Oklahoma Sooners have all of a sudden found their name in the mix for one of the best players in the entire 2028 recruiting class
The Oklahoma Sooners have one of the best 2027 classes, and now they’re trying for an elite 2028 recruiting class by possibly adding Jalanie George.
The Oklahoma Sooners are in the running for one of the best recruits in the 2028 class, and they appear to be making serious headway. Jelani George, a 5-star edge rusher from Desert Edge High School in Goodyear, Arizona, ranks as the No. 9 overall prospect in the 2028 recruiting cycle, according to Rivals.
George has narrowed his focus to six schools: Auburn, Florida, Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Washington. He recently told Rivals he is contemplating a Sept. 1 decision date.
George stands at 6’5, 250 pounds and has been making the rounds on visits. He recently visited Auburn and loved the experience, but he is still getting a sense of his defensive style and which program would be the best fit. The SEC appears to hold strong appeal for George, though none of the other big-time programs on his list can be ruled out.
Oklahoma and Washington emerging at the top
The two schools rising fastest on George’s radar are Oklahoma and Washington. George spoke about what draws him to the Sooners program.
“Might push it back so I can go to a couple games,” George said of his decision timeline. “Really got my mind on the right team. Washington is the strong football culture, the way they develop players, and the energy around the program.”
“I like their [Oklahoma] defense, how they would use me in their coaching staff,” George said.
The defense and coach Brent Venables himself have to be a massive selling point for George. As an edge rusher of his caliber, playing for Venables would probably be a dream. If Venables gets his hands on George, the combination would be pretty scary.
What George would mean for Oklahoma’s 2028 class
Oklahoma has one commitment in its 2028 recruiting class so far in quarterback Trey Tagliaferri. The Sooners already boast a top-10 2027 class, and hauling in a top-10 player in the 2028 cycle would help get that class rolling in a similar fashion.
The Sooners also have a built-in connection to Desert Edge. They already landed cornerback Mikyal Davis from that same school in the 2027 class, which speaks to the program’s ability to recruit out of that pipeline.
Oklahoma is emerging as one of the schools that best fits George, and the interest runs both ways. He likes them, and they like him. Where this recruitment ultimately lands remains to be seen, but it should be fun to follow along.
