Top 10 OU JUCO Signees of Rivals Era

On Monday, 2017 College of the Canyons four-star wide receiver Marquise Brown announced his commitment to the University of Oklahoma, joining Scranton (Pa.) Lackawanna running back Marcelias Sutton as the two junior college (JUCO) members of the program's No. 3 ranked recruiting class.

JUCO transfers have always been intertwined with the Bob Stoops era at Oklahoma, starting with the signing of Snow (Utah) College quarterback Josh Heupel in his very first class in Norman. Heupel would go on to set every Sooner school passing record, finish second in Heisman Trophy voting, and is still the only Stoops signal caller to win a national championship.

The MVP of that 2000 Orange Bowl was another JUCO member of Stoops' initial class - third-team All-American linebacker Torrance Marshall.

Oklahoma has repeatedly gone back looking in the junior college ranks, signing 43 since 2002, including 11 four-stars and three five-stars, eight on the 2016 team, the Biletnikoff Award winner, and two players currently on NFL rosters (Devante Bond - Browns, Damien Williams - Dolphins).

This list is comprised of players from the class of 2002 on - for database purposes - and star rankings will precede national ranking.

Breakdown: Patterson was initially a member of the 2004 class that included other five-stars Rhett Bomar and Adrian Peterson, but was unable to join them out of high school and again while at NEO. The Illinois native signed with Oklahoma a second time, but never made it to campus, and would ultimately wind up at Kansas State where he recorded just 18 career tackles.

Breakdown: Loadholt was a two-time JUCO All-American and was initially an LSU commitment before ultimately signing with Oklahoma. It was a relationship that worked out well for both, as the gigantic tackle would anchor the line for the record-setting 2008 offense, become a first-team All-Big 12 member, and then selected in the second round by the Minnesota Vikings, where he was a successful starter until his retirement due to injury in 2015.

Breakdown: Kenney didn't set the world on fire in his first year at Oklahoma, but became a crucial member of the 2010 Big 12 Championship run and Fiesta Bowl victory. In one of the class battles in Bedlam history, Kenney hauled in six receptions for 141 yards and two touchdowns in the Sooners' 47-41 Big 12 South clinching win on the road in Stillwater. Kenney would add another 100-yard performance and a touchdown in his final game in an OU uniform in Oklahoma's 48-20 Fiesta Bowl win over Connecticut.

Breakdown: Patrick came to Norman as a defensive back, was called upon as a running back when Adrian Peterson went down to injury and the South Carolina native excelled with the ball in his hands. One of the more underrated runners of the Bob Stoops era, Patrick accounted for nearly 2,000 rushing yards in his career, including 1,009 in 2007 alone, and a total of 14 rushing touchdowns. Patrick was ultimately drafted in the seventh round by the Baltimore Ravens and bounced around the NFL with a variety of teams for a few years.

Breakdown: Another vital member of Oklahoma's stout 2008 offensive line, Walker was named second-team All-Big 12 in 2007 and honorable mention in 2008. He was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent, but was released before the season began.

Breakdown: Gardner had such a dynamic highlight reel that many thought he was the top JUCO wide receiver over future Minnesota Viking first round draft pick Cordarrelle Patterson. However, Gardner never even made it to Oklahoma, or any college football program, for academic reasons and thus decided to enter the NFL Draft out of Sierra Community College. He signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins, but was released before ever seeing a game.

Breakdown: It was rumored that Onyenegecha was faster than a speeding bullet and could jump buildings in a single bound when the much-ballyhooed Bay School of San Francisco cornerback signed with Oklahoma. The Sooner faithful had high expectations, but Onyenegecha was more Clark Kent than Superman during his time in Norman.

Breakdown: Jackson and JUCO teammate Lance Mitchell never lost a game at City College of San Francisco and the pair of five-stars ultimately decided to continue playing together at the University of Oklahoma. While Jackson found some on field success, he never seemed to live up to his high billing, which was not helped by the successes of Mitchell. Following the 2003 season, Jackson went undrafted and had unsuccessful try-outs with both the 49ers and Colts.

Breakdown: Mitchell started every game in his first year at Oklahoma in 2002 on his way to being named a first-team All-Big 12 linebacker and the conference's Newcomer of the Year. Unfortunately, Mitchell tore his ACL in 2003, but was able to return with a strong senior season in 2004, where he was named first-team All Big 12 for a second time. The Arizona Cardinals selected Mitchell in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft, but was released following an injury in 2006.

Breakdown: Reed, a Florida native, was seen as a prototypical, NFL-ready linebacker when he signed with Oklahoma out of Yuba Community College in California. However, shortly after a year following the day he signed the dotted line to be a Sooner, Reed announced he would leave the program. Citing a need to spend more time with his family, the former blue-chip recruit finished his college football career quietly as a defensive lineman for the University of Central Oklahoma.