The Football Brainiacs

OU DNA | NFL Combine Standouts, Dream of Spring & Softball

We’re just vibing on all things Oklahoma Sooners today. We’re talking about the 10 former Sooners who showed out at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. It was the most OU representation at the combine since 2022, and the guys made the most of it. Deion Burks turned heads with a blazing 40 time, and Gracen Halton absolutely stole the show on the defensive line. It was a strong statement from Oklahoma on a national stage.

Then we shift into spring ball mode. The OU spring game is set for April 18 at Owen Field, and it will be our first real look at some of the new faces. Transfers like wide receivers Trell Harris and Parker Livingstone are going to be fun to watch, and there is also a 25-man signing class coming in that features seven four-star prospects. With no spring transfer portal window this year, the roster is basically locked in. That makes this spring even more important. What we see is pretty close to what we are getting in the fall.

We also dive into recruiting, where the Sooners are already rolling in the 2027 class. They are sitting at No. 3 nationally on Rivals with 13 commitments and still have some major targets out there. Brent Venables and the staff are building real momentum.

Nothing wild today. Just talking ball, catching up on where things stand, and enjoying the ride. Sit back, relax, and let’s talk some OU football. Boomer Sooner.

March Is Here and the Vibes Are Right

Brad: We made it. March 1st. Another month closer to football, and honestly, after a quiet February, it feels like everything is about to ramp up all at once. Spring practices, conference play in baseball and softball, gymnastics doing their thing again — there’s a full slate of Oklahoma athletics rolling right now.

Rob: February is kind of that dead zone, right? You get through the national championship, the Super Bowl, and then there’s this three-week stretch where you’re just waiting. But now? The next six months are going to fly. Spring game, recruiting heats up, fall camp — it’s coming at us fast.

The NFL Combine: Sooners Made Some Noise

Brad: Let’s get into the combine. The underwear Olympics kicked off in Indianapolis, and we had 10 Sooners get invites — most since 2022. A few of them really turned heads.

Rob: Look, I always try not to get too overhyped about the combine. Vernon Gholston went top five off insane combine numbers and was a complete bust. Orlando Brown had one of the worst combines ever and signed a massive 4-year 64M deal with the Bengals in 2023. So it can go either way. But when your guys show out, it matters. It gets you in the room with every front office in the league.

Deion Burks — WR

Brad: Deion Burks ran a 4.30 in the 40. Third fastest among all receivers at the combine. Then he goes out and posts a 42.5-inch vertical — first among all wideouts. Broad jump was third. His RAS score came in at 9.24 out of 10, ranking him 292nd out of 3,844 receivers in the database going back to 1987.

Rob: We saw that on film all year, man. Remember those attempted catches vs Tulane? If he just had his foot in bounds, that’s an ESPN top-10 play. He climbed a ladder on that one. The hops were never a secret to anyone watching the tape. The combine just confirmed it for the rest of the league. His height and weight are the only two below-average metrics, but arm length and hand size graded out well. Get him with the right team and he could be a problem.

Robert Spears-Jennings (RSJ) — Safety

Brad: RSJ ran a 4.32 — tied for second fastest among safeties at the combine through . His RAS came in at 9.3, ranking him 88th out of 1,242 safeties since 1987. At 6-2, 205, that speed at that size is rare.

Rob: At his size, that speed is nuts. You don’t see that combination come through the draft very often. But the thing that separates RSJ isn’t the 40 time — it’s the Sunday mindset. That dude will never be outworked. He’s your boundary safety, your alley thumper, the guy who’s going to come down and match up with tight ends. He’s not a free safety, and that’ll shape his career arc a little bit, but wherever he lands, he’s going to make an impact. I’ll be watching his career no matter what jersey he’s wearing.

Brad: Who do you think has the longer career — RSJ or Bowman?

Rob: Man, that’s tough. I’d lean Bowman just because of versatility. Free safeties tend to have longer career arcs because they bring more value as they bounce from team to team. RSJ’s athleticism lets him make up for some things that aren’t as natural, but Bowman and Bowen — they just flow at their positions. RSJ’s ceiling depends on landing with a great organization with a fantastic defensive mind that knows how to use him. 

Gracen Halton — DT

Brad: Halton tested early and turned heads. Third in the 40 among DTs at 4.82. First in the vertical at 36.5 inches — third-best by a defensive tackle in two decades. RAS score of 9.23, ranking 158th out of 2,047 DTs tested since 1987.

Rob: We knew he was twitchy and athletic, but those numbers at 293 pounds? That’s generational athleticism. The knock on him has always been run defense — that’s the reason Jalen Jackson, Dominic Williams, and David Stone stole time from him. But NFL teams drafting on traits over raw production are going to love what they see. I think Halton may have played himself into the third round. His stock is soaring right now.

The Rest of the OU Combine Crew

Brad: Jaren Kanak tested out as a top-10 tight end. RAS of 8.44. Track star in a hybrid body. Mason Thomas ran a 4.67, but his value is in that first 10 yards — getting to the quarterback in short spaces. Dominic Williams did bench only. Kendall Daniels and Marvin Jones Jr. were limited.

Rob: And that’s fine. The biggest reason you take a combine invite, even if you only bench press and do jumps, is the interview access. You’re getting face time with position coaches, regional scouts, head scouts. Teams only have about 30 official visits outside the combine. That sit-down in Indianapolis is premium real estate. The guys who passed on testing will get another crack at OU’s Pro Day on March 12th. And OU runs one of the most professional pro days in the country.

