In-State 2027 Quarterback Stays Home, Commits to Oklahoma

An in-state 2027 quarterback commitment reinforces Oklahoma's homegrown strategy as Noah Smith from Lawton High announced his pledge to the Sooners. The 6-3, 210-pound quarterback holds a three-star On3 rating and revealed the decision on X after receiving an offer during Brent Venables' Football Camps in Norman last week. Smith becomes Oklahoma's second quarterback in the 2027 class, joining Jamison Roberts, a four-star signal-caller from Saraland, Alabama. He drew offers from smaller in-state programs such as Southeastern Oklahoma, Austin College, and West Virginia State, though 247Sports does not rank him, and neither service lists him as a top in-state or positional prospect. Lawton High has produced notable Sooner alumni, including Jammal Brown and Antonio Perkins, underscoring OU's emphasis on local talent.

Smith's pledge helps OU's 2027 group, which is currently ranked No. 3 by 247Sports and No. 4 by On3. The class includes in-state five-star receivers Cooper Hackett (Fort Gibson) and Kaeden Penny (Bixby), along with Gabriel Osborne Jr., a five-star cornerback, and Jakoby Dixon, a three-star running back from Brenham, Texas. Oklahoma plans to rely on a quarterback cadre featuring Bowe Bentley, Whitt Newbauer, Jet Niu, and Roberts and Smith as true freshmen in Norman, assuming no transfers. The Sooners are conducting summer conditioning as they prepare for SEC Media Days in Tampa on July 21, with the aim of building on a College Football Playoff appearance in 2025.