A trip to corny Lincoln, Nebraska, won't be needed for DeZephen Walker.
Walker, a four-star 2026 running back, committed to the Oklahoma Sooners on Monday, according to a post on X by his dad, Demetrios. Walker later confirmed the news with his own announcement on Instagram.
Walker just visited OU this past weekend and had an official visit to Nebraska scheduled for this upcoming weekend, but he ultimately made his decision before that trip.
We Are Officially Committed To The University of Oklahoma!! Thank You Coaches & Staff For a Great Official Visit! Great Gift For Father’s Day!! CONGRATULATIONS SON, GO BE GREAT!! B⭕️⭕️MER S⭕️⭕️NER!!! ⭕️UDNA!!!🙌🏾💯🎯⚓️🫡💪🏾💪🏾 #Sooners #Committed #OU #SEC #HappyFathersDay #Thankful pic.twitter.com/E85WhbjDs5
— Demetrios Coach Walker💎 (@DMajor1st) June 16, 2025
DeZephen Walker commits to Oklahoma after visit
Walker had also already made official visits to Notre Dame, Kansas State, Purdue and Kansas. He narrowed his choices down after offers from the likes of Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M and more. He ultimately chose OU even after the Sooners didn't offer until May 9.
The official visit was Walker's first-ever trip to Norman. It was an impressive recruiting job from running backs coach DeMarco Murray to secure Walker and get him to shut down his recruitment early even after the late offer, plus just one visit on campus and Murray making an in-home visit.
Every major recruiting service but 247Sports has Walker, listed at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, as a four-star recruit out of Peculiar, Missouri. According to the 247Sports Composite, Walker ranks as the No. 25 running back in the 2026 class and No. 5 overall player in the state of Missouri. Rivals ranks him as high as the 18th-best running back in the class.
According to MaxPreps, Walker rushed for 957 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards a carry in nine games last season as a junior. He averaged 106.3 rushing yards a game.
Walker became the Sooners' 11th commitment in a rapidly growing 2026 class. After Walker's addition, OU's 2026 class ranks No. 17 in the country, per On3, which favors the Sooners' class the most right now. He's the fourth-highest rated player in the class so far.
Read more about OU football recruiting