Lambert Has All Five Officials Set

Due to limited available numbers at linebacker the recruits at the position have been few and far between but one name that has quickly gained steam in Sooner recruiting is Quanzell Lambert of Sicklerville (N.J.) Timber Creek. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound inside linebacker was little known by Sooner fans a few months ago but says he has been hearing from Oklahoma for quite some time.

In fact it seems the Sooners have set up a trip for Lambert and it's no surprise that the person leading his recruiting for Oklahoma is defensive coordinator, and linebackers coach, Brent Venables.

"That was definitely around the beginning of February that I started hearing from Oklahoma," Lambert said. "It's been coach Venables, he is a great guy, a great coach, and he knows a lot about the game.

"I'm going to take a visit up there. I'm planning to take a visit for the Iowa State game on Nov. 25 - that was just the one that really worked for me to go to."

Setting up the visit with Oklahoma was the final of Lambert's five available officials. He already had dates set up with Alabama (Dec. 9), Iowa (Oct. 14), Nebraska (Oct. 28), and Northwestern on Oct. 7. He says that the list is not a top five but definitely schools he wants a longer look at.

"It is some of the top schools on my list, but more just the schools that I wanted to see and couldn't just drive to," he explained. "I'm pretty much thinking that I'll take a little time after my officials and then make my decision."

With something of an eclectic batch of schools from football factories to one of the nation's most prestigious academic universities an important question is just what is Lambert trying to find in his future college?

"Most definitely academics will be a big thing, and a trust in the team - the guys I'll be playing with," he said. "I want to go into school to be a mechanical engineer. I like to build cars and things like that.

For a player ranked as the nation's No. 8 inside linebacker, and No. 135 player overall it would be easy to believe that all of the attention gets to Lambert. But he says for now it's been a fun ride and he is just getting ready to enjoy the trips, and meeting new people.

"Oh no, it's pretty much fun, it's not too bad. I'm just trying to enjoy it," Lambert said. "I want to meet new people."

Due to stepping up their pursuit in recent months one school that hasn't had the chance to wear out their welcome, or exhaust a recruiting pitch, is Oklahoma. In fact each conversation seems to give Lambert a better view of just what the Sooners bring to the table.

"I knew a little bit about them, but not so much as I knew about some others. I knew it was a big program and they have a lot of great players, and the coaches they have produced a lot of good players."