Yo, Adrian: OU Lands Rivals250 OT

It may have taken longer than Adrian Ealy had planned, longer than Oklahoma had hoped but in the end Ealy and the Sooners were right there waiting for one another.

Just moments ago the 6-foot-7, 282-pound Rivals250 offensive tackle from Gonzales (La.) East Ascension announced, via video, that he was committing to Oklahoma. The nation's No. 21 offensive tackle and Louisiana's No. 4 overall prospect chose the Sooners over a final group that also included, most notably, LSU and Arizona.

"It's a relief, it's a weight off my shoulders. Now I can just worry about working out. I was just ready to pull the trigger," Ealy said. "At first I was going to do it the week we played our biggest rival but things kept changing with my recruiting.

"[Now though], it's going to be Oklahoma.

"Coach B [Bill Bedenbaugh], he has been pretty chill, pretty patient about it.

"I'm not going to say coach B has been pressuring me. He has just been telling me that this is the place for me to be. He came to my school my junior year and has come down to visit me. He was just patient."

It's a decision that many had believed to be the case for quite some time, particularly following his official visit on the Ohio State weekend in September. But as Ealy said his recruitment kept going through odd changes and it wasn't until recently that he made his final decision.

"I kind of knew but I wasn't 100-percent, it was about 75-percent a few weeks ago. The official visit really touched me, seeing all of the guys, all the guys coming back and with Orlando (Brown) coming back maybe next year I could work in there," he explained.

Another group that Ealy says didn't know was Oklahoma who found out just before the release of his commitment video.

"They found out about five minutes before I release it," he said.

Interestingly though he didn't tell the coaches, because of NCAA rules, of his final decision he did recently see the Sooner staff - along with roughly 80,000 of their closest friends.

"I actually went down there (to the Sugar Bowl), it was pretty amazing, bullying an SEC school like that. it's pretty amazing knowing you have coaches who can help you prepare like that," he beamed. "(OU being so physical) really did surprise me, that was the question at the beginning of the season. It really showed the whole season."

As Ealy mentioned the draw to Oklahoma was strong with their lineage of offensive tackles and the reality that Brown is viewed by some as a likely first round pick in 2018. However, he is also quick to dispel any idea that he sees the left tackle spot just opening up to him upon Brown's departure.

"I wouldn't say it's open for me but I'm going to be working to get in and get my self ready for this year," he explained before discussing his admiration for Brown's game, well most of it.

"I feel like I can shadow those (offensive line) guys, especially like Orlando. I feel like I can shadow what they've done.

"I text him asked him after my official visit and we talked some then. We may have similar stuff going on so I really haven't been bothering him much. We had a real good talk one day at Oklahoma. We had a real good talk.

"He was committed to Tennessee at one point and told me that the people at Oklahoma are really real. You've got people out here that are going to lie to you and get you to do what they want.

"They're really real, a lot of people try and get you to their schools and say whatever. Orlando said what you see out of coach B, coach (Bob) Stoops, coach (Lincoln) Riley, that's what you get.

"[But] he fouls about every two plays, I look up to him but I won't be picking that habit up (laughing)."

But apart from being like Brown, to whatever degree, Ealy also has the desire to improve one specific area of his game before he arrives in Norman next Summer.

"It's really going to be about my work ethic, my conditioning, my endurance. Just to be ready when I touch down. Already being ready, I will worry about those skills. I just want to learn the technique 100-percent and not have to focus on being physically ready," the nation's No. 171 prospect said.

Ealy, who says his family was very comfortable with his choice of Oklahoma, says that for him Oklahoma was the best choice to help him become the player he hopes to be.

"I did see myself going there during the official. But at the time I felt I should keep my officials open, it was the first official that I took," he admitted.

"But, I think just the history of it. You know it's the place to be, I think it's the best choice for me to fulfill my dreams. You know people out there will help me out."