Oklahoma trending up with multiple major recruiting targets

After closing the 2023 cycle with a couple of major recruiting wins, Oklahoma’s start to 2024 was quite a bit slower than some of its counterparts around the country. The Sooners entered April with just one commit and a lot of questions surrounding Brent Venables’ chops on the recruiting trail after a less-than-stellar season on the field.

Venables and his staff answered that call resoundingly over the past month, grabbing five more commitments and jumping into the top 15 of the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

That was highlighted by landing On3’s No. 10 wide receiver Zion Kearney. The big playmaker out of Missouri City (Texas) caught 39 passes for 765 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022 and has terrific speed.

Oklahoma also landed commitments from four-star safety Jaydan Hardy, coveted quarterback Michael Hawkins, massive offensive tackle prospect Isaiah Autry and emerging wide receiver Kelly Daniels. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Sooners are trending with a number of top targets in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, and On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons and national analyst Sam Spiegelman help break down the latest.

5-star DL Williams Nwaneri

School: Lee’s Summit (Mo.) North
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 6

Simmons’ Take: “I still lean towards Oklahoma, but Tennessee has made the race at the top very interesting for Williams Nwaneri. It’s as close as it has been based on my intel. Not all sources say Oklahoma is the favorite at this time. There are others in this, but Oklahoma and Tennessee have separated themselves at the top for Nwaneri. His connection is strong with the staff in Norman and he has visited there more than anywhere else. The Sooners will be a factor until the end.”

5-star DL David Stone

School: Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 10

Simmons’ Take: “Michigan State made a significant push early in 2023, and the Spartans are still a contender, but the momentum has swing back toward the Sooners. David Stone is going to take his visits, he is going to entertain each offer, and he is going to keep as many guessing as possible, but I like where the Sooners sit at this time. Todd Bates and Brent Venables, among others, have done an outstanding job with him and those close to him.”

4-star WR Bryant Wesco

School: Midlothian (Texas)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 30

Spiegelman’s Take: Elite wideout Bryant Wesco is trending to Oklahoma after again returning to campus for the OU spring game earlier this month. He has visited them more than any other school, and even at this early point in his recruitment, it feels like a battle between TCU, LSU and Oklahoma. He has family ties in both Louisiana and Oklahoma. His sister attends OU, and Emmett Jones has provided a major jolt for the Sooners with him. And I like where Wesco stands with him.

4-star DL Joseph Jonah-Ajonye

School: Conroe (Texas) Oak Ridge
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 111 (#38 in the On300)

Spiegelman’s Take: “Joseph Jonah-Ajonye was back at the OU spring game as well, and he’s been at OU a handful of times already this spring. He already has an official visit set to Oklahoma in June — as well as one to Texas Tech — and he’s been to Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M and TCU this spring. But OU has really made a push for the Houston area’s top defensive lineman; he has connected well not only with the coaches but also the guys on the current roster. They’ve really shown him they have faith in what Venables is doing.”

4-star DL Nigel Smith

School: Melissa (Texas)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 88

Spiegelman’s Take: “Oklahoma has been in contention with Nigel Smith since Lincoln Riley and Alex Grinch were recruiting him before they went to USC. Brent Venables, Miguel Chavis and Todd Bates picked up right where they left off; Smith has been a frequent visitor at OU, along with Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Penn State. But he has always had a soft spot in his heart for Norman. He loves the defensive-minded approach by the Sooners’ staff and that has really resonated with him.”

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