Brennan Clay a key recruiter

While Brennan Clay has the physical tools necessary of becoming a big-time running back at Oklahoma, his value to the Sooners goes beyond that.

After committing to OU out of San Diego last June, Clay went to work luring a pair of other high school stars from the area, safety Tony Jefferson (Chula Vista, Calif.) and wide receiver Kenny Stills (Carlsbad, Calif.) to Norman.

“Guys of that caliber aren’t going to make a decision on what one kid says,” said Clay’s high school coach, Sergio Diaz. “But I would say he played a major part in them considering OU an option.”

Before this class, OU had not done much recruiting in the state of California. Through Bob Stoops’ first 11 recruiting classes, the Sooners signed just three Californians total.

Thanks in part to Clay, OU was able to get in the door with Jefferson and Stills, who are two of the top prospects in this Sooner signing class.

“Kids, they attend camps, combines, take visits at the same time. Relationships are developed,” said ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill. “When someone commits before the others do and has a sense of what the program has, I think he can relay to the others somewhat of an objective viewpoint.

“So I don’t think there’s any doubt that he played a part in OU getting Jefferson and Stills.”