2025 LB Mark Iheanachor is down to two schools with his commitment date approaching

Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne three-star linebacker Mark Iheanachor took an official visit to Arizona over the weekend. Yet the Wildcats are not one of his final two schools.

Iheanachor will be committing to Oklahoma or SMU on July 1. He took an official visit to the Mustangs from June 7-9 before going on an official to the Sooners a week later.

“I feel like they both have a plan for me,” Iheanachor told On3. “They see me coming in and competing to play as a true freshman. Both schools see me at the WILL position and developing into someone who can play the position because I’m athletic enough. I have the size and the strength to be ready for it. It’s going to be up to me to put in the hard work and show that I’m capable of starting.”

Multiple factors will help Iheanachor decide between Oklahoma and SMU

Iheanachor is in constant contact with Oklahoma and SMU and sometimes hears from each staff every day of the week. What matters greatly to Iheanachor is that a school is “showing love” to him and treating him like a priority, and he feels like both the Mustangs and the Sooners are doing this.

The No. 41 player in California will decide whether he is playing in Dallas or Norman in the coming days. That is why he already knows what will help him decide between Oklahoma and SMU.

“Where I am going to live is important, along with the family environment at a program,” said Iheanachor, the No. 486 overall prospect and No. 48 linebacker in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking . “They both have great family atmospheres. They let you be you around them and they aren’t faking any smiles… All the players I’ve talked to have told me that the coaches are the same people on and off the field, they’re going to treat you like family and both places are going to develop you into a better man. That’s pretty big.

“Then, NIL is a thing now, so if I see myself playing at both schools, then it may come down to which number suits me more. I’m not looking for the biggest number, but I know the number can always go up if you develop and progress as a player. I’m not going to lie and say NIL is not a part of it.”

Iheanachor breaks down his interest in the Mustangs and the Sooners

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound recruit called the Sooners “Linebacker U” and likes how the soon-to-be SEC program has a defensive-minded staff. His top contacts in Norman include head coach Brent Venables and co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Zac Alley .

“I like the scheme they run, the family atmosphere they have up there and the bond the players have with one another,” Iheanachor said. “You can tell it’s a family there. They’re always doing stuff together at each other’s houses. They’re close off the field too.”

Iheanachor has also grown close with SMU co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Maurice Crum Jr. , who he has known since his sophomore year. The two have watched film together and Crum Jr. tells Iheanachor about the defensive schemes the Mustangs run and where they see him fitting in the defense.

“They have a great NIL program in Dallas,” Iheanachor said. “SMU lets you be yourself and they have a family atmosphere too. I like their scheme as well. There are a lot of similarities between them and Oklahoma.”

The post 2025 LB Mark Iheanachor is down to two schools with his commitment date approaching appeared first on On3 .