Switching Classes: 2017

Don't let the quiet signing day in Norman, Oklahoma fool you.

The early start in building their impressive 7th ranked class did not negate the nature of schools and coaches constant pillaging of each other's classes.

There were players who started in the Sooner's class and are now elsewhere.

However, OU preyed on other program's classes as well; the Sooners signed two players once committed to SEC universities, two once committed to ACC universities, and three from fellow Big 12 schools. Not to mention a Rivals250 de-commitment that turned into a Rivals100 re-commitment.

Oklahoma has had success under Bob Stoops landing players that were at one-time pledged to other programs. Some of the Sooners' best players that have donned the crimson and cream on Owen Field in the last decade were once committed to play elsewhere - like Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma State - 2x), Tony Jefferson (Stanford, UCLA), Jordan Thomas (Northwestern), Zack Sanchez (Baylor), Geneo Grissom (Kansas), Corey Nelson (Texas A&M), and Travis Lewis (Nebraska).

It's a more devastating feeling to be on the opposite end of one of these coups, something OU experienced first-hand this year. It has happened before, with varying results with everything from Jeremy Maclin to Cooper Washington, and it will happen again.

Here's a look back at the people whose story intertwined them with multiple programs in 2017, including Oklahoma.

COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA STATE: 7/20/15

DE-COMMITTED FROM OKLAHOMA STATE: 12/4/15

COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA: 12/6/15

It's almost hard to believe that a stalwart of Oklahoma's 2017 class for the 423 days leading up to signing day was at one point committed to their heated in-state rival. The Sooners weren't on Draper quite as early as some other national powerhouses like Florida State and the Collinsville linebacker had family ties to Stillwater, which both led to the early pledge to the Cowboys. However, the Sooners quickly made it clear with the Rivals250 standout where he stood in their minds and once he finished his junior year run to the 5A state title game, Draper made the final switch to the school 80 miles south.

COMMITTED TO NORTH CAROLINA: 2/5/16

DE-COMMITTED FROM NORTH CAROLINA: 9/22/16

COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA: 1/28/17

Back in February, Jones made the call to stay inside the Tar Heel state to play for wide receiver for UNC head coach Larry Fedora. He would remain a steady member of North Carolina's class throughout the summer, but re-opened his recruitment just as his senior season was beginning. The Sooners remained persistent in the pursuit of Jones, selling him on a more lucrative future on the defensive side of the ball at safety, and ultimately won his commitment just days before signing day.

COMMITTED TO TEXAS A&M: 6/29/16

DE-COMMITTED FROM TEXAS A&M: 8/8/16

COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA: 8/8/16

Humphrey's recruitment really began to pickup steam last summer when offers started rolling in from places like Oklahoma, Alabama, and Texas. That's why many were somewhat surprised when the Sooner state's No. 5 overall player announced his committed to Texas A&M in June. OU offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh kept recruiting the local product and when Humphrey started showing up around Norman for camps and unofficial visits, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before he switched to the Sooners. A little over a month after pledging to Kevin Sumlin and the Aggies, Humphrey made his ultimate choice to stay home and play for Oklahoma.

COMMITTED TO ARKANSAS: 11/14/16

DE-COMMITTED FROM ARKANSAS: 1/27/17

COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA: 1/28/17

The Oklahoma coaching staff had tried to get in on James before his November commitment to Arkansas, but at that point it was too late to stop his announcement to the Hogs. Again, though, the Sooners kept plugging away; never giving up on their relationship with the Baton Rouge (La.) defensive lineman, which they were finally rewarded with James becoming the final commitment for OU's class of 2017.

COMMITTED TO KANSAS: 11/13/16

DE-COMMITTED FROM KANSAS: 11/22/16

COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA: 12/17/16

The last defensive lineman that Oklahoma landed who was once committed to Kansas (Geneo Grissom) is currently having his finger sized for a Super Bowl ring as a member of the New England Patriots. McKinney announced his pledge to the Jayhawks last November, but backed out of it just nine days later. Despite picking up a Texas offer just a day earlier, McKinney committed to Calvin Thibodeaux and the Sooners on the spot when they offered him on his visit to Norman.

