The Oklahoma Sooners recently received a boost on the recruiting trail from one of their key 2026 targets. Pupungatoa Katoa, a highly sought-after interior offensive lineman, announced on social media that he has narrowed his list of top schools to three—Oklahoma, SMU, and Texas A&M.
Katoa cut down his list from a crowded field of 23 offers, a notable reduction that also saw previous contenders like Texas and Tennessee drop out of the race. With the latest update, only the Sooners, Mustangs, and Aggies remain in the hunt for one of the top linemen in the South Central region.
According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Katoa is rated as the No. 684 overall recruit in the 2026 class. He’s also listed as the No. 57 interior offensive lineman in the nation and the No. 87 overall player in Texas. The 247Sports Network’s independent rankings place him slightly differently, slotting him at No. 69 among interior linemen and No. 102 overall in the Lone Star State.
Measuring in at 6-foot-3.5 and 365 pounds, Katoa is a prototypical power blocker. His size and strength make him a force in the run game, where he excels with a physical, aggressive style—an ideal fit for power-based offensive schemes.
While a previous 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction had Texas as the frontrunner with a confidence level of six out of ten, that forecast is now irrelevant with the Longhorns out of the picture. Katoa’s recruitment is officially wide open.
Interestingly, Katoa has said he didn’t grow up watching much football and doesn’t have a favorite team, making his upcoming official visits all the more important. He’ll visit SMU on May 2, Oklahoma on June 6, and Texas A&M on June 13. A decision is expected to come shortly after those trips, and all three programs are hoping to land the dominant lineman.
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