The Oklahoma Sooners have a vacancy in their 2027 recruiting class, and it looks like new running backs coach Deland McCullough is looking to fill it with who he actually wants.
Last weekend, 2027 three-star running back Jaxsen Stokes flipped his commitment from OU to in-state Cal, then on Thursday, fellow three-star TJ Lewis announced via X a late offer from the Sooners. Although OU is late to the party, Lewis' recruitment still seems to be wide open for the Sooners to crash.
Deland McCullough offers TJ Lewis as possible Jaxsen Stokes replacement
Stokes had been pledged to the Sooners since Nov. 7 but abruptly changed his mind on Sunday. He was the second running back commit OU has lost since running backs coach DeMarco Murray left Norman for the same position with the Kansas City Chiefs. Micah Rhodes, a 2028 prospect, also decommitted but hasn't decided on his next move yet.
There's still plenty of time to go after 2028 talent, but Stokes' decision gave McCullough, who replaced Murray, a late start to finding his own replacement. The Sooners also could have opted to stick with just one 2027 running back with top-5 recruit Keldrid Ben still committed. However, the recent offer to Lewis reveals that McCullough is looking for a replacement of his own choosing this time.
Read more: Sooners quietly gained from NFL Draft in way tied to Deland McCullough
According to the 247Sports Composite, Lewis, listed at 6-foot and 215 pounds, is the No. 41 running back in the 2027 class. His recruitment has recently escalated with offers from Michigan, Penn State, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, Michigan State, Illinois and Iowa State, just since the turn of the new year.
6,0 225 pounds RB
— Timmie “TJ” lewis”27 RB (@52TjD1) November 3, 2025
Full season + week 1 PO
1,487 yards
19 TDS @EDGYTIM @AllenTrieu @247recruiting @GregSmithRivals @titcus @FBraidernation @mwfbrecruiting pic.twitter.com/buhLYTxGZl
Lewis so far for this summer has scheduled official visits to Indiana (June 19), Kansas (June 12) and Minnesota (May 29). He was also at in-state Illinois earlier this month. The Sooners will have to get Lewis to Norman this summer to have a real chance at landing him for McCullough's first recruiting win at OU.
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