The Oklahoma coaching staff was stunned last week when linebacker Curtis Lofton decided he was leaving Oklahoma a year early for the NFL. There were rumors that this could happen, but no one really thought that it would take place.

     That’s why the recruitment of junior college linebacker J.R. Bryant became so important. After the Sooners lost out on several top-notch high school linebackers they knew they had to dip into the junior college ranks and get immediate help. That happened earlier this afternoon when Bryant gave the Sooners a verbal commitment.

     Three weeks ago it looked like this 6-3, 228-pounder from Garden City Junior College was a lock for OU. But that was before Oklahoma State got involved. The Cowboys did a great job in recruiting this juco All-American.

     In fact, earlier in the week there were those in the Sooner camp that thought Bryant would head to OSU. The word was that he wanted to come to Oklahoma, but his mother liked Oklahoma State the best. She perferred the small town atmosphere of Stillwater over Norman.

     But Brent Venables and Bob Stoops paid her a visit this week and convinced her that Oklahoma would be the best place for her son. They also sold her on that her son will be right in the mix for a starting linebacker slot. With this commitment, it all be insures that Ryan Reynolds will be moved into the middle linebacking slot to replace Lofton. . .

     THE MORE YOU hear on the recruiting circles, the more you think that Oklahoma has a good shot at wide receiver Julio Jones. This 6-4, 225-pounder from Foley, AL is visiting the Sooners this weekend.

     At first you thought OU was just wasting its time with the No. 1 receiver in the country. How often does the top player in the state of Alabama leave that state? That doesn’t happen much.

     But those in the know think Oklahoma has a legitimate shot of getting this talented athlete. Sam Bradford is a big reason. Jones hasn’t said much in the recruiting process, but he has told people that he wants to go to a school that has a young and talented quarterback.

     Also coming in is another Alabama native, Burton Scott, who is ranked as one of the best pure athletes in the country. He has already given Alabama a verbal commitment.

     There are some OU fans that think it’s a bad idea to bring him in because they think he will try to recruit Jones to Alabama. The OU coaches think in a different way. They feel if Jones likes his visit, he will be the one trying to recruit Scott to come to Oklahoma.

     It should be an interesting weekend.