FB: Driver after Oklahoma
- Thread starter TheResistance
- Start date
Yes, Ben Arbuckle (Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach) was involved in recruiting Seneca Driver, a top tight end prospect from Boyle County (Danville, KY) in the 2027 class.
on3.com
Driver (listed around 6-6/240) committed to Oklahoma on March 7/8, 2026, over Kentucky, Notre Dame, and others. He is ranked as a high four- or five-star (often the top TE and a top-15–50 overall prospect depending on the service).
on3.com
Key evidence of Arbuckle’s role includes:
on3.com
Driver (listed around 6-6/240) committed to Oklahoma on March 7/8, 2026, over Kentucky, Notre Dame, and others. He is ranked as a high four- or five-star (often the top TE and a top-15–50 overall prospect depending on the service).
on3.com
Key evidence of Arbuckle’s role includes:
- He attended one of Driver’s high school games (alongside Jason Witten) while Kentucky coaches were also present.
on3.com - On3/Rivals and 247Sports recruiting data list him as a secondary recruiter for Oklahoma (primary often listed as TE coach Jason Witten).
on3.com - Reports credit Arbuckle with a primary/early role in keeping Oklahoma competitive, including legwork through the fall and winter before Witten joined the staff. He helped put the Sooners in strong position.
247sports.com - Driver has referenced committing to Arbuckle and Witten; recruiting coverage and interviews note ongoing communication with Arbuckle (along with Witten and others).
@ParkerThune
Firing the OC and / or DC and /or position coaches is a time-honored common ploy for HCs to buy time and appease the Administration and / or fan base. Not gonna research it, but occasionally this works, but more often it simply buys another season (or maybe two) to postpone the inevitable.
I would love for us to flip Driver; we'll see as events unfold.
I would love for us to flip Driver; we'll see as events unfold.
They could be under 500 by the end of the season. We could be playing for a Natty. The choice seems clear as **** to me.
I don't think it's working. Oklahoma fans on Twitter are not feeling it.
This move tells me they're worried about Driver specifically.
This was about like Stoops, former DC blowing through another OC.
Witten moving up sealed Driver to OU. Time to let this one go.
Help me understand it, Play for your home state school where your family has an easy trip to see you play
Play for a coach who is the brightest young coach in college FB
WS uses the TE position to better affect than any coach in the country
Our program on the rise just scratching the surface
OU a train wreck right now
Witten played in the NFL but that does not mean he will be a great coach
Who knows if their head coach will survive
The one variable is NIL, I get that
Play for a coach who is the brightest young coach in college FB
WS uses the TE position to better affect than any coach in the country
Our program on the rise just scratching the surface
OU a train wreck right now
Witten played in the NFL but that does not mean he will be a great coach
Who knows if their head coach will survive
The one variable is NIL, I get that
You may well be right but lets see how it goes. Moving from a position coach to calling the plays is a big step. The heat will be on Witten now.
I can’t see Venables lasting beyond this season. He’s been awful as a head coach. The best thing for Kentucky fans is that OU retains him and South Carolina does enough to keep Beamer.
Yes. Seneca Driver is a native of Danville, Kentucky (Boyle County High School), so he lives and plays high school football there.
on3.com
He has also made multiple visits to the University of Kentucky in Lexington (including unofficial visits and a Junior Day), as Kentucky recruited him heavily before he committed to Oklahoma in March 2026.
aseaofblue.com
In short, he is from Kentucky and has visited the UK campus multiple times.
He’s probably worried he wouldn’t play here but has a spot locked up at OU. He definitely wouldn’t start over Rodriguez next year. Skinner would be very hard to beat out as TE2 as well.
I wouldn’t worry about him. TE is probably a spot Stein won’t have an issue recruiting.
I wouldn’t worry about him. TE is probably a spot Stein won’t have an issue recruiting.
