The Oklahoma Sooners’ 2026 recruiting class took a significant hit Monday night when four-star running back Jonathan Hatton announced his decommitment from the program. The decision comes on the heels of Oklahoma naming Ben Arbuckle as its new offensive coordinator, a move that appears to have prompted Hatton to reevaluate his college choice.
A Prized Recruit Reopens His Recruitment
Hatton, a 6-foot-1 rusher from Cibolo, Texas, is ranked as the nation’s No. 4 running back and No. 61 overall prospect in the ESPN Junior 300 for the class of 2026. He had been committed to Oklahoma since October 2023, serving as the headliner of the Sooners’ upcoming recruiting haul.
With Hatton no longer in the fold, Oklahoma is left with pledges from four-star quarterback Jaden O’Neal (No. 63 in the ESPN Junior 300) and three-star tight end Ryder Mix in its 2026 class. The Sooners’ 2025 group has also seen several defections in recent days, with four-star wide receiver Marcus Harris and three-star pass catcher Gracen Harris both rescinding their commitments.
Coaching Turnover Rocks the Sooners
The recruiting turmoil coincides with Oklahoma’s hiring of 29-year-old Arbuckle as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. According to sources, Arbuckle will join the Sooners on a three-year contract after leading the nation’s 12th-highest scoring offense at Washington State this past season.
Arbuckle replaces Seth Littrell, who was dismissed in October following a disappointing campaign that saw Oklahoma finish 121st nationally in total offense. The Sooners limped to a 6-6 record in their inaugural season as an SEC member, putting head coach Brent Venables squarely on the hot seat with a 22-16 mark through three years at the helm.
A Pivotal Juncture for Oklahoma Football
As the early signing period opens Wednesday, the Sooners find themselves with the No. 13 recruiting class in the nation for 2025. That group is headlined by five-star offensive tackle Michael Fasusi, the No. 9 overall prospect in the ESPN 300.
However, the loss of Hatton and other key commits has cast a pall over Oklahoma’s future on the recruiting trail. For a program accustomed to residing among the sport’s elite, the recent instability and on-field struggles have raised questions about whether Venables is the right man to lead the Sooners in the cutthroat SEC.
Oklahoma has always been a destination for top talent, but you have to wonder if kids are starting to look elsewhere with all the uncertainty surrounding the program right now.
– A source close to the Sooners’ recruiting efforts
As the dust settles on this latest recruiting shake-up, all eyes will be on Norman to see if Arbuckle’s arrival and the Sooners’ transfer portal activity can help right the ship. For a blueblood program yearning to make a splash in its new conference home, the margin for error has never been slimmer.
