On May 20, 2025, Jim Nagy, the newly appointed General Manager of Oklahoma Football, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express an unusual recruiting wish. “OU is looking for football equivalent of this dude in recruiting. #baller,” he tweeted, alongside a photo of Alex Caruso—fresh off signing a four-year, $81 million extension with the Thunder after playing a pivotal role in their dramatic Game 3 comeback win over the Memphis Grizzlies. A Caruso-like presence on the Sooners’ roster—versatile, gritty, and dependable—could be exactly what Oklahoma Football lacked during its injury-plagued 2024 season. Nagy’s tweet may have been lighthearted or even aspirational, but one person took it seriously.

Enter Tony Jefferson, NFL veteran and former Oklahoma safety, who responded by vouching for his younger brother, Josiah Jefferson, as the perfect fit. “My younger brother is ready to be a big time weapon for OU’s offense .. 40’ vert 🤔,” Tony tweeted, directly replying to Nagy and resharing one of Josiah’s training posts.

Josiah, a 6’5″, 230-pound wide receiver/tight end from Chula Vista, California, had already been showcasing his athleticism on X. In that particular post, he outlined his case plainly: “6’5 230 pound WR/TE, AA by Summer or Fall, Footwork ✅ Hands ✅ Speed ✅.” The tweet also featured training clips of cone drills and route-running, plus a shirtless photo showing off his carved physique—proof of the kind of raw athleticism that could reshape OU’s offensive lineup.

Breaking a bit from the traditional recruiting script, Nagy arranged an in-person meeting with Tony Jefferson. While the details of their conversation remain private, Nagy later tweeted: “It was good catching up today, Tony. B⭕️⭕️mer! #SoonerScOUting #OUDNA.” It wasn’t your everyday recruiting exchange—more like a signal flare, and maybe that’s the point. 

It was good catching up today, Tony. B⭕️⭕️mer!#SoonerScOUting #OUDNA https://t.co/Gw5riEelvm

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_Sooners) May 22, 2025

This pursuit aligns seamlessly with head coach Brent Venables’ vision of molding the Sooners into a resilient and formidable squad.  

Brent Venables’ Sooners are the tough squad in the making

“Oklahoma has got nine opponents next season that have odds currently to win the national championship among the top 25 in the country.” This quote by SEC insider Chris Marler must be playing at the back of Venables’ mind, robbing his goodnight sleep. Sadly, they didn’t get rid of the bias. They are the only team in the entire Southeastern Conference that’s going to face nine teams that currently have odds to win the national championship among the top 25 in the entire country.

But look how the tables turned. Thanks to On3 podcast host J.D. PicKell, who painted a brighter future for Venables and his boys. “I do think that in October-November, with how brutal their schedule is, they’re going to ruin it for somebody.” Well, we are yet to know which team is going to lose its powers in the hands of the Sooners. “I have no idea, but I would not be shocked in the slightest if we’re looking up at the end of the year and saying, ‘Oh man, that team, if they just hadn’t lost to Oklahoma, they could be in the playoff.’”

But what we know Brent Venables is prepared for whatever comes in his way to victory. He is now in a mood to reload his troops. Oklahoma has gotten rid of its former OC, Seth Littrell, after a dark chapter on the offense. He has added Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer, who can be just what Sooners need to catalyze their success. A bit of NFL bloodline is going to be the ultimate seasoning to that perfectly brewed concoction.