UW Turns Attention From One No. 1 Oklahoma Player to Another

Originally posted on Washington Huskies on SI
By Dan Raley | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 3:15 PM ET

No sooner than wide receiver Mason James did a mic drop in Norman, Oklahoma, safety Semaj Stanford on Thursday was holding up a University of Washington football offer on the other side of the Sooners state.

In just hours, the Huskies moved from the No. 1 player in Oklahoma for 2026 -- to pursuing the purported top guy in the state in 2027.

Jedd Fisch's guys clearly are working the state hard, filing their own land-rush claims.

Stanford is a 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back with sprinter speed and a 4-star rating who is just revving up his football recruitment. His UW offer makes an even 30.

Blessed to say I have received an offer from The University Of Washington @CoachBOdom @CoachCRAW @THillBAFootball @BrokenArrowFTBL pic.twitter.com/yrzGXguQxS
— Semaj Stanford (@SemajStanford4) June 13, 2025

As a sophomore, Stanford played for an 8-4 Jenks High team in the Tulsa suburbs and has since transferred 25 miles away to Broken Arrow, which is coming off a 4-8 season. Usually it's the other way around.

He finished up his time at Jenks with a 6A state track championship. He runs 100 meters in 10.64 seconds.

I see 5 stars who don’t move like this, lemme get my 5th. @Bdrumm_Rivals @RivalsFriedman @ChadSimmons_

Good work wit @DwightDobbins if u in the Oklahoma area and not tappin In wit him what u doing. pic.twitter.com/vl7L7RqhSZ
— Semaj Stanford (@SemajStanford4) April 12, 2025

Stanford naturally has all of the leading Oklahoma and Texas football teams offering him, plus the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska Miami and Oregon.

Everyone on the outside is trying to take advantage of the slight dip in the Sooners' usually high-powered program, which comes off a 6-7 record.

Stanford seems worldly enough. After all, he's making the break from Jenks to Broken Arrow, which are 25 miles apart.

It wouldn't be a surprise if James and Stanford struck up a conversation and compared college football notes.

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This article first appeared on Washington Huskies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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