Jones, the No. 1 player in Utah and No. 19 edge rusher in the 2027 cycle per 247Sports Composite (No. 149 overall), was ringside for the LSU tilt, one of a dozen elite prospects hosted amid the electric atmosphere. “Norman is a cool college town,” the soft-spoken destroyer told reporters post-announcement, his voice steady despite the stakes. “The Palace just got more violent.” The “Palace” reference? A shoutout to OU’s vaunted defensive line room, where Jones envisions terrorizing quarterbacks with his prototype frame, explosive first step, and bag of pass-rush tricks — a spin move that leaves tackles grasping air, heavy hands that stack and shed, and a motor that doesn’t quit. His junior stats scream upside: 80 tackles, 26 TFLs, 14.5 sacks, four pass deflections, and three TDs in an undefeated state championship run for Ridgeline.
The timing couldn’t be sweeter. Oklahoma’s defensive renaissance — a unit that suffocated LSU’s Michael Van Buren Jr. for 198 total yards and three picks forced — has become the ultimate selling point under Venables, whose 2025 Sooners rank seventh nationally in pass efficiency defense (112.3 rating allowed). Jones becomes the eighth pledge to OU’s 2027 class, vaulting it to No. 1 nationally per On3 and 247Sports, a haul headlined by five-star OT Cooper Hackett, four-star OT Kaeden Penny, four-star ATH Demare Dezeurn, and four-star CB Mikhail McCreary. With just two defensive commits prior (both DBs), Jones plugs a glaring need, his long arms and bend-the-corner bendiness evoking the likes of All-Big 12 edge Gracen Halton, who swatted away LSU’s final drive. “The developmental piece has been on display this season,” Jones echoed in his pledge video, eyes locked on the camera. “OU’s D-line is at the center of it all.”
Venables, whose post-LSU presser brimmed with “every inch earned” pride, couldn’t contain his glee when reached Monday: “Krew’s a high-major Power 4 prospect — tough, physical, with an advanced skill set and that edge we crave. He’s the future of The Palace.” Recruiting coordinator/DE coach Ruffin McNeill, who built a rapport during Jones’ summer Norman visit, sealed the deal with visions of early playing time in the SEC’s pass-happy wars. Offers from Arkansas, BYU, Florida State, Michigan, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, Utah, and more made this a coup, but OU’s family vibe — “They treat you like blood,” Jones said — tipped the scales.
Social media ignited like a fourth-quarter comeback. #SoonerMagic trended anew, with X ablaze: “Krew Jones to OU? The Palace is a slaughterhouse now,” one fan posted, racking 15K likes. Hayes Fawcett of On3, who broke the news, quipped: “Oklahoma’s 2027 class? Loaded like a playoff bracket.” Even rival scribes nodded respect, ESPN’s Tom Luginbill tweeting: “Jones has that rare spin-and-rip — Sooners strike gold.” For a program fresh off a 6-7 2024 reset, this pledge — amid a four-game win streak over Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, and LSU — signals sustained dominance. The Sooners’ 2026 class, now No. 14 with flips like 3-star EDGE Dane Bathurst, rides the wave too.
As Oklahoma preps for a home playoff opener (projections: vs. SMU or Virginia Tech), Jones’ “Hard to Kill” mantra lingers — a tattooed reminder on his forearm, now inked into Sooner lore. For Venables’ squad, eyeing redemption after 2019’s playoff flameout, this isn’t just a commit; it’s a cornerstone. The future? Crimson, violent, and forever Sooner.
Boomer Sooner. The Palace awaits its prince.
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