Sunday Offering: Oklahoma Makes Top Five for Talented Legacy DB, in Contention for Three Additional 2025 Recruits
Since taking over as the head coach at Oklahoma, Brent Venables has been successful as a recruiter.
In 2024, the Sooners' landed the No. 8 class in the country, according to 247Sports. Headlined by 5-star defensive lineman David Stone and highly touted tight end Davon Mitchell, OU's most recent crop of signees has the potential to make an impact early in their careers.
In 2023, Oklahoma managed to bring in one of the top five classes in the country after Venables' first full recruiting cycle as the Sooners' head coach. With players like Peyton Bowen, PJ Adebawore and Jackson Arnold all showing potential on the field as true freshman, OU has already seen a glimpse of how impactful the 2023 class could be in Norman.
Venables took over the Sooners' job late in 2021, but miraculously managed to pull together the No. 8 recruiting class in the 2022 cycle. While some of the players from this group are no longer with the team, there are multiple big-time contributors in the bunch.
In the 2025 recruiting class, Venables has Oklahoma on a good pace to once again finish inside the top 10 nationally. Currently, OU is ranked No. 5 in 247Sports' team rankings with 10 commits.
This week, the Sooners remained in contention for a handful of 2025 prospects who could add to an impressive group in the upcoming cycle.
First, Venables and company made the Top 10 for 4-star linebacker Ty Jackson on Tuesday.
The Seminole Ridge (FL) standout included the Sooners alongside Texas A&M, Penn State, Syracuse, Miami, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Florida State.
Listed at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Jackson is the No. 16 overall prospect and the No. 1 linebacker in the country, according to On3. Jackson would join Carl Albert (OK) athlete Marcus James in Zac Alley's 2025 linebacker group.
On March 1, another 4-star defender included Oklahoma in his top five.
Ethan Utley, a 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive lineman from Nashville, TN, released his top schools on Friday with OU, Michigan, Syracuse, Tennessee and Texas staying in the mix. Utley also announced the he will make his decision on March 28.
Utley is the No. 176 overall prospect and No. 15 defensive lineman in the country, according to On3.
If the Sooners can land the talented defensive lineman, he would join Wagoner (OK) edge rusher Alexander Shieldnight and Lee's Summit North (MO) interior defensive lineman Ka'Mori Moore in Oklahoma's 2025 class.
A few hours later, 4-star Lancaster (TX) wide receiver Emmanuel Choice announced his Top 10.
Choice's list consists of Oklahoma, USC, TCU, Nebraska, Texas, Missouri, Texas A&M, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Mississippi. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, the Dallas-area product is rated the No. 290 overall player and No. 39 wide receiver in the 2025 class.
Choice visited Norman in late January and would add to a trio of 4-star wideouts in the upcoming recruiting cycle for the Sooners.
Finally, 4-star defensive back and Oklahoma legacy Maliek Hawkins announced his top five on Saturday morning.
The son of former OU defensive back Michael Hawkins Sr. and the younger brother of Sooners' freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., Maliek included Oklahoma in his list alongside Arkansas, Mississippi State, Texas and Texas State.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, Hawkins would be the Sooners' first defensive back pledge in the 2025 recruiting class. The Emerson (TX) standout added that he will announce his commitment in early April.
Offers Extended
In addition to the aforementioned players narrowing down their lists, OU also extended offers to two high school prospects this week.
Malik Autry, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound defensive lineman from Opelika, AL, picked up an offer from Venables' and company on Monday. Rated the No. 90 overall player and No. 7 defensive lineman in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports, Autry is currently committed to Auburn.
On Thursday, 2026 defensive back Dominick Kelly received an offer from the Sooners. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, the Robinson (FL) product also holds offers from Georgia, Penn State, Florida, USC and others.
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