The Oklahoma Sooners won't play Alabama until November, but the two blue bloods are already competing this season.
OU defensive end commit Matthew Nelson on Thursday announced via X an offer from Alabama despite posting in June that he shut down his recruitment.
Matthew Nelson announces Alabama offer
#AGTG After a great conversation with @CoachSanders14 . I'm blessed to receive an offer from @AlabamaFTBL. Roll Tide!@Coach_SandersQ @coachbschu@247recruiting @PrepRedzoneAR pic.twitter.com/opUawlSlfD
— Matthew Nelson (@ykitsmatthew) September 4, 2025
It would be different if Alabama offered Nelson and a report about it eventually leaked, but it's concerning when Nelson himself boasts about the new offer. Nelson's previous two posts before that included words written by OU defensive tackles coach Todd Bates and his post announcing that he shut down his recruitment.
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
Nelson committed to the Sooners on June 8, just two days after his official visit to Norman. He then visited Tulane a few days after his pledge, but hasn't had any serious recruitment activity since until the Alabama offer.
According to the 247Sports Composite, Nelson, listed at a massive 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, 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. He's a consensus three-star recruit.
Nelson's list of offers really isn't that impressive outside of OU and Alabama, while also including Tulane, Arkansas State, Cincinnati, Houston, Mississippi State, Missouri, Navy, North Texas, South Florida, Tulsa and a few others. Not even the in-state Arkansas Razorbacks have offered Nelson.
The Sooners have loaded up on defensive linemen from the 2026 class, which could had influenced Nelson to entertain other options. Most recently, fellow edge rusher Jake Kreul committed to the Sooners on Aug. 12. ESPN rates Kreul as a five-star recruit, and based on the 247Sports Composite, Kreul is the highest-rated 2026 commit OU has right now. In all, the Sooners have pledges from six defensive linemen, including three defensive ends.
There is good news for the Sooners, though, if they still want to get Nelson to OU. Brent Venables being on the hot seat entering Year 4 at OU has hindered the Sooners in recruiting this cycle. However, after a blowout loss to Florida State to start the 2025 season, the future of Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer looks even more uncertain in Tuscaloosa, so OU's biggest weakness could be negated in this recruiting battle. And if the Sooners beat No. 15 Michigan on Saturday, then Venables' seat will cool considerably.
Read more about OU football recruiting