Oklahoma Sooners Land 4-Star LB Jakore Smith — Could He Be the Game-Changer They’ve Been Waiting For?

Oklahoma’s recruiting trail just got a whole lot more interesting—especially on the defensive front. In a swift development that has to thrill Sooners fans, four-star linebacker Jakore Smith, hailing from Little Rock, Arkansas, has pledged his talents to the Oklahoma Sooners’ 2026 class. This commitment comes hot on the heels of safety Niko Jandreau’s recent decision, marking a clear shift in OU’s defensive recruitment momentum. What really grabs my attention here is the sheer depth of Smith’s offer sheet—pledging to OU over powerhouse programs like Alabama, Michigan, Florida State, and Notre Dame isn’t something that happens by chance. Ranked among the nation’s top linebackers, Smith brings a rare blend of speed, physicality, and playmaking instincts that could make an immediate impact once he arrives in Norman. Plus, he’s the first linebacker to commit under the eye of the new linebacker coach Nate Dreiling—a signal that the Sooners are diversifying their defensive blueprint. With Smith as the most highly-rated commit so far, it’s clear that Oklahoma’s summer of recruiting is just warming up. If you’ve been keeping an eye on the Sooners, this is a commitment worth watching closely—it could pay dividends for years to come. LEARN MORE

AI-assisted summary
• Four-star linebacker Jakore Smith committed to the Oklahoma Sooners 2026 recruiting class.
• Smith, from Little Rock, Arkansas, chose Oklahoma over offers from numerous other major programs.
• Smith is the Sooners’ sixth commit in the 2026 class and the second on defense.

Smith is considered the No. 18 linebacker in the 2026 cycle and the No. 4 player in the state of Arkansas, according to 247Sports. ESPN rates Smith as the No. 9 linebacker in the class.Watch Jakore Smith highlights on Hudl.He’s the sixth member of the 2026 recruiting class and the second on the defensive side of the ball. He currently represents the highest-rated commitment in the cycle, according to 247Sports, but the Oklahoma Sooners are just getting started with their summer of commitments.Smith is a fast and physical player. He plays the middle linebacker spot but also displays the ability to walk down and play along the line of scrimmage. He has good play strength and has a feel for blitzing through multiple gaps. He’s fast to the football and arrives with force. Smith has a nose for the ball, displaying the ability to jar the ball loose with big hits and strips to create turnovers.An athletic and versatile player, the Sooners could opt to play Smith at the weakside linebacker spot or at the cheetah position in Brent Venables defense.

It’s a place the Sooners have recruited well over the last couple of years. In the 2025 recruiting class, Oklahoma signed Arkansas defensive standouts Marcus Wimberly and Omarion Robinson. Smith also represents the first linebacker commit under linebackers coach Nate Dreiling.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 John on X@john9williams.

Highlights

Smith, out of Little Rock, Arkansas, picked the Sooners over offers from Arkansas, Nebraska, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Oregon, and Tennessee.

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Just a few days ago, the Oklahoma Sooners hadn’t added a defensive player to their 2026 recruiting class. Well, that’s changed quickly. After earning a commitment from three-star safety Niko Jandreau on Tuesday, the Sooners added four-star linebacker Jakore Smith on Thursday evening.