Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: Sooners add commitment from 4-star D-lineman

By Chip Rouse

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 22: The Oklahoma Sooners fans cheer against the Army West Point Black Knights at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 22: The Oklahoma Sooners fans cheer against the Army West Point Black Knights at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Oklahoma football recruiting is gaining momentum, as it was expected to in June and July, with the commitment of four-star defensive lineman Jayden Jackson to the Sooners’ 2024 class.

The highly touted defensive lineman chose the Sooners over offers from Texas, Ohio State, Florida and home-state Miami among others. The 6-foot, 2-inch, 290-pound Jackson is a teammate of David Stone at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Brent Venables and Oklahoma’s defensive line coach Todd Bates are also in heavy pursuit to land the five-star DL Stone in the 2024 class.

Oklahoma actually discovered Jackson while checking out IMG Academy in the recruitment of Stone, an OU priority target in the current recruiting cycle.

Jackson joins edge rusher Wyatt Gilmore as defensive line commitments in the Sooners’ 2024 class, and Oklahoma is currently favored to land Stone and Williams Nwaneri, out of the Kansas City, before the class is finally secured. Since Venables arrived back in Norman as the 23rd head coach of Oklahoma football, there has been concern that the strength and athleticism of the Sooners’ defensive line was below where it needed to be to successfully compete in the SEC.

Venables is widely recognized as an outstanding recruiter of top defensive line talent. His defensive lines at Clemson, many of whom were high NFL draft picks, were among the very best in the college football. And his now three recruiting classes at OU are starting to reflect that same approach.

Jackson visited Ohio State, Florida, Miami, Texas and OU, all in June. “Within the first 10 minutes (of the Oklahoma visit), I was ready to commit,” he told Greg Biggins of 247Sports. “I was honestly blown away after talking with Coach Venables and Coach Bates.

"“I’ll be honest,” he said. “I almost decided not to visit (OU). They were the final school to make my top five and the only one I didn’t visit unofficially prior to taking all my official trips.”"

Jackson is Oklahoma’s 13th commitment in the 2024 class and the seventh Sooner commitment since June 19.

Home/OU Football Recruiting