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Oklahoma Sooners favored to secure commitment of elite blue chip athlete who would shift nature of their secondary
SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oklahoma Sooners favored to secure commitment of elite blue chip athlete who would shift nature of their secondary

Originally posted on A to Z Sports  |  By AJ Schulte  |  Last updated Jun 29, 2025 7:56 PM ET

The Oklahoma Sooners are red-hot on the recruiting trail for their class of 2026, with 13 commitments since May 13th. They've pulled in players at every position in the class, but are still aiming to stack up talent across the board at numerous positions.

One area they have recently attacked fairly hard is the secondary. They've hosted several players such as Braeden Presley, Danny Odem, and Derrick Johnson II (who committed to the Sooners) on visits in recent weeks, and are continuing to pursue at least two more additions at defensive back.

They might have caught a break with an elite athlete in the class who can do it all and reform the secondary.

Four-star athlete Jacob Eberhart, a top-five player from Missouri and a top-ten athlete in the 2026 recruiting class, has been predicted by several insiders to be the next member of the Oklahoma Sooners' class of 2026.

Turn on Eberhart's film, and it's clear why the Sooners' staff covets his skill set. A two-way athlete, he plays both wide receiver and defensive back for Kirkwood High School. In the words of his head coach, Jeremy Maclin (yes, that Jeremy Maclin), his athleticism and physicality make him a standout player on both sides of the ball.

"He's a big, strong, physical kid," Maclin said in an interview with Missouri On SI. "But he's also a kid that can run routes, get in and out of breaks. So I'd be a fool not to play him at both.

When asked what Eberhart's best traits as a defensive back are, Maclin mentioned his range, being able to move with ease across all parts of the field. 

Oklahoma needs that kind of athleticism to consistently compete in the SEC. Safety, where the Sooners are recruiting him, suddenly becomes wide open after this season with Robert Spears-Jennings graduating. Finding their playmaker of the future there is crucial.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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