Four Sooners With 9.0+ RAS Scores — That’s the DNA

Rob: Here’s the big picture. When you send four players to the combine with 9.0-plus Relative Athletic Scores in a single cycle — RSJ at 9.3, Burks at 9.24, Halton at 9.23, Kanak at 8.44 — that says something about what Brent Venables is building in Norman. We are pushing true SEC-caliber, NFL Sunday talent to the league. And the 2027 class? That’s the really big one. You’re looking at David Stone, Jalen Jackson, Kip Lewis, Bowen, potentially Mateer if he develops into a top-five quarterback. The pipeline is real.

Player	Position	RAS Score	Historical Combine Rank
Robert Spears-Jennings	Safety	9.30	88th / 1,242
Deion Burks	WR	9.24	292nd / 3,844
Gracen Halton	DT	9.23	158th / 2,047
Jaren Kanak	TE/LB	8.44	213th / 1,356

Bedenbaugh’s Legacy on the O-Line

Rob: While we’re talking about the pipeline, we have to talk about Bill Bedenbaugh. The man has roughly 16 NFL draft picks as an O-line coach — going back through Texas Tech, West Virginia, and OU. Most O-line coaches dream of getting one guy drafted in their entire career. The only name that even comes close is Alex Mirabal at Miami and Oregon with Penei Sewell. And we’ve had back-to-back first-round offensive tackles with Anton Harrison and Tyler Guyton. Add in Trent Williams, Lane Johnson, Creed Humphrey — the track record speaks for itself.

Spring Game Returns: April 18

Brad: Big news — the spring game is back. Saturday, April 18th. Noon kickoff at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Seventeen bucks for general public, twelve for Sooner Club members, free for students. This is the first traditional spring game in two years after they ran that Crimson Combine format last spring.

Rob: I just want good weather and spring game heroes. Those deep-roster guys who break out and make you go, “Who the heck is this kid?” That’s always been one of my favorite OU traditions. It’ll probably be glorified flag football with the SEC schedule and keeping guys healthy, but I’m fine with that. We’re going to get our first real look at the 2026 roster, and with no spring portal window, what we see is basically what we’re getting.

OU Spring Sports: Softball Is Rolling

Brad: Softball is sitting at 19-2, ranked around third or fourth nationally. Patty Gasso has them run-ruling teams left and right.

Rob: They hit 15 home runs in the first week alone — including seven in a 21-3 beatdown. But the real test is coming. Twelve of the top 25 softball teams nationally are in the SEC. This early-season stretch is the tune-up. The gauntlet is the conference schedule.

Brad: Baseball is around 10-1, looking like a solid young squad. But their SEC schedule? Five top-10 teams. The baseball guys are probably hearing everyone talk about football’s tough schedule and going, “Have you looked at ours?”

Rob: Baseball is SEC. That’s where the gauntlet is. And gymnastics — both men’s and women’s — are dominating again. Women just wrapped up what’s essentially a regular season SEC title. Between Patty Gasso and K.J. Kindler, those two are going back and forth for best program in Norman.

The Porter Moser Question

Brad: Men’s basketball. Porter Moser took his guys to Baton Rouge and got a win, bringing them to 15-14. But that nine-game losing streak buried any tournament hopes. What’s the verdict?

Rob: At the end of the day, it’s about results. The best thing that could’ve happened for Moser was a new AD showing up on campus — Roger Denny arrived in late January. Maybe a fresh set of eyes comes in and says, “Let’s give this another shot.” But if you ask me the percentages? I say 20 percent he stays. And that might be generous.

Brad: His buyout is only about 5.1 to 5.8 million, running through 2028. That’s not a number that forces your hand to keep a guy. OU has the resources to make a move.

Rob: Compare that to the Jimbo Fisher $80 million buyout. This is nothing. The expectation at OU for men’s basketball isn’t a championship — it’s just consistent tournament appearances. Sweet 16 every few years. Some growth. Some development. And we haven’t gotten that. Since Lon Kruger left, it’s been a struggle.

Future Schedule Watch

Rob: One thing that flew under the radar — 2027, OU plays SMU at AT&T Stadium on September 11th. Red River Rivalry Light. That’s going to be a fun game in Jerry’s World. Then Houston in 2028, and a home-and-home with Nebraska in 2029-2030. The rivalry is coming back.

Brad: And of course, the big picture — conference realignment is always lurking. The ACC deal expires around 2030-2032, and when it does, Florida State and Clemson are walking. You could be looking at a 48-team super league split between the SEC and Big Ten.

Rob: It’s just a matter of time. The revenue sharing at $20 million per school is temporary. Players are eventually going to negotiate a bigger slice of the pie, and that pressure is going to force consolidation. The SEC and Big Ten already have a joint committee talking to each other. The exclusive yacht club is forming whether people want to admit it or not.

The Bottom Line

This is one of those episodes where the vibes just hit right. March is here. The combine showed that OU is stacking real NFL talent — four guys with elite RAS scores in one cycle. The spring game is back on April 18th. Softball is destroying everything in its path. The 2027 recruiting class is ranked third nationally. And the program, top to bottom, feels like it’s moving in the right direction under Brent Venables.

The next six months are going to fly. Enjoy the ride. Boomer Sooner.