Class Introductions: Meet each of Oklahoma's expected signees
Oklahoma is set to ink at least two dozen of the nation’s premier high school football recruits in the Early Signing Period.
And as Wednesday dawns, it’s time to meet each of the Sooners’ expected signees. Class Introductions, an annual OUInsider signing day tradition, takes a glimpse at every new addition to the Oklahoma football machine. OUInsider’s Signing Day Special, set to air on YouTube tonight at 7pm, will feature in-depth interviews with several members of Oklahoma’s 2026 class. But for those that simply want the skinny on each of the Sooners’ new additions, this feature is for you.
Without further ado, let’s meet the group. This article will be updated throughout the day as signatures roll in, with each new signee officially designated as such.
The Signal-Caller
Four-star QB Bowe Bentley (SIGNED) — At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Bentley chose Oklahoma over LSU and Georgia back in mid-June. He’s undefeated in his career as the starter for Celina (Texas) High, and is currently chasing a second straight state title as he wraps up a decorated high school career. A lifelong Oklahoma fan, he has been in attendance for every one of the Sooners’ home games throughout the 2025 season. Bentley is a true dual threat who’s drawn many comparisons to John Mateer for his play style. The Rivals industry rankings regard him as the nation’s No. 6 overall quarterback prospect in the 2026 cycle.
The Skill Guys
Four-star RB Jonathan Hatton (SIGNED) — A 6-foot-1, 220-pound phenom from Cibolo (Texas) Steele High, Hatton was the first commit of the 2026 cycle for Oklahoma all the way back in October 2023. However, he decommitted in December of 2024 and pledged to Texas A&M three months later. But the Sooners played the long game with Hatton, and just a couple of weeks before signing day, he flipped his commitment back to DeMarco Murray and OU. He’s a certifiably elite running back prospect who’s got size, burst and physicality to boot. That’s largely why he’s the 2026 cycle’s No. 5 overall running back prospect, per the Rivals industry rankings.
Three-star RB DeZephen Walker (SIGNED) — A 5-foot-11, 195-pound dynamo out of Peculiar (Mo.) Ray-Pec High, Walker’s recruitment was a bit of a whirlwind. Oklahoma got in the mix rather late, offering him a scholarship in May. But the Sooners closed quickly and effectively, convincing Walker that OU was the right fit in the span of a single official visit. He chose to play his college ball in Norman over offers from Kansas, Kansas State and Nebraska. Though Ray-Pec floundered to an 0-10 season this fall, Walker still put plenty of impressive highlights on tape, and made time to take several game-day visits down to his future home at the Palace. The Rivals industry rankings consider Walker the No. 27 running back in the 2026 cycle.
Four-star TE Tyler Ruxer (SIGNED) — At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Ruxer brings elite athleticism to Joe Jon Finley’s room. Though the Lincoln City (Ind.) native has seen very limited snaps as an in-line tight end, he’s got loads of experience lining up as an outside receiver and in the slot. His explosiveness and ball skills should give him impact potential in Year 1. Ruxer chose Oklahoma over the likes of Iowa, Minnesota, West Virginia and others. According to the Rivals industry rankings, he’s the 2026 cycle’s No. 19 tight end prospect.
Three-star TE Ryder Mix (SIGNED) — Like Ruxer, Mix is listed at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, and brings a very well-rounded skill set to Norman. He’s an excellent blocker, a surehanded pass-catcher and a capable playmaker after the catch. Mix is a legacy prospect whose father, Austin, pitched for the OU baseball team in the early 2000’s. As such, the opportunity to play football in Norman was alluring enough to Mix that he committed all the way back in June of 2024. The Frisco (Texas) Lone Star HS product is thus the longest-tenured pledge in Oklahoma’s entire signing class, and chose OU from an offer sheet that included Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State and Tennessee. The Rivals industry rankings consider Mix the nation’s No. 61 tight end in 2026.
