The classic college choice fake outs aren't as funny when you're the one getting played.
Linebacker Braxton Lindsey had hats from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Miami and Missouri in front of him during his commitment announcement on Monday. Lindsey briefly placed the OU cap on his head before putting it back on the table and reached down to pull out a giant BYU hat from below to ultimately commit to the Cougars. BYU wasn't even included in Lindsey's announced top 4.
Braxton Lindsey chooses BYU over Sooners after fake out
After a brief pump-fake towards Oklahoma, four-star Rogers linebacker Braxton Lindsey commits to BYU. pic.twitter.com/Ae05tRs46z
— Michael Main (@MichaelMain__) July 7, 2025
Lindsey is a three-star 2026 linebacker from Rogers High School in Arkansas. According to the 247Sports Composite, he's the No. 35 linebacker in the class and seventh-best prospect in Arkansas.
BYU made a late push to land Lindsey after he visited there on June 19. He took his official visit to OU on June 6 and he went to Arkansas the week between those stops. The Cougars, though, had been after Lindsey much longer since offering him in November. OU just offered in February.
Even without Lindsey, the Sooners already have two linebackers from the 2026 committed. Four-star Jakore Smith is currently the second-highest rated recruit in OU's 2026 group behind only quarterback Bowe Bentley. According to the 247Sports Composite, Smith is the No. 19 linebacker in the country.
OU also has three-star Beau Jandreau, who's the No. 96 LB based on the 247Sports Composite. Jandreau's twin brother, Niko, a safety, committed to OU a month before his sibling followed.
Read more about OU football recruiting