Tag: Jonathan Hatton Jr

Sooners pick up On3 prediction for 2026 offensive lineman out of Texas

Oklahoma Sooners predicted to land three-star offensive lineman Noah Best out of Midlothian, Texas.

The Oklahoma Sooners have had a nice start to the [autotag]2026 recruiting class[/autotag], picking up commitments from a trio of blue-chip stars on the offensive side of the ball. Kick-started by four-star running back [autotag]Jonathan Hatton, Jr.[/autotag], he’s been joined in the class by four-star tight end [autotag]Ryder Mix[/autotag] and four-star quarterback [autotag]Jaden O’Neal[/autotag].

The Sooners have been at work this summer looking to move the needle with more prospects in the 2026 class. One player on their radar is Midlothian, Texas native and three-star interior offensive line prospect Noah Best.

Best is considered the No. 29 overall interior offensive lineman in the class and holds offers from 10 Power Four schools, including SEC programs Oklahoma, Arkansas, LSU, Missouri, Texas, and Texas A&M.

Amid these big time offers, it looks as if the Sooners have a leg up in his recruitment. SoonerScoop and On3’s Josh McCuistion issued a prediction favoring Oklahoma in his recruitment.

Best is a 6-foot-4 290 pound prospect who plays left tackle for his Midlothian squad. He moves really well in the run game, getting off the line of scrimmage in a hurry. Best is a physical player with the ability to block down on defensive tackles or get to the second level to take out linebackers.

In pass protection, he again shows quick feet to get into his pass set and anchors well on the bull rush.

Best is an intriguing prospect that looks to have four-star potential in the cycle. With experience at tackle, he’d provide Bill Bedenbaugh some versatility along the offensive line.

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Oklahoma near the top of ESPN’s top recruiting classes for 2026

Oklahoma Sooners have one of ESPN’s best recruiting classes for the 2026 cycle.

Recruiting hasn’t been a problem for [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and his staff since taking over in Norman. In fact, it’s been better than his predecessor. The Sooners have earned three top 10 classes in a row since Venables arrived, and it looks like they’re headed for another top-10 finish in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

The recruiting success and a 10-win season in 2023 have the Sooners off to a fast start in the [autotag]2026 recruiting class[/autotag], already picking up three commitments. Interestingly for the defensive-minded Brent Venables, Oklahoma’s three commits for 2026 are blue-chip prospects on the offensive side of the ball.

The Sooners have pledges from running back [autotag]Jonathan Hatton[/autotag], tight end [autotag]Ryder Mix[/autotag] and quarterback [autotag]Jaden O’Neal[/autotag]. Each prospect is considered a four-star player, so it is no surprise OU has ESPN’s No. 2 class at this point in the 2026 cycle (ESPN+).

The Sooners’ past four four-star quarterback pickups have all come out of Texas, including 2023 signee [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag]. For the 2026 class, they have traveled a different path, pulling [autotag]Jaden O’Neal[/autotag] out of California. Among the most physically talented QBs in the class, he could be the player to replace five-star Arnold if he meets expectations. O’Neal has a strong arm with a smooth release and also can adapt well and do a nice job of changing arm angles.

The Sooners returned to the familiar recruiting ground of Texas to land ESPN Junior 300 running back [autotag]Jonathan Hatton Jr[/autotag]. He has a nice blend of size (6 feet, 205 pounds) and speed. As a sophomore, he rushed for more than 1,200 yards. – Craig Haubert, ESPN

There’s slightly less than 18 months until the 2026 early signing period, but Oklahoma has hit the ground running. It trails only Florida State and is in front of the USC Trojans. Syracuse comes in at No. 4 and Texas rounds out the top five.

There’s a long way to go, but if these last few years are any indication, the Sooners aren’t going to slow anytime soon.

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