Four-star WR Jayden Petit (SIGNED) — The Sooner staff got fantastic news last week on Thanksgiving Day, as their lengthy pursuit of Petit paid off with a commitment. He’d been pledged to Wisconsin since mid-June, but Oklahoma kept chipping away and eventually swayed the Naples (Fla.) native from his verbal to the Badgers. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Petit is a rare breed, a wideout who already owns genuine NFL measurables even before graduating high school. And it’s not just his physique that makes him a tantalizing prospect. He owns great straight-line speed, precise route-running ability and open-field elusiveness with the ball in his hands. The Rivals industry rankings list Petit as the No. 26 wideout in the 2026 cycle.
Four-star WR Jahsiear Rogers (SIGNED) — A dynamic and shifty offensive weapon, Rogers is a gifted receiver who can also offer home-run potential in the return game. The Bear (Del.) Appoquinimink High product was a longtime Penn State commit, but reopened his recruitment after James Franklin’s firing, and Oklahoma sprung quickly to add him to the fold. An official visit to Norman in late October prompted the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder to cancel his remaining visits to Indiana and Nebraska and lock in his pledge with the Sooners. He will be the first Delaware native in the modern recruiting era to sign with Oklahoma out of high school. Per the Rivals industry rankings, Rogers checks in as the No. 52 wideout in the 2026 class.
Four-star WR Daniel Odom (SIGNED) — The Sooners are actively making inroads out in the state of California, and Odom was a key early addition in that regard. The Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco stud committed to OU in January, and despite flirtations with Washington and Florida State, he officially shut down his recruitment in July to honor his verbal to the crimson and cream. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, he is a polished and shifty receiver who can run the whole route tree and secure competitive catches. The Rivals industry rankings consider Odom to be the No. 54 receiver in the country for the 2026 cycle.
Three-star WR Xavier Okwufulueze (SIGNED) — The lone in-state representative in Oklahoma’s signing class, Okwufulueze (oh-kuh-fuh-LAY-zay) picked up his offer in early September and committed immediately. Verified at north of 6-foot-4 and pushing 200 pounds, Okwufulueze put his hoop dreams to the side once his junior-year gridiron breakout at Owasso (Okla.) Rejoice Christian School put him on Power 4 radars. Arkansas, TCU and Oklahoma State all offered, but Okwufulueze waited on the Sooners and eventually got his chance to be part of the OU family. He is the No. 76 wide receiver in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals industry rankings.
The Hog Mollies
Four-star OT Deacon Schmitt (SIGNED) — A behemoth of a prospect at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, Schmitt got his Oklahoma offer in the summer of 2024 and made several visits to Norman in the ensuing months. The Sooners always seemed to have the leg up in his recruitment, and it was no particular surprise when he committed to OU over Colorado and Alabama this past June. The Windsor (Colo.) product will start out at tackle for Oklahoma, but he’s more than capable of sliding inside to guard if it proves to be the right fit in Bill Bedenbaugh’s equation. The Rivals industry rankings categorize Schmitt as an interior offensive lineman, and he’s listed at No. 22 nationally among IOL prospects.
Three-star IOL Noah Best (SIGNED) — As in Schmitt’s case, Bedenbaugh and Oklahoma picked up another wire-to-wire win with the addition of Best. Originally from the Tulsa area, Best played his high school football at Midlothian (Texas) High, but still coveted an offer from the Sooners. He got it in June of 2024, and though he waited over a year to officially announce his commitment, it was never any particular secret that he favored Oklahoma. At 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, Best projects to a role at center in Norman, and his refined technique and remarkable power should make him an impact contributor down the line. He checks in as the nation’s No. 45 interior offensive lineman in the Rivals industry rankings.
The Defensive Front
Four-star EDGE Jake Kreul (SIGNED) — The highest-ranked prospect in Oklahoma’s entire signing class, Kreul is an absolute demon of a pass rusher who brings quickness, violence and a roaring motor to Norman. Originally from Orlando (Fla.), the IMG Academy superstar is a modest 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds, but as with R Mason Thomas, don’t be fooled by his unspectacular measurables. He has proven time and again in camps and all-star showcases that he can compete and win against the nation’s premier prospects. Oklahoma beat out Texas to land the vicious edge rusher, who announced his commitment to the Sooners in mid-August. In the Rivals industry rankings, he’s the No. 8 edge prospect in the 2026 class, and ranks No. 46 overall regardless of position.
