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North Mesquite (Texas) offensive tackle Jean Delance officially re-opened his recruitment on Monday morning, decommitting from the Oklahoma Sooners:
— Jean Delance (@JeanDelance74) March 9, 2015
It was a move that came just days after Delance visited Norman for an Oklahoma Junior Day, his second such event in less than a month. However, he also attended Junior Days at TCU and Texas A&M, and planned to attend another at Texas that he cancelled due to travel difficulties.
This decision was brewing for some time, but according to one report, the video that purportedly shows members of an Oklahoma fraternity singing a racist chant impacted Delance's decision:
#Scout150 OL @JeanDelance74 was clearly disturbed by the racist frat video from #OU last night, no longer committed to #Sooners
— Bob Przybylo (@BPrzybylo) March 9, 2015
Oklahoma coaches and players joined a protest against the behavior in the video on Monday after the university president immediately cut ties with the fraternity. Will that be enough to avoid further fallout with recruits? Only time will tell.
Sooners defensive end Charles Tapper issued his own strong statement to recruits about the incident in an effort to reduce the impact on the recruiting trail:
To all recruits do not take this wrong.. This is not a majority.. Meaning the majority if OU frats and Fans are not like that!! They are
— Charles Tapper (@Takeflightchuck) March 9, 2015
They are truly like OUr family! The OU family truly looks at for its student athletes! So please do not let the minority of the of Oklahoma
— Charles Tapper (@Takeflightchuck) March 9, 2015
Change your decision!
— Charles Tapper (@Takeflightchuck) March 9, 2015
Delance committed to the Sooners in late November, only days after picking up his offer from head coach Bob Stoops and staff.
Since then, the 6'5, 270-pounder has become one of the most coveted prospects in the state of Texas, picking up offers from Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Miami, Missouri, Nebraska, SMU, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Texas A&M. Arizona State, Baylor, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech are all also in pursuit of Delance.
After recently admitting to Bleacher Report that he made the decision to commit to Oklahoma "off an at-the-time moment," Delance will presumably slow down the recruiting process as he continues to visit other programs and evaluate his options.
One of those schools Delance plans to visit is Texas, as Delance said that he felt "good" about the offer from the Longhorns and wants to attend the spring game in Austin. Even prior to picking up his Texas offer, one flip prediction came into Delance's 247Sports Crystal Ball for Texas.
A consensus four-star prospect, Delance is the No. 162 recruit nationally, the No. 16 offensive tackle, and the No. 24 player in Texas, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
With his decommitment, Oklahoma now has only one 2016 commit -- Tulsa (Okla.) Victory Christian defensive end Jon-Michael Terry.