Micah Rhodes, one of the top running backs in the 2028 class, just flipped his commitment from the Oklahoma Sooners to the rival Texas Longhorns on Thursday. This isn’t just a tough pill to swallow; it happened just two days before the annual Red River Rivalry clash. Talk about throwing fuel on the fire!
The Flip That Stings
Rhodes, a four-star prospect and the No. 12 running back in the 2028 class according to 247Sports Composite, originally pledged to the Sooners back in January. But things shifted. He decommitted in April, and the reason hits right at the heart of the program: a coaching staff change. DeMarco Murray, their running backs coach, left for the Kansas City Chiefs. Oklahoma brought in Deland McCullough to replace him, and while that’s the business of college football, it cost them Rhodes’ pledge. This kid, hailing from Spring, Texas, is 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds of pure talent from Klein Oak High School. Losing a local Texas talent to the Longhorns is always a gut punch, but especially when he was *yours* first.
Where OU Stands
The Sooners aren’t exactly hurting in the recruiting game overall. Their 2028 class still boasts four pledges: quarterback Trey Tagliaferri, wide receiver Colton Fitzgibbon, tight end Connor Arant, and linebacker Jay Schell. That’s a solid foundation. And their 2027 class? It’s 27 players deep and currently ranks fifth in the country, according to 247Sports Composite. So they’ve got talent coming in. But let’s be real, you always want to keep the guys you get. Oklahoma had hoped to eventually re-add Rhodes to their 2028 group. Now, that’s off the table. This isn’t their first rodeo with decommitments either; they’ve already seen four players from the 2027 class decommit and commit to new schools. It’s a reminder that recruiting is a wild, constant battle.
So what does this mean? It means instead of wearing crimson and cream, Micah Rhodes will be rocking burnt orange. And it means the Sooners will have to compete against him every single year come October. You just know those Red River Rivalry games are going to have an extra layer of intensity when Rhodes lines up against his former would-be teammates. Get ready for some fireworks when these teams meet.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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