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OU football: Sooners land trio of signing day surprises despite defensive staff uncertainty

NORMAN — Lincoln Riley performed his own bit of Sooner magic Wednesday.

Without a permanent defensive coordinator in place and with the future of several defensive staff members in limbo, Riley — and that presumably unstable staff — landed a trio of previously uncommitted defensive prospects.

“We've been totally upfront and I think they're confident in any direction that we decide to take,” Riley said.

First came the live televised commitment of four-star defensive back Jeremiah Criddell. His announcement sent Riley into a joyful fit of fist pumps. Criddell, a former Oregon commit from Santa Ana, California, is the 12th-ranked safety in the country, according to the 247Sports composite.