Sooner Nation can breathe another sigh of relief.
There was some worry last week when Oklahoma defensive end commit Matthew Nelson announced via X that he received an offer from the Alabama Crimson Tide, but on Monday, Nelson erased any worry that he would flip his commitment to an SEC rival or anyone at all.
Sooners land big win as Matthew Nelson shuts down Alabama flip rumors
"The offers are still coming , and although I’m grateful and humbled to continue being sought after, my loyalty still stays with OU, I’m excited to be officially beginning my journey with my OU family in January 2026. Let’s Go," Nelson wrote in a post on X.
The offers are still coming , and although I’m grateful and humbled to continue being sought after, my loyalty still stays with OU, I’m excited to be officially beginning my journey with my OU family in January 2026. Let’s Go!! @OU_Football @CoachVenables @MiguelChavis65
— Matthew Nelson (@ykitsmatthew) September 9, 2025
It's not necessarily the offers that had OU fans worried about losing Nelson -- it's that he actually boasted about that one on social media. However, after Nelson's reassurance, it could seem like a feather in Brent Venables' cap that Nelson made the world aware that Alabama wanted him, but he would still rather be a Sooner.
On June 8, the same day he committed to OU, Nelson also announced that he shut down his recruitment, so this is twice now that Nelson has assured his loyalty to the Sooners.
After long and careful consideration I’m officially shutting down my recruiting process, I have been blessed to be able to experience it and I wouldn’t want it to be any other way. Go Sooners!! @Coach_SandersQ @coachbschu @247recruiting@OU_Football @CoachVenables @MiguelChavis65 pic.twitter.com/CbfVWshXNU
— Matthew Nelson (@ykitsmatthew) June 9, 2025
According to the 247Sports Composite, Nelson, a consensus three-star recruit, is the No. 50 edge rusher in the 2026 class and No. 8 overall prospect in the state of Arkansas out of Bryant High School. There's no wonder Alabama also wants Nelson with his SEC size at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds.
Read more about OU football recruiting