Oklahoma needed a jolt, 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, the program landed a commitment from 4-star defensive lineman Logan Lokey out of Denton, Texas. The timing matters. Oklahoma entered the stretch looking like a team that was supposed to be in the College Football Playoff mix, but instead it’s fighting just to get back on track, and a recruiting win like this gives the staff something positive to point to.
Lokey picked Oklahoma over SMU, Texas Tech and Texas A&M, and he told Rivals that the fit with the Sooners was the difference. He also pointed to Venables and defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis as major reasons for 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 a little uncertainty attached. Lokey is a 2028 recruit, and his decision is tied closely to the coaches who sold him on Oklahoma. If Venables or Chavis aren’t in Norman next season, that could change the picture.
For now, though, the Sooners have the edge, and they’ve got another boost from a high school that has treated them well before. Oklahoma also has a strong history recruiting Denton Guyer High, which only adds to the appeal.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Lokey is ranked as the No. 29 defensive lineman in the class of 2028.
In Other News...
BYU Faces A Defining Big 12 Test With Playoff Stakes Rising
November has arrived with the Big 12 suddenly looking like one of the most crowded playoff races in the country. With five ranked teams entering the month, the conference has a chance to sort itself out in a hurry, and Utah, BYU and Texas Tech are among the clubs with legitimate cases to stay in the College Football Playoff conversation. The first CFP rankings are due this week, which should offer an early read on how the committee views a league that has spent the fall building depth and credibility.
For Texas Tech, that makes the next stretch especially relevant, even if the Red Raiders are not the only team with something to prove. The conference schedule is about to start separating contenders from the pack, and the outcomes around the league could shape how much room there is for a Big 12 team to climb. BYUs upcoming tests are part of that picture too, with every result carrying more weight now that the playoff field is beginning to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Techs Opener Puts Early Pressure On Three Key Red Raiders
Texas Tech opens its season at home against Jackson State with Grant McCasland looking to get a feel for how his roster fits together right away. The spotlight naturally falls on three players who shape so much of what the Red Raiders want to be this year: point guard Cruz Davis, forward Darrion Williams and center Bassala Bagayoko. Each brings a different piece to the puzzle, and the opener offers an early chance to see how quickly that mix can settle in.
Bagayoko, in particular, carries some of the clearest pressure entering the night because Texas Techs frontcourt size and rebounding remain a concern. His presence is expected to help answer both, while Davis and Williams will be counted on to steady the offense and give the Red Raiders balance on both ends. For a team trying to define its identity from the start, the first game is less about polish than about whether those three can set the tone. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Pass Rush Gives Fans Another Reason To Celebrate
Texas Techs defense gave the home crowd another jolt in Saturdays 34-26 win over Arizona, getting after quarterback Noah Fifita and finishing with five sacks. The pressure came from all over, with Trey White, LaDamion Guyton, John Curry, AJ Holmes Jr., Austin Romaine and Mateen Ibarogba all getting in on the action as the Red Raiders kept the Wildcats from settling in.
The pass-rush production also carries a little extra meaning for fans following along this season. Supporters can donate money for every Texas Tech sack to benefit Ronald McDonald House Southwest, turning each takedown into more than just a momentum swing on the field. For a defense that has already shown it can change a game, there is now another reason for Red Raiders fans to keep track of every quarterback hit. [Read more 🡒]