Bob Stoops’ retirement came as a surprise to at least a few coaches on the Oklahoma staff, but his replacement wasted no time steadying the ship. Lincoln Riley called a big staff meeting shortly after taking over, announced he would be retaining everyone, and quickly turned the focus to recruiting.

247Sports was told Riley spent his first “three days straight” as the new head coach answering and returning recruiting calls.

The new Riley led staff made a big statement five days later, flipping Top247 defensive end Ron Tatum from Texas. This past weekend they added the nation’s No. 1 JUCO offensive tackle Tramonda Moore and on Tuesday running back Tavion Thomas joined the fold. One source around the program said “hopefully [Thomas] can be like Samaje [Perine],” who was he was one of the more physical running backs in the country during his time in Norman and was just drafted by the Washington Redskins. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Thomas has a similar style of play as a powerful runner between the tackles.

Of the eight commits Oklahoma had at the time Riley was named head coach, only Top247 running back T.J. Pledger has wavered. Pledger is expected to visit Nebraska this weekend but he’s also expected back in Norman for the Sooners' recruiting barbecue.

Oklahoma has several other top targets leaning their way, including the nation’s No. 3 JUCO offensive tackle Anthony McKinney and Texas receivers Trevor Johnson and Jaylon Robinson. All three are expected in the boat soon, and I also continue to love where Oklahoma stands with linebacker/defensive end Jalen Redmond, another top in-state target.

The Sooners are also pushing to flip four-star safeties Jaiden Woodbey and Josh Proctor from Ohio State, with a strong source telling me he thought they were close to committing and another telling me to flip my Crystal Ball to Oklahoma for Woodbey.

Oklahoma is currently sitting on the nation’s No. 12 recruiting class per 247Sports but with all of the blue-chip talent Sooners are currently in the mix for, a second-straight top-10 class is a real possibility.

The Sooners could land a big fish soon in the 2019 class in quarterback Spencer Rattler. The Top247 recruit out of Phoenix (Ariz.) Pinnacle was in Norman over the weekend with his father. The Crystal Ball is all Oklahoma including my forecast. Rattler threw for nearly 3,000 yards as a sophomore and had 29 passing touchdowns and five more rushing scores.

T.J. Pledger is just one of the many big names expected in Lincoln this weekend for Nebraska’s version of Friday Night Lights. Prior to his March verbal to Oklahoma, the Huskers were always considered a top contender for the nation’s No. 3 all-purpose back. He is expected to be joined by his mother on this trip.

The four-star Pledger will be a top target for several members of Nebraska’s 15th-ranked recruiting class who will be in town, including his IMG Academy teammate Brendan Radley-Hiles, perhaps the best peer recruiter in the country. Four-star WR Joshua Moore, four-star CB Chase Williams, and four-star WR Manuel Allen, Nebraska commits all, are slated to be on campus as well.

Uncommitted big fish expected in Lincoln include five-star defensive end Micah Parsons and Top247 defensive back Christian Tutt, and former receiver commit Cameron Brown. Brown decommitted from Nebraska earlier this month after earning an Ohio State offer but the relationship has remained strong in Lincoln. My Crystal Ball is on Nebraska for Tutt and Brown. Mike Riley and company will also take their swing at three-star defensive end Jalen Redmond.

There will also be a big class of 2019 group on campus, including the nation’s No. 1 linebacker Owen Pappoe and Top247 quarterback Max Duggan, who's coming back for a second-straight weekend. Duggan only lives an hour from the Huskers' campus and obviously likes what he’s seen and heard.

Maryland has the nation’s No. 25 recruiting class, with more good news expected soon.

After talking with a source on Wednesday morning, I picked Maryland in my 247Sports Crystal Ball forecast for three-star offensive tackle Spencer Anderson, and the Terps look to be in good standing for three-star Washington (D.C.) Woodson cornerback Vincent Flythe, who announces on Friday.

DJ Durkin and company aim to sign a top-25 class for a second-straight year but regardless of ranking on National Signing Day, if the Terrapins can secure what’s already in the boat and add Eyabi Anoma, those around College Park will be very excited.

Anoma is the most pivotal prospect on Maryland’s board. The nation’s No. 3 weak-side defensive end brings a pass rushing presence Durkin and company are salivating for. My Crystal Ball is on Alabama for Anoma but no question Maryland is in the thick of it, and after seeing DMV guys like Terrell Hall, Chase Young, and Joshua Kaindoh head elsewhere, this is a local difference-maker they don’t want to see get away.