Sooners Secure 24 Signings on First Day of Early Period

Bassyonni

ago 41 minutes

The University of Oklahoma’s head football coach, Brent Venables, alongside general manager, Jim Nagy, announced the signing of 24 recruits for the 2026 class. This announcement was made on the opening day of the NCAA’s early signing period.

Sooners Secure 24 Signings on First Day of Early Period

Out of the 24 signees, 13 are distinguished as four- or five-star recruits, as rated by reputable sources like 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals, and Kohl’s Kicking. The remaining 11 recruits received three-star ratings.

Details of the Signing Class

The early signing period runs until Friday, and the regular signing period will commence on February 4. As of 2 p.m. CT on signing day, the Sooners’ recruiting class was ranked:

No. 15 nationally by 247Sports composite rankings
No. 16 by both Rivals and ESPN

Coach Venables expressed excitement regarding the depth of the class. “We hit all our targets and landed players who will impact us right away,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of cultural fit in the locker room.

Profile of the Signees

All signees are high school seniors, classified as follows:

Offensive players: 11 (including 1 quarterback, 2 running backs, 4 wide receivers, 2 tight ends, 2 offensive linemen)
Defensive players: 12 (including 5 defensive linemen/ends, 4 linebackers, and 3 defensive backs)
Specialist: 1 kicker

Notably, three players are ranked among the top 100 overall recruits nationally:

Bowe Bentley (quarterback)
Jonathan Hatton Jr. (running back)
Jake Kreul (defensive end)

Geographic Distribution of Signees

In terms of geographic representation, the signings include notable numbers from the following states:

Florida: 5 recruits
Texas: 5 recruits
California: 3 recruits
Arizona: 2 recruits
Indiana: 2 recruits
Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma: 1 recruit each

General manager Nagy shared his enthusiasm for the class. Reflecting on his earlier days with the Seattle Seahawks, he emphasized the need for players who are ready to step in and compete immediately. He noted the importance of recruiting athletes who are not only talented but also share the right mindset.

Coach Venables reiterated his excitement about the new recruits. He reaffirmed that the foundation of their program is rooted in high school players possessing strong work ethics and a commitment to personal and athletic development.

The Sooners are poised for a postseason run, having secured their eligibility for the 27th consecutive season—marking the second-longest streak in the nation. Their postseason opponent will be revealed on Sunday, December 7.