NORMAN — OU football signed all 24 committed players to its 2026 recruiting class Wednesday on the first day of the NCAA’s early signing period.
The early signing period has become the unofficial signing day with most top players signing in December instead of February.
The Sooners’ class is headlined by four-stars quarterback Bowe Bentley, running back Jonathan Hatton Jr. and edge rusher Jake Kreul. OU’s class is currently ranked 14th, 15th and 16th by the three major recruiting sites.
Here’s a list of players the Sooners‘ officially signed on Wednesday:
Bowe Bentley, QB, Celina High School (Celina, Texas)Height: 6-foot-1Weight: 200Stars: 4
About: A top-five quarterback and top-50 player nationally, Bentley committed to OU over LSU on June 20. A dynamic dual-threat, Bentley finished with 4,200 total yards and 63 touchdowns as a junior at Celina. His commitment came less than 24 hours after Jaden O’Neal decommitted.
James Carrington, DL, Crean Lutheran (Irvine, California)Height: 6-foot-2Weight: 240Stars: 3
About: “Tank” committed to OU on Aug. 16 two days after decommitting from Florida State. He was also recruited by Georgia, Oregon, USC and others. Carrington is one of two interior defensive linemen to sign.
Markel Ford, S, Horn High School (Mesquite, Texas)Height: 6 feetWeight: 190Stars: 3
About: OU flipped Ford’s from SMU on Nov. 26. Ford, who is viewed as an under-the-radar prospect, visited during the Sooners’ win over Missouri. He’s one of two safeties part of OU’s class.
Beau Jandreau, LB, Hamilton High School (Chandler, Arizona)Height: 6-foot-1Weight: 215Stars: 3
About: Jandreau decided to join his twin brother Niko, committing to OU over Oregon and Texas on June 23. The Jandreau twins both star on defense at Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona. The Sooners now have three sets of brothers either committed or one their roster, with Eli and Peyton Bowen and Maliek and Michael Hawkins.
Niko Jandreau, S, Hamilton High School (Chandler, Arizona)Height: 5-foot-11Weight: 200Stars: 3
About: Jandreau chose OU over Missouri, USC and Washington on May 13. He was the Sooners’ first commitment in nearly four months.
Derrick Johnson, CB, Murrieta Valley High School (Murrieta, California)Height: 6-foot-2Weight: 170Stars: 3
About: Johnson committed to the Sooners over TCU, UCLA and Washington on June 10. A multi-sport athlete, Johnson recorded personal best times of 11.12 seconds in the 100 meters, 22.40 in the 200 and 51.82 in the 400 on the track this spring. His father, Derrick Johnson Sr., played at Washington and was a sixth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2005.
Matthew Nelson, EDGE, Bryant High School (Bryant, Arkansas)Height: 6-foot-5Weight: 215Stars: 4
About: Nelson committed to OU on June 8. He also held offers from Mississippi State, Missouri and others. In addition to playing football, Nelson also runs track and wrestles.
Daniel Odom, WR, St. John Bosco High School (Bellflower, California)Height: 6-foot-2Weight: 175Stars: 3
About: Odom committed to OU following its Junior Day recruiting weekend on Jan. 28. He chose the Sooners over Oregon and Texas.
Jayden Petit, WR, St. John Neumann High School (Naples, Florida)Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 196Stars: 3
About: Petit decommitted from Wisconsin on Nov. 26 before committing to OU over 12 hours later on Nov. 27. He visited the Sooners during the Ole Miss game.
Tyler Ruxer, TE, Heritage Hills High School (Lincoln City, Indiana)Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 220Stars: 4
About: Ruxer committed to OU over Duke and West Virginia on July 7. He and Mix will have immediate opportunity to contribute as the Sooners’ tight end unit has struggled in recent seasons.
Deacon Schmitt, IOL, Windsor High School (Windsor, Colorado)Height: 6-foot-5Weight: 310Stars: 4
About: Schmitt was a major get for offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh. He chose OU over Alabama and Colorado on June 28 after visiting Norman.
