Updated Aug. 10, 2026, 6:21 p.m. CT
The 2026 college football season is less than a month away from getting started. The Oklahoma Sooners are eager to prove last year’s College Football Playoff berth was not a flash in the pan.
While Team 132 prepares for the season, the staff is hitting the recruiting trail hard to land future difference-makers to keep Oklahoma as a constant power in college football. The Sooners’ 2027 class is pretty much set in stone, although there could always be some added commits or decommits. So, the staff is already making their mark on 2028 recruits.
One that has caught their eye is five-star EDGE, Jalanie George. The Arizona native is ranked as the No. 9 player in the country by Rivals Industry Rankings. He is projected to go to the Washington Huskies, as they hold a sizeable lead on the Rivals Prediction Machine. However, recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong believes the Sooners are making a strong push.
Wiltfong reports that Oklahoma is among the teams near the top of George’s recruitment as the five-star prospect approaches a decision. The Washington Huskies have already made their NIL pitch and remain the favorite in the Rivals Prediction Machine, while the Auburn Tigers are firmly in the mix. However, communication between George and the Sooners is picking up, and Oklahoma is looking to make a late push before George takes visits early in the season and ultimately makes his decision.
George would be a significant addition to Oklahoma’s 2028 class, particularly given Brent Venables’ emphasis on building an elite defensive front. The Sooners have already established themselves as one of the nation’s strongest defensive teams, and landing another five-star EDGE would help maintain that standard well into the future.
The timing also makes this recruitment particularly interesting. Washington has the advantage, but George’s recruitment is far from over. With visits expected early in the season, Oklahoma still has an opportunity to make up ground before he makes his decision.
For Venables and his staff, the goal is simple: turn the recent defensive success into recruiting momentum. If Oklahoma can land George, it would give the Sooners another elite piece to build around as they look to remain a national contender.
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