The Oklahoma Sooners scored a key win on the recruiting trail Monday, securing a commitment from four-star tight end Tyler Ruxer. The standout from Lincoln City, Indiana, chose Oklahoma over strong pushes from Duke and West Virginia, both of which made the Sooners work to seal the deal. Ultimately, head coach Brent Venables and his staff were able to bring Ruxer into the fold—an important victory as they look to build momentum in the 2026 recruiting cycle.
“BREAKING: Four-Star TE Tyler Ruxer has Committed to Oklahoma, he tells me for @rivals,” recruiting analyst Hayes Fawcett posted. “The 6’4″, 220-pound TE from Lincoln City, IN chose the Sooners over Duke & WVU. He is Rivals’ No. 9 TE in the ’26 Class.”
Ruxer also shared a quick message for Sooner Nation following his decision:
“Norman let’s get it,” he said. “BOOMER SOONER!!!”
While Rivals lists Ruxer as a four-star prospect, 247Sports ranks him as a three-star. He’s currently rated as the No. 489 overall player, the No. 25 tight end, and the No. 3 recruit in the state of Indiana for the 2026 class. Ruxer had several strong offers, but Oklahoma ultimately proved to be the right fit.
This commitment comes at a pivotal time for Oklahoma, which has had a relatively slow start to its 2026 class. With Ruxer on board, the Sooners now hold the No. 32 class in the nation, according to 247Sports. The current haul includes 15 total commitments: six four-stars and nine three-stars, but no five-stars yet. While the class isn’t in bad shape, there’s still significant ground to cover if Oklahoma hopes to compete with the SEC’s elite.
As head coach Brent Venables enters a critical stretch in his tenure, strong recruiting is essential. After a promising 2023 season, Oklahoma struggled in its first SEC campaign. With several key transfers arriving this offseason, expectations are rising—but long-term success depends on building a strong foundation through high school recruiting. Landing Ruxer is a step in the right direction.
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