Yes. Will Stein was hired as Kentucky’s head coach in December 2025, and Seneca Driver made multiple visits to the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington afterward (before committing to Oklahoma in March 2026).
on3.com
Key details include:
aseaofblue.com
There are no widely reported campus visits to UK after his Oklahoma commitment.
on3.com
Key details include:
- He attended a Kentucky basketball game at Rupp Arena in mid-January 2026 and interacted with Stein and staff.
on3.com - He was scheduled for (and reports confirm attendance related to) Kentucky’s Junior Day on January 24, 2026.
on3.com - Around late January/early February 2026, he made another trip to Lexington—described as his fourth overall UK visit but the first under the new staff—where he heard the offensive vision from Stein and others and left impressed.
on3.com
aseaofblue.com
There are no widely reported campus visits to UK after his Oklahoma commitment.
Thanks for the info. If you were a betting man, will we be able to flip him ?
Not with everything I have read. I believe if the HC/Witten stay, Driver drives to Norman.
I doubt that’s it at all. They aren’t going to get an external OC at this point, Venables is a defensive guy and Whitten is highly thought of as a coach. They are just in scramble mode with few options
Would OU fans be satisfied with someone already on staff with no experience running an offense being promoted from within? Unless Witten just takes over and kills it immediately (almost 0% chance) I doubt OU fans will be satisfied with this as an answer. They will want a "name" with experience to come in and start fresh.
Driver… meh.
The days when we had to pin all our hopes on a talented local kid just because he was local are over. Stein is going to get whoever he wants, and then he’s going to feed them, to the detriment of every other SEC program. Driver can join us and kill… or be killed.
The days when we had to pin all our hopes on a talented local kid just because he was local are over. Stein is going to get whoever he wants, and then he’s going to feed them, to the detriment of every other SEC program. Driver can join us and kill… or be killed.
There are a lot of UK connections with their family. I read Brandon Stockton is related to the Drivers. Seneca may want to be like his uncle and go away for college. Boyle County guys are never a slam dunk for us, at least not the elite players.
Not if their offense still struggles. If they still struggle it has to help us.
Take it with a grain of salt but I have heard he wants to go to a traditional big-time program. There's something to take into account of the highschool mindset of "oh Im the top target of oklahomas recruiting class" and "im being recruited/going to OU". I think the kid knows if he ever wants to transfer he will command a large NIL package on top of what he will receive from his initial recruitment. Kids have always loved the clout and brag amongst each other on the field. Witten being a HOFer is an enormous attraction. Despite OUs record this year they are usually in the mix. I wouldnt count on a flip, he seems to be a very hard commit, but it would be cool.
Stein won’t pay Driver what he’s asking for, he’ll keep finding studs like Rodriguez and the Proctor kid signing this year. With his record of making TEs a priority in his offense he won’t have a problem pulling in a portal stud if needed. He already said last year that he won’t let a recruit hold him hostage for money, can’t blame him. Driver’s asking money is ridiculous if what some are saying is true, it would be better spread out elsewhere imo and his rating doesn’t mean crap if his attitude matches what some people have been saying.
Back when we had a basketball head coach rival fans tried to use this same logic on all the basketball recruits we got. Relationships and what Jason has done is his career matter. This isn’t to say it’s impossible he ends up here.
I can't imagine WillRod being worse than a 3rd round pick in the next draft. I checked the NFL rookie pay scale and my conclusion was...he gone.
I’m hoping this staff changes that. Fantastic program there and all those kids are very well coached.
I have no info but it just screams financial to me. They're overpaying and we wisely won't match.
There is also a matter of 1 year at $300,000 vs 2 years at $ 650,000 to overcome.
And this from a source that would know.
Let’s hope, we still have 4 difficult games, 2 of which are historical problems for us. I will certainly be hoping to win out!
My prediction (hope). Driver goes there his freshman year, gets paid, and does OK. OK coach gets fired after the season, and Driver transfers to UK for good, not stupid, money. Here he wins 3 Heisman’s, and 4 national championships. The year he misses the Heisman, he was robbed, btw.
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