In the world of college football recruiting, star ratings don’t always tell the full story. While many programs focus heavily on recruiting rankings, Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables and his staff take a more nuanced approach. They emphasize evaluating a player’s on-field skills, fundamentals, and the level of competition they’ve faced, rather than being fixated on the stars attached to a recruit’s name.
This year, despite Oklahoma’s recruiting class being just outside the top 10, Venables and his staff weren’t concerned with the rankings. Instead, they focused on the individual players and their potential to contribute to the Sooners’ success, particularly in a position of urgent need—quarterback.
With the departure of quarterback Jackson Arnold through the transfer portal, Oklahoma found themselves in desperate need of a reliable signal-caller. On signing day, the Sooners made a major move by flipping a highly sought-after recruit, Jett Niu, from in-state rival Oklahoma State. Niu, a three-star quarterback from Utah, may not boast the highest star rating, but Venables and his staff are thrilled to have him on board.
Niu’s commitment is one of the most significant flips for the Sooners in recent memory, not just because of the rivalry aspect but because of his raw talent and leadership qualities. Despite being a three-star recruit, Niu’s tape impressed the Sooners’ coaching staff, and Venables couldn’t hide his excitement when speaking about the new addition during a recent signing day event with media and donors.
“We had been looking for a young quarterback,” Venables explained. “We had some tough news a few weeks ago when a quarterback, who we had been loyal to for over a year, decided to go elsewhere. There was a line of guys wanting to come to Oklahoma, but we landed on Jett. He was recruited by coach [Ben] Arbuckle, who had him on campus multiple times at Washington State. Niu comes from a fantastic program in Salt Lake City, and he’s a winner.”
Venables went on to describe Niu’s playing style and why the Sooners are so excited about his potential. “He has great pocket presence, excellent accuracy, and the ability to push the ball downfield. His feet are very good, and you’ll see him moving in the pocket under pressure. He’s already a polished quarterback. He won’t need to be a ‘developmental’ guy—he can step in and contribute right away.”
Oklahoma’s recruitment of Niu addresses a critical gap at the quarterback position, but the competition for the starting role will still be fierce. The Sooners could look to add another quarterback from the transfer portal, with several experienced quarterbacks still available. Alternatively, they could go with Michael Hawkins as the starter, or perhaps even give Niu a chance to compete for the job.
While it’s hard to say for certain whether Niu will start in his first year, it’s clear that the Oklahoma coaching staff believes in his ability. Venables’ praise for Niu suggests he won’t be treated like a typical freshman, and the Sooners are confident in his potential to make an immediate impact. Whether Niu ultimately claims the starting position or spends time learning under more experienced players, his commitment is already seen as a major win for Oklahoma’s future.
