INLAND EMPIRE STUD CHOOSES BIG 12 POWERHOUSE

Bryce Youngquist gave Oklahoma a major boost for its 2016 recruiting class, as the Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga) linebacker announced that he committed to the Sooners on July 31 (photo credit scout.com). 

It hasn’t been the most dominant recruiting period for Oklahoma Sooners football when it comes to filling the 2016 class. In fact, Bleacher Report labeled the Sooners a loser during the July recruiting period.

But Oklahoma struck big today to end the month, as OU received a verbal commitment from Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga) standout Bryce Youngquist on July 31.

Youngquist, who’s a 4-star linebacker prospect, held 15 scholarship offers and had Oregon and Oklahoma as his last two schools of choice. By committing to the latter, he becomes the Sooners’ eighth verbal commitment in the Class of 2016 and provides an immediate impacting presence for the OU linebacker unit, which will graduate three seniors after the 2015-16 season.

In the stardom-filled Inland Empire region, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Youngquist is one of the fastest defenders in the 909. According to scout.com, Youngquist blazes his 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds. He comes to Los Osos High football games with that same speed and tenacity.

Once the ball is snapped, Youngquist looks like a coyote that found fresh meat. He’ll accelerate past the outside pocket protection, corner his prey and then feast on a quarterback. He could be another Eric Striker for the Sooner defense, who led OU with 17 tackles for a loss and nine sacks last season.

Youngquist is much more than just a rush linebacker. He takes solid angles and relies on a wrap-and-roll technique to make the run stopping tackle. 

Against the pass, his speed and backpedal gets him to look like a cover safety locking down his area. His willingness to play in coverage is an added bonus for a Sooner pass defense that ranked 117^th out of 128 Football Bowl Subdivision teams last year.

While OU currently ranks at No. 55 in the 247sports.com recruiting composite rankings for the Class of 2016, the verbal pledge from Youngquist gives Oklahoma new life for this class.