Earlier this offseason, former Tennessee Vols tight end Jason Witten was hired by the Oklahoma Sooners to serve as the program’s tight ends coach under Brent Venables.

Jason Witten joining Oklahoma’s coaching staff is of particular interest to Vols fans because Tennessee is recruiting the UT legend’s son, 2027 five-star linebacker Cooper Witten.

The feeling is that Oklahoma is now the overwhelming favorite to land Cooper Witten with Jason Witten now on the Sooners’ coaching staff.

What Jason Witten told Josh Heupel before taking the job at Oklahoma

While the Sooners are viewed as the favorites to land the younger Witten, it’s not a forgone conclusion that he’ll end up in Norman.

On3’s Steve Wiltfong noted that Jason Witten called Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel before taking the job to tell him to keep recruiting his son.

“The elder Witten called Heupel before the news broke to tell him to keep recruiting his son and said Cooper is going through his own process,” wrote Wiltfong.  

Wiltfong also pointed out that Cooper Witten is planning to stay at Liberty Christian for his senior year, which means he won’t be living in Norman this fall as some previously suspected he might.

Tennessee is still in this recruiting battle, but it’s not going to be easy to overcome Jason Witten being on Oklahoma’s coaching staff.

One thing worth noting, though, is that there’s no guarantee that Jason Witten will be on Oklahoma’s coaching staff beyond the 2026 season. If Jason Witten, for example, makes the jump to the NFL after the 2026 season, it could quickly flip this recruiting battle in Tennessee’s favor.

Tennessee Volunteers News

The Tennessee Vols are reportedly confident they can steal coveted offensive lineman from the South Carolina Gamecocks

The Tennessee Vols are hard at work on their 2027 recruiting class.

Zach Ragan