Northwestern head coach David Braun’s 2026 recruiting class sits at 62nd nationally among Division I programs, per 247Sports. The class lacks four- or five-star prospects and has missed out on several top targets.
The Wildcats secured some wins recently. Three-star tight end Tom McGlinchey and cornerback Jayden Vaughn both committed last month.
In May, three-star linebacker Jacob Curry gave his verbal commitment to Northwestern after a solid high school career in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
But that commitment might be in trouble.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound linebacker announced an offer from Oklahoma on Tuesday morning via Twitter. Brett Venables’ Sooners represent a significant step up in competition and opportunity.
University of Oklahoma offered! @CoachNDreiling @OU_Football @CoachDrafts @CoachRGarth pic.twitter.com/Gl0pRGce7C
— Jacob Curry (@JacobC2026) July 22, 2025
Curry’s commitment to Northwestern remains verbal only, meaning he can change his mind without penalty.
“The Cats will have to fight to hold onto him,” Wildcat Report’s Louie Vaccher said in response to Curry’s post.
The numbers tell the story. Oklahoma projects to finish 10th among 16 SEC teams, per Sports Illustrated’s SEC Media Preseason Poll. Northwestern is expected to finish 17th of 18 Big Ten programs.
Bill Bender ranked Venables 41st among all 136 college football coaches. Braun sits at 59th.
Curry’s size suggests he’ll transition from linebacker to safety in college. Oklahoma’s current depth chart projects to return four upperclassmen safeties in 2026.
Northwestern would return three younger players at the position.
The Sooners offer a more experienced group for Curry to learn from as a freshman. They also provide SEC exposure and potentially better NFL development opportunities.
For Northwestern, losing Curry would represent another recruiting setback in a class that’s already struggling to compete with Power Four programs.
