ready to shine with Sooners.

CAMDEN — When Stacey Wilkins was a sophomore football player at Camden Fairview High School in 2016, his coach Jake Monden made a business decision for him.

“Coach Monden said you’re going to make millions of dollars playing tackle,” Wilkins recalled.

Wilkins then moved from defensive end to offensive tackle, where he admitted he struggled in his first season.

By his junior season, Wilkins got the hang of the position and turned himself into one of the best college prospects in the state.

“I came out of a cannon. The first play, I pushed a guy on his back. It felt good,” Wilkins said. “I kept doing it over and over.”

The decision paid off as the 6-6, 275-pound Wilkins signed a letter of intent with Oklahoma on Wednesday in the Camden Fairview gymnasium. Wilkins chose Oklahoma over the University of Arkansas, Clemson, Georgia and Texas, among others. He committed to the Sooners on Aug. 3.

“It’s great for him, it’s great for the school, it’s great for the program, and it’s great for this town,” said Monden, who has coached the Cardinals for three seasons. “We’ve had a lot of past guys who have signed with the Razorbacks and elsewhere. It’s pretty tradition-rich down here.

“Doing this under my tenure, it is special. It’s the first Division I kid we’ve had since I’ve been here. It’s great for us.”

Wilkins, a four-star recruit by Rivals, ESPN.com and 247Sports, was joined by his parents Stacey Sr. and Leilani; his grandparents Dan and Glenda Franklin; his uncle Ketric Wilkins; his aunt Tavonna Wilkins; and nephew Ketric Wilkins Jr.

“I’m blessed to be able to have this opportunity and to be able to go to college for free,” Wilkins said. “I’ll make sure to continue to do my work and take care of the little things so when I get there, I can set the tone and let everyone know I’m ready to work.”

Rivals ranks Wilkins, a 2017 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps firstteam selection, as the state’s top prospect and the country’s No. 8 offensive tackle.

The relationships Wilkins has built with Oklahoma Coach Lincoln Riley and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh were key factors in him choosing the Sooners, who are one of four teams in the College Football Playoff along with Alabama, Clemson and Notre Dame.

“When I first met Coach Riley, I liked him. He’s a down-to-earth guy,” Wilkins said. “Coach Bedenbaugh, he’s a really good guy to talk to as well. He’s the No. 1 offensive line coach in the country, in my opinion, so I’ll be able to be coached by the best and work with the best.”

Wilkins — a cousin of former Camden Fairview, Arkansas and NFL offensive lineman Shawn Andrews — was a three-year starter for Camden Fairview. He helped lead the Cardinals to the Class 5A playoffs in 2018, losing at Wynne in the Class 5A first round.

Arkansas Coach Chad Morris offered Wilkins on Dec. 17, 2017, 11 days after being hired as the Razorbacks coach. Wilkins thanked Morris and offensive line coach Dustin Fry for recruiting him.

“They saw talent in me,” Wilkins said. “I have a really good relationship with coach Fry and all of those guys. Hopefully, I can still keep in touch with them and have a good relationship with them in the future.”

Monden also was impressed with Arkansas’ effort.

“They recruited him hard,” Monden said. “Stacey had long thought about going to Arkansas. But it goes back to where he felt like he could reach his goals and progress the way he wants to progress at Oklahoma.”

Wilkins is scheduled to report to Oklahoma on June 3. When asked about playing time as a freshman, Wilkins said he’s preparing to play early.

“If I work hard and do what I’m supposed to do, anything can happen,” he said.

Wilkins