Oklahoma Sooners lock in a game-day visit with an elite 2028 interior offensive lineman who could be the next big thing
The Oklahoma Sooners would love to land 2028 interior offensive lineman Joey Flemming.
The Oklahoma Sooners have secured a game-day visit with one of the top recruits in the 2028 class. Elite interior offensive lineman Joey Fleming, the No. 18 recruit and No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the 2028 Rivals 300, will visit Norman on Nov. 14 when Oklahoma hosts Ole Miss.
Fleming is a four-star prospect out of Huntsville, Alabama, standing 6’5, 280 pounds, with a 93.99 composite rating. He has locked in eight game-day visits total, and the Sooners landing one of those coveted slots is significant for a program battling SEC heavyweights for his commitment.
Why this visit matters for the Sooners
The Nov. 14 matchup against Ole Miss is expected to kick off in the afternoon, and that’s a perfect setup for Oklahoma. We know that whenever the Sooners get recruits on campus for game day visits, it tends to go well. Last year, several players came to Norman on game days, and the experience sealed the deal. The atmosphere showed recruits what they would be getting in their everyday life as an Oklahoma Sooner, and that proved to be a powerful closer.
The Sooners will need every ounce of that magic with Fleming. According to Rivals, his NIL evaluation is projected at $150,000. He’s the No. 1 recruit in Alabama and is currently predicted to land with the Crimson Tide at 94.9%. Auburn sits second at 1.2%, with Oklahoma appearing third. Florida State, Penn State, Florida, Ohio State, and Notre Dame are also in the picture, though those programs seem to be on the back end of his list.
Bill Bedenbaugh’s recruitment could make the difference
So why is Oklahoma even in the mix with two local Alabama schools? Bill Bedenbaugh has recruited Fleming aggressively and built a strong relationship. The Sooners have two visits with him already, matching what Auburn and Alabama each have. Is it a slim chance? Maybe. But Oklahoma does have a shot, and Bedenbaugh’s track record developing offensive linemen gives the Sooners a credible pitch.
The challenge ahead
Fleming’s visit schedule does present one concern. His next game-day visit after Oklahoma comes on Nov. 28 at the Iron Bowl. That’s Auburn vs. Alabama, one of the biggest rivalries of all time, and it’s the trip right after his Norman visit. That’s not something you love if you’re a Sooners fan. The kid is from Alabama, and he even has an Alabama towel hanging out of his football pants in the graphic on his Twitter profile showing his visit schedule. The signs point toward the Crimson Tide.
But the Sooners have a card to play. Last year, Oklahoma and Ole Miss battled it out in a fantastic game, and that kind of atmosphere can leave a lasting impression on a recruit. Fleming will get to see Norman at its best against an SEC opponent, and Oklahoma’s staff will have a full afternoon to show him what separates their program. The kid is probably going to Alabama. But the Sooners have a chance, and Nov. 14 is the kind of game day that can shift a recruitment. We’ll see what happens.
