Four-Star LB James Nesta commits to Oklahoma

Four-star linebacker James Nesta of Cornelius (NC) Williams Amos Hough High announced his commitment to Oklahoma Tuesday evening.

The 6-foot-4, 210 pounder chose the Sooners over North Carolina and Miami.

Nesta on why he chose Oklahoma

“What stood out most to me about Oklahoma was how every detail matters to them in their program,” Nesta said. “It all contributes to being a championship team.”

Relationship with coaching staff + their plan for him

“Coach Roof and Coach Chavis are who I’m definitely closest with,” Nesta said. “I’ve been able to develop a great relationship with both of them from the very beginning of talking to them and buying into what their plan is for me. Their defensive plan for me in their scheme is to use me as a cheetah or will.”

Will play both baseball and football

“This was a big part in my decision making,” Nesta said. “When I met with baseball and had walked out of the meeting with them, I 100% believed and knew that they knew what they were doing. They made it known how they were going to make it possible for me to play football and baseball.”

Nesta ranks as the No. 332 player in the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also tabs in as the No. 33 linebacker and the No. 9 player in the state of North Carolina.

On3 ranks Nesta higher than the industry, as he ranks as the No. 246 player nationally, the No. 19 linebacker, and the No. 9 player in North Carolina.

The two-sport standout joins coach Brent Venables and the Sooners’ top 20 class in the 2024 team rankings. He is accompanied by four-star wide receiver Zion Kearney, four-star safety Jaydan Hardy, and others.

He currently does not have an On3 NIL Valuation publicly listed. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.