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Oklahoma Adds to 2026 Class With Commitment From Three-Star CB

The Allen, Texas, product became the second cornerback in the Sooners' 2026 class.
Ryan Aber|
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables shouts during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the LSU Tigers at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. Oklahoma won 17-13.
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables shouts during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the LSU Tigers at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. Oklahoma won 17-13. | BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Oklahoma Sooners

NORMAN — Oklahoma added to its 2026 class Wednesday, picking up a commitment from cornerback LeBron Bauer, Rivals' Hayes Fawcett reported.

The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Bauer had offers that included Boise State, Oregon State and New Mexico.

He is a three-star prospect according to the 247 Composite rankings.

Bauer had five interceptions last season as a senior, helping Allen (Texas) to a 14-1 record and a run to the Class 6A D-I semifinals in Texas.

He also played considerable time on special teams.

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Oklahoma general manager Jim Nagy had teased Bauer's commitment Tuesday night, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that the Sooners were going to add to their 2026 class.

Bauer becomes the second cornerback in the class, joining California product Derrick Johnson II, who signed in December.

The Sooners also added a pair of cornerbacks in the transfer ports — Prince Ijioma from Mississippi Valley State and Dakoda Fields from Oregon.

Bauer's commitment comes even as Oklahoma is searching for a cornerbacks coach.

Jay Valai, who had coached corners for the Sooners since Brent Venables' arrival four seasons ago, is going to the NFL to coach cornerbacks for the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills recently hired Joe Brady as head coach.

Valai posted a goodbye to Oklahoma on Wednesday.

"Oklahoma will always be a special place, and it's the people who make it that way," Valai posted, in part, on X.

The Sooners return a pair of starters at cornerback next season, including Courtland Guillory, who became just the second true freshman to start at cornerback in a season opener for OU last season, and Eli Bowen.

Jacobe Johnson has plenty of experience at the position but outside of those three, there is little experience.

Jeremiah Newcombe and Trystan Haynes could be in the mix for playing time there, as well as Fields and Ijioma.

Wednesday opens up the February signing period, which was long the primary signing day for high school prospects.

The importance of the February signing period has diminished greatly in recent years since high school players were allowed to sign in December.

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Ryan Aber
RYAN ABER

Ryan Aber has been covering Oklahoma football for more than a decade continuously and since 1999 overall. Ryan was the OU beat writer for The Oklahoman from 2013-2025, covering the transition from Bob Stoops to Lincoln Riley to Brent Venables. He covered OU men's basketball's run to the Final Four in 2016 and numerous national championships for the Sooners' women's gymnastics and softball programs. Prior to taking on the Sooners beat, Ryan covered high schools, the Oklahoma City RedHawks and Oklahoma City Barons for the newspaper from 2006-13. He spent two seasons covering Arkansas football for the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas before returning to his hometown of Oklahoma City. Ryan also worked at the Southwest Times Record in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and the Muskogee Phoenix. At the Phoenix, he covered OU's national championship run in 2000. Ryan is a graduate of Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma City and Northeastern State University in Tahlequah.

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