Brooks consistently keeps his feet in motion, his upper body is calm, and it all adds up to one smooth and elusive runner.

Brooks is almost an NFL style of running back, because of his patience, vision, ability to set up blocks, and then the natural physical tools to burst into the second level and punish a defense.

Brown has been a dynamic weapon for the College of the Canyons offense. His electric speed makes him a threat to score from anywhere on the field and in any facet of the game.

The early speculation surrounding the 5-foot-11, 170-pound receiver was that he would specifically be a slot receiver. However, our own Josh McCuistion has reported that Oklahoma has sold Brown on playing both inside and outside in their offense, not dissimilar from Sterling Shepard's role. There's plenty of precedent for smaller receivers being able to play outside if they have elite ball skills or speed and Brown is gifted with plenty of the latter.

Brown, who had two return touchdowns and nearly 600 return yards in just 10 games last season, will also be an immediate spark to Oklahoma's special teams.

Speed is the name of the game for Oklahoma signee, Tre Brown. It’s a weapon he brings with him into every battle and it serves him well.

It’s a trait that the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Tulsa (Okla.) Union cornerback utilize in every aspect of his game, not just a foot race in the open field. Brown recognizes that he can pick ‘em up and put ‘em down better than everybody on the field and he knows how to take advantage of it.

Brown can utilize his speed by intentionally trailing a receiver below full-speed to bait the quarterback into a throw that he can now undercut with a burst.

Speed can also show its benefits in technique in the secondary. As a receiver attempts to create space towards the sideline, Brown does a terrific job of beating him to the spot at a perfect angle to squeeze his opponent out of their own route. In a game where contact in the secondary is heavily scrutinized, using speed over strength to manipulate a receiver is a luxury.

Calcaterra, who lines up both inside and outside for his high school, will likely be a flex tight end/inside receiver in Lincoln Riley’s offensive system at Oklahoma. Not dissimilar to Mark Andrews’ current role.

The No. 40 player in the state of California is a smooth after the catch, with intuitive spatial awareness, which allows him to pick up extra yards within the trash.

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Calcaterra uses a wide catching radius, not only because of his long arms and frame, but because the California standout does a good job consistently using his hands, not his body, to catch the ball. And very rarely does he need to “catch it twice” after a bobble.

Other guys may have more agility or explosion in small spaces, but the 6-foot-4, 210-pound pass-catcher uses subtle movements to manipulate defenders without wasting time. Not a lot of wasted motion. Looks to get up-field and let his straight-line speed take over. He seems to understand his skill-set and maximizes those tools.

Daley has the look of a defender who was wound up and set loose on every play.

You can feel the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder's reckless hunt for the ball-carrier pop through the screen on each and every play. The Oklahoma signee is at his best when timing the snap properly and getting off the ball before any offensive lineman has the opportunity to win the outside shoulder.

There's not a lot out there of Daley in coverage, but it's clear the Sunshine State product is a weapon when playing downhill and that's exactly how Sooner defensive coordinator Mike Stoops will use him in his defense - as a missile hell bent on buckling the opposing team's offense.

Draper is a very well-rounded middle linebacker that can do everything you ask from the position.

He has the strength to blow up blockers at the point of attack and drag down runners with just one hand. He has the athletic ability to run down halfbacks from sideline-to-sideline and also play a little wide receiver himself.

The Rivals250 Collinsville product is just a solid linebacker in every facet of the game. His instincts allow him to quickly diagnose plays and take great angles using his lateral quickness. Draper consistently tackles behind his pads, wraps up, and drives through ball-carriers.

The lack of holes in Draper's game on top of his speed, athleticism, and frame make it more likely than not that the state's No. 2 player will find success on the field by the time his career is done in Norman.

When Oklahoma went into Louisiana and landed the No. 6 player in the state, they also signed a 6-foot-7, 282-pound nimble giant that has the look of a future starting offensive tackle.

Ealy's feet and athleticism allow him to quickly kick out on the edge against pass-rushers and also lead the way 10 yards downfield on running plays. The Rivals250 lineman's incredible frame makes it a tall task for any defender to overpower him with a bull rush either.

Prospects with Ealy's combination of size and tools are extremely rare. The pool for recruits at this level and with these attributes is far smaller than any other position, which means you're likely watching a future NFL player's high school highlights.

