Under Bob Stoops, the Oklahoma Sooners have been the model of consistency in the Big 12, ranking in the top 10 at one point in every season since his first in 1999. On the trail, Stoops has also been pretty constant with his recruiting philosophy -- win in-state every year, add depth in Texas, and recruit nationally for singularly talented, scheme-fitting players.

Cumulative recruiting class rankings

The Sooners sit just outside the top 10 in cumulative class rankings, compiling the 13th most talent in the country from 2011-15. They stack up much better in their own conference, finishing only behind Texas in the Big 12.

Philosophy in action

The state of Oklahoma doesn’t have that many Power 5 prospects, but it has its share of high-end talent and OU is located only a few hours away from the talent-rich Dallas area. Stoops and the Sooners have done a great job securing the best in-state players, like Sterling Shepard and Steven Parker, while also maintaining a pipeline to Dallas, which produced more OU signees than the entire state of Oklahoma from 2011-15. OU also goes deeper into Texas to find difference makers like RB Samaje Perine, a Pflugerville, Texas, native, and, years earlier, the great Adrian Peterson, a Palestine, Texas native. Beyond Texas and Oklahoma, the Sooners have actually brought in the majority of their players from 24 other states across the country, including two first-team All-Big 12 performers: TE Mark Andrews, an Arizona native, and DE Charles Tapper, who is from Maryland. OU clearly puts an emphasis on scheme fit over proximity and are one of the few programs who have the resources to recruit nationally.

Out-of-state pipeline

Oklahoma’s neighbor to the south, Texas, is the most talent-rich state in the country and the major pipeline for the Sooners. Over the last five years, 41 percent of OU’s signees have hailed from the Lone Star State. Plus, the Sooners most important player, star quarterback Baker Mayfield, is a Texas native although his path to Norman was rather unique.

Recruits who exceed expectations

Mayfield took a circuitous route to stardom at Oklahoma. He went from walk-on to starter at Texas Tech before transferring and doing the exact same thing at Oklahoma. After winning the starting job this year, he emerged as a legit Heisman candidate, winning the Big 12’s Offensive Player of the Year and finishing with over 3,000 yards passing and 42 total touchdowns. On defense, Eric Striker was rated as a three-star safety coming out of high school. In Norman, he hit the weights, moved down a position to linebacker and has become a real impact defender and a two-time All-Big 12 selection.

Signature recruit now in the NFL

In 2010, the Sooners went to California in order to handpick four-star athlete Tony Jefferson, the 21st-rated player in the ESPN 150, to play that critical nickelback position. Jefferson exploded onto the scene as a true freshman and was named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. He went on to become a first-team All-Big 12 selection as well a second-team All-American as junior before declaring early for the NFL Draft. Jefferson is the perfect example of the Sooners ability to identify and go after a national recruit with coveted abilities.