Oklahoma joins race for 2026 four-star edge rusher

It might be the offseason, but Brent Venables and his staff can never stop competing against other college football programs.

The Oklahoma Sooners, like most other programs, are after four-star edge rusher Jake Kreul. Kreul posted a picture via X on Tuesday with Venables and other members of OU's staff.

Kreul has posted a lot of pictures like that, especially in the last week, with nearly every college coach in the country wanting him. Just since he posted the picture with OU's staff, Kreul has also posted pictures with coaches from Penn State, Florida State, Clemson and Georgia, with Kirby Smart visiting Kreul himself.

Shane Beamer and South Carolina have also offered Kreul in the last 24 hours. Kreul's offers have added up from the likes of OU, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC and plenty others.

Kreul visited OU in July and received an offer then.

At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Kreul is a consensus four-star edge rusher in the 2026 class out of IMG Academy in Florida. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 6 edge rusher in the class. Rivals is the highest on Kreul, ranking him as the fourth-best prospect at his position.

Every major recruiting service also ranks Kreul as a top-60 overall prospect in the 2026 class.

So far, the Sooners have three commitments from the 2026 class. The group includes four-star quarterback Jaden O'Neal, three-star tight end Ryder Mix and three-star offensive lineman Will Conroy. Currently without a defensive coordinator, OU hasn't landed a 2026 defensive player yet.

Still early in the recruiting process, just those three pledges have OU with the No. 14 2026 recruiting class in the country, according to On3.