Brent Venables is emulating Ryan Day and Ohio State’s approach with his Oklahoma football team. Recently, Oklahoma secured a commitment from Jaden O’Neal, a highly sought-after high school quarterback in the class of 2026. O’Neal chose Oklahoma over other top programs like Mario Cristobal’s Miami Hurricanes and Ohio State.
Jaden O’Neal, ranked as the third-best quarterback in his class, marks the highest-ranked quarterback commitment for Brent Venables’ Oklahoma program since Jackson Arnold in 2023, according to ESPN’s Eli LedJaden O’Neal,man.
Initially considering multiple options, O’Neal visited several universities, including Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns, Deion Sanders’ Colorado, and Mario Cristobal’s Miami. Ultimately, he narrowed down his choices to visits with Ryan Day’s Ohio State team and Brent Venables’ Sooners before announcing his decision.
What made Jaden O’Neal choose the Oklahoma football squad?
The Oklahoma football program possessed something that other teams like the Buckeyes lacked, according to O’Neal’s recent statement. He highlighted this in his latest remarks.
“I appreciate their approach to football. Everyone there is passionate about the game. Norman isn’t filled with distractions. They offer a strong academic program, which is crucial to me as a student-athlete. Academics come first before athletics. Additionally, the caliber of players I’ll be surrounded by stood out to me. They also have exceptional quarterbacks,” the young quarterback stated.
Coming from California, choosing among these schools was a significant decision. Therefore, he needed to ensure the environment was right. Before making up his mind, O’Neal also needed reassurance from Venables that he’d have the best opportunity to shine. After all, his ultimate goal is reaching the NFL, and that path depends on his success at Oklahoma.
“The energy I felt was genuine, not contrived. I value their strong traditions, development opportunities, and what they can offer my family and me, both on and off the field. All of these factors were important in my decision. Now that I’ve made it, I’m committed. I only plan to visit Oklahoma officially,” the future Sooners quarterback emphasized.
Though O’Neal still has much room to grow, he’s already showing significant promise. Standing at 6-foot-3 despite being two years away from college demonstrates his early physical maturity.
Furthermore, his performance has been impressive. In his recent season with Newport Harbor High School, he amassed 2,475 passing yards and led his team to 27 touchdowns. These numbers are expected to improve as he integrates further into the Oklahoma football program.
