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USA Today
21-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma Sooners commits climb in latest Rivals 300 updated rankings
There are just a few weeks before fall camp gets underway, which puts the 2025 football season right around the corner. As the Oklahoma Sooners prepare for the season, future Sooners in the 2026 recruiting class will be preparing for their senior season in high school. Led by quarterback Bowe Bentley, the Oklahoma Sooners have the No. 26 recruiting class in the cycle. Ahead of the senior season, Rivals, which recently merged with On3, released it's updated and reconfigured top 300 player rankings for the cycle. Currently, the Sooners have just four players included in the Rivals 300 but are trending positively for a pair of top 300 targets in wide receiver Davian Groce and edge Jake Kruel. After last week's update, though, where do future Sooners land in the latest Rivals 300? More: Oklahoma Sooners 2026 recruiting commitment tracker No. 41 Bowe Bentley, QB - Committed Bowe Bentley is Oklahoma's top-rated commitment in the 2026 recruiting class. The Sooners earned a big recruiting win when he chose OU over LSU. The Sooners see a dual-threat quarterback in Bentley. He had a huge year for Celina, leading them to an undefeated season and state title in Texas 4A football. Bentley saw a big jump in the Rivals300 release and is considered the No. 4 quarterback in the class. Bentley climbed 15 spots in the latest update. No. 54 Davian Groce, WR - Target One of the top remaining targets for the Oklahoma Sooners, wide receiver Davian Groce has been trending toward the Sooners for some time, but there hasn't been a lot of buzz lately. Groce is a dynamic player with the ball in his hands and can help an offense at running back, outside wide receiver, in the slot, and can even make an impact as a return man. Groce dropped by three spots in the Rivals 300. No. 151 Daniel Norman, EDGE - Committed Daniel Norman saw one of the biggest jumps in the rankings in the class, moving up to just outside the top 150. Norman rose more than 200 spots. He's got big-time athleticism and great size for the position at 6-foot-4. No. 175 Jake Kreul, EDGE - Target Oklahoma target Jake Kreul had a strong performance in a recent Rivals camp, showing off his pass rush ability. What did that earn him? A 135-spot drop in the Rivals 300. 247Sports ranks the IMG Academy prospect as the No. 61 player overall, while ESPN sees Kreul as a five-star talent and the No. 22 player in the country for the 2026 recruiting class. He's a refined edge rusher with the ability to mix speed and power to win. Kreul has great size and length and will be a difference maker at the collegiate level. No. 177 Tyler Ruxer, TE - Committed Tyler Ruxer saw a big jump after committing to the Oklahoma Sooners. He's got big-time speed that's capable of making big plays in the passing game. He's expected to convert to tight end at the collegiate level, which will provide Oklahoma a dynamic threat down the middle of the field. Ruxer rose nearly 200 spots in the latest update. No. 254 Deacon Schmitt, OL - Committed The Oklahoma Sooners got a big win when they landed four-star offensive line prospect Deacon Schmitt. He had big-time offers from around the SEC and Big Ten. He'll make the transition from offensive tackle to interior offensive line for the Sooners, adding to the guard depth that Bill Bedenbaugh has recruited over the last few cycles. Schmitt climbed nearly 50 spots in the Rivals 300. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Could the Oklahoma Sooners be getting a massive recruiting win for elite blue-chip talent sooner than later?
