100 Days to Football Time in Oklahoma 2026: #47 James Nesta By: Ryan Lewis Posted on: July 19, 2026

Football Time in Oklahoma

Football Time in Oklahoma is only 47 days away. We’re counting down the days with a look at each number on the roster; today, we’ll spotlight James Nesta.

Noteworthy Numbers

2018-2021 – Gabe Brkic

2008-2011 – Trent Ratterree

2000-2003 – Renaldo Works

Player Profile

Position: Linebacker

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 235

Class: Redshirt Sophomore

Seasons at OU: 2

Hometown: Huntersville, N.C.

Previous School: William Amos Hough HS

The Path to Norman

James Nesta, a linebacker out of North Carolina, was a two-sport athlete pursuing both football and baseball. Nesta already had a fairly long offer sheet by the time the Sooners offered in May 2023, with offers from USC, Tennessee, NC State, and Kentucky already logged. However, an offer and a visit to ChampU BBQ seemed to be all it took. Nesta committed to OU in June 2023.

Career so Far

While taking a redshirt season, Nesta saw action in two games at linebacker in 2024, logging a pair of tackles.

In 2025, he played in all 13 games on special teams and in a reserve role at linebacker.

Stats

Years: 2025 | 2024 | Career

Games Played: 13 | 1 | 14

Tackles: 4 | 2 | 6

TFL: 1 | 0 | 1

Stats via Soonersports.com

This Season

This year’s linebacker squad will feature Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke, returning to Norman as a pair of experienced linebackers. After them, Cole Sullivan and Nesta have been the main guys throughout the offseason. Look for a big jump in impact this fall for Nesta.