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The 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Oklahoma Sooners saw seven players selected this year. That total is the program's best of the Brent Venables era, and the program's best since another seven-player performance in 2022.
For the draft analysts out there, the focus has already turned to the 2027 NFL Draft, and the players who will fulfill their dreams of being drafted next year. As Venables and GM Jim Nagy continue striving to build a championship roster in Norman, they've assembled quite the bevy of talent on OU's 2026 roster. Retention has been a big focus, and Venables and Nagy hope it pays off this fall.
But how about next spring? How many players could the Sooners have drafted next April, and who could those players be?
We'll start with the players who, if they play in more than four regular season games for the Sooners in 2026, will have exhausted their collegiate eligibility, and will not be able to play college football in 2027. Not all of these players will end up in the NFL, but there's plenty of veteran talent leading the way for Oklahoma this year, as the seniors and redshirt seniors will be counted upon in a big way this season.
The Sooners also have a few players who have multiple years of eligibility left, but could be candidates to leave school early, and forgo their college eligibility by going to the draft in 2027. For the last two years, the Sooners have not had any players decide to take that route, but that might change next offseason, as the Sooners will have some young stars on the field in 2026. These are some of the projected stars and/or starters that could leave early for next year's draft:
Of course, most of those players who have multiple years of eligibility remaining will be back in college next year, either at OU or somewhere else. Of that group, Jackson, Stone, and Wein are the three players most likely to make the jump to the NFL early, with Pierre-Louis, Okoye, Sullivan, and Bowen as possible names to watch if they have huge 2026 seasons with the Sooners.
Overall, the Sooners should have another strong, if not even stronger, performance in next April's draft. With plenty of players who are in their final season of college ball, and likely at least a couple early entrants to the draft next offseason, Oklahoma fans should be in for another busy draft season this time next year.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Which former Sooners could get drafted next year?
Continue reading...
For the draft analysts out there, the focus has already turned to the 2027 NFL Draft, and the players who will fulfill their dreams of being drafted next year. As Venables and GM Jim Nagy continue striving to build a championship roster in Norman, they've assembled quite the bevy of talent on OU's 2026 roster. Retention has been a big focus, and Venables and Nagy hope it pays off this fall.
But how about next spring? How many players could the Sooners have drafted next April, and who could those players be?
We'll start with the players who, if they play in more than four regular season games for the Sooners in 2026, will have exhausted their collegiate eligibility, and will not be able to play college football in 2027. Not all of these players will end up in the NFL, but there's plenty of veteran talent leading the way for Oklahoma this year, as the seniors and redshirt seniors will be counted upon in a big way this season.
- R-Sr. John Mateer, QB
- R-Sr. Ben McCreary, RB
- Sr. Jer'Michael Carter, WR
- R-Sr. Trell Harris, WR
- R-Sr. Isaiah Sategna III, WR
- R-Sr. Rocky Beers, TE
- R-Sr. Hayden Hansen, TE
- R-Sr. John Locke Jr., TE
- R-Sr. Gunnar Allen, OL
- R-Sr. E'Marion Harris, OL
- R-Sr. Jake Maikkula, OL
- Sr. Adepoju Adebawore, DL
- R-Sr. Bishop Thomas, DL
- R-Sr. Owen Heinecke, LB
- R-Sr. Kip Lewis, LB
- Sr. Peyton Bowen, DB
- Sr. Jacobe Johnson, DB
- R-Sr. Tate Sandell, K
- R-Sr. Grayson Miller, K/P
- R-Sr. Ben Anderson, LS
The Sooners also have a few players who have multiple years of eligibility left, but could be candidates to leave school early, and forgo their college eligibility by going to the draft in 2027. For the last two years, the Sooners have not had any players decide to take that route, but that might change next offseason, as the Sooners will have some young stars on the field in 2026. These are some of the projected stars and/or starters that could leave early for next year's draft:
- Jr. Xavier Robinson, RB
- R-So. Parker Livingstone, WR
- R-Jr. Caleb Nitta, OL
- R-Jr. Heath Ozaeta, OL
- R-So. Eddy Pierre-Louis, OL
- Jr. Jayden Jackson, DL
- R-So. Danny Okoye, DL
- R-So. Kenny Ozowalu, DL
- R-So. Nigel Smith II, DL
- Jr. David Stone, DL
- R-Jr. Taylor Wein, DL
- Jr. Cole Sullivan, LB
- Jr. Michael Boganowski, DB
- Jr. Eli Bowen, DB
- Jr. Reggie Powers III, DB
- R-Jr. Jacob Ulrich, P
Of course, most of those players who have multiple years of eligibility remaining will be back in college next year, either at OU or somewhere else. Of that group, Jackson, Stone, and Wein are the three players most likely to make the jump to the NFL early, with Pierre-Louis, Okoye, Sullivan, and Bowen as possible names to watch if they have huge 2026 seasons with the Sooners.
Overall, the Sooners should have another strong, if not even stronger, performance in next April's draft. With plenty of players who are in their final season of college ball, and likely at least a couple early entrants to the draft next offseason, Oklahoma fans should be in for another busy draft season this time next year.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Which former Sooners could get drafted next year?
Continue reading...
