Kelvin Gilliam, a four-star prospect and one of the top defensive ends in the country’s 2021 recruiting class, announced his commitment to Oklahoma live Saturday night on CBS Sports HQ. Gilliam took on the Sooners over co-finalists Penn State and South Carolina.
Gilliam’s addition moves the Sooners ahead of Texas in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings. Oklahoma jumps Texas to no. 14 national and no. 1 in the Big 12 conference. The 247Sports Composite rates the Highland Springs (Va.) High School standout as a four-star recruiter who ranks no. 104 in the country’s recruitment cycle 2021. He is also ranked as no. 7 under 2021 defensive end perspectives of weak side, as well as no. 3 in the state of Virginia for his class.
Gilliam is the last cog in a strong defensive line class of Oklahoma 2021. The Sooners had already received commitments from defenders with four stars Clayton Smith, Ethan Downs, en Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge, as well as three-star defensive approach for junior college Isaiah Coe. Smith (96), Gilliam (104), and Downs (156) all run nationally within the top 160, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Oklahoma’s emphasis on the defensive side of the ball in the 20 recruiting class has resulted in a class of 14 players that includes 10 defensive tackles. Smith, Gilliam, cornerback with four stars Latrell McCutchin (122), and Downs are the top four defensive commissions for the Sooners in this class.
Gilliam has reported 40 offers from across the country over the course of his recruitment. In addition to the aforementioned three finalists, the following Power Five conference programs have submitted offers to the 6-foot-3, 250-pointer: Arizona State, Arkansas, Boston College, Cal, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Kansas State , Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, NC State, North Carolina, Northwestern, Ole Miss, Pitt, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia.
Gilliam is part of a talented Highland Springs team that finished the 2019 campaign with an 11-1 record and a playoff appearance in the second round of the Virginia Class 5 bracket. Besides Gilliam, Highland Springs has 2021 prospects like Oklahoma-bound three-star cornerbacks Damond Harmon, three-star athlete Jamareeh Jones, and safety of two stars Jabari Parker.
The following is the 247Sports scouting report on Gilliam: “Frame to play defensively end when inside college. Carries 250 pounds easy. Long, athletic and fast. Can use speed from edge to ball rush. Good with hands. Able to push block and re-direct straight down line from scrimmage. Has burst on snap. Has closing speed. Can manipulate body to push through line or scrimmage. Ability to chase backwards. Patient and plays commands well. Smart player with high engine. Continued to add upper body strength. Work on technique for varied movement sets and combinations required. Multi-year starter on top 15 program. Day 3 NFL concept potential. “
