Sooners make major move for elite RB with deep Georgia football roots

The Oklahoma Sooners are closing in on adding even more talent to their 2027 recruiting class that already tops college football.

Hayes Fawcett of Rivals reported that four-star running back Jerry “Andrew” Beard II has narrowed his options down to five programs, including OU, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Georgia Tech. He also held offers from the likes of Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Indiana, Penn State, Vanderbilt and more.

Oklahoma in top 5 for running back Jerry “Andrew” Beard II

According to the 247Sports Composite, Beard is the No. 5 running back in the 2027 class and No. 83 overall prospect in the country. He’s also the 14th-best player in the state of Georgia out of Prince Avenue Christian School. However, 247Sports in its own ratings has Beard as the No. 6 overall prospect in Georgia and No. 61 in the country.

Beard is a proven versatile back who can also catch and block out of the backfield, as well as play defense.

With what’s already the No. 1 2027 class in the country, based on the 247Sports Composite, Beard would be the third-highest rated commit in the Sooners’ 2027 class so far behind five-star offensive linemen Cooper Hackett and Kaeden Penny. With just one defensive commit from the class so far, the group should be an eventual major upgrade for the Sooners’ offense. There’s also four-star wide receiver Demare Dezeurn and three-star offensive lineman Luke Wilson.

Beard will be a tough get for the Sooners, though. Not only are they competing with in-state Georgia, but Beard’s uncle, Garrison Hearst, also played running back for the Bulldogs and even finished third in Heisman Trophy voting in 1992. His dad, Jerry Beard Sr., was also a college running back at Appalachian State, so Beard clearly has strong genetics that hopefully become OU DNA.