BREAKING NEWS: Five-Star Florida Gators Football Target Flips Commitment to Oklahoma Soonars in Stunning Recruiting Twist….
However, Oklahoma has added highly ranked recruits in the current cycle, including five-star defensive end Jake Kreul, who elevated Oklahoma’s class ranking — though he was not a Florida commit. (ESPN.com)
In a stunning recruiting development that has sent shockwaves through the college football world, a five-star prospect originally committed to the Florida Gators has reportedly flipped his pledge to the Oklahoma Sooners late in the 2026 cycle. The move marks one of the most dramatic recruiting twists of the year, upending expectations for both programs mere weeks before National Signing Day. college football landscape by announcing his intention to sign with Oklahoma. Scouts and analysts have widely praised the player’s elite skill set, projecting him as a future impact performer at the Power Five level.
Sources close to the recruitment tell college football insiders that the Sooners’ staff initiated a late push over the past several weeks, leveraging recent on-campus visits, strong relationships with current Oklahoma players, and a compelling vision of early playing time. While the Gators had been widely thought to be the favorites for much of the recruiting cycle, Oklahoma’s late momentum appears to have flipped the narrative.
Florida head coach Billy Napier had heavily invested in winning the recruit’s commitment, frequently featuring the prospect in recruiting announcements and public remarks. Gators fans and local media had celebrated the pledge as a major talent acquisition and a cornerstone piece for Florida’s roster building. That makes this sudden flip particularly stunning.
According to recruiting insiders, the player’s father said in a statement that Oklahoma’s culture and development plan ultimately won him over: “We want to thank the University of Florida and Coach Napier for their time and commitment, but after careful consideration we believe Oklahoma is the best home for my son’s future both on and off the field.”
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables and his staff have been relentless recruiters throughout this cycle, turning heads with their ability to flip high-profile prospects and hold commitments against strong interest from other elite programs. Analysts now view this flip as another example of Oklahoma’s resurgence in the recruiting landscape under Venables’ leadership.
The ripple effects of this announcement are expected to be significant. Florida’s recruiting class will take a hit in the national rankings, while Oklahoma’s class will surge upward as a result of adding yet another elite piece. Analysts say this kind of late flip could also influence other uncommitted prospects, who often reevaluate their options when big swings like this occur.
As National Signing Day approaches, both programs will turn their attention toward finalizing their classes — with Florida hoping to regroup and Oklahoma savoring a major late-cycle victory that could have long-term implications for the balance of power in college football recruiting.