Danny Okoye, nation's No. 6 edge-rusher, has recruitment-altering Oklahoma Sooners visit
NOAH Homeschool (Oklahoma) four-star edge-rusher Danny Okoye is one of the nation's most sought-after front-seven players.
The 6-foot-4, 241-pound defender holds offers from 30 college football programs, highlighted by Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and many others
But the nation's No. 6 edge-rusher is beginning to cut down his list of options.
In fact, following last weekend's visit to Oklahoma he is ready to trim down his mental list of six to a public list of just three.
"I'm not gonna lie when I went on the OU visit, I had a top six," Okoye said. "After that trip I was ready to name a top three."
While the local star had been to Norman before, it marked a first in his recruitment - and the change was a welcomed one.
"It was definitely different," Okoye said. "I've never been to Oklahoma on a gameday with (Brent) Venables there. Being in that environment with the energy that he brings, it was definitely a change of pace."
Venables clearly sets the tone for the Oklahoma program, but it was Director of SOUL Mission Caleb Kelly, who specializes in career and professional development, who displayed the program's heart.
Kelly was on the roster for Oklahoma from 2016-2021, earning the honor of captain for the 2021 football season.
A pair of serious injuries in the spring of 2019 and fall of 2020 put an end to his football career, but his connection to the program remained strong.
"I had a great conversation with Caleb Kelly," Okoye said."What happened with him, he was going to go to the NFL, got injured, but he was still able to accomplish his goals in life because the program cared enough about the person, not just the player. Getting to see that aspect of the program was eye-opening."
While NIL, facilities and program success are all factors in a modern recruitment, Okoye said he is also weighing moments like the one he shared with Kelly.
"I'm not going to say those other aspects don't have anything to do with it, because they do," he said. "I don't just want to go to a good school and miss out on the other stuff. But I don't want to look back in four years and think I made a shallow decision. It's making a move for the rest of your life."
Following his trip, Okoye said he will alter his official visit schedule - he had planned trips to LSU and Tennessee later this month - and announce a top three shortly.
Asked if Oklahoma would make that list, Okoye didn't hesitate.
"100 percent," he said.
Tennessee is another program he said will make his list.
"Tennessee is definitely up there," Okoye explained. "I've had a great relationship with that staff and that program - pretty much as good as OU. I've been connected with Tennessee longer than OU, because they've recruited me longer."
That said, following his Oklahoma visit all other trips are now up in the air.
Will he take his scheduled visit to Knoxville on September 30?
"Yeah, I mean, I'll see what happens," Okoye said. "The OU (official visit) kind of scrambled my brain a little bit and also scrambled my schedule, so we'll see where the road takes it."
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