Could the Oklahoma Sooners be getting a massive recruiting win for elite blue-chip talent sooner than later? originally appeared on A to Z Sports. The Oklahoma Sooners have already scored a couple of huge recruiting wins in the class of 2026, raking in elite quarterback Bowe Bentley alongside blue-chip wide receiver Daniel Odom, offensive tackle Deacon Schmitt, linebacker Jakore Smith, IOL Noah Best, EDGE Daniel Norman, and running back DeZephen Walker. Advertisement They have had one particular player who has been their highest priority for months: pass rusher Jake Kreul, the 37th-overall player in the class and a top-ten pass rusher. The Sooners have hosted Kreul several times and have built a strong relationship with him throughout the process. Despite that, it was originally thought that Kreul would take his time deciding his commitment, and might even wait until well into the season to make his choice. However, that timeline might be moving up here quickly - in favor of the Sooners. According to On3's Sam Spiegelman, Kreul could be making his choice by the end of the summer. "Jake Kreul has been working toward locking in a college commitment during his senior season at IMG Academy. Oklahoma, Texas, Ole Miss and Florida have been swinging away at the blue-chip EDGE — and we peg the Sooners as the team to beat after a series of official visits. We're also hearing that Kruel may not be long for a decision — and could have it in place before the end of the summer. We really like where Oklahoma stands here." If Kreul does commit to the Sooners, like Spiegelman and many others expect, he would be one of Oklahoma's biggest recruiting wins of the last several years. Kreul would be the Sooners' highest-ranked recruit of the class as a borderline five-star prospect. Advertisement His commitment would vault Oklahoma from 41st in 247Sports' rankings all the way up to 25th just by himself. Kreul has been a high-priority target for the Sooners in this whole process. Now is the time to close this up and full send the house to pull him into Oklahoma's growing class of 2026. Related: Oklahoma Sooners trending for pair of talented Texas playmakers who would radically shift their 2026 recruiting class View the original article to see embedded media. This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What's next for the Oklahoma Sooners Recruiting Class of 2026? Positions to watch for Sooners' next commit
What's next for the Oklahoma Sooners Recruiting Class of 2026? Positions to watch for Sooners' next commit originally appeared on A to Z Sports. The Oklahoma Sooners have rebuilt their 2026 recruiting class over the summer months, pulling in elite quarterback Bowe Bentley as the crown jewel of the class. They've built up some strong surrounding players around him in four-stars WR Daniel Odom, OT Deacon Schmitt, IOL Noah Best, LB Jakore Smith, EDGE Daniel Norman, and RB DeZephen Walker. Advertisement With the exception of Odom, all of their elite blue-chip recruits committed in May or June. The staff has attacked the 2026 class with gusto in an effort to rebuild their talent pool, and now more than ever, they are hot on the trail. What comes next for the Sooners? Who are their remaining top targets? EDGE Jake Kreul Kreul is Oklahoma's top remaining target on the board, as the elite Florida pass rusher represents a player they believe can be the future of their defense. Recently, On3's Steve Wiltfong logged a prediction for Kreul in favor of the Sooners. With no commitment date set, however, many are cautious about getting too excited. Advertisement The Sooners are battling Ohio State, Florida, and Texas for Kreul's commitment. ATH Davian Groce This is going to be a tough battle, as more and more schools are ramping up interest for one of the top wide receivers out of Texas. It seems like it's primarily between Baylor and Oklahoma, but Florida and Texas A&M have also gotten heavily involved in his process as well. After missing out on receivers Dallas Dickerson and Jayden Petit earlier this week, the Sooners need a win at wide receiver. WR/TE Zachery Turner Much like Groce, this is a true 50/50 battle between the Sooners and another school. This time, it's between Oklahoma and in-state school Miami. Turner is being recruited as a receiver by the Sooners, and much like Groce, it's a battle they need to win. ATH Braeden Presley Nobody has any idea just where Presley will choose on his upcoming commitment date. The Sooners have hosted Presley on a few visits and recently expressed an interest in him at cornerback instead of receiver like his brothers, who both played for Oklahoma State. There's some skepticism on Oklahoma's chances, given his family's history, but the Sooners are definitely involved. TE Tyler Ruxer One of two tight ends the Sooners have seriously targeted in the 2026 class, Ruxer has grown his relationship with this staff over the last couple of months, and there is plenty of buzz about him