Sunday Offering: Oklahoma Stays Hot on the Recruiting Trail
With fall camp in full swing, Brent Venables and company have been busy preparing for the upcoming season.
While the Oklahoma coaching staff was not shelling out offers like they usually do, Oklahoma has multiple important dates coming up. Additionally, OU received a commitment this week, continuing an impressive stretch of local recruiting for Venables.
On Saturday afternoon, 2025 4-star wide receiver Jaden Nickens committed to the Sooners.
ALL IN⭕️ @Hayesfawcett3 @OU_Football pic.twitter.com/uteoYtsV7k
— Jaden Nickens (@jaden_nickens) August 12, 2023
A 6-foot-3 playmaker from Millwood (OK) High School, Nickens is also a talented basketball player who said that he will participate in both sports upon arriving in Norman if Oklahoma allows him to.
Rated one of the top 90 players and top 12 wideouts in the nation, according to 247Sports, Nickens is the third 4-star wide receiver pledge in OU's 2025 class, joining Gracen Harris of Ennis (TX) and Elijah Thomas of Checotah (OK).
Nickens said after his commitment that playing in the SEC was very important to him.
"(Playing in the SEC) was a real big reason on why I committed to OU," Nickens said. "Y'all know what it is over there, that's great football. Having Oklahoma a part of that, and have the Alabamas and the LSUs, when I get there those games are going to be home games. Playing those games in Oklahoma is very big for me."
Now that Nickens has committed to Oklahoma, Sooner fans and coaches can turn their attention to 5-star senior Williams Nwaneri, who said on Twitter that he will announce his decision at 3 p.m. Monday.
I will be committing at Lee’s Summit North High School on August 14th at 3PM in the Gym. Everybody is welcome. Come show mad luv‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/d1UtsQguBC
— ✞ Williams Nwaneri 🇳🇬 (@NwaneriWilliams) August 10, 2023
While the elite edge rusher is set to decide between Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Georgia and Oregon, the Sooners and Tigers are seemingly in the lead for the nation's top d-lineman.
AllSooners will be in Lee's Summit, MO, on Monday to document Nwaneri's commitment.
Fellow 5-star defensive lineman Dominick McKinley also set his commitment date recently, saying he will announce his decision on Sept. 1.
Rated the No. 31 overall prospect in the 2024 class, McKinley is reportedly considering Texas, LSU and Oklahoma. Currently, recruiting services have the Louisiana native pegged to the Longhorns.
Landing a commitment from either of the aforementioned players would be massive for Venables and company. Both McKinley and Nwaneri are physically impressive defensive lineman that can wreck offensive gameplans and make an impact in the SEC.
Highly touted 2024 offensive lineman Jordan Seaton has an important date coming up soon as well.
While the IMG Academy standout has no commitment date in sight, Seaton did announce that he will visit Norman on Sept. 30, the same day as OU's final Big 12 meeting with Iowa State.
Rated one of the top 30 players in the country according to On3 and Rivals, Seaton would be an important addition for Bill Bedenbaugh, who has only three offensive lineman committed in the upcoming recruiting cycle.
This week, Oklahoma learned it remains in the mix for 2025 running back Tory Blaylock. The 4-star ball carrier from Atascocita (TX) announced his top 13 schools on Saturday night, with OU making the cut alongside Texas, Alabama, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Georgia and others.
Four-Star RB Tory Blaylock (2025) has narrowed his list to 1️⃣3️⃣ Schools!
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) August 13, 2023
The 5’11 195 RB from Houston, TX is one of the fastest players in all of HSFB, as he runs a 4.44 Laser 40
His father, Derrick, played 7 seasons in the NFL
Where Should He Go?👇🏽https://t.co/nif76xRQUo pic.twitter.com/zZ3waU5G8C
Rated the No. 83 player and No. 2 running back in the nation, Blaylock would be a huge addition to the Sooners' 2025 skill position group that already has three 4-star wideouts and a 4-star signal caller.
Blaylock's father, Derrick Blaylock, played college football at Stephen F. Austin before spending seven seasons in the NFL.
While DeMarco Murray and company will have to battle some of the best programs in the nation to earn a commitment from the speedy tailback, OU seems to be in a good spot with Blaylock at the moment.
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