Jim Nagy isn’t just updating Oklahoma’s recruiting pitch; he’s flipping the whole script. With offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle on board, Nagy is offering high school standouts a clear path straight from Friday night lights to the NFL. It’s not about selling dreams anymore– the plan is all about giving recruits real steps to reach them.
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Ben Arbuckle was hired as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator and quarterback coach on December 2, 2024, after handling the same jobs at Washington State in 2023 and 2024. With a history of developing talent, Nagy sees Arbuckle as the coach who grabs the attention of recruits determined to take their shot at the NFL.
Give him one season in SEC (or maybe just a month) and offensive skill recruits who want to post huge numbers and get to NFL will be early committing or flipping to be a part of what @arbuckle_ben is doing Norman. 📈📈📈 https://t.co/NgUT8FkCpR
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_Sooners) August 16, 2025
“Give him one season in SEC (or maybe just a month) and offensive skill recruits who want to post huge numbers and get to NFL will be early committing or flipping to be a part of what [Ben Arbuckle] is doing in Norman,” Nagy shared on X.
At just twenty-nine, Arbuckle’s climb up the college football ranks has been nothing short of electric. He started as a quarterback at Canadian High School and West Texas A&M, and just five years ago, he was coaching high school football.
By 2021, Arbuckle had joined Western Kentucky’s staff, helping run one of the top offenses in the country. That year, WKU finished first in passing, second in total offense, and second in scoring. Arbuckle played a significant part in Bailey Zappe’s rise– Zappe set FBS single-season records for passing yards and touchdowns.
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Arbuckle became co-offensive coordinator in 2022, took over play-calling duties, and kept the explosive plays coming. WKU landed in the top ten nationally across several offensive categories, and quarterback Austin Reed led all passers in yardage. The season ended with a big bowl victory, plus a spot for Arbuckle on 247Sports’ 30-Under-30 list of rising coaches.
Arbuckle became offensive coordinator at Washington State the following year, making an instant impact. The Cougars’ passing game jumped from forty-fourth to fourth nationwide in just one season. Quarterback Cam Ward became one of college football’s top passers, and the team posted big numbers against ranked opponents.
In 2024, Arbuckle kept things rolling with quarterback John Mateer, who became the only player in the country to finish with twenty or more passing touchdowns and ten or more rushing touchdowns. Mateer led the nation in points and set plenty of new school marks.
For two years under Arbuckle, Washington State ranked high nationally in passing offense, touchdowns, and scoring, building serious momentum for both Arbuckle and Mateer as they head to Oklahoma.
As Oklahoma looks to get past the offensive woes of the 2024 campaign, Head Coach Brent Venables has made creating a potent offense a significant goal. Now, with new playmakers like running back Jaydn Ott and receivers Javonnie Gibson and Keontez Lewis, there’s real buzz building in Norman.
Arbuckle’s résumé already shows what he can do, and now he’s on deck to bring that offensive firepower to the SEC.