The terrifying thing about facing Gumbs is his combination of power, speed, explosion, and change of direction skills make him unpredictable.

The 6-foot-3, 211-pounder possesses great burst off the edge and when you combine that with his instincts to time up the snap, Gumbs can reach the backfield before the offense even knows what hit them.

It may be a surprise for some to see one of California’s top defenders head east for the Sooner State, but the nation’s No. 4 outside linebacker is an ideal fit in Oklahoma’s 3-3-5/3-4 scheme and Bob Stoops has a quality track record of sending Sunshine State prospects to the NFL (Roy Williams, Lance Mitchell, Donte Nicholson, Kenny Stills, Jalen Saunders, Devante Bond, etc.).

Gumbs is the son of a football coach, has a solid frame, and possesses worlds of talent. His ability to win with inside moves on top of his speed rush could be what transcends Gumbs into a complete superstar. It’s not hard to imagine him finding success in the Oklahoma defense.

There are so many things to like about what Hall brings to the table as a future h-back in Oklahoma's offense. The obvious size and athleticism pops off the screen in a highlight tape that includes 90-yard touchdown receptions from a 6-foot-3, 225-pound high schooler.

What should excite Sooner fans about Hall, beyond his athleticism, is the complete set of tools he brings and how perfectly they fit the versatility needed to play his future position.

There's a certain deceptive aspect often built in to playing the h-back role. Guys must be able to sell a run or a block fake before slipping out for a pass. Even in the very first GIF you see a nice hard sell on an inside route before pivoting into the flat. On this play, you see the three-star patiently kick back into his stance and even put his hands on the defender before sneaking out for a pass and huge gain - also thanks in part to Hall's strength to bounce right off a would-be tackler.

Hayes is somebody that the SoonerScoop staff has gotten a chance to see at the Rivals Camp Series in Kansas City and then again at the Five-Star Challenge in Atlanta. At each stop, the Maryland Heights (Mo.) four-star offensive linemen turned heads with surprising performances that continued to exceed expectations.

Even though Hayes plays tackle for his high school, it’s apparent that his highest potential lies in kicking inside and playing guard at the next level for OU. His wide, strong base and compact powerful upper body make him ideal as a versatile inside mauler that can also gain leverage and stand up athletic interior pass-rushers.

At times on his tape Hayes can ignore technique and rely on his pure size and strength to dish out punishment on inferior defenders. However, that aggressive streak is part of what makes the Sooner signee so appealing as a guard prospect. And to be honest, it’s just fun to watch.

Unlike some centers that lack the size to keep larger, stronger defensive tackles from collapsing the pocket, Humphrey is most definitely a Bill Bedenbaugh lineman with great size, a strong base, and incredible upper body strength. You can run straight ahead behind the 6-foot-4, 290-pound Humphrey, because he’s someone you can trust to win the point of contact and push the line of scrimmage forward.

While he may not possess the athleticism to pull and get to the outside as a lead blocker, that’s something Bedenbaugh rarely asks of his centers.

The Shawnee center will fit right in with the recent crop of large, aggressive, and powerful Sooner offensive linemen that have been signed in recent classes.

He’s big. He’s mean. He’s strong.

Creed Humphrey is a Bedenbaugh offensive lineman.

While James will play defensive end in Oklahoma's three-man front, he was a one-man wrecking crew for his high school team. Madison Prep would use the three-star at defensive tackle, defensive end, stand him up as a rush linebacker, and as an offensive weapon at h-back.

When watching James, it's impossible to ignore his athleticism. His change of direction, balance, and flexibility are all unusually impressive for a player of his size and it's exactly the reason why he is such an effective runner.

James is a junkyard dog on the field in the best sense.

There is an effort - a fight - in James on every single play and that ferocious tenacity is often the difference between success and failure in the trenches. It's a quality that has lead a 6-foot-0, 270-pound mass of chaos like James Harrison to a Hall of Fame career.

You also don't have to be Bill Belichick to understand that a 265-pound defensive lineman with a 99-yard touchdown run under his belt has special tools for a football player.

The 6-foot-2, 201-pound athlete is more bouncy and explosive in short spaces than he is overly fast in his long speed, but that allows the physical prospect to be adept at creating space and high-pointing contested throws.

