National Signing Day is here.
All around the country, high school football players can begin signing their non-binding financial aid agreements with a Division I program.
In Oklahoma, several in-state prospects are making their choices official Wednesday.
Here are live updates from around the state:
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Lee Blankenship always admired Tayten Duncan’s drive long before Duncan ever wore a Mustang jersey.
The Broncos’ head coach first noticed him at a youth football game in the fifth grade. Years later, Duncan walked into the Mustang program as a freshman and slowly climbed the depth chart, grinding his way into the starting lineup through sheer effort.
So when Iowa State extended an offer after Mustang’s game against Edmond North, the moment hit hard.
Both Duncan and Blankenship teared up, knowing how far he’d come.
“Tayten will be one of my favorite stories for years to come of kids that I’ve coached,” Blankenship said. “Not just his buy-in and his belief in himself, but also in just the process and our weight room work. He trusted the plan and the discipline he showed was just tremendous.”
Duncan began his senior year committed to Army, his top early offer. But his recruitment surged this fall.
By Wednesday, he held eight offers and signed his financial aid agreement with Iowa State.
“I went to my visit about two weeks ago and it was great,” Duncan said. “What was most important to me was having a great coaching staff that can back me. I’m leaving a great group of guys right now, and being able to join another one, that’s what really was special to me about Iowa State.”
Duncan’s senior season turned him into one of Oklahoma’s top defensive players.
After adding 25 pounds in the offseason, he became Mustang’s vocal leader on defense, leading the team in tackles, interceptions and tackles for loss despite missing a game with injury. He finished with 111 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two interceptions, a sack and three pass deflections.
He now becomes the latest Mustang standout to move on to Division I football.
It’s a tradition he grew up watching and has since embraced as a player.
“Growing up in Mustang, you see a lot of great athletes who set the standard,” Duncan said.
“Freshman year I played with Jacobe Johnson and Dominique Dunn. Now as a senior I just played with Jaden O’Neal and Gabe Osborne. Being around studs like that push you to get better every single day. I’m just grateful to say I was a part of this program and it was truly a blessing.”
— Jordan Davis, Staff writer
Mustang quarterback Jaden O’Neal explains why he signed with Florida State football
Jaden O’Neal, the four-star Mustang quarterback made his commitment official Dec. 3, signing his financial aid agreement with Florida State and coach Mike Norvell.
Jaden O’Neal’s smile never dimmed as he walked through the Mustang Event Center.
The four-star quarterback made his commitment official, signing his financial aid agreement with Florida State and coach Mike Norvell.
One of the nation’s top signal callers in the 2026 class, O’Neal capped a hectic recruiting journey by choosing the program — and coach — he trusted most.
“Coach Norvell is definitely a man in character, and that was just what I was chasing throughout my recruiting process,” O’Neal said. “There was never a doubt honestly. Just having someone believe in you who doesn’t mind developing you on and off the field as a man and as a player.”
O’Neal’s signing comes 18 months after he originally committed to OU.
But following the Sooners’ firing of offensive coordinator Seth Littrell, who recruited O’Neal, he reopened his recruitment in June. Within days, he announced his pledge to Florida State on June 22.
A four-star prospect and the No. 24 quarterback in the 2026 class according to 247Sports, O’Neal said the Seminoles’ staff never stopped believing in him — even while he was committed elsewhere.
That desire for his talent went unnoticed.
“It was good to finally come into an area where you truly feel accepted,” O’Neal said. “When they kind of just want you, that feeling just never goes away. So everytime I was able to go up there and visit constantly, it was good to have that feeling.”
O’Neal made a major impact in his lone season at Mustang after moving from Harbor City, California.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound standout led the Broncos to an 8-4 record and a trip to the Class 6A-I quarterfinals, throwing for 2,642 yards and 29 touchdowns despite missing two games.
Though he spent less than a year in the program, Mustang coach Lee Blankenship said O’Neal quickly became part of the community.
“Jaden’s been here for a year, and it feels like he’s grown up here,” Mustang coach Lee Blankenship said.
