Sooners 2027 commit just showed that he can easily make the transition he warned everyone he would make
The Oklahoma Sooners landed 2027 edge rusher Taven Epps, or at least everyone thought he was an edge rusher. He told people he viewed himself more as a linebacker.
The Oklahoma Sooners really, really wanted four-star defender Taven Epps in the 2027 recruiting class. They landed him, and he’s a really big reason why the class is the No. 1 class in the country. But when I say they wanted him, they really, really wanted him.
“They’re recruiting me heavily,” Epps told On3 just before his commitment to the Sooners. “They’re trying to get me over there. Coach Stacey, I’m really close to him because he was at UCLA, and now he’s at Oklahoma, so he told everybody at Oklahoma, I’m really close with this kid and they all want me to go over there. Even the offensive coaches are recruiting me. It’s a big thing. Me and (Ford) have a really good connection. It’s like he was my coach, and he went to OU, and they’re all trying to get me.”
Taven Epps is already showing he can convert to an off-ball LB
Taven Epps has some insane potential, especially considering his age and how much more he will grow. He started the recruitment as an edge rusher. But, he’s likely going to transition to a linebacker, as that’s what he’s told several recruiting insiders that he wants to do and what Oklahoma is okay with him doing.
Recently, he was at the Under Armor Next Camp in Los Angeles. During a 1-on-1 period, he was seen guarding and playing against what looked to be running backs or receivers. Regardless of their position, they were obviously players who should be able to separate from Epps easily. That’s not what happened. Epps played some of the stickiest man coverage you will see from a linebacker.
This is why he could be both an edge rusher and an elite linebacker, on- and off-ball. As far as the edge rusher part of this story goes, he’s twitchy, fast, and has some pretty good bend. Regardless, this guy is going to be a star.
