Oklahoma needed a lift, and it got one on the recruiting trail.
With Brent Venables and the Sooners sitting at 4-4 after a 42-25 loss to South Carolina, Oklahoma landed a commitment from 4-star defensive lineman Logan Lokey out of Denton, Texas. The timing matters here.
This is a program that entered the year with College Football Playoff hopes, but instead finds itself fighting just to steady the ship. In that kind of stretch, a recruiting win stands out.
Lokey chose Oklahoma over SMU, Texas Tech and Texas A&M, and he pointed to fit as the biggest reason the Sooners won out. He also made clear that the chance to play for Venables and defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis carried real weight in his decision.
“What sealed the deal for me was fit and God giving me a sense of belonging with the coaching staff and players…that’s when I knew the time was right,” Lokey told Rivals regarding his decision. “As a defensive end, playing under such a great and touted coach like Coach Chavis is such an amazing opportunity, along with playing under an amazing defensive-minded head coach…It all felt like the perfect fit for me.”
That said, the commitment comes with an obvious question attached to it: can Oklahoma keep him?
Lokey is a 2028 recruit, and his connection to Chavis and Venables is a major part of why he picked the Sooners. If either coach is not in Norman next season, that could matter. For now, though, Oklahoma has the edge, and those relationships are doing a lot of the heavy lifting.
The Sooners also have another card to play. They’ve had success recruiting from Denton Guyer High before, which gives them some history with Lokey’s school.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Lokey is ranked as the No. 29 defensive lineman in the class of 2028.
In Other News...
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For Aggies fans, it is a frustrating piece of scheduling because this is the sort of game that usually benefits from a night atmosphere and the full effect of the blackout look. The SECs decision also stands out because other matchups with less obvious appeal appear positioned for more favorable time slots, leaving Texas A&M with a marquee home game that wont quite get the stage many around College Station were hoping for. [Read more 🡒]
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Texas A&M Frontcourt Bet Now Rests On Cade Phillips
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What makes Phillips such an important piece is not just what he does, but what he allows others to do around him. He is expected to complement players like Mackenzie Mgbako, even if his scoring load may not resemble the one Agee carried. For Texas A&M, the bet is that Phillips can steady the interior and help balance a roster that is still taking shape, which makes his role one of the more interesting subplots as McMillan builds toward next season. [Read more 🡒]