Bixby offensive lineman Kaeden Penny has settled in as one of the biggest names in Oklahoma high school football, and the Sooners commit is now ranked No. 2 in the state by the source article’s list of top 10 players for 2026.
Penny, a consensus four-star recruit in the 2027 class, has also climbed into the top 50 nationally. 247 Sports recently bumped him to five stars, and Bixby coach Loren Montgomery didn’t hesitate when describing what makes him different.
Montgomery said, “Kaeden likes football more than he likes the spotlight and accolades and all of that. He is also the most athletic offensive lineman that I have had a chance to coach in my career.”
For Penny, the progress has been steady. Ranked as the nation’s No. 2 interior offensive lineman, he is chasing a third straight state title with Bixby and says the game has started to slow down for him since he first broke into the varsity lineup as a sophomore.
Penny said, “I understand football more, and I’ve really focused on my technique. I have perfected my craft, and I still try new things too, like pass techniques.”
The Spartans’ left tackle is set to start there for the third year in a row, even if his future at Oklahoma could eventually take him inside to guard. Either way, he is already looking ahead to the next level and the challenge that comes with it.
Penny said, “When I get to Oklahoma in January, I will get a lot stronger. I’m really excited to play in the best conference, and it will be a great time for sure.”
He also knows the kind of standard that comes with wearing Oklahoma across your chest, especially along the offensive line. Penny said he wants to put himself in the same conversation as some of the program’s best, including Trent Williams, Lane Johnson, and Creed Humphrey.
Penny said, “There is definitely a high standard along the offensive line there. I want to follow my process, and by the end I’ll be one of those guys for sure.”
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Denny also used a recent media session to talk candidly about the pressures facing the athletics department and the wider college sports landscape, a reminder that the work in front of him is not just about adding to the trophy case. For Oklahoma, the question now is how the Sooners navigate those challenges while keeping momentum across the board, with the next phase of Dennys tenure likely to be judged as much by what he builds as by what has already happened. [Read more 🡒]