Sooners make top 8 for 2023 4-star LB Troy Bowles

The focus of Oklahoma recruiting changed on December 5, 2021, when the Oklahoma Sooners hired Brent Venable to be their head coach. Having spent a decade in the southeast, Oklahoma’s new head coach has had the Sooners wading into SEC and ACC territory regularly since December.

One of the first offers the Sooners made in the Brent Venables era came just four days after he was hired, going to 2023 four-star linebacker Troy Bowles. Bowles had been a recruit that Venables was after during his time at Clemson.

A top 100 player in the 2023 recruiting cycle, Bowles cut his top eight schools and included the Oklahoma Sooners, largely because of his connection to Brent Venables. He shared with Hayes Fawcett of On3 Recruiting, “Coach Venables and I have a very good relationship and he’s always been honest with me,” Bowles said. “I have a lot of respect for him, and the fans are crazy. I love it.”

Bowles, the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles, included Rutgers, Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, Auburn, Georgia, and Florida along with the Sooners in his top eight.

Currently, On3 gives the edge in the recruiting battle to the Ohio State Buckeyes while the only crystal ball predictions issued have Bowles going to Georgia. The Sooners may be a longshot here, but never count out Brent Venables, and with an official visit coming on June 3, Oklahoma could make enough of an impression to gain some ground.

Bowles is an athletic player that shows good speed and pursuit ability. Lined up as a weakside linebacker, he’s able to walk down and play on the edge as well as drop into coverage.

Andrew Ivins of 247Sports had this to say about Troy Bowles.

One of the more complete three-down linebacker prospects to come out of Florida recently given his ability to not only take on blocks and blitz, but also cover tight ends and running backs. Has done nothing but produce since he was a freshman at one of the Sunshine State’s more tradition-rich high school…