The job of OU general manager Jim Nagy is to ensure the Oklahoma Sooners have the best possible roster.
So, as many players among the Class of 2022 received temporary restraining orders (TROs) to receive an extra year of eligibility, Nagy and the Sooner staff saw an opportunity to add veteran talent. The behind-the-scenes work put Arkansas defensive tackle Danny Saili, Boise State defensive tackle Braxton Fely, Wisconsin cornerback D’Yoni Hill and Stephen F. Austin linebacker Jaydon Southard on their radar. Now, all four are expected to be on the Sooners' roster this season.
Nagy spoke with the media on Monday about his decision to add the four players and the process involved in making it happen.
“We did everything by the book, so constant contact
with the SEC, the administration,” Nagy said. “We weren’t going to cut any players, I’ll say that. That was never a consideration. Just looking to upgrade the team. It’s a violent sport, it’s a long season. And we are happy about what we did.”
Nagy confirmed the Sooners had available roster spots before deciding to pursue the four players, in case the Colorado ruling went in their favor. Though it appeared to be spur-of-the-moment decisions, Nagy says the staff did their due diligence in finding the right guys, including making sure they were the right cultural fit for the program.
With those roster spots now filled, Oklahoma will no longer be adding anyone else this season. So far, both Fely and Saili are on the roster – Saili actually took snaps during Oklahoma’s 51-0 shutout win over UTEP on Friday night. Hill and Southard are expected to be added in the coming days. Though they all have much experience, it’s unclear how active they’ll be for the Sooners on the field — especially as Oklahoma travels to Ann Arbor, Mich., for a top-25 matchup against the Michigan Wolverines this week.
Right now, Nagy says the goals are to get them into playing shape and to get them accustomed to the Sooners' schemes and systems.
“They’re going to have to learn and, more than anything, be physically ready,” he said. “But they’ve got a seven-day acclimation period here, during the week, so we’ll get them out there when they’re ready.”
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma football GM Jim Nagy addresses recent roster additions
