Oklahoma Quarterback Commit Bowe Bentley Reacts With Excitement as Sooners Land Game-Changing 2026 Tight End Tyler Ruxer

The Oklahoma Sooners may have recently suffered some setbacks on the recruiting trail, but July 7 brought a shift in momentum—and it’s one that energized not only the coaching staff but one of the program’s cornerstone recruits. Bowe Bentley, Oklahoma’s four-star 2026 quarterback commit, wasted no time showing his enthusiasm when head coach Brent Venables and the Sooners landed a major commitment from four-star tight end Tyler Ruxer.

Shortly after Ruxer made his decision public, Bentley posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Norman let’s get it! BOOMER SOONER!” The post was short, but it carried weight. The Celina (Texas) native, ranked among the top quarterbacks in the 2026 cycle, had already committed to leading Oklahoma’s offense into a new era. Now, with a talented pass-catching tight end joining the mix, Bentley had even more reason to get excited about the future he’s envisioning in Norman.

Ruxer’s commitment is more than a single recruiting win. It represents a statement of resilience by a program that has been fighting to keep pace in a competitive national landscape. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound tight end from Indiana chose Oklahoma over offers from Duke and West Virginia, but his decision is about more than just logos or facilities—it’s about belief in a system, in a quarterback, and in a staff that’s working relentlessly to turn talent into results.

Ranked as Rivals’ No. 9 tight end in the 2026 class, Ruxer brings a physical and athletic presence to a Sooners roster that desperately needed to restock the tight end room. Injuries and attrition had taken their toll on the unit over the past two seasons, and Brent Venables and offensive coordinator Seth Littrell knew reinforcements were necessary. Ruxer joins fellow tight end Ryder Mix as the second player at the position to commit in the 2026 class—forming what now looks like a formidable duo for the future.

But the story within the story is the synergy beginning to form between Bentley and the players committing around him. Bentley didn’t just passively welcome Ruxer to the program—he made it clear he sees him as part of something bigger. That tweet wasn’t just a social media celebration. It was a signal. Bentley, who spurned offers from LSU and Texas A&M to commit to Oklahoma in early June, is already embracing a leadership role within the class.

His reaction to Ruxer’s commitment offers a glimpse into the type of quarterback he is: not just a passer, but a recruiter, a connector, a builder of culture. And for Oklahoma, which has long depended on culture to compete at the highest levels, that may be just as important as his arm strength.

For Venables, Ruxer’s addition—and Bentley’s visible support—couldn’t have come at a better time. The Sooners have been battling fierce competition for top prospects in the 2026 cycle and have seen a few promising names slip away. Among the more notable was quarterback Jaden O’Neal, who flipped to Florida State after originally being linked to Oklahoma early in the process.

Losing out on a player like O’Neal stung. But the commitment from Bentley helped steady the ship. And now, Ruxer’s pledge has begun to build real forward momentum. The Sooners’ 2026 recruiting class, which sat at No. 32 nationally entering the second week of July, may not appear overly flashy on paper, but the pieces that are arriving are increasingly aligned—and that alignment matters.

Tyler Ruxer isn’t just a four-star body to plug into a depth chart. He’s a weapon. At 6’4″ and 220 pounds, Ruxer possesses elite catch radius, reliable hands, and the kind of fluid route-running that makes him a matchup nightmare for opposing linebackers. More importantly, he’s a willing blocker and a physical presence in the run game—traits that Venables and Littrell both prioritize.

It’s not difficult to imagine Bentley and Ruxer building chemistry over the coming months and years, especially as both are expected to enroll early and participate in spring workouts leading up to the 2026 season. In fact, that early enrollment piece is something Oklahoma’s staff is increasingly targeting as they aim to accelerate the development process for incoming freshmen, particularly those at key offensive positions.

For Bentley, whose leadership is starting to show even before he sets foot on campus, having a reliable tight end already in the fold is a major confidence boost. In today’s game, tight ends are no longer safety valves—they’re central figures in modern offensive schemes, especially in the Big 12, where hybrid defenders and spread defenses create opportunities for versatile tight ends to shine.

The Ruxer commitment also brings a much-needed positive storyline to a summer that has been uneven for Oklahoma on the recruiting trail. Several top defensive targets remain undecided, and battles with SEC programs like Alabama, Georgia, and Texas have created some anxiety among the Sooner faithful. But Venables’ staff continues to preach patience—and their focus on fit and long-term upside is starting to yield results.

Bentley and Ruxer now become the two cornerstones of a class that’s beginning to take shape with a clear identity: tough, team-first, and ready to develop. If Oklahoma can build on this momentum in the coming weeks—potentially by adding a few top defensive linemen and wideouts still on the board—the class could rise significantly in the national rankings.

But more importantly, the internal chemistry appears to be solidifying. Players like Bentley are already laying the groundwork for a strong locker room culture. Reactions like his post on social media may seem small in isolation, but they reflect a deeper truth: this class believes in what Brent Venables is building.

And when your quarterback is already acting like the face of the program, good things tend to follow. Bentley’s early buy-in, Ruxer’s belief in the vision, and the overall cohesion among commits give Oklahoma fans reason to feel hopeful about where things are heading.

The Sooners have always thrived when culture and talent align. The commitment of Tyler Ruxer—and the enthusiastic reaction from Bowe Bentley—shows that this 2026 class might just be on the verge of rediscovering that winning formula.

It’s still early in the cycle, and plenty of work remains to be done. But July 7 could be remembered as a pivotal moment. A tight end pledged his future. A quarterback celebrated the addition like a team captain. And Brent Venables, for a moment, could breathe a little easier knowing that the foundation for 2026 just got stronger.

BOOMER SOONER, indeed.