Four-star EDGE Matthew Nelson (SIGNED) — For the second straight cycle, the Sooners made a recruiting foray into the Natural State, reeling in Nelson from Bryant (Ark.) High. Oklahoma was the second P4 school to extend an offer to Nelson, and easily ranked as the most prestigious program on his offer sheet. Moreover, the Sooners pushed hard for his commitment from the jump, and he ended up cancelling official visits to Tulsa, Cincinnati and Tulane once he got on campus in Norman and felt at home. At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, Nelson is still on the raw side, but offers immense developmental potential once he gets some seasoning in OU’s system. He is the nation’s No. 44 edge rusher in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals industry rankings.
Four-star EDGE Daniel Norman (SIGNED) — The Sooners’ efforts to bring Norman to Norman were complete after just one visit, as the Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas blue-chipper loved his June OV and committed before leaving campus. He held offers from Miami, Colorado, UCLA and several other Power 4 programs, but felt comfortable with the fit at Oklahoma under the tutelage of Miguel Chavis. At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Norman is a powerful and technically sound pass rusher who can just as effectively set the edge against the run as he can pressure the quarterback. The Rivals industry rankings consider Norman to be the nation’s No. 60 edge talent in the 2026 cycle.
Three-star DT Brian Harris (SIGNED) — An early commit to Maryland, Harris reopened his recruitment early in calendar year 2025 and quickly picked up offers from many of the nation’s elite programs. Though Penn State, Michigan, Alabama and South Carolina all made compelling pitches to him, the Jacksonville (Fla.) Creekside product loved his March unofficial visit to Oklahoma, and determined shortly thereafter that he would be a Sooner. He went public with his pledge in May. At 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, Harris is remarkably light on his feet for a future defensive tackle, and flashes strength and dexterity in the trenches. He’s regarded as the No. 64 DT in the 2026 class, per the Rivals industry rankings.
Three-star DT James Carrington (SIGNED) — After committing to Florida State in June, Carrington backed off his pledge to the Seminoles in August and landed in Oklahoma’s class within 48 hours. At 6-foot-2 and 275 pounds, he’s still a bit undersized by SEC standards, but the Sooners love his upside and will trust strength coach Jerry Schmidt to pack weight on his frame. There are some Gracen Halton similarities here, as Carrington is a wrecking ball who has a penchant for penetrating the backfield and blowing up plays. He’s been enrolled at five different high schools over the last four years, and spent his senior season at Crean Lutheran High in Irvine (Calif.). Thus, the continuity he’ll be afforded at Oklahoma should help accelerate his developmental process. The Rivals industry rankings have Carrington slotted at No. 77 among defensive tackles in the 2026 cycle.
The Linebackers
Four-star LB Jacob Curry (SIGNED) — An athletic and versatile 6-foot-1, 205-pound specimen, Curry committed to Northwestern in May, but his pledge didn’t last. Oklahoma was one of several upper-echelon Power 4 schools that came calling in the late summer and early fall, and the Sooners eventually beat out Ohio State, Miami and Florida State for the St. Augustine (Fla.) Nease phenom. Relationships were key in the process, as Oklahoma linebackers coach Nate Dreiling had actually given Curry his first scholarship offer in October of 2023 while on staff at New Mexico State. Family ties to the Sooner State helped seal the deal for Curry, who projects to inside linebacker but is sizable and fluid enough to play multiple positions in the scheme. He is the No. 31 LB prospect in the 2026 cycle, per the Rivals industry rankings.