joining Oklahoma's class. Ruxer, On3's top player out of Indiana, would join Ryder Mix as Oklahoma's two tight ends in this cycle. ATH Jacob Eberhart Eberhart's name has seemingly come out of nowhere for Oklahoma's recruiting, but he has since skyrocketed up and his name has drawn plenty of buzz as Oklahoma's next potential commitment. The do-it-all athlete is primarily being recruited as a safety for the Sooners, and recently set his commitment date for mid-July shortly after his visit to Oklahoma. Upcoming commitment dates to note Braeden Presley -July 3rd Tyler Ruxer -July 7th Zachery Turner -July 12th Jacob Eberhart-July 12th Advertisement Related: Oklahoma Sooners beat out former Big 12 rival for top in-state recruit who will be key part of the future of the program View the original article to see embedded media. This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oklahoma Sooners vault themselves into contention for must-have recruit after successful major recruiting event
Oklahoma Sooners vault themselves into contention for must-have recruit after successful major recruiting event originally appeared on A to Z Sports. The Oklahoma Sooners have been on a tear in recruiting over the summer, with 13 commits since May 13th, including elite quarterback Bowe Bentley. Over the weekend, they added a potential starter in the trenches in offensive tackle Deacon Schmitt, and they are hunting for more. Advertisement One of their next targets is four-star wide receiver Jordan Clay. Clay, a top-100 recruit and a near-consensus top-ten wide receiver in the 2026 class, visited the Sooners last weekend, and his visit vaulted the Sooners into the running to secure his commitment. In an interview with SoonerScoop, Clay admitted that Oklahoma wasn't at the top of the schools he was considering, but he still went on the visit. "They were a little bit lower on my list going into the visit. But after that visit, they definitely jumped up into the race for was great. I got to spend time with the coaches and socialize with some of the players currently playing at OU. I just got to pick their brains, learn from them, and see what they had to adjust to coming in as freshmen." Clay spent time with several faces in the wide receiver room, as well as wide receivers coach Emmett Jones, who Clay remarked was a different style of recruiter. While most coaches say "we want you here", Jones instead told Clay that he shouldn't "play with his future" if he knows where he wants to go. That was a refreshing take that resonated with Clay. Bowe Bentley did some recruiting of his own, as well. Bentley reached out to Clay, saying the two could "make history" with the Sooners if they joined up in the class. Advertisement Clay has set his commitment date for July 11th. After missing out on a few other wide receivers in this class, Clay is a must-win for the Sooners. Oklahoma will have to stave off Baylor, the presumed frontrunner, as well as Miami and Texas. Related: What's next for the Oklahoma Sooners Recruiting Class of 2026? Positions to watch for Sooners' next commit View the original article to see embedded media. This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
OU football adds 4-star OL Deacon Schmitt to Sooners' 2026 recruiting class
NORMAN — Bill Bedenbaugh earned a major recruiting victory on Saturday afternoon. OU landed its 10th commitment in June when four-star offensive lineman Deacon Schmitt chose the Sooners over Alabama and Colorado in a ceremony at Windsor High School in Colorado. Advertisement "Thank you to everyone who believed in me," Schmitt told the crowd. "I was a kid with a dream walking in and I feel like I've done my part. ... It's been a great journey and I'm super blessed but with all of that being said, I'm here to announce my commitment to the University of Oklahoma." Schmitt is ranked as the 371st player in the 2026 class and the No. 1 prospect in Colorado, according to 247Sports' Composite Rankings. Schmitt visited Norman earlier this month as part of one of OU's major recruiting weekends. Before committing to the Sooners, Schmitt canceled official visits to Nebraska, Tennessee and USC, according to On3. Schmitt is Bedenbaugh's highest-rated offensive line commit of the 2026 class. Schmitt is the second offensive lineman to commit in the 2026 class, joining four-star Noah Best. Best committed on June 9. Advertisement Following a slow start to the year, OU has had a hot June on the trail. Schmitt's commitment comes days after four-star quarterback Bowe Bentley picked the Sooners over LSU. Before Schmitt's commitment, the Sooners ranked No. 43 in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports' team ranking. More: How will OU football's John Mateer adjust to SEC? One burning question for each position Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@ or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football adds OL Deacon Schmitt to Sooners' 2026 recruiting class