Noah Best, IOL, Midlothian High School (Midlothian, Texas)Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 295Stars: 3
About: Best committed on June 9, picking the Sooners over Kansas State and Missouri. He helped lead Midlothian to the second round of the Texas 5A division one playoffs.
DeZephen Walker, RB, Raymore-Peculiar High School (Raymore, Missouri)Height: 5-10Weight: 180Stars: 3
About: Walker committed to OU over Nebraska, Notre Dame and others on June 16.
Daniel Norman, EDGE, St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 220Stars: 4
About: Norman committed to OU on June 23, picking the Sooners over Colorado, Miami and UCLA. He totaled 31 tackles, eight hurries and seven sacks as a junior for St. Thomas Aquinas, Florida’s 5A state champions.
Trace Rudd, K, Blue Valley Northwest High School (Overland Park, Kansas)Height: 6 feetWeight: 185Stars: 3
About: Rudd committed to the Sooners on June 21. He’s ranked as the No. 27 kicker nationally by Kohl’s Professional Camps.
Ryder Mix, TE, Lone Star High School (Frisco, Texas)Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 220Stars: 3
About: Mix committed to the Sooners over Ohio State and Texas A&M all the way back in June 2024. Tight end has been a position of need for OU for multiple seasons now.
Jonathan Hatton Jr., RB, Steele High School (Cibolo, Texas)Height: 5-foot-11Weight: 195Stars: 4
About: Hatton, who was previously committed to OU before reopening his recruitment and pledging to Texas A&M in March, flipped back to the Sooners on Nov. 24. Hatton is widely regarded as a top-10 running back in the 2026 class. He has rushed for over 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior.
Kristan Moore, LB, Selma High School (Selma, Alabama)Height: 6-foot-2Weight: 220Stars: 3
About: Moore is an under-the-radar find for general manager Jim Nagy. He didn’t even have an ESPN recruiting page when he committed. The physical linebacker is seen as a high-ceiling prospect.
Zizi Okwufulueze, WR, Rejoice Christian School (Owasso)Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 198Stars: 3
About: Okwufulueze is the Sooners’ lone in-state signee in the 2026 class. He committed on Sept. 2 after visiting Norman for OU’s season-opener.
Jake Kreul, EDGE, IMG Academy (Orlando, Florida)Height: 6-foot-2Weight: 223Stars: 4
About: Kreul announced his commitment to OU over rival Texas on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Aug. 12. The elite power and speed rusher also considered the likes of Florida, Miami, Ole Miss, Ohio State and Penn State.
Jahsiear Rogers, WR, Appoquinimink High School (Bear, Delaware)Height: 5-foot-10Weight: 175Stars: 4
About: Rogers flipped his commitment from Penn State following its firing of coach James Franklin. He chose the Sooners over Alabama, Indiana and Nebraska.
Brian Harris, DL, Creekside High School (Jacksonville, Florida)Height: 6-foot-2Weight: 280Stars: 3
About: Harris was heavily recruited, choosing OU over Alabama, Michigan, Penn State and South Carolina on May 23. He was named the defensive line MVP of the Under Armour Next camp in Orlando this year. Harris is the first interior defensive lineman to sign.
Dane Bathurst, EDGE, Carmel High School (Carmel, Indiana)Height: 6-foot-3Weight: 230Stars: 3
About: Bathurst committed to OU on Nov. 28. Originally from Florida, he played his senior season of high school football at Carmel High School in the Indianapolis area and chose the Sooners over Purdue, Vanderbilt and others.
Jacob Curry, LB, Nease High School (Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida)Height: 6-foot-1Weight: 200Stars: 4
About: Curry became the first 2026 Sooner signee this morning. He committed to OU on Oct. 10 after visiting for the Sooners’ win over Auburn. Curry chose the Sooners over Florida State and Ohio State. He helped Nease High School finish undefeated last season, recording 101 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hurries, eight sacks, seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.