Rivals250 OL Stacey Wilkins commits to Oklahoma
Class of 2019 Rivals250 offensive lineman Stacey Wilkins has pushed back his commitment date a few times as his recruitment has moved along, but after another visit to Oklahoma, he decided he couldn't wait any longer. On Friday, he made his pledge to the Sooners official.
"It's Oklahoma," Wilkins told Rivals.com "It's just different. I've been to a few other colleges and taken visits and stuff like that but OU was just different. Walking around it felt like I was in my own home. I just felt it."
Wilkins has been a prime target of the Sooners staff for months and he said he has forged quite the bond with his future position coach Bill Bedenbaugh as well as head coach Lincoln Riley.
"The coaches are there for you and that's once reason why I chose Oklahoma," Wilkins said. "When I committed to them they were excited and happy and said they want to get to work to coach me up and make me the best player I can be."
The 6-foot-7, 285-pound prospect fits the mold of the new breed of tall, long, athletic offensive linemen and the Oklahoma coaches think he can blossom into a special player at the next level. Wilkins said the school's track record of developing similar players factored heavily into his decision.
"I'm going to have to come in and work just like the other guys who have come before me," Wilkins said. "They produce offensive linemen and send them to the NFL and that's one thing I looked at with every school. I know Coach B can help me and I'm going to give him a chance to do that and help me reach my goals."
Wilkins said he felt the pull from in-state school Arkansas, especially considering the new staff made him a priority. But he had to make the best decision for his future, even it if meant stepping out of his comfort zone.
"It was all about me wanting to be successful and to go play somewhere where I know I can do well," Wilkins said. "Me staying in state, I wasn't really worried about hat. I just needed to pick somewhere that I can be successful."
Obviously Wilkins consulted his family when it came time to decide and he said they are fully onboard with his decision to become a Sooner.
"My parents were happy with the decision," Wilkins said. "They went to the BBQ with me last week and saw everything I like and why I want to be a part of the program. They're excited to be part of the family, too."
Wilkins is just the latest highly-ranked star to commit to Oklahoma and said he has already started to forge bonds with his future teammates.
"They're excited," Wilkins said. "We are all part of the New Wave 19 class. Coming in with that type of talent is big for me and I can't wait to play with them. The academics side and the football, that's why I chose OU."
Wilkins said he plans on being back in Norman several times in the coming months, including for his official visit the weekend of the Sooners game against UCLA (Sept. 8). Wilkins said he might take trips to Arkansas and Georgia as well, as long as he has the blessing of the Oklahoma staff.
Wilkins is commitment No. 17 for Sooners in the Class of 2019 and he joins Texas native EJ Ndoma-Ogar as four-star offensive linemen in the fold. Wilkins is the first player from Arkansas to commit to the Sooners since Tre Norwood in the Class of 2017.
