After what On3's Steve Wiltfong called "literal last-minute conversations" between the SEC's Oklahoma Sooners and Florida Gators, four-star wide receiver Davian Groce abruptly made a decision late Monday evening.
Groce announced earlier Monday that he would finally make his decision later that day after weeks of anticipation that he was surely a lock to OU. But after a day of a “little final negotiating," according to Wiltfong, Groce ultimately committed to Florida over the Sooners in a last-minute recruitment stunner. OU was presumably outbid by the Gators.
Let’s do it ‼️ https://t.co/lOF1zvPzLY
— Davian “Agent 0” Groce (@_davian0) August 12, 2025
Davian Groce commits to Florida over Oklahoma in recruiting shocker
The Sooners whiffed on a heck of an athlete. Groce, listed at 6-foot-2, has been rated at multiple positions by recruiting outlets, but OU wanted him as a receiver. Rivals lists Groce as a wide receiver, while 247Sports and ESPN have him as a running back. Gabe Brooks of 247Sports wrote in his evaluation that Groce is good enough at both positions to play either at the college level. And to top it off, Groce was the 200-meter Texas 5A state champion this year.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Groce is the No. 4 athlete in the class and No. 47 overall player in the 2026 class. He’s the fifth-best prospect in the state of Texas out of Lone Star High School in Frisco. Based on the 247Sports Composite, Groce would had been OU’s highest-rated commit in its 2026 class.
Based on Rivals' ratings, Groce would had been the second-best commit in the Sooners’ class behind only quarterback Bowe Bentley. Groce is the No. 54 overall player in those rankings after Bentley at No. 41. Rivals also ranks Groce as the No. 6 receiver in the 2026 class.
Groce's offer list also included Florida State, Texas A&M, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, SMU, Tennessee and more. He took his official visits this summer to OU, Florida, Baylor and Houston.
The Sooners continue a 2026 commitment drought of more than a month now since tight end Tyler Ruxer committed on July 7. OU is also still left with just one receiver committed from the 2026 class in four-star Daniel Odom, who at least recently reassured his pledge to the Sooners and shut down his recruitment.
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