Brent Venables woke up in 2025 with one of those gut-punch realizations: the Big 12 was child’s play. The SEC? That’s grown man football. And after a brutal 6-7 slap-in-the-face season that had Sooners fans lighting up message boards and calling pastors, it was time to change the blueprint. So what did Venables do? He flipped the script like a man who knew the wolves were circling. Brent Venables hired offensive guru Ben Arbuckle. He brought in QB John Mateer to run the new show. And for the final chess piece? He snatched up former Senior Bowl boss Jim Nagy to run the front office like it’s the NFL.
And Nagy? Oh, he wasted no time proving he wasn’t here to play friendlies, especially after the Sooners finished 6-7 in year 1. Just minutes after the Oklahoma City Thunder steamrolled the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Nagy did what only a football head like him would do.
He jumped on X (formerly Twitter), dropped a photo of Thunder guard Alex Caruso ($81M man), and sent a cryptic, hard-hitting message to the recruiting world: “OU is looking for football equivalent of this dude in recruiting.” Now pause. Let’s decode what it means.
OU is looking for football equivalent of this dude in recruiting. #baller pic.twitter.com/eSQztP1uRa
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_Sooners) May 21, 2025
Because while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (MVP-bound) was out there dancing with 31 points, and Jalen Williams added 19 more, Caruso had a humble 9 points, 3 boards—but don’t be fooled. That man was the glue. The reason why the Thunder are back in the WCF for the first time since 2016. This is the same man who snatched Denver’s soul in Game 7 with 11 points, 2 steals, and some soul-snatching defense that had Jokic checking his shadow. According to Basketball Index, Caruso ranks in the 95th percentile in defensive versatility and 93rd in rim points saved—as a freakin’ 6’5 guard. That’s like your slot corner locking down tight ends, slot receivers, and pulling guards.
Look, the Sooners are low-key cooking. Their 2026 class is ranked 23rd nationally and 10th in the SEC. They’ve got ballers like Jaden O’Neal, Daniel Odom, Jakore Smith, Ryder Mix, and Will Conroy in the chamber. But word is, they’re going all in on four-star linebacker Bowe Bentley—a straight-up missile in pads. So yeah, when Nagy said, ‘find me Caruso’s football twin,’ it wasn’t about stats. It was about mentality. That do-it-all, no-glory, dawg mentality that championship teams are built on. He’s building a roster of killers, not clout chasers.
Who is the equivalent of Alex Caruso in the Sooners’ 2026 recruiting class?
It didn’t take long for the Sooners fanbase to start naming names. But one insider, John Williams—host of “Locked On Sooners”—didn’t hesitate. “Niko feels like that dude,” he posted. Jim Nagy’s response? “He is.” Mic. Dropped.
Niko Jandreau, a three-star safety from Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona, might not be the flashiest name in Oklahoma’s 2026 class, but he’s exactly what Nagy’s talking about. His film screams versatility and grit. Standing at 6’1, 185 lbs, Niko is that hybrid menace who can play safety, nickel, even step down into a linebacker role if you really need him. Sound familiar? That’s the football version of guarding centers at 6’5. That’s Alex Caruso.
OU’s defense, under Venables, loves the “cheetah” position—a flex role requiring instincts, pop, and versatility. That cheetah spot? It might just have Niko’s name on it. Not to mention, he turned down USC and Washington to ride with the Sooners. Still, if Nagy’s looking for more Carusos, he might already have one playing on Saturdays.
Kendel Dolby.
When one fan dropped his name in response to Nagy’s tweet, Jim replied with a cold confirmation: “No doubt. We need more Kendals. Kid is a dawg.” Dolby is already wearing that Caruso energy. After switching from corner to the hybrid cheetah role, he’s become one of the Sooners’ most reliable defenders. Not the tallest at 5’11, 185, but don’t get it twisted. Dolby’s instincts are elite. His nose for the ball is uncanny. And his impact? Let the numbers talk: 40 solo tackles, 20 assists, 3 sacks, and 2 picks across two seasons. That’s the blueprint. Not flashy. Not loud. But you feel it every snap.
What’s wild is that Nagy’s tweet might signal a whole new vibe for Sooner recruiting. Less stargazing, more grit-chasing. They’re not just trying to win games; they’re trying to build a squad full of chess pieces. Guys who can shift, adapt, cover, hit, and lead. Just like Caruso’s doing with OKC. Just like Niko could do in Norman. But if we’re being real, the Sooners’ whole secondary is filled with Alex Carusos. Last season, they literally held offenses to just 21 points per game.
And if Brent Venables wants to flip the SEC script and start stealing wins instead of catching Ls? He’d better keep listening to Jim Nagy. Because football’s about more than stars. It’s about dawg mentality. It’s about glue guys. And apparently, it’s about finding the Alex Caruso in shoulder pads.
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