Oklahoma fans already eyeing 5-star LB after stunning Jason Witten news

Former NFL tight end Jason Witten will bring plenty of experience and knowledge as Oklahoma's next tight ends coach, but OU fans are already anticipating the added benefits that could also come even later.

It was reported on Thursday that Witten is expected to replace Joe Jon Finley as OU's tight ends coach, and although it was a dream hire Sooner Nation celebrated, fans who keep up with recruiting immediately thought more about a linebacker Witten could bring to Norman with him more than any player at the position he will actually coach.

Witten's son, Cooper, is a five-star linebacker in the 2027 class out of Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas, where he played for his father until the recent career move. Witten's older son, C.J., is also a linebacker at Rice.

5-star LB Cooper Witten immediately on Oklahoma commit watch with Jason Witten on board

OU was the first major program to offer Cooper back on June 8, 2024, before he rose to be one of the best prospects in the entire 2027 class. According to the 247Sports Composite, Cooper, listed at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, is the No. 21 overall prospect in the class and top linebacker. He's also the No. 4 overall player in the state of Texas. Rivals ranks Cooper as the No. 19 overall prospect.

In November, Cooper released a list of top-10 schools that included the Sooners, as well as Texas, Clemson, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas Tech, Georgia, Alabama, Texas A&M and his dad's alma mater, Tennessee. However, with his dad's new gig, college football fans immediately assumed that list is now down to one, with Rivals recruiting experts Steve Wiltfong and Sam Spiegelman both logging expert predictions for Cooper to commit to the Sooners just moments after the news broke of his dad being OU's new tight ends coach.