The Oklahoma Sooners need to keep their commitments after firing Ben Arbuckle, and Trey Tagliaferri may not be going anywhere.
The Oklahoma Sooners
fired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle
, and while it's unfortunate, most people saw it coming. The offense just wasn't showing up. It was only a matter of when.
Would it happen after the season, during the season, or after one more week of seeing whether this team could improve? To be fair, the offense did improve in the two weeks leading up to the South Carolina game
.
But it happened, and it's over with. Now the attention turns to what interim offensive coordinator and play caller Jason Witten can do with this offense
. Just as importantly, the attention also turns to recruiting.
Advertisement
Ben Arbuckle's firing puts Oklahoma's recruiting classes under the microscope
Who's going to decommit now that Arbuckle is gone? It's a fair question, because he recruited a lot of these guys. OU has landed some big additions on offense, especially in the 2027 recruiting class, with offensive linemen Cooper Hackett and Kaeden Penny.
'm not saying Arbuckle was the reason those players committed. But I'm sure he played a hand in some of it. He's the offensive coordinator, and those recruits expected to play for him.
Advertisement
Trey Tagliaferri isn't going anywhere, at least for now
There is some good news on that front, though. On3's Parker Thune caught up with four-star quarterback Trey Tagliaferri,
and the Sooners' top 2028 commit made his stance on the coaching change clear.
"It doesn't change anything; I still love OU and all of the coaches and people," Tagliaferri told Thune.
You love to hear that, because Tagliaferri has a chance to be the crown jewel of Oklahoma's 2028 recruiting class. Here's what he brings to the table:
Advertisement
-
Composite rating: 89.97 – National ranking: Top-200 player in the country – Position ranking: Top-14 player at his position – State ranking: Top-10 player in New Jersey – Size: 6-foot-2, 185 pounds
He's only going to keep growing, too. Tagliaferri has an arm and plenty of talent. He can get outside the pocket and make throws on the run. He can also stay in the pocket, take a hit, and deliver. Simply put, he's a special prospect.
Still, things can change. Oklahoma could hire an offensive coordinator he feels won't fit him once he gets on campus. Or he could see a better opportunity elsewhere, and you have to respect that, especially when situations like this one happen to a program.
What's next for the rest of the Sooners' commits
Now you have to see whether the other two offensive commits in the 2028 class stay put. Four-star tight end Connor Arant from Bixby, Oklahoma, is one to watch. So is three-star wide receiver Colton Fitzgibbon from Danville, California. The other two commits in the class are defensive players, but everyone in the class is worth watching right now.
Then there's the 2027 class, which is mostly wrapped up and ranks as a top-8 class in the country. What happens with it? Beyond Hackett and Penny up front, tight end Seneca Driver is a big name. Maybe he committed mainly because of Witten and will stay around because of him.
Advertisement
Running back Keldred Benn is another one to monitor. Was he a big Arbuckle guy, and who led his recruitment? Quarterback Jamison Roberts from Mobile, Alabama
, is the other name that stands out.
Either way, the recruiting trail will tell us a lot about the direction OU intends to go from here. There's plenty to watch, and we'll keep you updated on all of it as the cycle continues.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Oklahoma Sooners' crown jewel commit sends clear message after Ben Arbuckle firing, but recruiting questions remain
© 2026 A to Z Sports.
