On Thursday, 2026 defensive lineman recruit James Carrington announced his decommitment from Florida State. Then, just two days later, he was committed to be an Oklahoma Sooner.
Rivals recruiting insider Hayes Fawcett reported on Saturday that Carrington committed to OU after Rivals' Steve Wiltfong already logged a prediction for the Sooners to land Carrington just hours after he decommitted on Thursday.
BREAKING: Class of 2026 DL James “Tank” Carrington has Committed to Oklahoma, he tells me for @rivals
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) August 16, 2025
The 6’3 270 DL from Irvine, CA Decommitted from Florida State on Thursday
“All glory to God. BOOMER SOONER!!!”https://t.co/Gqtp82aTIf pic.twitter.com/2VM8tXR9Zo
James Carrington commits to Sooners
The Sooners and Seminoles can now be considered even on the recruiting trail during this cycle after quarterback Jaden O'Neal backed out of his pledge to OU to commit to Florida State earlier this summer.
Now the Sooners have the task of getting Carrington to stay put until Early National Signing Day in December. Not only has Carrington already flipped his college choice once, but he's also attending his fourth different high school.
Carrington started his preps journey in Baltimore before moving to Georgia as a sophomore. He then headed west to play at powerhouse Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas last season and will finish his high school career at Crean Lutheran High School in California. He had plenty of success last year, though, and was named a Navy All-American.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 270 pounds, Carrington is a consensus three-star recruit. According to the 247Sports Composite, he's the No. 63 DL in the 2026 class and became the No. 42 prospect in California after his most recent move.
Carrington's loaded list of offers includes Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC and more.
The Sooners offered Carrington last June and he took an unofficial visit to Norman last year when the Sooners hosted South Carolina. He was then scheduled to take an official visit to OU in June, but then canceled it after committing to Florida State.
Carrington was the Sooners' second addition to their future defensive front just this week. On Tuesday, ESPN five-star edge rusher Jake Kreul announced his commitment on "The Pat McAfee Show."
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