Meet Oklahoma 5-star QB Jackson Arnold and other freshmen already in Norman

The trajectory of the Sooners program didn’t sit nicely for lots of Oklahoma followers, after a 6-7 season in 2022.

Under first 12 months head coach Brent Venables, the Sooners protection took a giant step again and had been unable to win close games. However, the adverse on-the-field play has not translated to off the sphere.

Oklahoma landed a Top-10 freshman recruiting class, to go together with among the finest portal classes in the nation. Venables made a degree of emphasis in the 2023 to create variety inside the class’s geography. Three of the 13 enrollees come from Denton, and 9 are from exterior Oklahoma.

The Sooners have 13 of its 25 freshman commits transferring to Norman in January. Here’s a have a look at every of them, listed in order of their nationwide rating, in line with 247Sports.

Name, POS (247 nationwide rating)

Jackson Arnold, QB (6)

Before stepping onto the soccer subject in Norman, the Denton Guyer quarterback introduced some extra hardware with him. He grew to become the primary Dallas-area participant to win the Gatorade National Player of the Year, etching his title subsequent to Sooners’ personal, Kyler Murray. Arnold is the fourth-highest dedication in program historical past, behind OU legend and NFL star Adrian Peterson, Rhett Bomar and 2022 Heisman winner Caleb Williams.

Peyton Bowen, S (13)

Bowen is a five-star security out of Denton Ryan and obtained a ton of consideration along with his recruitment throughout early nationwide signing day. He flipped his from Notre Dame to Oregon. Less than 36 hours later, he made a second flip, going from the Ducks to the Sooners. He is ranked the second-best security in the nation and the third-highest recruit in the state of Texas.

Adepoju Adebawore, Edge (26)

Adebawore is one in every of 5 defensive linemen to signal with the Sooners, with him being the best rated. He is the highest-rated participant in the state of Colorado and the fourth-best edge rusher in the nation. The Under Armour All-American sport alumni obtained over 20 energy 5 gives and pulled the set off on Oklahoma again in July 2022.

Cayden Green, OT (86)

Oklahoma dipped into Missouri for OL Cayden Green, the fourth-highest ranked participant in the state. He ranges at 6-5, 315-pounds. With the Sooners shedding two gamers to the NFL Draft and two to damage earlier than the Cheez-It Bowl, Green’s introduction in January offers him a head begin to make strikes up the depth chart.

Makari Vickers, CB (87)

Although the Sooners didn’t win their on-the-field head-to-head towards Florida State, they received the off the sphere, with Makari Vickers’ recruitment. Vickers resides in the Seminoles’ yard of Tallahassee and took a number of visits. However, it was Oklahoma that secured his companies in late August. Vickers is the eighth-ranked security in the nation and is a Top 120 participant in the nation.

Derrick LeBlanc, DL (175)

LeBlanc, additionally from Florida, did embody a Florida college in his prime three – the Gators – to go together with Oklahoma and Penn State. He made it a precedence to constantly go to Gainesville, taking seven unofficial visits and one official. In the tip, Oklahoma beat them out for the four-star that’s projected to suit the defensive scheme. He is 6-4.5 and weighs 265-pounds.

Jasiah Wagoner, CB (289)

Venables dipped into the state of Washington a few instances, particularly snagging Wagoner. His versatility can maintain him on the sphere, taking part in each Nickel and Corner on protection, alongside extensive receiver on offense. Wagoner is rated the second-best participant in the state and No.24 cornerback in the nation. He is an undersized participant at 5-11, 170-pounds, however his play recognition and velocity he performs with will assist maintain him in the secondary rotation.

Daylan Smothers, RB (306)

Smothers is likely one of the most spectacular will get for the Sooners, take into account the laundry record of gives he had out of his North Carolina highschool. Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Texas and others wished the bruising again’s companies and for good motive. The Sooners working again room is filling up and Smothers will have the ability to match in properly.

Joshua Bates, OL (370)

Bates wasted zero time along with his dedication to Oklahoma and has been agency since he made it recognized. He dedicated on Aug. 13, 2021, and has caught true to the crimson and cream since. Bates is ranked the third-best participant in the state of Colorado and is the lone commit in the category from the state.

Kalib Hicks, RB (536)

Hicks is the third Denton participant to reach in Norman. Hicks’ largest asset is his velocity, working a 11.64 in the 100m as a sophomore in 2020. Compared to Smothers, Hicks is a bit heavier, weighing at 195 kilos. He is pegged because the No.36 working again in the nation and was recruited to Oklahoma by present working backs coach and former Sooner and Dallas Cowboy, DeMarco Murray.

Phil Picciotti, LB (544)

Prior to going to IMG Academy for his 2022 season, he spent 2021 and Pennridge High School in Perkasie, Pa. He led the crew with 144 tackles and obtained important snaps at working again. Picciotti was closely recruited by defensive coordinator Ted Roof and made his dedication official on July 4. He dedicated to the Sooners over Notre Dame, Michigan, USC and Auburn.

Ashton Sanders, DL (587)

Oklahoma was not the primary vacation spot for the three-star defensive lineman from California. Sanders dedicated to Cal-Berkeley in June, two weeks after taking a go to. It wasn’t till Halloween, when Oklahoma supplied him, and his recruitment altered path. After taking a go to on Nov. 19, he made his dedication to the Sooners the day after. He is the 57th ranked participant in California.

Erik McCarty, ATH (742)

McCarty is the lone in-state recruit in the early enrollee class. The three-star recruit from McAlester, Okla., is predicted to play security and dedicated to the Sooners over Nebraska, Kansas State, TCU and extra lately, Baylor. McCarty was amongst one of many first commitments in the category, making if official on January 29, 2022, and signing his letter of intent 11 months later. His 6-2, 180-pound body offers him vary and an opportunity to trace down any ball thrown deep.

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