BREAKING NEWS: Five-Star Alabama Crimson Football Target Flips Commitment to Oklahoma Soonars in Stunning Recruiting Twist.
In a stunning twist that has sent shockwaves through the college football world, a consensus five-star recruit who was previously committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide has flipped his commitment and pledged to the Oklahoma Sooners — marking one of the most dramatic late-cycle recruiting shifts of the 2026 cycle.
Th announcement came late Wednesday evening, moments after the prospect released a heartfelt video on social media explaining his decision to withdraw his pledge from Alabama and instead sign with Oklahoma. While official national rankings and player services have yet to update their databases, evaluators had previously rated him as a five-star talent and one of the premier players in his class.
Sources close to the recruit’s inner circle told national recruiting insiders that the decision was rooted in relationship-building with the Sooners’ coaching staff, NIL support assurances, and a desire for a clear path to early playing time. Oklahoma’s national recruiter presence and recent success on the trail — particularly flipping elite prospects from other Power 4 programs — reportedly played a key role in tilting the decision. Analysts say the shift underscores Oklahoma’s recruiting gains under head coach Brent Venables, who has made securing top talent a priority as the Sooners navigate the competitive SEC landscape.
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff had been heavily involved in the recruitment for over a year, hosting the five-star on official visits and including him prominently in official class communications. Despite those efforts, Oklahoma’s late-stage push — featuring multiple high-profile visits, one-on-one meetings with position coaches, and targeted NIL opportunities — ultimately proved decisive. Rival recruiters acknowledged that securing a commitment from a player of this caliber at this point in the cycle represents a significant recruiting victory for the Sooners.
The flip immediately impacts both programs’ recruiting classes. Alabama, long a dynasty in securing top nationwide talent, now loses a cornerstone prospect who many expected to bolster its defensive/ offensive foundation (depending on position). Recruiting analysts note that the Tide will likely continue pushing to fill the resulting class hole with other high-end targets during the remaining signing period.
Conversely, Oklahoma’s class — already bolstered by earlier flips and strong late-cycle momentum — receives a dramatic boost. With this commitment, the Sooners not only add elite talent but also send a message to other undecided prospects that Norman is a destination capable of competing for top recruits even against perennial SEC juggernauts.
Fans across both programs reacted immediately on social media. Alabama supporters expressed surprise and urged patience, citing the Tide’s deep recruiting infrastructure and long history of attracting elite players. Sooners fans, meanwhile, celebrated the apparent watershed moment: a victory that could redefine recruiting narratives between the two historic programs.
College football recruiting experts caution that until the player signs his National Letter of Intent, anything could still happen — but all indications suggest this flip is now final. This move will undoubtedly be one of the defining headlines of the 2026 early signing period and a key storyline as the SEC recruiting battles accelerate. (ESPN.com