The drama that used to surround college football’s National Signing Day is a thing of the past. When the letters of intent arrive Wednesday, there will be very few surprises for Oklahoma. It already has 22 verbal commitments for its 2009 recruiting class. Room remains for just three more scholarships to be handed out.

But where does the Sooners’ haul rank with others around the country?

It depends whom you ask.

Rivals.com currently has OU’s expected class at No. 12 with three days to go and ESPN.com has the group at No. 9. It isn’t higher only because the Sooners have yet to receive a commitment from a five-star recruit.

If it doesn’t happen by Wednesday it will be the first time in several years OU hasn’t landed at least one. Some would say that’s cause for concern. But national recruiting analysts don’t see any reason to view 2009 as a down season for the Sooners on the recruiting trail.

“Recruiting isn’t always about going and getting the best player,” ESPN Scouts Inc. recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill said. “It is also about getting the right player and looking at your depth chart and current roster and knowing where you’re light and where you need to fill holes, or where you might anticipate someone leaving early for the NFL draft.”

The Sooners’ current recruiting class fills those needs because it is loaded with players who fit two critical needs — linebacker and help at wide receiver. The Sooners have five linebackers committed to this season’s class. In-state recruits Ronnell Lewis (Dewar) and Gus Jones (Wagoner) are part of that group that should add depth for next season and become a bigger factor in coming seasons.

Cameron Kinney, from Garden City (Kan.) Junior College, leads a wide receiver group that also includes Jaz Reynolds (Alden, Texas) who could compete for playing time next season. The Sooners are also holding out hope that they can land at least one more receiver on Wednesday. Their obvious target is Bastrop, La., wide receiver Rueben Randle. Randle is ranked as the No. 2 overall player by Rivals.com and is one of 14 players in the Web site’s Top 100 who remain uncommitted.

Even if Randle doesn’t pick OU over LSU, Alabama or Auburn, it will still be a very respected recruiting class.

“They got the guys they wanted in Oklahoma and did a very good job finding guys that fit into what they do,” said CBS College Sports Network recruiting expert Tom Lemming, who currently has OU’s classs ranked No. 11. “Each year Oklahoma does a good job of doing that. The bottom line is: it’s a class that will allow Oklahoma to keep competing for national championships.”

Of course, there could be a few changes before Wednesday. You can bet if Randle decides to become a Sooner, OU’s ranking will shoot up a few spots. If he, or some other highly sought recruit doesn’t, life will go on.

There’s never a year when a team’s recruiting wish list is completely filled.

“It seems like in recruiting no one is ever happy. Everyone wants to be No. 1 every year,” Lemming said. “Well, no one ever is.”

John Shinn

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