Three-star LB Dane Bathurst (SIGNED) — A Florida native who played his senior season at Carmel (Ind.) High, Bathurst spent most of calendar year 2025 committed to Duke. But three weeks prior to signing day, he backed off his verbal to the Blue Devils, which enabled Oklahoma to mount a successful late push for his services. The Sooners eventually beat out Vanderbilt and Nebraska to land Bathurst. At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, he played the majority of his high school snaps at edge, but Oklahoma likes his upside as an off-ball linebacker and will develop him as such. The Rivals industry rankings have him at No. 54 among 2026 linebacker prospects.
Three-star LB Beau Jandreau (SIGNED) — One half of OU’s newest duo of brothers, Jandreau is a hitman who’s currently chasing a second straight state title at Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton High. He chose Oklahoma over offers from Oregon and Texas, and followed in the footsteps of his twin brother in committing to the Sooners (more on that in a little bit). At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, Jandreau is a seriously muscled-up backer who won’t need much physical development when he arrives in Norman. He’ll see action as soon as he’s mentally ready for the demands of playing in Brent Venables’ scheme. In the Rivals industry rankings, Jandreau sits No. 95 among linebackers in the class of 2026.
Three-star LB Kristan Moore (SIGNED) — The final addition for Oklahoma prior to the early signing period, Moore didn’t get his OU offer until Thanksgiving Day, which also happened to be his birthday. At the time, the Selma (Ala.) product was committed to North Alabama, an in-state FCS program. Naturally, he jumped all over the offer from the Sooners and immediately booked an official visit, securing his spot in the class some four days later. At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, he’s an enforcer whose physical style of play will be a welcome addition to the Oklahoma linebacker corps. He has yet to receive a rating from ESPN, so due in large part to an incomplete industry consensus, he’s currently the No. 167 linebacker in the 2026 cycle per the Rivals industry rankings.
The Secondary
Four-star CB Derrick Johnson (SIGNED) — Oklahoma’s highest-ranked defensive signee not named Jake Kreul was a bit of a surprise addition to the 2026 class. The Sooners weren’t considered the frontrunner for Johnson, a Washington legacy, but hosted him in early June for an official visit and won him over in decisive fashion. The Murrieta (Calif.) native cancelled his remaining officials and committed to OU over Washington, Kansas, Utah, Nebraska and plenty of other Power 4 programs. At 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, he’s got the length, speed and savvy to make an immediate contribution in Oklahoma’s cornerback room as a freshman. Johnson is the nation’s No. 42 cornerback in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals industry rankings.
Three-star SAF Markel Ford (SIGNED) — The Mesquite (Texas) Horn star took the long road to Norman, as he was first committed to Texas A&M and later to SMU before finally flipping his pledge to Oklahoma less than two weeks before signing day. At 6-foot-1 and 200-plus pounds, he’s a rangy defensive back who’s got extensive experience at both cornerback and safety. His instinctual style and propensity to hit could help him contend for playing time sooner rather than later once he enrolls at OU. In the Rivals industry rankings, he’s No. 80 among safety prospects in the 2026 cycle.
Three-star SAF Niko Jandreau (SIGNED) — The other Jandreau brother was the first to commit to Oklahoma, as Niko actually became the inaugural defensive commit of the Sooners’ 2026 haul back in May. The Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton product plays in much the same fashion as his brother, embracing a headhunting mentality from the defensive backfield. However, he’s also comfortable playing in space and can execute both man and zone coverage assignments. He chose the Sooners over offers from USC, Iowa State and Arizona State, among others. The Rivals industry rankings regard him as the nation’s No. 136 safety in the 2026 class.
The Sole Specialist
Three-star K Trace Rudd (SIGNED) — The Sooners hope they’ve found another Tate Sandell in Rudd, a 6-foot, 185-pound native of Overland Park (Kan.) who played his high school ball at Blue Valley Northwest HS. A left-footed kicker just like Sandell, Rudd displays the combination of accuracy and range that kicking at the Power 4 level demands. He’s the first scholarship specialist that the Sooners have signed out of the high school ranks under Brent Venables, and chose Oklahoma over an offer from Texas Tech. The Rivals industry rankings consider Rudd to be the No. 7 kicker prospect in the 2026 class.