3 freshmen to watch for in Oklahoma's Red-White Spring Game

The 2026 Oklahoma Sooners will be on the field for a game for the first time on Saturday at noon CT for the annual Red-White spring football game on Owen Field in Norman. It's the first chance for the fanbase to see Team 132 inside Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium this year, and anticipation is high for the new season after OU's trip to the College Football Playoff last year.

The Sooners signed 25 true freshmen in their 2026 recruiting class, and 22 of those signees have gone through winter workouts and spring ball in Norman. Wide receiver Xavier Okwufulueze, defensive lineman Daniel Norman, and defensive back LeBron Bauer were not early enrollees and won't join the team until June, but the rest of OU's recruiting class will experience their first spring game this week.

With some injuries to veteran starters up and down the roster, spring practice and the spring game will be an opportunity for some of the true freshmen to get more reps than expected, and they'll have a chance to make a great first impression on Sooner Nation in Saturday's spring game.

Here are 3 true freshmen to watch for during OU's spring game.

1. Jake Kreul, DL

IMG Academy's Jake Kreul (88) looks on during the second quarter of a high school football matchup at Mandarin High School, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The IMG Academy Ascenders defeated the Mandarin Mustangs 57-7.

Defensive lineman Jake Kreul was the gem of OU's class, and he'll be a player that fans will certainly want to keep an eye out for on Saturday. Kreul has a chance to get into the mix early at the defensive end position for the Sooners, even as a true freshman. With Taylor Wein established at one spot, Kreul may have to wait his turn to play opposite Wein, behind Danny Okoye and Adepoju Adebawore, but if he can continue to pop in the spring and translate that to fall camp, he could work his way into a starting role up front.

2. DeZephen Walker, RB

Oklahoma's DeZephen Walker catches a pass during a Sooners football spring practice in Norman, Okla., Thursday, April 9, 2026.

Running back DeZephen Walker was the lower-ranked player out of the two RBs that the Sooners signed in the '26 class, but he has earned strong reviews for his play this spring, with other ballcarriers injured. With Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock on the shelf right now, Walker, fellow freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr., and transfer Lloyd Avant have seen a lot of carries. Walker could be the surprise of the room. After all, both Robinson and Blaylock played a lot as true freshmen, with Robinson outplaying Taylor Tatum, despite being ranked far lower than his classmate.

3. Jayden Petit, WR

Oklahoma's Jayden Petit runs a drill during a Sooners football spring practice in Norman, Okla., Thursday, April 9, 2026.

Wide receiver Jayden Petit was a late addition to the '26 class before the Early Signing Period, and though he's buried a bit on the depth chart as a true freshman, he's got the tools to turn into something special pretty soon. There are snaps up for grabs behind the starting WR trio of Isaiah Sategna III, Trell Harris, and Parker Livingstone, and Petit will be fighting hard to get into the second group of wideouts. His main competition is Jer'Michael Carter, Jacob Jordan, Ivan Carreon, Elijah Thomas, Manny Choice, Mackenzie Alleyne, and fellow freshmen Jahsiear Rogers and Daniel Odom.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: 3 freshmen to watch for during Oklahoma's Spring Game