Oklahoma football: Sooners earn commitment from international OL prospect

Nov 3, 2018; Lubbock, TX, USA; An Oklahoma Sooners helmet on the sidelines during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2018; Lubbock, TX, USA; An Oklahoma Sooners helmet on the sidelines during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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While the rest of the college football world is focusing on recruiting talent residing within the United States, the Oklahoma football program went international in landing a 2024 commitment from offensive line prospect Daniel Akinkunmi.

The 6-foot, 5-inch 300-pound O-lineman from the NFL Academy hails from London, England, is rated three-stars and the No. 45 player at his position in the 2024 class nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. He is the No. 1 ranked player in Europe.

Akinkunmi had nearly 30 offers from U.S. programs but in the end chose the Sooners over Baylor, Clemson, Miami and Mississippi.

One of the first international prospects to be part of the Oklahoma football program, Akinkunmi reportedly gave head coach Brent Venables and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh a verbal commitment on his official visit to the Norman campus in early September but did not make it official until today in a ceremony in London.

“Joining the Sooner program is absolutely amazing,” Akinkumi told 247Sports recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong. “To see coach Bedenbaugh train his guys is absolutely amazing.

“I feel like Oklahoma is the next up-and-coming program, and people need to watch out.”

An Under Armour All-American, Akinkunmi is versatile enough to be able to play all five positions on the offensive line He becomes the 25 commitment in the Sooners’ 2024 class. He joins three other O-line prospects who have committed to Oklahoma for 2024: Isaiah Autrey, Josh Aisosa and Eugene Brooks.

Bedenbaugh and Oklahoma also are hopeful of landing a fifth O-line commitment from Tampa, Florida, prospect Eddy Pierre-Louis prior to the early signing period in December. The Sooners are currently favored in that recruitment.