Prized 2026 OU quarterback target set to announce commitment choice

Oklahoma has signed elite quarterback prospects in both its 2023 and 2024 recruiting classes, has an elite commitment in the 2025 class and next week could have another elite commitment for 2026.

Jackson Arnold, who is slotted to be the Sooner starting QB in 2024, was OU's No. 1 recruit in 2023, Michael Hawkins Jr., a four-star QB prospect in the 2024 class will begin his freshman season this fall, and Kevin Sperry, who comes from the same high school in Denton, Texas, as Arnold, has committed for 2025.

Oklahoma has been heavily pursuing Jaden O'Neal, a highly touted quarterback prospect out of Long Beach, California, who won't be out of high school until 2025 but has already received 30-plus scholarship offers, including many major programs. Recently, he narrowed down the list to 10 finalists, but it has been reported that the list is really down to five schools: Miami (Florid), Florida State, Ohio State, Washington and Oklahoma.

Analysts from all of the major recruiting services have projected the Sooners in the lead position to land O'Neal's commitment, and we will know the winner on Monday, when the talented, four-star recruit is scheduled to publicly announce his choice.

O'Neal was originally believed to announce his commitment decision in July or August, but the timeline has been accelerated, which some believe is a positive indicator for OU. We'll find out on Monday if that is indeed the case.

The book on O'Neal is that he is an outstanding passer with accuracy both short, intermediate and long, with athleticism and NFL size at 6-foot, 3 inches and 215 pounds. As a sophomore in 2023, he threw for 2,475 yards and 27 touchdowns.

O'Neal would be the second commitment in Oklahoma's 2026 class, joining four-star running back Jonathan Hatton Jr. and four-star tight end Ryder Mix.