College football programs and fans are always on edge this time of year when recruiting really starts to heat up and flips seem imminent, so no matter if a prospect is committed or not, it's still nice to hear some reassurance sometimes.
Oklahoma Sooners 2027 running back commit Keldrid Ben, who has recently experienced his recruitment explode, gave that needed assurance for his loyalty to OU despite other programs putting on the pressure and Ben scheduling two other official visits this spring on top of his trip to Norman. Ben told SoonerScoop's Josh McCuistion that, even while visiting other places, "I know where home is." As long as fans trust Ben's words, they can be at ease throughout official visit season.
Sooners get words of affirmation in midst of recruiting struggles at running back
Ben has official visits coming up to Florida on May 28, Oregon on June 5 and, lastly, Oklahoma on June 12. He also visited Notre Dame in February. The Sooners getting the last word after Ben's other visits is another massive advantage, though, just in case he's persuaded (or shown a blank check) by the Gators or Ducks.
The Sooners' greatest advantage, though, is that they believed in Ben before almost anyone else did.
When Ben committed to OU back in December, he was unrated and unranked by every major recruiting service with zero Power Four offers. His only other offers on the table at the time were from UTSA and McNeese State, so obviously the Sooners stood above. Before long, though, the rest of college football realized what the Sooners discovered and Ben's recruitment soared.
Read more: Now there's proof Jim Nagy and Oklahoma spotted what nobody else saw in rising 2027 RB
Ben's offers list has inflated to now include Florida, Oregon, Texas, USC, Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Florida State. If not for an early strong commitment to the Sooners, that group would likely be much larger.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Ben, listed at 5-foot-10 and 208 pounds, has risen from unranked to the No. 109 overall prospect in the 2027 class and No. 14 player in the state of Texas. He's also the No. 5 running back in the country.
It's a wonder how it took everyone so long to learn about Ben after seeing his numbers. Last season as a junior at Montgomery High School, he rushed for 1,560 yards, averaging 10.3 a carry, and 15 touchdowns.
Regardless, everyone's ignorance has paid off for the Sooners, and they hope it stays that way.
OU fans, though, are most concerned about running back commits than any other position considering what's been lost since DeMarco Murray left the staff to be the Kansas City Chiefs' new running backs coach.
First, 2028 commit Micah Rhodes, a top-3 running back in the class, decommitted and noted that Murray's decision was the main reason why. Then, just last month, 2027 three-star commit Jaxsen Stokes flipped to in-state Cal.
OU fans definitely have reason to be concerned about commits at the position, especially this time of year when other programs are getting them on campus, but new running backs coach Deland McCullough has already had Ben back at OU in March to strengthen that relationship and it doesn't seem like he'll slip away.
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