Top-tierNCAA football player Jake Kreul chooses Oklahoma over SEC competitors
Oklahoma Lands Top-Ranked Prospect Jake Kreul for 2026 Recruiting Class
Blue-chip prospect Jake Kreul, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound player from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, announced his commitment to the University of Oklahoma on Tuesday, marking a significant boost for the Sooners' 2026 football recruiting class.
Kreul, a four-star EDGE and the No. 41 overall prospect in Rivals Industry Rankings, chose Oklahoma over Texas and Ole Miss. According to ESPN, he is a five-star and the No. 22 prospect nationally, making him the highest-ranked member of the Oklahoma 2026 class.
As a result of Kreul's commitment, Oklahoma's 2026 class is currently ranked No. 21 nationally according to Rivals as of mid-August 2025. The class includes 16 commits, seven of which are four-stars, and two in the top 100 overall.
Despite this, Oklahoma is outside their usual top-20 class caliber this cycle, showing room to improve as the recruiting period continues. In contrast, Oklahoma State is currently stronger in the in-state commitments, holding many of the top Oklahoma prospects, but Oklahoma holds several key blue-chip out-of-state commitments like Kreul to bolster their overall class ranking.
According to the 247Sports composite, Jake Kreul is ranked as the No. 9 edge and the No. 53 overall prospect in the 2026 class. With Kreul's addition, the Oklahoma 2026 class is ranked No. 29 in the nation.
Oklahoma's 2026 recruiting class still has potential to climb the rankings with additional recruits and potential flips from other schools. Jake Kreul posted "BOOMER SOONER" to announce his commitment on Tuesday.
[1] Rivals [2] 247Sports [3] ESPN
Jake Kreul, a top-ranked prospect by Rivals, joins the Sooners in their 2026 American-football recruiting class, raising Oklahoma's standing to No. 21 nationally according to Rivals. Meanwhile, ESPN ranks Kreul, a five-star player, as the No. 22 prospect nationally, making him the highest-ranked member of Oklahoma's class in the NCAA football scene.
