Tag: Jayden Jackson

Oklahoma Sooners 2024 Early Signing Period Tracker

Get to know the 2024 recruiting class with our Oklahoma Sooners 2024 early signing period tracker.

It’s Day 1 of the [autotag]2024 early signing period[/autotag], and the Oklahoma Sooners are already off to the races. A number of their prospects started the ball rolling first thing this morning, signing their national letters of intent to play ball at Oklahoma.

It’s expected that nearly all of Oklahoma’s committed players in the 2024 class will sign for the Sooners on Day 1 of the early signing period. However, as we saw in the Peyton Bowen recruitment a year ago, there could be a surprise or two during the early signing period.

As Oklahoma welcomes in its 2024 recruiting class, here are the players that officially became members of the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Sooners have officially signed each of their 2024 commitments.

Get to know the Sooners 2024 recruiting class with our early signing period tracker.

Follow along for all of our [autotag]2024 Early Signing Period[/autotag]

Sooners officially add four-star defensive tackle during the early signing period

Four-star defensive tackle and IMG Academy product Jayden Jackson signs with the Oklahoma Sooners.

If there was one position the Oklahoma Sooners needed to add impact players to ahead of their move to the SEC, it was defensive tackle. And in the 2024 recruiting class, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] have done that.

Making it official during the early signing period, [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] signed his national letter of intent for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Jackson was recently named IMG Academy Defensive MVP for the 2023 season. Yes, the same IMG Academy that five-star defensive tackle David Stone plays for. Jackson was that important to his team’s success.

The four-star enjoyed a steep climb in the recruiting rankings over the summer as analysts dug deeper on Jackson, who is a legit nose tackle. Nose tackles can be difficult evaluations because they’re often doing the dirty work. But Jackson is as good a defensive tackle prospect as there is in the 2024 recruiting class.

He’s a strong and quick player who displays the ability to penetrate and get into the backfield. He displays the strength to take on and beat double teams but has the quickness and burst to create pressure from the interior.

At 6 feet, 2 inches and 300 pounds (already), Jackson provides the size and the ability the Sooners need on the interior as they prepare for SEC offensive lines. The Sooners will be able to deploy him in three- and four-man alignments, and Jackson will be incredibly disruptive.

Jackson received 26 Power Five offers and chose the Oklahoma Sooners over notable teams including Texas, Florida and Miami.

More from the [autotag]2024 Early Signing Period[/autotag]

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DT Jacob Lacey announces return to the Sooners for 2024 season

The Oklahoma Sooners defensive line continues to get a boost after Jacob Lacey announced his return for the 2024 season.

Though the Oklahoma Sooners have suffered a lot of losses on the offensive side of the ball, the defense is retaining players left and right.

Billy Bowman and Danny Stutsman opted to return to Oklahoma instead of a potential top-100 draft selection. Yesterday, Da’Jon Terry announced his return. Coming back to help Terry man the middle for the Sooners will be [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag].

Lacey transferred to Oklahoma from Notre Dame last offseason and became a significant part of the Sooners defensive tackle rotation. Lacey was 11th in defensive snaps, but led the defensive tackle position with 363 snaps in 2023.

In 2023, Lacey recorded 16 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack. And while those numbers may not be eye-popping, but he and his defensive tackle mates helped improve Oklahoma’s run defense and in particular their short-yardage defense.

In short, they did the dirty work.

Lacey and Terry provide the Sooners veteran leadership at the position as the Sooners continue to bring along [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag], [autotag]Ashton Sanders[/autotag], and [autotag]Markus Strong[/autotag] as well as the Sooners vaunted 2024 defensive tackle class projected to be headlined by [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag].

Lacey and his defensive tackle teammates will be instrumental in the Sooners success when they move to the SEC next year.

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Social media reacts: 4-Star EDGE Danny Okoye commits to the Oklahoma Sooners

Social media reacts to the commitment of 2024 four-star DE Danny Okoye, another blue chip DL for 2024 and the No. 1 player in the state of Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Sooners football program has done an incredible job on the recruiting trail since arriving in Norman in December of 2021. They’ve secured a pair of top-ten classes, one of which was a top-five class in the 2023 cycle. They look well on their way to another great recruiting class in 2024.

