OU football announces a partnership with former Philadelphia Eagles executive Jake Rosenberg.
NORMAN — OU’s Recruiting Undergoes Another Shift
On Thursday, the program announced a partnership with Jake Rosenberg, former vice president of football administration for the Philadelphia Eagles. Additionally, Curtis Lofton’s promotion to general manager, which was approved by OU’s Board of Regents in June, was made official.
According to a release, the new structure “is designed to place OU football at the forefront of talent analysis, acquisition, and retention,” with Rosenberg providing “counsel and support to its program.”
As college athletics continually evolves, more programs are adapting their recruiting and administrative staffs.
During his time in Philadelphia, Rosenberg was considered one of Eagles general manager Howie Roseman’s closest advisors.
On June 24, the Sooners announced that 1Oklahoma will become the program’s exclusive market-based NIL collective, with Jeff Weber as CEO. This new collective merges the Crimson and Cream Collective, The Sooner Nation Collective, and the 1 Oklahoma Collective.
Here’s what Sooners athletic director Joe Castiglione, head coach Brent Venables, and other industry voices had to say about OU’s partnership with Rosenberg:
OU athletic director Joe Castiglione expressed enthusiastic anticipation for the new arrangement.
He highlighted the recent instability in college athletics as a catalyst for refining their approach to evaluating, attracting, and retaining talented athletes. Castiglione emphasized that the move represents innovation in response to current demands, underscoring Oklahoma’s dedication to fostering a championship culture.
“We understood that this transition would require significant effort to propel us forward, which is why we enlisted the expertise of someone with NFL Super Bowl-winning experience,” said Castiglione. “Jake understands what it takes to construct a championship team, and his track record of fostering cohesive programs and teams will be invaluable as we adapt our approach to meet current challenges.
“In today’s competitive environment, we recognize that building teams and recruiting athletes demands innovative thinking and strong leadership. With our new structure and collaboration with Jake, we see a clear path to positioning OU Football – and eventually, our other programs – for success in this evolving landscape.”
OU head football coach Brent Venables
“We’re seeing things we’ve never seen before in the recruiting process. At Oklahoma we know how to adapt, and this new approach to how we manage our recruiting operations is a representation of our forward thinking and agility. Winning takes all of us and I’m confident in Curtis and the rest of our staff and their commitment to continuing to elevate Oklahoma Football.”
OU football general manager Curtis Lofton
“Talent management in college football differs significantly from the NFL. In our realm, we recruit athletes rather than draft them, giving our players a broader spectrum of choices than ever before. Despite these differences, there are aspects of the professional model that could enhance our recruitment strategies, particularly as we navigate the complexities of roster sizes and other evolving variables. Our objective is to remain agile, and this structure is designed to enable precisely that.”
OU partner Jake Rosenberg
“Oklahoma football is a blue blood, with more than a century of producing winning teams. This bold move demonstrates the program’s creative drive as much as its strong tradition. I see the same relentless pursuit of winning throughout the Sooners’ program that we fostered within the Eagles organization. Their attention to talent management at a moment of great change and uncertainty in college football is both critical and laser focused on the future. I’m excited to be part of this evolution.
“This partnership represents a dynamic opportunity to lead the way in collegiate sports. I am very excited to join this team and help craft that future starting right now.”
Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman:
“Jake is someone who has the ability to help OU in a variety of ways. He can relate well to everyone and will be great in this role. He will be able to draw from the diverse experience he had in Philadelphia and help that program move forward and be as progressive as they want to be.”
Former OU and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts
“During these past four years in Philadelphia, I’ve gotten to know Jake on a professional and personal level, and he’s helped play an integral role in my development as a professional athlete. College players who attend programs that are built similarly to professional teams tend to have a more seamless transition to the next level, and I believe Jake’s new role at OU will be a huge benefit for players who look to take their careers a step further. He’s the perfect fit for this program and I’m excited for what’s to come.”
Klutch Sports President of Football and OU College of Law Alumna Nicole Lynn
“Jake is an exceptional professional and one of the brightest minds in football today. I’ve always found him to be incredibly insightful and measured when working together on player contracts. He’s negotiated some of the largest NFL deals to date, and there are few in the industry who understand roster and cap management like he does. Oklahoma is truly on the cutting-edge in bringing Jake alongside their program to pave the way for the future of college football.”
