The class of 2026 has a ways to go before it gets to college campuses, but recruiting those players starts long before then. Oklahoma has offered multiple athletes from that class and hosted many more to various recruiting events over the last few months.
Recruiting is built off relationships, and most, not all, take time to develop. Oklahoma’s decision to pay attention to the 2026 class early makes a lot of sense. Oklahoma offered 2026 defensive back Blaine Bradford out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, last week.
Bradford’s offer came from Brandon Hall, signaling the Sooners likely view him as a safety at the collegiate level. Bradford checks in at 6-foot-1 and weighs 185 pounds as a rising sophomore, indicating there’s still room for him to grow.
Blessed to receive an offer from The University of Oklahoma❗️🤍♥️ #AGTG #OUDNA @CoachVenables @CoachToddBates @OU_Athletics @OU_Football @KenAnioJr @CoachFuller_CHS @CurDogFootball @samspiegs @rivals @On3sports pic.twitter.com/AleQ2mMPOq
— Blaine Bradford (@Blaine1307) May 18, 2023
In addition to Oklahoma, Bradford has been offered by Arkansas, Baylor, Colorado, Florida State and in-state powerhouse LSU.
LSU’s track record with defensive backs makes it a threat in recruiting players in the secondary. Considering Bradford is a Baton Rouge native and has the home school a stone’s throw away from him, it’ll be tough to overcome the Tigers.
On film, Bradford is a proper free safety. He roams the deep middle effortlessly, shows the versatility teams look for to line up in the slot, and he plays fearless running downhill to make tackles in the short passing game. He also shows an excellent knack for play recognition, as his ability to diagnose screens immediately gave him a multi-step advantage on opposing players, ultimately resulting in short gains or negative plays.
In the big picture, this could be a tough battle for Oklahoma to win, but the Sooners’ early offer should allow them to form a relationship and see how things go from there.