Brent Venables and Sooners lose elite player over one of the hottest recruiting blue-bloods in the country in a tight battle originally appeared on A to Z Sports.
The Oklahoma Sooners were on a roll a few months ago when it came to recruiting. They were landing all of the guys they wanted for the 2026 class left and right. But, things have since slowed down a bit.
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Now, the Sooners have two guys left on their big board for the 2026 class — two guys left that they really, really want. But both are trying to decide between two SEC schools, with one of them being Oklahoma.
We all know about defensive end Jake Kreul, who is set to decide on Tuesday between Texas and Oklahoma. That’s the guy they want the most, and that would be a huge win over the Sooners’ biggest rival.
Then there is wide receiver Davian Groce, or was I should say, as he just committed to play ball in the SEC on Monday. His decision came down to Florida or Oklahoma.
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Davian Groce chooses Florida over Oklahoma
On Monday, Groce chose the Florida Gators over the Sooners to play ball in 2026.
Groce is a standout wide receiver from Frisco Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas, and is considered one of the top prospects in the 2026 class and is definitely one of the best remaining. At 6’2″ and 190 pounds, Groce has shown he can play multiple positions in the WR room, but also as an RB, where he excels as both a running back and wide receiver. In college, especially in the SEC, he will likely be a wide receiver, but if he’s ever asked to convert, he could make the switch.
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His sophomore year stats were impressive, with 936 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, and he also recorded 45 receptions for 860 yards with 9 touchdowns, demonstrating his all-around athletic talent. Yes, those are real numbers. He kind of did it all for his team.
His remarkable performance this last year has earned him high rankings among recruiting services, where 247Sports ranked him as the No. 1 running back in the nation for the 2026 class and the No. 1 overall prospect in Texas. But, should he join Oklahoma, he would likely be a wide receiver. That seems to be the position he’s predicted to play in college. Goce’s other options seemed to be Baylor, Florida, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame, but he narrowed it down to Florida and Oklahoma just a day before his final decision.
If there is one thing anyone should know, it’s that the Florida Gators just got a dog.
This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Aug 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
