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Oklahoma Freshmen: Getting a Jump on College Football — DB Robert Spears-Jennings

A meteoric rise up the recruiting rankings followed a big senior year and all-star game performance, and now RSJ is hoping to catch the OU coaches' attention this spring.
John E. Hoover|
Oklahoma Freshmen: Getting a Jump on College Football — DB Robert Spears-Jennings
Oklahoma Freshmen: Getting a Jump on College Football — DB Robert Spears-Jennings

Editor’s Note: National Signing Day is Wednesday, and Oklahoma expects to sign a handful of newcomers in the 2022 recruiting class. In the early signing period in December, OU signed 17 newcomers. Of those, 10 enrolled early and are on campus. This is Part 10 of a 10-part series introducing Oklahoma’s early enrollees in the 2022 recruiting class.

DB Robert Spears-Jennings

6-1, 195

Broken Arrow, OK

247 Sports: 4-star, No. 125 overall, No. 12 S

Rivals: 4-star, No. 174 overall, No. 11 S

Background: Spears-Jennings just enjoyed a massive rise in the recruiting rankings from both 247 Sports and Rivals because of his stunning performance in the Under Armour All-American Game: he won the Fastest Man Competition with a laser-timed 4.49 in the 40, then didn’t allow a reception in the game. “RSJ” entered the recruiting world as a dual-threat talent, most likely a wide receiver because that’s the position he played most in high school. But Alex Grinch offered him as a defensive back, and Brent Venables’ crew more than honored that after his playing time increased on defense in 2021. In high school, Spears-Jennings caught 72 passes for 1,347 yards and 12 touchdowns during his junior and senior seasons. As a senior, he made 56 tackles, broke up four passes and had a forced fumble. Spears-Jennings’ first Division I offer came a year ago from Boston College. A week later, Ole Miss offered, followed by Texas Tech, Kansas State, Colorado, Michigan State and, last June, Oklahoma. He visited the Sooners in June, then committed to OU on July 4.

2022 Projection: The OU secondary has lots of guys who have played, but is losing two three-year starters at safety in Delarrin Turner-Yell and Pat Fields. That’s a lot of experience gone in a transition year. So don’t rule out Spears-Jennings breaking into the rotation early, especially as he picks things up this spring. The new coaching staff and new system ensures lots of uncertainty. Key Lawrence finished the year at corner, but he could return to safety. Jeremiah Criddell is coming back from injury and could be the nickel, although Billy Bowman and Justin Broiles started there last year. Jordan Mukes and Bryson Washington both delivered big plays last season. Other young names will be in the mix as well. Spears-Jennings will need to learn fast, get strong and play with confidence to play a big role in 2022.

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Meet Oklahoma's 2022 Early Enrollees

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John E. Hoover
JOHN E. HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.

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