Oklahoma football: Sooners land commitment from 5-star 2022 DL

Oklahoma football recruiting got some big news on Tuesday, landing the commitment of a five-star defensive lineman for 2022.

Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, a highly recruited defensive lineman from Lakeland, Florida, picked the Sooners over Texas A&M. He is the No. 3 defensive lineman and the No. 5 overall player in the ESPN Top 300 for 2022. 247Sports rates Brownlow-Dindy as the No. 2 defensive lineman in the 2022 class and No. 3 overall.

The five-star defensive line recruit is the highest rated player, and the only five-star recruit, in the Sooners’ 2022 class, which now has 15 verbal commitments.

Brownlow-Dindy has mostly played in high school as an interior pass rusher, according to Ryan Chapman, who covers the Sooners for FanNation, part of the Sports Illustrated network.

The 6-foot, 2-inch, 3-inch, 280-pound Brownlow-Dindy said the relationship he has formed with OU head coach Lincoln Riley was a big factor in his decision.

Brownlow-Dindy’s father, Terrance, told SI’s Chapman that his son always wanted to play for the Sooners. Although his dad works in College Station, Texas, where Texas A&M is located, both Terrance and Brownlow-Dindy’s mother went to OU.

Oklahoma’s 2022 class currently numbers 15 members, eight of which are defensive players, underscoring the Sooners’ focus on building up the team’s defensive presence. 247 Sports ranks OU’s 2022 class as the eighth best in the country currently. The Sooners have not had a top-five recruiting class since 2010.

Brownlow-Dindy may not be the only elite player to commit to the Sooners’ 2022 class this month. Four-star, in-state athlete/DB prospect is reported to be leaning toward Oklahoma and will make his announcement on Oct. 18.