College football recruiting can change quickly, and the Oklahoma Sooners have now lost one player from their strong 2027 recruiting class. Running back Jaxsen Stokes has decided to decommit from Oklahoma and choose a different path by joining the Cal Golden Bears. Even though this is a setback, Oklahoma still remains in a strong position for the 2027 class.
Jaxsen Stokes Leaves Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners had one of the best recruiting classes for 2027, and many ranking systems placed them inside the national top five. Some rankings may place Oklahoma in slightly different positions, but overall, the Sooners are widely seen as one of the strongest recruiting teams in the country for that cycle.
However, that class has now taken a small hit. According to Hayes Fawcett of Rivals, running back Jaxsen Stokes has decommitted from Oklahoma and flipped his commitment to the California Golden Bears.
After making the move, Stokes shared a message through Fawcett, saying, “The best in California play for California! Psalm 23:3.”
Oklahoma Loses a Talented Running Back
Stokes was a talented running back who had interest from several major college football programs. Oklahoma, along with other big schools, missed out on keeping him in the class. His decision to join Cal surprised some fans because Oklahoma is generally seen as a much stronger football programme than Cal.
The article points out that while Cal is a good programme, it is not usually considered on the same level as Oklahoma, USC, Oregon or even UCLA. Still, Stokes chose to stay with a California programme and continue his journey with the Golden Bears.
Stokes’ Ranking in the 2027 Class
Jaxsen Stokes is considered a solid recruit in the 2027 cycle. According to the Rivals Industry Ranking, he is rated as the No. 571 overall prospect in the class. He is also ranked as the No. 51 running back and the No. 51 player in California.
His composite rating is listed as 87.10. These rankings show that he is a talented player with good potential, even if he is not among the top national names in the class.
Jaxsen Stokes’ Rivals Rankings
| Category | Ranking |
|---|---|
| Overall prospect in 2027 | No. 571 |
| Running back in 2027 | No. 51 |
| Player in California | No. 51 |
| Composite rating | 87.10 |
Sooners Still Strong at Running Back
Even though Oklahoma has lost Stokes, the Sooners are expected to be fine at running back. The programme has not struggled to recruit talented players at that position. In fact, Oklahoma’s 2026 class already includes two running backs who could possibly get playing time as freshmen.
For the 2027 class, Oklahoma still has four-star running back Keldrid Ben. Even if Ben were the only running back in that class, the Sooners would still be in a good position. This is why Stokes’ departure is being seen as a small loss rather than a major problem.
Stokes Had Been Committed Since November
Stokes had been committed to Oklahoma since November 7. That means he was part of the Sooners’ class for several months before changing his decision. Decommitments are common in college football recruiting, especially with players still having a long time before signing.
His move shows how flexible and unpredictable recruiting can be. A player may like a school at one point but later feel that another programme is a better fit.
Stokes Opens Up About His Decision
Stokes also spoke about the situation and explained that football has changed. He said it is unfortunate, but that is how things go now. According to him, football has become a business at this level, and people have to do what is best for themselves.
He said things happen and he simply has to move on. However, he also made it clear that he is still grateful for Oklahoma’s role in his recruitment.
Stokes said he had been talking to the Oklahoma staff for around three years, starting from his freshman year. He also said he still respects the university and the people there.
Respect for Oklahoma and Brent Venables
Even after leaving the class, Stokes spoke positively about Oklahoma. He said he is still grateful for what the programme did during his recruitment. He also mentioned that he had strong faith in the university.
Stokes especially pointed to head coach Brent Venables. He said he chose the university first and still respects the people on the staff, including Venables as the head coach.
This shows that his decision was not based on bad feelings towards Oklahoma. Instead, it seems to be a personal and career-based choice.
Why Oklahoma Fans Should Not Worry Too Much
For Oklahoma fans, losing Stokes may be disappointing, but it is not a reason to panic. The Sooners still have a top recruiting class, strong running back depth and a coaching staff that continues to attract good players.
The team has already done well in the 2026 class, and the 2027 class still has enough talent to remain highly rated. Recruiting will continue to change, and Oklahoma may still add more players before the cycle is complete.
