The Next In-State Star?

When Brey Walker was just a high school freshman it was said it would be years and years before a comparable player emerged. Well, not to put too fine a point on it but the comparisons between himself and Broken Arrow's current freshman offensive line standout, Andrew Raym, have already begun.

The 6-foot-4, 285-pound offensive lineman recently shined at the Adidas 3StripeCamp in Dallas and just days later the class of 2020 prospect picked up his first offer while on a campus visit for Oklahoma's Red-White game.

That offer came from the school he grew up rooting for.

"I was just down (at Oklahoma) and while we were signing in, taking pictures, I was talking to coach Mike (Stoops) and coach (Bill) Bedenbaugh, and they said it like ‘how does it feel to get your first offer?’ and it just went from there," Raym recalled.

"I was beyond excited, it’s been a childhood dream. I’ve been an Oklahoma fan since I can even remember."

Bedenbaugh, who has already landed Walker's commitment and currently is in charge of one of the nation's deeper offensive line units, had a simple message for the elite young blocker.

"When I was talking with him and coach Mike they were saying if I keep progressing they think (maybe) I can start their as a freshman and that the offensive line is one of the best in the nation," he said.

He also spoke with Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, in what Raym admitted was a special experience.

"It was great (talking to Stoops). It was more of a small-talk with coach Bob, we didn’t get into too many details," he said.

Though he was one of the few 2020 prospects in attendance Raym was familiar with Tulsa Union defensive tackle commitment Jordan Kelley - who he faced while blocking for the Tigers last season.

With so much varsity success and playing time Raym says that his role as kind of an in-state leader for the 2020 class is something he hasn't thought much about.

"I really haven’t thought about that, I got so close with the upperclassmen last year, I haven’t gotten together with most of my class. I feel more like one of (the upperclassmen)," he said.

Though the Sooners have his lifelong adoration he has a unique feel for another regional program that has had success recruiting Broken Arrow offensive lineman in the past. And that particular success only helped build the connection between themselves and the 6-foot-4, 285-pound Raym.

"Another school I’ve always really liked Arkansas. I grew up an Arkansas fan too, not as much as Oklahoma but a fan," Raym mentioned. "I’ve been to a few of their games when I was younger.

"(Actually) I went to more Arkansas games than I did OU games. I was really close with Alvin Bailey out of Broken Arrow, my family is best friend’s with his family. We’re real close with them.

"(Also), my cousin’s step brother - so pretty much my cousin - is Kyrei Fisher from Union, that just went to Arkansas."

The comparison to Walker probably won't be easy for Raym to escape any time soon, particularly considering their verbal offers came within days of one another, during their freshman spring's. But it wasn't Walker that caught Raym's eye but instead the player that Walker hopes to replace - left tackle Orlando Brown.

"I was watching (Oklahoma's offensive line), that’s some big old strong dudes, I’ll tell you that," he said. "(I saw Orlando) on my first visit, you’re looking up at him."

With Raym so early in his recruitment he is still taking information in but with his first offer in hand he isn't sure what his plans will be for this summer.

"I was planning on going down to those big OU camps but my parents were talking about staying off of that since there are going to be so many kids there and they have already offered," he said.

" But I may try and get some work in at the Tulsa camp, so that’s about it."