Oklahoma may be a traditional power, but let's not kid ourselves on this one thing... For as great as OU is on the college gridiron, the Sooners need to get their fair share of top-flight recruits out-of-state to sustain excellence. Fortunately for them, neighboring Texas has a lot of players who will willingly cross the border. However, what happens when a blue-chipper in-state starts to get national love?
Four-star cornerback Gabriel Osborne Jr. from Mustang has his commitment narrowed down to five...
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Miami Hurricanes
- Michigan Wolverines
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma will have to fend off the likes of Alabama, Miami, Michigan, and Ohio State to land Osborne.
🚨NEWS🚨 Elite CB Gabriel Osborne Jr. is down to Alabama, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State, and Miami, @ParkerThune reports‼️
— Rivals (@Rivals) May 19, 2026
Osborne Jr. ranks No. 29 NATL. (No. 5 CB) in the 2027 Rivals300.
Read: https://t.co/b5VM5b8IxY pic.twitter.com/EiiyMzSp0Z
According to the 247Sports Composite, Osborne is the No. 3 player from Oklahoma, the No. 6 cornerback in the country, and the No. 40 overall prospect in the 2027 recruiting cycle. While he does not have any official visits lined up, Osborne is listed as "warm" for four of these schools: Alabama, Miami, Ohio State, and Oklahoma. The only one who is not among the group there would be Michigan.
Needless to say, now is the time for Brent Venables and his staff to put in the work to land Osborne.
Brent Venables, Oklahoma cannot lose Gabriel Osborne Jr. out-of-state
One of the most pressing issues for Oklahoma right now when it comes to the nature of its 2027 recruiting class would have to be over at cornerback. Osborne may be seen more as an athlete than anything coming out of high school, but why let a player with that kind of upside going for him go out-of-state? While Miami, Michigan, and Ohio State would certainly sting, Alabama would be DEFCON 1...
These two emerging SEC rivals have started to build some interesting history together. Oklahoma beat Alabama in the last two regular seasons, but saw them lose at home to the Crimson Tide in the first round of last year's College Football Playoff. Both schools remain playoff-caliber under their head coaches, but the last thing either traditional power would want to see is any sort of backslide.
Right now, Oklahoma should still be seen as a presumptive leader for Osborne's commitment for 2027. While Miami and Ohio State may be willing to spend more, neither seem to be willing to open up the checkbook for a prospective recruit like any of the major Texas schools are willing to now. It is why Venables and his staff need to do whatever it takes to make sure Osborne plays for the Sooners.
Ultimately, Osborne is the type of recruit Oklahoma needs to land to continue to grow and prosper in this day and age of college football. Coming over to the SEC was going to take some time to get adjusted to. So far, so good... However, Oklahoma cannot lose its identity over the type of players it typically recruits, just because it plays in a different conference. Dance with the ones that brung ya...
Osborne may be getting his ducks in a row now, but Oklahoma must make sure he comes to Norman.
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