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  • Noles Get Jaden O’Neal To Flip From Oklahoma To Florida State After Year-Long Commitment

Noles Get Jaden O’Neal To Flip From Oklahoma To Florida State After Year-Long Commitment

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Football

(BCSNN) — Four-star quarterback Jaden O’Neal, one of the top signal-callers in the 2026 recruiting cycle, announced his commitment to Florida State on Sunday, flipping from Oklahoma after nearly a year-long pledge to the Sooners.

O’Neal, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound prospect from Mustang High School in Oklahoma, is ranked No. 112 in the ESPN 300 and is considered the No. 7 pocket passer in the class. His decision gives the Seminoles their highest-rated quarterback commit since AJ Duffy in 2022 and marks a significant recruiting win for head coach Mike Norvell as he looks to rebound from a 2-10 campaign in 2024.

The California native originally committed to Oklahoma in June 2024 while attending Narbonne High School in Los Angeles. He remained a vocal recruiter for the Sooners throughout a turbulent season that saw the departure of offensive coordinator Seth Littrell. However, the relationship reportedly soured after Oklahoma began pursuing fellow four-star quarterback Bowe Bentley, who committed to the Sooners just one day after O’Neal’s decommitment.

O’Neal’s flip to Florida State reshapes the quarterback outlook for both programs. For the Seminoles, he becomes the 14th overall commit and fifth ESPN 300 pledge in the 2026 class, joining a group that includes four-star wide receiver Brandon Bennett. His arrival provides a potential successor to Boston College transfer Tommy Castellanos, who will exhaust his eligibility after the 2025 season.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s 2026 class, which now includes Bentley, drops a high-profile name but gains a quarterback more aligned with new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle’s vision. The Sooners’ class currently ranks No. 43 nationally, while Florida State’s jumps to No. 22 following O’Neal’s commitment.

O’Neal’s high school career has been marked by both promise and disruption. He threw for 2,475 yards and 27 touchdowns as a sophomore at Newport Harbor High School before transferring to Narbonne, where transfer rules sidelined him for the first seven games of his junior season. Despite the setback, he led Narbonne to a Los Angeles City title, throwing for 1,798 yards and 16 touchdowns in just eight games.

Now at Mustang High, O’Neal is expected to reestablish himself as one of the nation’s premier quarterback prospects. Known for his strong arm and deep-ball accuracy, he brings a skill set that could allow him to compete for early playing time in Tallahassee, especially with limited depth behind Castellanos.

Florida State fans will be watching closely as O’Neal enters his senior season in Oklahoma. If his trajectory continues upward, he could become a cornerstone for the Seminoles’ offensive resurgence in the post-Castellanos era.