Completed Event: Football versus Illinois State on August 30, 2025 , Win , 35, to, 3
Final
Football
35
vs Illinois State
3
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Photo by: John Baker/University of Oklahoma
Sooners Sign 20 on First Day of Early Period
December 04, 2024 | Football
NORMAN — University of Oklahoma head football coach Brent Venables announced the signing of 20 members of OU's 2025 recruiting class Wednesday, the first day of the NCAA's early signing period.
Of the 18 scholarship signees, 14 are ranked as four- or five-star prospects on a five-star scale by recruiting sites 247Sports, ESPN, On3 or Rivals, while four others received three-star ratings, and two are preferred walk-ons. The early signing period lasts through Friday, while the regular signing period runs from Feb. 5 through April 1.
As of 5 p.m. CT, the Sooners' class ranked No. 16 nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings, No. 17 by On3 and Rivals and No. 19 by ESPN.
"Really excited to welcome the 18 scholarship players and two preferred walk-ons we signed today," said Venables. "We signed 10 guys on offense, nine on defense and a specialist, kind of covering the gamut. It's an excellent group of young men. We hit most of our targets in a really competitive space, and certainly with the transfer portal coming up, I expect we will have a few additions there. We really did well in Oklahoma and Texas, with 15 combined signees from those two states. That's where everything starts for us."
All 20 of Wednesday's signees are high school seniors. Ten of the signees are offensive players (one quarterback, one running back, two wide receivers, one tight end and five offensive linemen), nine are defensive players (one linebacker, three defensive linemen/ends and five defensive backs) and one is a specialist (long snapper).
The Sooners signed three players who are rated as the top recruit in their state by at least one recruiting service in Oklahoma wide receiver Elijah Thomas and defensive lineman CJ Nickson and Arkansas defensive back Omarion Robinson. Seven prospects are rated among the top 10 nationally at their respective position by at least one recruiting service, and 12 are rated among the top 25 at their position.
The state of Texas produced the most OU signees on Wednesday with eight, while Oklahoma produced seven, Arkansas and Utah two each and Washington, D.C., one.
"For the last year and a half, we've been working together with both our front office and our coaching staff, finding guys we needed to target and building relationships," said Venables. "We stayed consistent, built those relationships and found out who's attracted to the right things. It's a small group of guys, but guys we know without question can make us a lot better."
The Sooners, who are bowl eligible for the 26th consecutive season (second-longest streak nationally), will find out their bowl destination on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Of the 18 scholarship signees, 14 are ranked as four- or five-star prospects on a five-star scale by recruiting sites 247Sports, ESPN, On3 or Rivals, while four others received three-star ratings, and two are preferred walk-ons. The early signing period lasts through Friday, while the regular signing period runs from Feb. 5 through April 1.
As of 5 p.m. CT, the Sooners' class ranked No. 16 nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings, No. 17 by On3 and Rivals and No. 19 by ESPN.
"Really excited to welcome the 18 scholarship players and two preferred walk-ons we signed today," said Venables. "We signed 10 guys on offense, nine on defense and a specialist, kind of covering the gamut. It's an excellent group of young men. We hit most of our targets in a really competitive space, and certainly with the transfer portal coming up, I expect we will have a few additions there. We really did well in Oklahoma and Texas, with 15 combined signees from those two states. That's where everything starts for us."
All 20 of Wednesday's signees are high school seniors. Ten of the signees are offensive players (one quarterback, one running back, two wide receivers, one tight end and five offensive linemen), nine are defensive players (one linebacker, three defensive linemen/ends and five defensive backs) and one is a specialist (long snapper).
The Sooners signed three players who are rated as the top recruit in their state by at least one recruiting service in Oklahoma wide receiver Elijah Thomas and defensive lineman CJ Nickson and Arkansas defensive back Omarion Robinson. Seven prospects are rated among the top 10 nationally at their respective position by at least one recruiting service, and 12 are rated among the top 25 at their position.
The state of Texas produced the most OU signees on Wednesday with eight, while Oklahoma produced seven, Arkansas and Utah two each and Washington, D.C., one.
"For the last year and a half, we've been working together with both our front office and our coaching staff, finding guys we needed to target and building relationships," said Venables. "We stayed consistent, built those relationships and found out who's attracted to the right things. It's a small group of guys, but guys we know without question can make us a lot better."
The Sooners, who are bowl eligible for the 26th consecutive season (second-longest streak nationally), will find out their bowl destination on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Players Mentioned
Brent Venables Media Availability - 9/30/25
Tuesday, September 30
Ben Arbuckle Media Availability - 9/30/25
Tuesday, September 30
OUDNA Season 4, Ep. 2: Nobody is Like Us
Saturday, September 27
Sooner Football With Brent Venables - 9/21/25
Sunday, September 21