“The way that he came in and just immersed himself into our football program, our school district and our community was really special. This is his home, and we’ll support and cheer for him as he goes on to have the great career that he’s got in store.”
O’Neal will graduate later this month and enroll at Florida State in January.
With his final days as a high schooler winding down, O’Neal is cherishing the legacy he left in a short amount of time.
“To be able to leave a mark here, it just kind of just shows my character,” O’Neal said. “This is such a great community that I’ve been blessed to be a part of. The stats and wins were great, but I just wanted to play for my brothers and coaches. That’s my biggest thing, whatever the result was, it was gonna be it.”
— Jordan Davis, Staff writer
Edmond Santa Fe’s Landen Anderson explains why he signed with Arizona State football
Landen Anderson went through a journey before putting ink to paper and making his commitment to Arizona State official.
Landen Anderson went through a journey before putting ink to paper and making his commitment to Arizona State official.
Like many others, Anderson was originally committed to Oklahoma State, but after Mike Gundy’s firing and an uncertain season for the program, he opened his options back up. He had also previously committed to Kansas.
The three-star defensive lineman ultimately decided Tempe was his future home.
“It’s different,” Anderson said. “Everything that they do, what they stand for, the whole culture, it’s just different, so I really loved it.”
The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Anderson had a senior season to forget, missing most of it due to injury. Edmond Santa Fe defensive coordinator Todd Bonnewell said Anderson is now healthy.
Anderson’s biggest takeaway from his three years as a starter in high school is discipline.
“Landen is a great young man,” Bonnewell said. “Mom and Dad raised him right. He’s a ‘Yes, sir,’ ‘No, sir,’ type of young man.”
Bonnewell is sending two of his linemen, Anderson and Battle, to Division I schools, and he doesn’t take that for granted.
“It made me look real good,” he said.
Anderson started getting looks from recruiters in his junior year, and wrapped up his high school career as the No. 7 player in the state of Oklahoma. Baylor, Maryland, Houston and Iowa State are some of the other programs that offered Anderson a place on their team.
Only playing three games his senior season before the injury, Anderson recorded 20 total tackles.
A healthy Anderson is ready to make his mark at Arizona State.
“I got my strength, I got my hustle, I got my drive, I got my work ethic,” he said.
—Isa Almeida, Staff writer
Dejon Ackerson Jr. wore his commitment on his sleeve Wednesday.
On both of his sleeves, actually.
And on his head, too.
The Putnam City High School linebacker rocked a lot of his new school’s color for his National Signing Day ceremony, wearing a heavy dose of Kansas State purple. Purple jacket. Purple beanie. Even purple accents on his gray sweatpants.
“It’s my mom’s favorite color,” Ackerson said, glancing at his family. “They already love it.”
Ackerson decided to keep loving it even after surprising news broke Wednesday morning: K-State head coach Chris Klieman decided to retire and former Wildcat quarterback Collin Klein would be taking over.
About an hour after the news was first reported, Ackerson got a call from K-State.
“They just called me and told me … that we’re still locked in and that nothing’s really going to change, just the coach,” he said.
While that might seem like a big change, Putnam City coach Willis Alexander said the understanding is that K-State’s coaching staff will remain intact. Klein, currently the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, may want to bring some offensive assistants with him, but with Ackerson being on the defensive side, change is expected to be minimal.
Still, Alexander had a heart-to-heart with Ackerson after the call from Manhattan.
“This is your moment,” Alexander told him. “We’re going to just concentrate on that. Are you good with everything?”
“Yeah,” Ackerson replied.
He looked at his coach.
“You told me the coach I start with, I may not end with,” Ackerson said.
Alexander chuckled.
Still, a signing-day coaching change was a bit of a quick kick. Unexpected, for sure. Changing a head coach before signing day? Happens a ton. Changing after? It’s not as common, but it still happens.
But on signing day?
