Oklahoma Flip Young Talented Starman From Texas Tech Football
The Oklahoma Sooners just delivered a seismic jolt to the 2027 recruiting cycle, flipping Cooper Hackett from Texas Tech and landing Kaeden Penny, giving the Sooners’ class a foundation built in the trenches. Those moves alone helped vault Oklahoma into the No. 3 spot in most early national rankings.
A homecoming for Hackett
Cooper Hackett, the 6‑foot‑7, 250‑plus‑pound offensive tackle out of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, had originally committed to Texas Tech on August 30.
But on September 25, he announced a flip to the Sooners, stating simply, “I’m home, Boomer Sooner!”
Hackett’s decision wasn’t driven by NIL money. According to Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong, he actually took “a good chunk less” to be at Oklahoma. When asked why, Hackett told reporters that in his eyes, the NFL is the goal, and “that money is not going to matter… I’m going to bet on myself.”
From a rankings standpoint, Hackett is a huge win. In the 247Sports composite, he sits as a Top‑10 recruit nationally, a top‑3 offensive tackle, and the No. 1 player in Oklahoma.
For Oklahoma, locking in their home state’s top talent — especially on the offensive line — strengthens their ability to build dominance from the line of scrimmage outward.
Penny adds depth, local pedigree
Just minutes after Hackett’s flip became public, Oklahoma closed the day by securing a commitment from Kaeden Penny, a highly rated in-state lineman from Bixby, Oklahoma. ([SI][3]) At 6‑foot‑4 and 265–280 pounds, Penny brings interior strength to the class.
Penny was ranked by Rivals at about No. 34 overall in the 2027 class at the time of commitment, and 247Sports lists him as the No. 2 interior offensive lineman nationally — and the No. 2 overall player in Oklahoma, just behind Hackett. He had a host of offers — Ohio State, LSU, Arkansas, Auburn — but chose to stay in his home state with the Sooners.
Why this matters for Oklahoma’s class
These two moves together reflect a concerted strategy by Oklahoma to own the in‑state offensive line pipeline. As recruiting analysts have observed, landing the top two Oklahoma players in the same day — both offensive linemen — is a major recruiting statement.
And the impact is immediate: Oklahoma is now being cited as the No. 3 class nationally in early 2027 rankings, thanks largely to these highly prized offensive line additions. ([Stormin in Norman][5]) For a program that has often centered its identity on dominant line play, this recruiting surge is far more than splash — it’s foundational.
Of course, development remains key. Hackett, in particular, is still young and refining technique. But if his ceiling is reached, and Penny grows into a stalwart interior anchor, Oklahoma’s offensive-line recruiting juggernaut could help power the Sooners back to national relevance in a way few predicted this early.