COMMITTED TO TCU: 12/13/16

DE-COMMITTED FROM TCU: 1/23/17

COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA: 1/27/17

Gary Patterson has done a great job of identifying talent from the state of Oklahoma with players like Jamelle Neff, Aaron Curry, Davion Pierson, and it appeared he had landed his next Sooner State prospect with the commitment of the Ardmore (Okla.) three-star last December, even after he had picked up an OU offer. Yet, Thibodeaux's relentless push to add Lott to his defense line class ultimately convinced the state's No. 19 player that he belonged at Oklahoma.

COMMITTED TO LOUISVILLE: 7/28/16

DE-COMMITTED FROM LOUISVILLE: 1/12/17

COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA: 1/23/17

Oklahoma had never signed a player from the state of Arkansas under Bob Stoops and it looked like it would remain that way, as Norwood was committed to Louisville for over five months leading up to national signing day. However, attention from both the Sooners and Notre Dame forced the Fort Smith (Ark.) Northside star to reconsider his recruitment this January, before committing to OU 11 days later.

COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA: 10/12/16

DE-COMMITTED FROM OKLAHOMA: 1/26/17

COMMITTED TO LSU: 1/26/17

The tremors left from the finish to five-star linebacker Jacob Phillips' recruitment will long be felt in Sooner nation.

Oklahoma and Tim Kish had recruited Phillips longer than almost any school and had a full-year head-start on LSU. The U.S. Army All-American seemed eager to end his recruitment as early as possible. He seemed at ease being a member of OU's class of 2017 and positioning himself for early playing time following the graduation of All-Big 12 inside linebacker Jordan Evans.

When Phillips initially committed to Oklahoma, the Tigers were in his final group of schools, but Ed Orgeron's continued investment in the nation's No. 29 player's recruitment over the next three months paid off after a late unofficial visit to Baton Rouge sealed the deal.

COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA: 2/21/16

DE-COMMITTED FROM OKLAHOMA: 7/18/16

COMMITTED TO MIAMI: 8/4/16

The commitment from Bandy to Oklahoma seemed almost too good to be true, mostly because he lived 1,500 miles away from Norman and had never been to campus. And yet, day-after-day, month-after-month, the Rivals250 cornerback remained committed to the Sooners. Even when rumors swirled that he was considering a switch to Miami, Bandy had SoonerScoop take pictures of him in his OU gear to prove his committed to the Sooners.

Alas, where there's smoke, there's generally fire. And when Oklahoma was amid Big 12 media days gearing up for their 2016 season, the news broke that Bandy would indeed be staying and playing for his hometown Hurricanes.

COMMITTED TO TEXAS TECH: 12/10/15

DE-COMMITTED FROM TEXAS TECH: 3/10/16

COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA: 3/27/16

DE-COMMITTED FROM OKLAHOMA: 10/19/16

COMMITTED TO TCU: 10/19/16

Reagor pulled off the rare double de-commitment during his recruitment. The Rivals250 wide receiver initially announced he would play for his father's alma mater in Lubbock after his junior season, but once his explosive highlight reel hit the market, Reagor's recruitment also blew up. After de-committing from Texas Tech, Reagor committed to Oklahoma 17 days later, where he remained a part of the class for nearly seven months. When the Waxahachie star switched again to TCU, it was a blow to the Sooners, but it was huge news for parity in the Big 12 conference, otherwise OU may have landed the three top receivers in the state of Texas.

COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA: 12/10/15

DE-COMMITTED FROM OKLAHOMA: 4/29/16

RE-COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA: 7/25/16

2017 Richmond (Texas) Foster Rivals100 WR Cedarian Lamb was a living example of the old axiom, "If you love something set it free. If they come back, they are your's. If they don't, they never were."

Lamb originally committed to Oklahoma all the way back in 2015 before backing out over four months later. Many were concerned that LSU would catch the eye of the talented receiver and many in Sooner nation knew the odds against landing somebody again after a de-commitment.

However, Lamb jumped back on board in the middle of a Sooner run of commitments last summer when he was one of five commitments for OU over a 30-day stretch (Marquis Hayes, Creed Humphrey, Kenneth Murray, Addison Gumbs) and never wavered afterwards.

Which was great news for Oklahoma, because Lamb showcased his incredible talent as a senior with over 2,000 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns.