New Oklahoma tight ends coach Jason Witten is at it again.
The product on the field is still yet to be seen, but it's already obvious that Witten, a future Pro Football Hall of Famer in his first college coaching job, can recruit, and he's after another early recruiting win with 2028 four-star tight end Ridge Janes in Oklahoma over the weekend for a visit.
Ridge Janes visits OU as Sooners build 2028 class
Thank you @CoachVenables @JasonWitten @Coach_Kuz @arbuckle_ben @CoachGarrett_ @TD_Redd @LakeDawson_ @JimNagy_Sooners and @OU_Football for an amazing day on campus! @JHMerrittJr @CoachPoe1914 @DeSmetFB @JPRockMO @GSV_STL pic.twitter.com/xJo3LHfzbK
— Ridge Janes (@RidgeJanes) March 29, 2026
Janes is still likely far from a decision as a 2028 prospect, but Witten has given OU fans hope that the Sooners are now in every recruiting battle for any coveted tight end. Just a day after officially being named OU's tight ends coach, Witten added Jack Van Dorselaer from Tennessee through the Transfer Portal. Then, he landed Seneca Driver, a top-3 TE in the 2027 class, as his first win from the high school level.
Witten could eventually have just as monster of a recruiting win with Janes. According to the 247Sports Composite, Janes, listed at a towering 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, is the No. 3 tight end in the 2028 class and No. 104 overall prospect. He's also the No. 2 player in the state of Missouri out of De Smet Jesuit High School in St. Louis.
Last season, Janes caught 39 passes for 364 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games as a sophomore while also excelling as a blocker.
Some clips from weeks 1-4; for my full highlights please check out my Hudl page. @JHMerrittJr @CoachPoe1914 @drMcLaughlin42 @DeSmetFB @JPRockMO @GSV_STL @PrepRedzoneMO @6starfootballMO @FitzPerformance @SWiltfong_ @GregSmithRivals @AllenTrieu pic.twitter.com/LJ3GeyFyAo
— Ridge Janes (@RidgeJanes) September 24, 2025
Heading into his junior season, Janes already has offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Indiana, LSU, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, Vanderbilt and more. He visited Florida earlier this week before heading to Norman.
While already having the No. 1 2027 recruiting class with 19 commits, the Sooners have started heating up its 2028 group, but has just one commit so far in top running back Micah Rhodes. With Witten in charge, though, there's no reason to doubt the Sooners can't eventually add Janes to the mix.