Sooners have no surprises

CEDAR HILL, TEXAS

— Charleston Rambo didn’t expect to run into the player he wanted to replace when he made a run to the mall Tuesday night, the day before signing day.

But there in Nordstrom’s at Dallas’ Northpark Mall, was Dede Westbrook doing a little shopping himself.

The Cedar Hill, Texas, standout had spent some time with Westbrook during the recruiting process but hadn’t developed a close bond with the OU receiver since Westbrook would be gone by the time Rambo arrived in Norman.

But Westbrook offered some encouraging words during their chance encounter.

“He just gave me a head’s up about OU and said, ‘Do your thing,’” Rambo said Wednesday after signing with the Sooners.

Rambo was part of a strong group of players the Sooners signed Wednesday, especially in the offensive skill positions, where they’ll have

to replace plenty from last season’s 11-2 team.

All in all, it was a relatively drama-free signing day for the Sooners.

All of OU’s signings were official before 8:30 a.m.

“That’s sort of how you want it,” Sooners coach Bob Stoops said.

The signings included the paperwork from Rambo, who had been heavily courted by Baylor and Florida in recent weeks and who visited Gainesville, Fla., last weekend before deciding to stick with the Sooners.

“That’s where my heart was at — in Norman,” Rambo said.

As of Wednesday night, OU was No. 7 on Rivals’ team rankings for the class.

Oklahoma lost its top three receivers — Westbrook, running back Joe Mixon and Geno Lewis — and its top two backs in Mixon and Samaje Perine.

So there’ll be plenty of catches and carries to go around next season.

OU signed high school receivers Rambo and CeeDee Lamb of Richmond (Texas) Foster, two four-star receivers that were both in the Rivals 100 ranking of the nation’s top recruits.

Oklahoma had earlier added junior college transfer Marquise Brown.

“Well, we’ll see,” Stoops said of their potential for immediate contribution. “These guys all have to come in and make plays. I believe they will. I think they’re all really skilled guys with speed and a proven ability to go after the ball.

“CeeDee Lamb was the Player of the Year in the entire Houston area. That says a lot.

“Charleston Rambo has big-play potential and has made a ton of big plays. All three of these will make an impact next year, there’s no question.”

The Sooners also added three running backs, with two already on campus in junior college transfer Marcelias Sutton and Georgia high school product Trey Sermon.

Kennedy Brooks, from Mansfield, Texas, finished out the running back class Wednesday.

“Not too much,” Brooks said when asked if he felt he was behind the other two in competing to fill the voids left by Perine and Mixon. “We’re all going to compete for it. When I get down there, the spots are not going to be taken so I’m going to work my butt off here and try to catch up to them. Once I get down there, just compete with them and hopefully I’ll earn the spot.”

Rambo said he really looked forward to playing with Brooks, who he faced twice last season.

“It’s a dream,” Rambo said.

“I know he brought it in Mansfield, and I know he’s going to do the same in Norman so, you know, we’re really just looking toward getting a natty.”