The latest addition was in-state talent [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag], a four-star prospect who plays for NOAH. He’s an incredible athlete who can do backflips at 6-foot-4 and 240 lbs and deadlift more than three times his weight at over 700 pounds.

Danny Okoye’s commitment highlights the work the Sooners have done this cycle to put together an incredible group along the defensive line. Okoye joins [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag], and [autotag]Wyatt Gilmore[/autotag] in the 2024 cycle. When this group gets to Norman, it will arguably be the best defensive line recruiting hall in the history of the program and also provide incredible competitive depth to the Sooners defensive front.

With Okoye, they added a disruptive talent who has a chance to be an elite pass rusher at the next level.

With the addition of Okoye, the Sooners move up to No. 7 in the 247Sports team rankings, No. 5 over at Rivals, and No. 8 in On3’s rankings.

Brent Venables and his staff have the Sooners recruiting elite defensive prospects again and here’s how social media reacted.

Defensive line depth Oklahoma’s biggest need for its 2024 recruiting class per ESPN

ESPN analyzed the biggest needs for the top 25 schools in their 2024 recruiting rankings. DL depth the biggest need for the Sooners.

This week, ESPN examined the 2024 recruiting landscape as less than four months stand between us and the early signing period. For Oklahoma, they sit in an advantageous position. They comfortably have a top-25 recruiting class and are on the cusp of potentially landing three more commitments over the next week. It all starts with five-star defensive tackle [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] on Saturday evening.

David Stone’s recruitment means a lot to Oklahoma. He’s been arguably the top priority in the cycle for two years. Not only is he a must-get because of his talent, but the Sooners have to earn his commitment because of how many upperclassmen they have on their defensive line.

After this season, they could see a multitude of interior defensive linemen depart the program for graduation or to play in the NFL. Because of that, ESPN lists Oklahoma’s most significant need for their 2024 class as defensive line depth.

Craig Haubert of ESPN analyzed the biggest needs for the top 25 recruiting classes, and here’s what he had to say about the No. 15 ranked Sooners (ESPN+).

The Sooners must improve their defense and get stronger in the trenches as they prepare to move to the SEC. They began to address those changes last cycle with several signings led by elite edge prospect Adepoju Adebawore, multiple three-stars and transfer portal additions. But 2023 ESPN 300 signee Derrick Leblanc has already transferred from the program, and Oklahoma’s current unit is heavy on upperclassmen. Five-star DL David Stone is expected to decide soon, and the Sooners are in a good position for the Oklahoma native, who plays at IMG. Stone is an explosive and agile big man that could immediately contribute. ESPN 300 DE Nigel Smith could be another key addition and is expected to decide in early September. LSU would love to keep Dominick McKinley at home, but the Sooners are contenders here as well, as they look to address this need in a potentially big way. – Haubert, ESPN

Oklahoma’s surplus of upperclass defensive linemen should serve them well as they look to bounce back from an abysmal defensive performance in 2022.

As Haubert points out, the interior of the defensive line is dependent on the veterans making an impact this season. There are intriguing youngsters inside like [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag], [autotag]Ashton Sanders[/autotag], [autotag]Kelvin Gilliam[/autotag], and [autotag]Markus Strong[/autotag], but we’ve yet to see them take significant snaps at the collegiate level.

It makes Stone’s decision even more critical. It also adds to the importance of [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag] II’s impending decision. Four-star EDGE [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag], a star from Oklahoma, also becomes a must-have for the Sooners.

The Sooners don’t just want these three talented defensive linemen. They need them. Oklahoma looks like they have been lapped by Texas, who seems to have run away from OU in the recruitment of [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag].

Oklahoma has commitments from defensive tackle [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] and [autotag]Wyatt Gilmore[/autotag]. With all that said, Oklahoma has a promising chance to add some defensive line depth for next season in the coming weeks and months. It’s about finishing and closing the deal for the Sooners, something they have shown us they aren’t afraid to do.

Four-star OL Jordan Seaton plans to officially visit Oklahoma

Oklahoma will be one of six schools to host four-star offensive line prospect Jordan Seaton for an official visit this fall.

IMG Academy has been very kind to Oklahoma this recruiting cycle.

Four-star defensive tackle Jayden Jackson committed to Oklahoma this summer, and his teammate and close friend, five-star defensive tackle David Stone, plans to announce his college commitment on Aug. 26. The Sooners are believed to be the leaders, and Oklahoma not earning his commitment would be a massive shock to the recruiting landscape.

