The Oklahoma Sooners really like what they have seen in four-star 2028 safety Brandon Nash, but there’s some work to do.
The Oklahoma Sooners are in the mix for 2028 four-star safety Brandon Nash, but one program has separated itself from the pack. Nash, the No. 92 overall prospect in the 2028 recruiting class and the No. 8 safety nationally, has Ohio State setting the pace in his recruitment.
The 6’1, 190-pound defensive back out of St. John Bosco in California has taken four visits to Columbus and only one to Norman, and that gap tells you where things stand right now.
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Nash’s final schools are Ohio State, Oklahoma, UCLA, Arizona State, and California. He’s the No. 5 player in the state of California, coming from one of the best high school programs in the country. He’s exactly the type of player coach Brent Venables loves in the secondary. But liking the fit and winning the recruitment are two different things.
“It’s the same,” Nash told Rivals. “It’s been real consistent since the June 15 date with Ohio State, Cal, UCLA, Washington, Oklahoma and Arizona State. Kansas has been reaching out a ton, too. Ohio State is up there. Definitely one of the top schools. It’s hard to tell which schools have separated, I don’t have a No. 1 or anything like that, but they’re definitely up there. I love being out there, I love the coaches, I love the culture they have over there. I’m going back out there for a game-day visit. I’m not 100 percent certain but I’m trying to get out there when they play Illinois.”
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OU needs to get Nash on campus
One visit is not enough. The Sooners know that better than anyone. Oklahoma does its best recruiting work when prospects come to Norman and see the campus, the facilities, and the history up close. That has been especially true with recruits who aren’t from the area. When OU gets kids on campus multiple times, the staff tends to close at a high rate.
The challenge here is geography. Nash has Cal, UCLA, and Arizona State among his finalists, and all of those schools are significantly closer to Southern California than Norman. Oklahoma is closer than Ohio State, sure, but the Buckeyes have already hosted Nash four times. That volume of contact is what gives Ohio State the edge right now, not proximity.
Kansas has also been reaching out heavily and is starting to generate some interest from Nash. That adds another layer of competition for the Sooners, who could find themselves on the outside looking in if they don’t ramp up their efforts.
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There is still time for the Sooners
The good news for Oklahoma is that Nash has a lot of time before he needs to make a decision. If he commits over the next few months, the Sooners will need to move fast. But if this recruitment stretches further, OU has the tools and the staff to make up ground.
We know how Venables and the OU staff operate. If they can get Nash on campus a few more times, they have a real chance to close the gap on Ohio State. The history, the culture, and the vision Venables sells in the secondary have worked before on out-of-state recruits. It can work again.
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But right now, Oklahoma is playing from behind. The Sooners need more visits, more face time, and more momentum. The talent and the interest are there. Turning that into a commitment is the part that requires the work.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Oklahoma Sooners have some work to do to have a shot at a 2028 four-star recruit, but they’re certainly not out of the race
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