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Sooners finish as runners-up to an elite recruit who would have been the perfect replacement for a player who will soon be in the NFL
TL;DR
The Oklahoma Sooners finished as runners-up for four-star defensive tackle George Toia, who chose UCLA instead. This decision impacts their 2027 recruiting class as they seek a replacement for a player heading to the NFL.
Key points
- Oklahoma Sooners finished as runners-up for George Toia
- Toia is a four-star defensive tackle
- He chose UCLA over Oklahoma
- Sooners have a strong 2027 recruiting class
- The decision affects their NFL transition plans
Oklahoma SoonersUCLAGeorge Toia
Apr 18, 2026; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables watches during the Oklahoma Spring Game at Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The Oklahoma Sooners have a loaded 2027 recruiting class, but at the end of the day, they can’t land every single recruit.
The Oklahoma Sooners have landed almost every major player they have wanted when it comes to the 2027 recruiting class. Well, that's certainly how it's felt. However, they just finished as runners-up on one of the best defensive tackles in the entire country.
On Thursday, the Sooners lost the battle for four-star defensive tackle George Toia, not to be mistaken for Sooner Scoop's George Stoia. Toia chose UCLA over OU.
Toia is 6'2, 300 pounds. He's projected to be a nose tackle, similarly to Jayden Jackson. Oklahoma is in a spot where they will almost always have an elite defensive line, at least on paper. And, they likely still will even without landing Toia, but getting him would have boosted it so much more.
The last time he was asked about Oklahoma and which school was his favorite was in December. At that time, everything was pretty even.
"They are all up there for me!" Toia told Rivals regarding Texas Tech, Oklahoma, USC, and the Oregon Ducks. "I've been talking to the coaches a lot. They're hitting me up every day. That makes me feel like a priority… The visit to Oklahoma went great. The defense there and the coaches over there have me excited about Norman. It's a great place to play."
According to Rivals’ ranking system and predictions, the Sooners finished second.
OU still has three defensive tackles on its commitment list for 2027 recruiting class
Deven Robertson, Elija Harmon, and Sione Felila are all committed to OU and are all big defensive tackle prospects. That could be why Toia chose to go a different route. Also, Felila chose OU just a few days ago. So, who knows, maybe Toia was going to choose OU, but then Felila's commitment messed that up.
Q&A
Why did George Toia choose UCLA over Oklahoma Sooners?
George Toia chose UCLA likely due to factors such as program fit, coaching staff, and personal preferences.
Who are the key players in the Oklahoma Sooners' 2027 recruiting class?
The Oklahoma Sooners' 2027 recruiting class includes several major players, though specific names beyond George Toia were not detailed.
What impact does losing George Toia have on the Sooners' future?
Losing George Toia may hinder the Sooners' defensive line depth and complicate their search for a suitable replacement as they prepare for upcoming NFL departures.
