The Oklahoma Sooners aren’t just leading the 2027 recruiting race - they’re threatening to lap the field, especially on the defensive side of the ball. With the nation’s No. 1 class already locked in according to the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings, Oklahoma is poised to take another massive step forward. Recruiting insider Steve Wiltfong has logged predictions for five more blue-chip defensive prospects to join the fold, a potential windfall that could arrive as early as this weekend - just as the Sooners host Alabama in a high-stakes College Football Playoff rematch.
Let’s break down the names to know and what they could mean for Brent Venables’ long-term vision in Norman.
Defensive Dominos Could Be Falling Soon
The five prospects projected to commit - edge rusher Taven Epps, linebacker Case Alexander, defensive lineman Deven Robertson, and cornerbacks Gabriel Osborne Jr. and Juju Johnson - would push Oklahoma’s defensive haul in the 2027 class from four to nine commits. That’s not just depth; that’s a foundation.
Juju Johnson is the headliner of the group, and for good reason. The four-star cornerback is ranked No. 47 overall in the class and stands as the No. 7 corner nationally.
He’s also the No. 6 player in the talent-rich state of California - and yes, he hails from Long Beach, which has become a reliable pipeline for OU in recent cycles. Johnson brings length, instincts, and a physical edge to his game that fits exactly what Oklahoma wants on the back end of its defense.
Joining him from California is Taven Epps, a hybrid edge rusher and linebacker who’s also a four-star talent. He checks in just outside the top 100 nationally and ranks as the No. 11 player in California and the No. 7 linebacker in the country.
Epps is a versatile chess piece - the kind of athlete who can disrupt off the edge or drop into coverage depending on the look. The Sooners are in a heated battle with Texas for his commitment, adding another layer of intrigue to the Red River rivalry.
Deven Robertson, a three-star defensive lineman from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, brings SEC country toughness and a serious motor. He’s the No.
48 DL in the class and has already drawn interest from a who’s-who list of programs: Ohio State, LSU, Florida, Notre Dame, and more. But OU is firmly in the mix, and a commitment from Robertson would signal that the Sooners can still pull elite talent out of the Deep South.
Then there’s the in-state duo - and they’re no slouches either.
Gabriel Osborne Jr., a four-star corner from Mustang, is the No. 3 player in Oklahoma and the No. 14 corner in the class. He’s got the kind of twitchy athleticism and ball skills that make him a natural fit in a modern, aggressive secondary. Pairing him with Johnson would give OU one of the most promising young corner tandems in the country.
Case Alexander, another four-star, comes out of Washington, Oklahoma, and ranks as the No. 5 player in the state and the No. 16 linebacker nationally. He’s a downhill thumper with sideline-to-sideline range - the kind of linebacker that thrives in Venables’ aggressive scheme.
Building a Defensive Identity
If all five of these projected commitments come through, Oklahoma’s 2027 class will have a clear identity: fast, physical, and loaded with defensive talent from coast to coast. The Sooners are showing they can recruit nationally - pulling from California, Mississippi, and their own backyard - and they’re doing it with purpose.
For a program that’s long been known for high-flying offenses, this recruiting cycle is a statement. Venables and his staff are building a defense that can go toe-to-toe with the Alabamas and Georgias of the world - not just in the Playoff this year, but for years to come.
The Sooners aren’t just stacking stars. They’re assembling a defensive core that could define the next era in Norman.