Oklahoma Sooners now have a shot to prove to an elite four-star recruit why he should flip from SEC rival
The Oklahoma Sooners keep finding themselves in recruiting battles that they really shouldn't be in, whether it's because of the national perception of them after 2024, or whether those players have strong interest elsewhere. But, somehow, the Sooners have pulled out some big-time wins in the recruiting aspect of it all. They have had some […]
The Oklahoma Sooners keep finding themselves in recruiting battles that they really shouldn't be in, whether it's because of the national perception of them after 2024, or whether those players have strong interest elsewhere.
But, somehow, the Sooners have pulled out some big-time wins in the recruiting aspect of it all. They have had some losses, too, sure, but the wins have been massive. And, with guys like Jake Kreul set to commit anytime now, the Sooners could be in for another massive win.
And who knows, there's another defensive end in the 2026 class that they could get, but if they did, it would be by way of flipping him from SEC rival LSU.
Sooners can try to flip DeAnthony Lafayette from LSU
DeAnthony Lafayette is a four-star edge rusher from Lake Nona High School in Orlando, Florida, and is a key commit for LSU’s 2026 recruiting class, one that is pretty much a top-five class on every recruiting site. And, it's largely because of the type of players they get, like Lafayette.
At 6'1" and 230 pounds, he’s slightly undersized but makes up for it with explosive speed and a reported 6'10" wingspan. In his 2024 junior season, he recorded 73 tackles, 17.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception. He's Florida’s No. 5 edge rusher and No. 42 overall prospect according to 247Sports.
He committed to LSU on July 10, choosing the Tigers over offers from Oklahoma, Miami, Florida, and others after a strong connection with coaches Brian Kelly and Kevin Peoples during his June 2025 visit to Baton Rouge. And Lafayette claims that he is 100% ready to be a Tiger, but, for some reason, he is leaving his recruitment open. Lafayette will continue to take visits, including one with Oklahoma.
The Orlando (Fla.) Lake Nona senior admitted the Oklahoma Sooners finished second in his recruitment this summer, and the conversations between each party are ongoing.“I’ll probably go to an Oklahoma game, too,” Lafayette said. “They still want me, so it’s only fair. It’s not just their effort, but it is the number one D-line in the SEC. It’s infamous for that.” – On3, John Garcia, Jr.
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Despite his commitment, schools like Florida State and Oklahoma are still pursuing him, which is something he's certainly noticed, because he's also mentioned to On3 that some coaches just stopped contacting him completely once he committed to LSU.
As the 16th commit in LSU’s top-10 ranked 2026 class, Lafayette is seen as a potential early-impact player. And, he honestly fits the Todd Bates, Brent Venables, and Miguel Chavis mold perfectly.
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