Oklahoma has secured a major win on the recruiting trail, landing four-star quarterback Bowe Bentley just one day after losing a longtime commit.
Ranked No. 261 overall in the ESPN 300 for 2026, Bentley announced his commitment to the Sooners over LSU on Friday, choosing the Big 12 powerhouse after an official visit earlier this month.
His decision comes less than 24 hours after top quarterback Jaden O’Neal, a year-long Oklahoma pledge, decommitted from the program.
Bentley’s Meteoric Rise Following State Title Run
A 6-foot-1, 205-pound dual-threat QB from Celina High School in Texas, Bentley is currently ranked No. 6 among dual-threat quarterbacks in the 2026 class.
His recruitment surged after an electric junior season, where he amassed 4,263 all-purpose yards and an eye-popping 63 total touchdowns, leading Celina to a Class 4A Texas state championship.
Bentley’s versatility and explosive play style made him a hot commodity, and his final decision came down to Oklahoma and LSU, both of which he visited officially in recent weeks.
Arbuckle’s Offense a Deciding Factor
Bentley cited the vision of first-year Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle as a major reason behind his commitment.
“Going into depth on the offense with Arbuckle was huge,” Bentley told ESPN. “It’s not just what he’s done this spring, but what Coach Arbuckle did at Washington State and Western Kentucky. I got a strong understanding of where he got this offense from and how he approaches calling it.”
Arbuckle’s arrival from Washington State in December sparked a strategic shift in Oklahoma’s 2026 quarterback recruiting approach—moving toward a more mobile, dual-threat quarterback mold that aligns with his fast-paced, spread offense.
O’Neal Exit Makes Room for a New Direction
Bentley’s commitment comes shortly after the decommitment of Jaden O’Neal, ESPN’s No. 7-ranked pocket passer in the 2026 class.
O’Neal had been the centerpiece of Oklahoma’s 2026 recruiting class for nearly a year and even relocated from Southern California to Mustang, Oklahoma, this spring—a short drive from the Sooners’ facility.
However, insiders say O’Neal’s relationship with the program began to fray in early 2025, as the Sooners increasingly pursued a quarterback with a similar profile to John Mateer—the dual-threat transfer from Washington State who followed Arbuckle and threw 44 touchdowns last fall.
Bentley Brings Elite Mobility to Oklahoma’s QB Room
Bentley’s 2024 season included 3,330 passing yards and 933 rushing yards, fitting the exact profile Arbuckle’s system demands.
As Oklahoma looked to rebound from a disappointing SEC debut last fall, adding a quarterback with Bentley’s dynamic mobility and arm strength became a top priority.
He joins four-star wide receiver Daniel Odom (No. 242 overall) as the second ESPN 300 prospect in Oklahoma’s 2026 class, and immediately becomes one of the most important building blocks for the Sooners’ future offense.
Looking Ahead: Oklahoma’s Quarterback Depth
Looking beyond 2025, Oklahoma’s quarterback room now includes:
- John Mateer – Dual-threat transfer from Washington State, eligible for the NFL Draft after the 2025 season
- Michael Hawkins Jr. – Second-year passer developing behind Mateer
- Jett Niu – Three-star 2025 signee
- Bowe Bentley – 2026 dual-threat headliner and long-term project
With Bentley locked in, the Sooners appear well-positioned to continue building an offense tailored to Arbuckle’s aggressive, high-tempo scheme.
Oklahoma didn’t waste time filling the void left by Jaden O’Neal’s departure. In Bowe Bentley, the Sooners get a versatile playmaker, a proven winner, and a quarterback tailor-made for the Ben Arbuckle system.
With Bentley’s commitment, Oklahoma takes a major step forward in shaping its offensive identity for the post-Mateer era—and solidifying its 2026 recruiting class with one of Texas’s most electrifying high school talents.