Oklahoma’s pursuit of players at IMG doesn’t end with the two defensive linemen. The Sooners are also recruiting four-star offensive lineman Jordan Seaton. Seaton stands 6 feet, 5 inches and weighs over 285 pounds. 247Sports has him as its No. 81 prospect in the nation. He’s the third-ranked interior offensive line prospect in the nation.

Oklahoma offered Seaton last March, and it would seem they’ve stayed in contact over the past year. It also doesn’t hurt that Oklahoma has been active in two of his teammates’ college recruitments. While Jackson and Stone will have wrapped up their recruitment processes come September, Seaton will be getting started in earnest as he plans to take six official visits over the fall and even an additional unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa to check out Alabama again.

Oklahoma will be one of his six official visits; Seaton plans to come to Norman on Sept. 30. That’s the weekend of the Sooners’ first Big 12 home game of the season, when they take on Iowa State. In addition to that visit, he plans to officially visit LSU, Florida, Ohio State, Oregon and South Carolina.

Seaton has built a strong line of communication with the Ohio State Buckeyes, and if anyone is in a good position right now regarding this recruitment, it would be them. Still, with multiple official visits left, things can and will change in some fashion.

If Oklahoma lands Stone, could the combination of Stone and Jackson help push Seaton to consider Oklahoma heavily as his recruitment winds down? Only time will tell.

Landing an official visit is nothing to scoff at, and by all accounts, Oklahoma could realistically make up some ground long before Seaton decides.

Recruiting offensive line prospects from the DC area paid off recently for the Sooners. Bill Bedenbaugh helped Anton Harrison go from the 30th-ranked offensive tackle prospect in his recruiting class to the No. 27 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Sooners receive prediction for 4-star defensive lineman from Texas

August and September could be a big month for OU recruiting, it could be capped off with a top 100 defensive line commitment.

The [autotag]Oklahoma Sooners[/autotag] are hoping to finish one of the best defensive line classes in program history. They have had two dominos fall: [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] and [autotag]Wyatt Gilmore[/autotag] committed to OU.

Several more big fish plan to announce their college destinations in the coming weeks. [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag], [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] and [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag] top that list. However, there is also someone whom not enough people are talking about, [autotag]Nigel Smith II[/autotag]. Smith is a top 100 player and he has been an Oklahoma lean for some time.

He announced recently he would not taking any more official visits and planned to stick with his Sept. 8, 2023, commitment date. That is a big development for Oklahoma. Smith was expected to be in Austin the weekend before he commits. The Sooners received even more good news when [autotag]247Sports[/autotag]’ Collin Kennedy put in a crystal ball prediction in favor of Oklahoma.

Smith is a high four-star prospect, someone who would have been the best defensive lineman in the entire class for the previous regime. He would be the one Sooner fans would be drooling over, hoping to get. But with the Sooners in the thick of a race for three five-star defensive linemen, he almost gets pushed to the side.

If you’ve watched him though, you know he’s no afterthought. He would be a massive addition to the class.

Good height and general build that fits myriad front-line defensive roles. Strength- and power-oriented defensive playmaker who often overwhelms high school blockers. Displays above average first-step explosion. Capable of getting on top of offensive linemen quickly and getting them on their heels. Also flashes knife-through ability at times to make plays in the backfield. Encouraging redirecting suddenness for a bigger-bodied D-lineman. Dangerous bull rusher vs. high school opponents. Will take a blocker into the quarterback if required. Also displays encouraging pursuit athleticism and range relative to size and role, including some chase-down examples. – Gabe Brooks National Scouting Analyst 247Sports

Smith was named Texas District 7-5A-II Defensive Lineman of the Year as a junior, Texas District 7-4A-I unanimous Defensive Lineman of the Year as a sophomore, and Texas District 7-4A-I Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a freshman.

The Sooners have a little more than a month until Smith announces his commitment. If it can land him, it’ll be well worth the wait.

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Fresh crystal ball predicts Oklahoma to land 4-star DL Nigel Smith

Tuesday evening, the Oklahoma Sooners received a fresh prediction to land top 100 defensive lineman Nigel Smith.

The Oklahoma Sooners have been working overtime to build a defensive line class that can lay the foundation for their move to the SEC.

