All 24 of the Oklahoma Sooners' 2026 commits turned into signees on Wednesday, when the Early Signing Period opened, and the next step is for them to become contributors. For a few, that will likely happen sooner than later, with three in particular having the talent and opportunity to make an impact Day 1.
Jake Kreul, DE
A five-star recruit by ESPN, defensive end Jake Kreul was the highest-rated signee in the Sooners' 2026 class. Getting on the field takes more than talent, though, but also opportunity, and Kreul joins what's the deepest position group on the roster for the Sooners with little time to share. However, that depth could dwindle between graduation, the NFL Draft and maybe even the Transfer Portal.
As part of the 2024 signing class, David Stone and Jayden Jackson also joined a stacked group on the interior of the defensive line last season, but still immediately cracked the starting lineup or became key contributors. More recently, freshman running back Tory Blaylock stepped into what was believed to be the deepest position on OU's offense, but he still emerged as one of the Sooners' top two backs.
With the way head coach Brent Venables talked during Wednesday's press conference, Kreul has that same level of talent where the Sooners will have to get him on the field no matter who's ahead of him.
Derrick Johnson II, CB
Between Eli Bowen last year and Courtland Guillory this season, a freshman cornerback has stepped up the past two seasons to become a key playmaker in the Sooners' secondary. Derrick Johnson II, a four-star recruit, could make it three years in a row of a stud freshman in the secondary for the Sooners.
Assuming they're both back, Bowen and Guillory should man both corners in 2026, but beyond that, Johnson could definitely take over as a key depth piece in the secondary and could be even more vital if injuries strike.
Jayden Petit, WR
Based on recruiting ratings, wide receiver Jayden Petit, listed at 6-foot-4, is the best offensive weapon the Sooners added from the 2026 class after flipping him late from Wisconsin. Quarterback Bowe Bentley and running back Jonathan Hatton Jr. could also be in that mix, but both of them will have a hard time moving up the depth chart as freshmen at their positions.
In his first year at OU, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle hasn't given much opportunity to young receivers (see Elijah Thomas), but that could actually benefit Petit. The Transfer Portal hasn't been kind to the Sooners with receivers, especially if guys are frustrated about playing time, so a position already thin could lose even more talent by next season. If it's another poor Transfer Portal haul of receivers for OU and Petit starts to reach expectations quickly, Arbuckle might not have a choice but to utilize a freshman.