5-star kicker Trace Rudd commits to Sooners in viral ChampU BBQ moment

The Oklahoma Sooners finally added a five-star talent to their 2026 recruiting class.

Elite kicker Trace Rudd committed to the Sooners over the weekend during OU's ChampU BBQ, which is the program's biggest annual recruiting event of the year. Rudd announced his decision on social media with a hype video of the OU staff celebrating his move.

OU gets future kicker during biggest recruiting event of the year

Major recruiting outlets don't really rate specialists, but Kohl’s Kicking, the best recruiting service for special teams players, including kickers, punters and long snappers, lists Rudd as a five-star prospect as a kicker and he was given four and a half stars as a punter. He's also ranked as the No. 27 kicker in the 2026 class and No. 73 punter.

The Sooners were the first Power Four program to offer Rudd on June 2 before Texas Tech also did a week later.

Rudd is from Blue Valley Northwest High School in Kansas. As a junior last season, he made five of his seven field-goal attempts with a long of 48 yards. He also averaged 38 yards on four punt attempts.

Although a special teams addition will likely get overlooked, the importance of a solid kicker is unnoticed until needed, or until a team lacks one. If he lives up to the hype as a five-star kicker, Rudd will certainly be the difference in winning or losing a few games during his career with the Sooners.

Those in a locker room definitely know that reality. That's why the OU staff was so pumped about Rudd's commitment, as well as his future teammates and Sooner Nation afterward.

Rudd was the Sooners' 11th addition to the 2026 class so far. He's the only specialist and lone five-star recruit.

Read more about OU football recruiting