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Oklahoma Sooners can really take advantage in recruiting as they have underrated 2026 recruit in town for back-to-back weekends

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Justin Churchill | Last updated Jun 1, 2025 7:56 PM ET

The Oklahoma Sooners are known as a team that strategically recruits, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Brent Venables, one of the best defensive minds in the sport over the last decade or so, recruits his own way.

He offers players based on what he sees and what he thinks, not what On3, Rivals, 247 Sports, or any other major recruiting site has to say or rank a player. So, just because one player is unranked, or not ranked very high, does not mean that the Sooners don't think he is a good football player.

And a player that they are obviously holding in high regard is currently on campus, and that applies to him. And now they have a chance to land him.

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Sooners to have two weekends with Matthew Nelson

Matthew Nelson is one of the best high school football players in the state of Arkansas, a neighboring recruiting state of Oklahoma, and a state that the Sooners have recently recruited very well. In fact, the 2025 class has a few kids from Arkansas as well.

Nelson is a defensive end in the class of 2026, who stands at 6'5" and 215 pounds, and has the size and athleticism to be a decent edge rusher in the SEC if all goes well. He plays for Bryant High School, a strong program in Arkansas, and a school that has basically dominated the sport in that state, similar to how Bixby has with Oklahoma.

A notable competitor here this morning at the #Sooners’ first elite camp... Bryant (Ark.) DE Matthew Nelson is in town.

Nelson will return to Oklahoma next weekend for his official visit as Miguel Chavis and the OU staff vie for his commitment. pic.twitter.com/qSQeUjXRlL
— Parker Thune (@ParkerThune) June 1, 2025

Though he’s currently an unrated recruit according to 247Sports, his potential has caught the eye of college recruiters, especially Oklahoma, as they are a school that usually recruits guys based on their own rankings, and not what a few sites here and there say.

Oklahoma offered Nelson a scholarship after a conversation with their defensive line coach, Miguel Chavis. He’s set to visit the Sooners officially on June 6 but is there this weekend for a High School football camp. This could be a prime opportunity. His teammate, Jakore Smith, is also a 2026 Oklahoma commit, which might sway his decision. So, yes, they need to be taking advantage of this weekend and next weekend.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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