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Just weeks after finalizing a 2017 class that ranked No. 8 nationally and topped the Big 12, largely behind commitments from nine prospects from the state of Texas, Bob Stoops and the Oklahoma Sooners have again struck gold in The Lone Star State, earning simultaneous junior day commitments from a pair of 2019 pass catchers in Theo Wease Jr. and Arjei Henderson.
Soon to be a sooner... ☝ ⭕️ #BoomerSooner #Norman19 pic.twitter.com/N55BGi6A7C
— Theo Wease Jr (@weasejr_) February 19, 2017
Bigger Things‼️ #Norman19 pic.twitter.com/aPB2sSLiCr
— Hendi™ (@king_hendi) February 19, 2017
Wease, a four-star prospect out of Allen, recently raved to Burnt Orange Nation about the Sooners and Oklahoma’s lineage of elite wide receivers, which he expects to continue with 2017 in-state receivers Charleston Rambo and CeeDee Lamb headed across the river.
Along with the Sooners, Wease holds offers from Texas, Ole Miss, Georgia, Colorado, Auburn and Baylor, and although he’s committed, Wease noted that he’ll keep his options open, so don’t expect Tom Herman and the Longhorns to relent in his recruitment. That said, Wease told BON he planned to attend Texas’ junior day Feb. 25, which may still be the case.
Wease ranks as the 2019’s No. 97 prospect, the No. 14 wide receiver the No. 9 player in Texas, per 247Sports.
Henderson, on the other hand, doesn’t hold a Texas offer, but does have invitations to play at USC, Georgia, Washington, Texas A&M and Florida, among others. Unlike Wease, Henderson’s Twitter commitment made no note of his recruitment going forward, but that likely won't prevent the Texas staff from evaluating and at least extending an offer if they like what they see.
In any case, the commitments don’t serve as good news for the Longhorns, as well as the other schools in the state. After making note of the significance of keeping the state’s premier talent within its borders during his National Signing Day press conference, Wease and and Henderson heading to OU places more pressure on Herman to secure the state. Unfortunately for the staff, that likely requires on-field results, which aren't possible for another seven months.
Meanwhile, with Wease and Henderson committed, each of Oklahoma’s 2019 commits are from Texas, as is one of its three 2018 pledges. After landing just four players from the state in 2016 — a cycle in which Charlie Strong dominated — Oklahoma is continuing to make its presence felt in The Lone Star State.