OU will have to wait even longer for the decision of a big-time DL recruit

The Oklahoma Sooners will have to wait another two weeks to finally learn where they stand with a top target.

Four-star defensive lineman Elijah Golden rescheduled his commitment announcement from Saturday to Aug. 9, two weeks from his original date, according to Steve Wiltfong of Rivals. Golden has already narrowed down his choices between OU, Alabama, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech.

Elijah Golden reschedules commitment

Golden, listed at 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds, is a consensus four-star recruit out of Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, Florida. He was a Navy All-American this year alongside OU quarterback commit Bowe Bentley.

According to the 247Sports Composite, Golden is the No. 26 DL in the 2026 class and also the No. 26 prospect in the state of Florida. However, 247Sports, based on its own ratings, ranks Golden as a top-20 DL at No. 16.

Golden finished up his summer of official visits on June 20 at Notre Dame, which had emerged as the favorite to land Golden and he was even projected by Rivals’ FutureCast to commit to the Fighting Irish. However, after Golden’s prolonged announcement, Notre Dame fans are starting to worry and it seems like the race could still be open.

OU hosted Golden on June 6 after his stop at Virginia Tech. He then visited Alabama after the Sooners. Of Golden’s final options, the Sooners were the last to offer on Feb. 5.

The Sooners have made the defensive line a priority while recruiting the 2026 class. So far, they have four-star Brian Harris committed, as well as defensive ends Matthew Nelson and Daniel Norman. OU is also the frontrunner to get edge rusher Jake Kreul, who ESPN rates as a five-star recruit.

In the 2025 class, before Jim Nagy was general manager, OU added four-star DL Trent Wilson, four-star edge rusher CJ Nickson and three-star edge Alexander Shieldnight.

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