It could’ve caused all sorts of turmoil for Ackerson, but he didn’t waver from the Wildcats. While that might seem crazy — surely, there would be doubts — Alexander said that Michigan recently sent recruiters to see the speedy, hard-hitting 6-foot-1, 200-pound linebacker. For two and half hours, the Wolverine reps tried to get him to flip his commitment.
“They threw that Michigan money at him,” Alexander said. “That’s big money.”
But Ackerson didn’t waver.
“I’m firm in my commitment,” he told Michigan. “God told me to choose K-State.”
Even the Wildcat head coach retiring on signing day didn’t shake that commitment.
Ackerson said that when he committed to K-State, it felt like a relief. Going through the recruiting process was taxing, trying to figure out what was best, wanting so badly to make the right decision.
But on Wednesday, his emotions were different. Not relief but joy.
“Just excitement,” he said, “that it’s official.”
-Jenni Carlson, columnist
CHOCTAW — Da’Jon Green fell in love with a place some 1,700 miles away.
From Choctaw to Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, the three-star defensive back officially signed with Boston College on Wednesday afternoon.
“I feel like I’ve worked for this all my life,” Green told The Oklahoman before his signing ceremony inside Choctaw’s gym.
Why Boston College?
“It was just like, ‘Why not?’” Green said. “They gave me no reason not to go. It was everything I needed. I loved it there. As soon as I went I had no doubt that that’s where I was going.”
Green is set to become the third Oklahoman on coach Bill O’Brien’s BC roster, joining a couple of Tulsa Union products in quarterback Shaker Reisig and defensive back Ashton Cunningham.
Green’s only other visit was to West Virginia, but he never really considered playing for any program except the maroon and gold of Boston College.
“I think that’s the farthest east we’ve ever sent anybody,” Choctaw coach Jake Corbin said. “It goes to show that people are always watching.
Green’s family is already preparing for repeated trips to the Northeast.
“I’m just so proud, so excited, all at the same time,” said DeAundrey Green, Da’Jon’s dad. “He’s getting ready to be great on the next journey, but for right now we’ve got to bring home another (gold) ball Friday.”
Choctaw will play Sand Springs at 7 p.m. Friday at UCO’s Chad Richison Stadium in the Class 6A-II state title game.
Choctaw is the defending state champion. The Yellowjackets will be making their third state championship game appearance in the last four years.
Da’Jon Green, a four-year starter and senior captain, is hoping to leave a legacy as a back-to-back champ.
“I gotta finish the job here before I leave,” he said.
Green will soon be playing on Saturdays. And then on Sundays, Corbin said confidently.
“This guy will play in the NFL here in the next couple years,” Corbin said.
Corbin pointed to Green’s combination of two key traits.
“He’s obviously extremely talented, but his work ethic and his character is so rare,” Corbin said. “He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around and just a guy that continually exemplifies the gold standard with everything that he does.”
-Joe Mussatto, columnist
Why OL Daniel McMorris signed with Cal on National Signing Day
Norman North offensive lineman Daniel McMorris signed with Cal on Wednesday despite a coaching change. Here’s why.
Norman North offensive lineman Daniel McMorris never doubted he had made the right decision.
Although Cal fired head coach Justin Wilcox on Nov. 23, McMorris — a recent Golden Bears commit — got some affirmation from the program, which is nearing a deal with Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi to take Wilcox’s spot.
“The very first day when all the news came out, the GM called me – Coach (Ron) Rivera,” McMorris said. “I knew he was going to make the right decision, so I was really proud.”
The 6-foot-6, 260-pound McMorris made it official with Cal on Wednesday morning, signing with the Golden Bears in Norman North’s gymnasium.
In McMorris, Cal will get a four-star prospect and the state’s top offensive lineman in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports. He is No. 8 on The Oklahoman’s Super 30 rankings of the state’s top college football recruits.
“It feels great,” McMorris said. “It’s a surreal feeling because I remember being a freshman watching everybody else signing. Now it’s my time. I’m going to a great school, great program, so I’m really excited.”
McMorris committed to Minnesota in June.