A strong defensive line is how Brent Venables had success at Oklahoma. It’s how he helped Clemson win national championships. And the Sooners are looking to stockpile as much talent along the defensive front as they can.

The plan received a bit of a boost on Tuesday evening when Horns 247’s Jordan Scruggs issued a crystal ball prediction favoring the Oklahoma Sooners in the recruitment of four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag].

247Sports joins Rivals and On3 in favoring the Oklahoma Sooners in this top-100 recruitment.

The Texas Longhorns are another of the teams on the shortlist for Smith. Also on the list are Ohio State, Penn State, Texas A&M and Rutgers.

Smith is the No. 84 player in the country according to the 247Sports composite and the No. 12 defensive lineman in the 2024 cycle.

At 6 feet, 5 inches and 260 pounds, Smith has the size to be a force at multiple spots along the defensive line. He’s an athletic player that plays with really good technique and a motor that will not quit. Smith is quick off the line of scrimmage, using a great first step to work through the offensive line to make plays in the backfield.

Oklahoma has a pair of defensive linemen committed to the 2024 class. [autotag]Wyatt Gilmore[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] are just the first in a grand plan set forth by [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag], [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] and [autotag]Miguel Chavis[/autotag] to construct a blue-chip defensive line through the 2024 class.

In addition to Smith, the Sooners are favored to land [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag] and [autotag]David Stone[/autotag]. Oklahoma is also in hot pursuit of Danny Okoye, Dominick McKinley and Zina Umeozulu.

There’s no telling if they’ll land all eight of their defensive line targets in the cycle, but with the way events are unfolding, the Sooners could add as many as six of these blue-chip talents.

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Oklahoma Sooners receive Rivals FutureCast for 2024 5-star DT David Stone

New Rivals FutureCast favors the Oklahoma Sooners in the recruitment of 2024 five-star defensive lineman David Stone.

The Oklahoma Sooners have been on a recruiting tear in recent weeks, rising into the top 20 of the 247Sports team rankings for the 2024 cycle. Over the last week, Oklahoma’s added four-star defensive tackle Jayden Jackson, four-star wide receiver Zion Ragins, and composite five-star running back Taylor Tatum.

Well, the momentum isn’t slowing down for Oklahoma heading into the second-to-last weekend in July.

On Friday evening, Rivals recruiting analyst Cole Patterson issued a FutureCast favoring the Oklahoma Sooners in the recruitment of priority target David Stone.

Stone, a native Oklahoman who plays his ball at IMG Academy, is one of the top players in the 2024 recruiting class. He’s the No. 10 player in the nation, according to Rivals and 247Sports, and the No. 2 defensive tackle in the class.

The Sooners have long been one of the favorites to land David Stone’s commitment, but as one of the top players in the class, he’s been targeted by a number of Power Five schools across the country. He has 34 offers on his ledger, with 31 of those coming from Power Five programs. Of the 16 teams that will represent the SEC starting in 2024, Stone has offers from 12 of them, including Alabama, Texas A&M, Texas, Florida, and Tennessee.

Though the battle has long been between Oklahoma, Oregon, Miami, Michigan State, and the Aggies, the Sooners look to have gained some traction. As the Sooners look to put together what could be another top-five class, David Stone could be a cornerstone player for Oklahoma as it makes the jump to the SEC.

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Commitment dates on the horizon for Oklahoma 2024 targets

Over the next seven weeks, a number of the Oklahoma Sooners high-profile 2024 prospects will be making their commitments. Who are they?

The summer months have already been kind to the Oklahoma Sooners on the recruiting trail, and we still have a month and a half until most high school seasons kick off for the 2023 season.

More than half of the Sooners’ commitments have come since June 1. They’ve picked up pledges from [autotag]James Nesta[/autotag], [autotag]Dozie Ezukanma[/autotag], [autotag]Xavier Robinson[/autotag], [autotag]Wyatt Gilmore[/autotag], [autotag]Davon Mitchell[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag]. With 13 commitments in the class of 2024, the Sooners sit 26th in the 247Sports team rankings and No. 17 in the On3 team rankings.

And that’s with a number of highly regarded prospects still to make their pledge in the coming weeks and months.

Here’s a look at who’s slated to commit during the next couple of months. We’ll update the list as players release commitment dates.