Brent Venables' future with the Oklahoma Sooners isn't certain, but it's still taking shape.
The Sooners' 2026 recruiting class has recently exploded after being stagnant for months, and with official visit season winding down, the group should continue to grow.
As of Thursday morning, OU's 2026 class was at 13 commits after hosting its ChampU BBQ last weekend. The Sooners got their biggest win of the class when top quarterback target Bowe Bentley finally committed on Friday.
On3 is the highest on OU's class with the Sooners' group at No. 20 in its recruiting rankings. Meanwhile, Rivals ranks OU at No. 31 and 247Sports at No. 39.
Every player committed to Sooners from 2026 class
Bentley immediately became the Sooners' highest-rated commit after choosing OU over LSU. After one season as a starter and a late surge, Bentley rocketed up recruiting rankings. According to the 247Sports Composite, Bentley is the No. 10 QB in the class and No. 14 overall prospect in the state of Texas. On3 and 247Sports rank Bentley as the seventh-best 2026 QB. Bentley threw for 3,467 yards and 52 touchdowns last season, plus rushed for another 991 yards and 16 scores while winning a Texas Class 4A-I state championship and being named a Navy All-American.
OU poached Best from the state of Texas over in-state programs Texas, Texas Tech and SMU. According to the 247Sports Composite, Best is a four-star recruit and the No. 35 interior offensive lineman in the class.
The Sooners beat out the likes of Alabama, South Carolina, Penn State and Michigan for Harris after he originally committed to Maryland. Rivals has been the highest on Harris as the only major recruiting service to give him four stars, while everyone else has Harris as a three-star recruit. The 247Sports Composite ranks Harris as the No. 63 defensive lineman in the 2026 class and No. 75 prospect in the state of Florida out of Mandarin High School in Jacksonville.
A month after his twin brother, Jandreau also committed to the Sooners as a consensus three-star linebacker to give OU the complete pair. According to the 247Sports Composite, Jandreau, listed at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, is the No. 89 linebacker in the class and No. 14 overall player in the state.
Jandreau should be a great fit at Venables' hybrid cheetah position with experience at safety, nickel corner and linebacker for Hamilton High School in Arizona. He's a consensus three-star recruit who Rivals ranks as the No. 59 safety in the class.
Johnson has talent in his DNA as the son of former NFL cornerback Derrick Johnson Sr. From Murrieta, California, Johnson is ranked as the No. 49 corner in the class, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Ryder Mix, TE
Mix was OU's first commitment from the 2026 class last summer. Rivals rates Mix, listed at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, as a four-star recruit and No. 20 tight end in the class from Frisco, Texas.
Matthew Nelson, Edge
Nelson will be a towering presence off the edge at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds. He's an underrated prospect who didn't even get rated by 247Sports until after his commitment to OU. Nelson is a consensus three-star recruit and now ranked as the No. 49 edge rusher in the class, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Daniel Norman, Edge
Norman apparently won over Norman. He was part of the Sooners' wave of pledges after the ChampU BBQ. Rivals and On3 rate Norman as a four-star defensive end out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Before his visit to OU, 247Sports had predicted Norman to choose Miami, but the Sooners managed to get Norman to leave the Sunshine State.
Odom remains the Sooners' only receiver from the class so far after committing the same day OU offered him. From Bellflower, California, Odom is a consensus four-star recruit and ranked as high as the No. 15 receiver in the class by Rivals.
A childhood friend of O'Neal's, the Sooners could now be in danger of also losing Odom.
So far, Rudd is the only five-star recruit a part of OU's 2026 class. Major recruiting outlets don't really rate specialists, but Kohl’s Kicking, the best recruiting service for special teams players, lists Rudd as a five-star prospect as a kicker, and he was given four and a half stars as a punter. Rudd committed to the Sooners during the ChampU BBQ.
Smith is OU's highest-rated addition so far from the class, according to 247Sports. He's a consensus four-star recruit out of Bryant High School in Arkansas and chose the Sooners after narrowing down his choices between OU, Arkansas, Texas A&M and Nebraska.
Walker is the newest addition to the group after committing on Monday. OU landed Walker even after offering late and got him to commit after just one visit to Norman. Every major recruiting service but 247Sports has Walker, listed at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, as a four-star recruit out of Peculiar, Missouri.
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