How Oklahoma 'Amazed' Talented 2026 Edge Rusher Hudson Woods
On Saturday, March 9, Smithson Valley (TX) edge rusher Hudson Woods made the trek from central Texas to Norman for Oklahoma's "Future Freaks" recruiting event.
Hailing from the San Antonio area, Woods is a big-time pass rusher in the 2026 recruiting class coming off of an impressive sophomore season. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound defensive lineman recorded 14 sacks and 29 tackles for loss in 2023, helping lead the Rangers to a 5A state title berth.
Schools from around the country have started to take notice of Woods' talent, and the standout edge rusher has already racked up six Division I offers from schools like Houston, SMU and North Texas.
While the Sooners have yet to offer Woods, Oklahoma's coaching staff seems to like what the talented sophomore brings to the table, inviting the productive edge rusher to the Future Freaks weekend back in early February.
"It was great," Woods said of his time in Norman. "I was amazed by the culture of OU and all the love the coaches gave."
Woods added that he was able to speak with a few key members of the Sooners' coaching staff, spending time with defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis, head coach Brent Venables and new defensive coordinator Zac Alley.
With over 30 prospects on campus, it is difficult for Oklahoma's staff to speak in-depth with every recruit, but Woods still seemed to get a good feel for what makes OU's coaches so endearing to high school players.
"(Chavis) is a great guy with an amazing personality. I haven’t known him for very long but he is very hard not to love," the sophomore pass rusher said. "(Venables and I) talked for a brief moment, he is very genuine and he has a very caring personality. ... I really liked Coach Alley, he introduced himself to me later on throughout the event. He is also very genuine and a great guy, he will definitely be good for OU's defense."
Similar to some of the other prospects Chavis has recruited, notably 2025 Wagoner (OK) edge rusher and Sooners' pledge Alexander Shieldnight, Woods said that his technique and bend off the edge allow him to be successful on the field. The Smithson Valley star also mentioned that he tries to model his game after former Texas A&M All-American and first round pick Von Miller.
In addition to his fit with the Sooners' coaching staff, Woods added that the OU's tradition and culture stood out during his visit.
"I was very impressed on their history of winning and their facilities," Woods said. "The biggest thing was definitely their culture though. It aligns up very well with my goals and aspirations. How they are focused so highly on building their players as a man and a husband and a father before a player."
Woods isn't Oklahoma's only 2026 target from the San Antonio area, however, as the Sooners' lone sophomore commit, Jonathan Hatton Jr., hails from nearby Cibolo Steele (TX). Being two of the region's top 2026 prospects, Woods and Hatton were formerly on the same 7-on-7 team.
In addition to his relationship with Hatton, the Rangers' defensive lineman also has another connection to the Sooners, as he works with Houston-based skills trainer Jarrett Bailey.
Bailey works with OU freshman wide receiver Zion Kearney and a number of other talented high school prospects and college athletes from the Lone Star State.
After a visit to Norman and a big sophomore season, Woods is certainly on the Sooners' radar, and will be a player for Oklahoma fans to keep an eye on during the 2024 high school football season.
If OU ends up winning the battle for Woods' recruitment, he would be a solid addition to the Sooners' 2026 recruiting cycle that has just one commit, but could be special if the right pieces fall into place.
Oklahoma will also have a shot at landing players like Dereon Coleman, Kevin Ford Jr. and Ryelan Morris in addition to Woods, giving Venables and company a great starting point with the sophomore class.
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