Brent Venables describes one of his newest defensive weapons in a way that will make the 2026 safety become a fan favorite
Brent Venables loves what 2026 safety Markel Ford brings.
The Oklahoma Sooners wrapped up their 2026 recruiting class on Wednesday, National Signing Day, with some great players signed to start playing football next season. While they were in the middle of the College Football Playoff, head coach Brent Venables needed to address the class. One guy who caught people’s attention was safety Markel Ford.
“Markel Ford is a guy that we targeted a few years ago,” Venables told reporters on Wednesday. “We couldn’t get to a point where we could make it happen. As a result, in the summer, he committed somewhere else.”
The Sooners got their guy.
“It came full circle,” Venables said. “He always wanted to be a Sooner. We were able to work it out, credit to Coach Hall, to continue that relationship. Did a great job recruiting Markel… He’ll rip your soul out.”
Markel Ford will be a fan favorite
“He’ll rip your soul out” is the type of phrase that the Sooners’ fan base loves to hear from their new players. That’s the identity of the defense this year, one of the best defenses we have ever seen in Crimson and Cream. The fact that the Sooners are finding players very similar to those who came in with that same identity for next season is perfect.
Ford is a killer on the field. Venables is not exaggerating. In fact, there are a ton of guys like that in this class, but Ford and LB Kristan Moore are very similar, too. No friends on the field besides the guys wearing the same color uniform. And every single hit they lay is a hit they want to put fear in the opposition.
Ford is very good at zone coverage, too, as a safety. There will be some things he needs to work on to play at the SEC level, as all first-year students do, but he has the skill set and mindset, as far as we have seen in high school, to become a great player.
Venables and the Sooners got a great one, along with the other 23 awesome signees they have.
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