He decommitted in September before announcing on Halloween he was picking Cal.
“I think it was the best decision for me,” McMorris said. “I’m going to the place where I think I have a chance to come play early. If everything falls in line, then I’m gonna be playing early. That was really the biggest thing. And it’s a great academic school, as well.”
McMorris began his high school career as a defensive player before switching to a full-time offensive lineman as a junior.
His recruitment took off as McMorris showed his potential, and Minnesota offered him a scholarship in October of that year before many more Division I schools followed.
“He’s got athleticism for a guy that’s as long as he is,” Norman North coach Justin Jones said. “That’s one of the reasons why he’s a Power Four offensive lineman is because of what he is today but what he can be as he continues to grow and develop over the next four and five years.
— Nick Sardis, Staff writer
Washington football signs WR Mason James to 2026 recruiting class
Norman North star receiver Mason James signed with Washington on Wednesday to open National Signing Day. Here’s why.
Mason James had opportunities from all around the country.
The state’s top prospect in the 2026 class according to 247Sports Composite, the Norman North receiver’s recruitment picked up early as he received an offer from OU during his sophomore year, sparking other programs to do the same.
He narrowed his choices to Kansas State, Missouri, OU, Texas and Washington.
For James, there was something different about Washington, and he announced his commitment to the Huskies this past summer.
It’s a decision he was still 100% happy with as he signed with the school in Norman North’s gymnasium Wednesday.
“I feel like that’s my family up there,” said James, who plans to enroll in Seattle next semester. “It’s always been a blessing to be in contact with them. Just feel the love from them every single day.”
James, a four-star recruit, finished with his senior year with 68 receptions for 1,150 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He helped Norman North advance to the Class 6A-I playoffs.
The Timberwolves lost to Mustang 42-17 in the first round and finished 5-6.
James had a solid performance in his final high school game, catching eight passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.
“It was definitely a different season for us, but I know the younger guys are going to pick it back up next season,” James said. “Lost in the first round, but it was a really good season.”
James is focused on the next chapter.
“I feel like I’m a great fit into their offense,” James said. “(Head) Coach (Jedd) Fisch, the wide receiver coaching, I feel like that’s the best in the country, so I got three great wide receiver coaches in the room that I have a great relationship with all three of them. And the program, I feel like it’s an up-and-coming program that I want to be a part of.”
— Nick Sardis, Staff writer
Edmond Santa Fe’s JaeLin Battle explains why he signed with Baylor football
Edmond Santa Fe defensive lineman Jae’Lin Battle chose Baylor over Division-I offers from Washington, Missouri, Auburn and Arizona State.
The stress has been lifted.
Edmond Santa Fe defensive lineman Jae’Lin Battle can finally enjoy his achievements: he’s officially a Baylor Bear. The four-star recruit signed with the Bears on Wednesday afternoon, in front of family and friends in the Santa Fe main cafeteria.
Everywhere he visited, he found a red flag, but at Baylor, there were none. The 6-foot-2, 280-pound Battle is looking forward to getting some playing time.
“(I’m looking forward) to earning my starter spot next year as a freshman,” Battle said. “Hopefully getting on the field.”
Battle’s been a four-year starter for the Wolves. Formerly an offensive player, Battle moved to the defensive side and played both ways in his sophomore and junior years.
In between his sophomore and junior years, he worked through some injuries, but came back to rededicate himself to the weight room and growing as a leader.
“(He) improved immensely,” Santa Fe defensive coordinator Todd Bonnewell said. “His play and his rededication got him the offers that he got.”
Battle chose Baylor out of multiple Division 1 schools, including Washington, Missouri, Auburn and Arizona State.
Due to various injuries on Santa Fe’s defense, Battle had to be moved to various positions, and the four-star prospect thrived in his versatility.
“He can do anything on the defensive line,” Bonnewell said.
Surrounded by a big family, Battle put the pen to paper, and this time next year, he’ll be wrapping up his first season at Baylor
— Isa Almeida, Staff Writer