Strength and physicality are two key attributes of the North Carolina first-team all-state selection's game. He does a solid job winning the line of scrimmage and enforcing himself as the aggressor on the play.

There are plenty of signs that Jones can make a successful transition from high school wide receiver to college safety, especially if the four-star can maintain his explosiveness when learning the technique of a new position.

Lamb maintains great use of his feet and hands to beat guys off the line of scrimmage and possesses speed very few can match once he springs loose. His terrific balance allows him to be so explosive and still maintain control, which isn't always an easy task for athletes playing at such a high speed.

The Sooner signee also has a knack for keeping a play alive until he reaches the end zone. Lamb has a situational awareness and an ability for finding space in traffic like he has eyes in the back of his head reminiscent of former Oklahoma great, Ryan Broyles.

While Lamb is willing to be a physical blocker and can high-point a ball away from his body with proper technique, overall, the guy is just an impressive athlete on the field that looks like he’s playing in a different game than everyone else.

Just put on Lamb’s tape and enjoy the show as he is one of the most explosive receivers in 2017.

When watching Lott on tape one of the first thing that jumps off the screen is the surprising athleticism he derives from the power in his lower body. There are multiple occasions in his reel when the 6-foot-3, 265-pound defensive lineman charges from behind to catch up with a ball-carrier.

Lott also has a great natural feel for space and angles, which allow him to never take himself out of a play and also to reach tackles that most linemen in his shoes would rarely get to.

Now, his initial burst off the line isn't exactly where you would want it to be with someone of Lott's athleticism, which can be fixed as the three-star continues to learn technique and develops into his body. However, the burst the Sooner signee can create after building up some steam is impressive and can lead to some violent collisions. Defensive line coach Calvin Thibodeaux's main goal will be figuring out how to harness that explosion into smaller spaces.

McKinney is a massive defensive lineman with an unsurprisingly powerful initial punch that often puts him almost immediately behind the line of scrimmage.

The 6-foot-5, 280-pound signee is a disruptive force along the line of scrimmage and does so by maintaining leverage despite his large frame. There are other aspects of McKinney's game that will take some refining, but it's clear that he already possesses a great ability for winning the point of attack - something any defensive line coach will take.

Mundschau kick ball far.

The 6-foot-2, 208-pound Murray is going to draw comparisons to Eric Striker, as will every undersized outside linebacker for the foreseeable future.

Now, no one is predicting Murray to produce like the linebacker with most sacks in Sooner history, but he does some things well to utilize the skills he does have in the arsenal to maneuver amongst the big uglies.

Murray also possesses more strength, especially in his upper body, than some may realize. The three-star outside linebacker utilizes a myriad of hand moves mostly when rushing the passer and can easily shed blocks by receivers or running backs.

Murray is similar to current OU linebacker and JUCO transfer Kapri Doucet, except he will have the benefit of immediately being placed into an elite division one training and nutrition program once he steps foot on a college campus. This is a nice addition by the Sooners, who will need quality depth if they’re going to continue to field four linebackers on the field at a time.

Norwood is reminiscent of a former Oklahoma cornerback Zack Sanchez, who was also offered late in the process after being committed to another school. Like Sanchez, the Fort Smith product is a natural athlete with great awareness for the space around him.

Notice the play around the :42 mark when Norwood recognizes the wheel route and, without hesitation, breaks off his movement towards the middle of the field to make a play on a throw all the way out wide to the pylon.

The 5-foot-11, 168-pound cornerback also possesses sub-11-second speed in the 100-meter dash, which gives Oklahoma two bonafide cornerbacks with track star speed with Norwood and Tre Brown.

Cedar Hill (Texas) wide receiver, and Oklahoma signee Charleston Rambo is a long-strider who can eat up chunks of yards in just a few steps.

The 6-foot-2, 170-pound receiver has a smoothness to everything he does. Whether it’s making a defender miss underneath and turning it into a big gain or spinning around a defensive back in the secondary, Rambo not only does it all, but does it with an effortless flair.

The Rivals250 receiver does a nice job using his hands to catch the football away from his body. The junior receiver has a knack for plucking the ball away for contested catches. Rambo is also not afraid to work the middle of the field and once the ball is in his hands he has a great feel for the space around him.

Ultimately, Rambo is a big, smooth receiver with a great feel for the game. If he can add some strength to his frame in a college weightlifting program, the Cedar Hill wide receiver is almost a sure bet to contribute at the next level due to the multitude of skill-sets the Rivals250 receiver brings with him.

It’s very rare to say this for an offensive guard, but Robinson is a one-play and offer type of player. Literally. Just check out the first play on the 6-foot-5, 300-pounder’s tape.

Robinson’s able to neutralize not one, but two defensive lineman before exploding out in front of the receiver matching him stride-for-stride down the sideline.

The McKinney (Texas) Boyd product has the size, frame, strength, flexibility, and athleticism to be a high quality offensive lineman at the next level. And while he often plays tackle in high school, Oklahoma will most likely move Robinson to guard where he has a chance to be truly special.

One of the great things about Robinson’s game is his nasty streak. You can just tell that no defender is enjoying any moment of this, because Robinson is too quick to go around, plus too large and strong to move; once he clamps his hands on to you, Robinson makes it a point to take you out of more than just the play.

Like Oklahoma's current quarterback, Robison is a football player that just so happens to play quarterback.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Sooner signee can make throws from inside the pocket, on a designed rollout, improvising, with his feet set, back-peddling, and a myriad of arm angles. He is the definition of a sandlot quarterback and, like so many of those types of players, Robison carries a confidence with him that draws his teammates in and a leadership style that breeds confidence for those around him.

Robison, who is already on campus, will need to learn as much of Lincoln Riley's system as he can, so his ability to be accurate with a quick, decisive, organic throwing motion can properly bloom once Baker Mayfield leaves and a new quarterback competition opens up.

Also like Mayfield, the Rivals100 quarterback has a natural elusive sense about him that makes him a slippery target for would-be tacklers, as Robison possesses surprising athleticism as a dual-threat quarterback.

Sermon has a great feel for when to stay small and when to run with power. He is a long-strider in the open-field with an effortless gait, but does a good job maintaining a low center-of-gravity while in the backfield before transitioning into his upright, sprinter's stance. Something he'll need to continually be conscious of to avoid big hits and injury.

What makes the brutish back truly special is the explosion and athleticism bursting through that 220+ pound frame. The guy that can run through you, around you, or stiff-arm you to the ground, is also capable of taking flight from time-to-time.

As long as Sermon maintains his his pre-junior-year-injury form, the Sooners and running backs coach Jay Boulware got an absolute coup out of SEC country. The Sooner signee is the bruising back that will pick up the tough yards if needed, but if given space can make defenders look silly with his agility and speed as well.

Sutton’s blend of terrific balance and low center of gravity makes him nearly impossible to bring down; like trying to tackle a flea. These characteristics do more than just make him an effective open-field runner; as a smaller, quicker back, Sutton can play on first and second down between the tackles if called upon by making the first man miss, being more difficult for defenders to locate, and squeezing through more narrow holes.

Even if Sutton proves ineffective against bigger Big 12 defenses, he can be a high-quality third down back due to his crisp routes and great hands out of the backfield.

It wouldn’t be a surprise for Riley to utilize Sutton like Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints once did with Darren Sproles in order to exploit match-ups with linebackers out in space with choice and wheel routes.

Thomas has the strength to slide inside and clog the a-gap and his explosiveness and quick hands also make him capable of blowing up running plays well behind the line of scrimmage.

While it’s not obviously in his wheelhouse of elite skills, Thomas’ athleticism does also allow him to sink back into coverage on occasion to confuse offenses. The Tulsa Memorial star is composed and doesn’t look out of place when forced into that position to make a stop in the open field. Not a small feat for a guy who is also roughing it up in the trenches for most of the game.

There’s no doubt Thomas will have to put in some work in Oklahoma’s weight room and nutrition program, but his frame suggests that it shouldn’t be much of a problem. This is the second consecutive year the Sooners have done a good job identifying talent and dipping into Tulsa to find a versatile, athletic defender – as they did last year with Tulsa Victory Christian linebacker Jon-Michael Terry.

Just watch the activity in Thomas' hands off the snap and how quickly he wins the battle of space and leverage.