Top 2028 RB commit decommits, leaving Sooners to rebuild their 2028 class from scratch
The Oklahoma Sooners have hit a significant early snag in their efforts to build the 2028 recruiting class. On Wednesday morning, four-star running back Micah Rhodes officially decommitted from the program, according to On3 recruiting insider Hayes Fawcett.
This move forces the Sooners to essentially start their 2028 class from scratch, as Rhodes had been their lone verbal commitment in the cycle up to this point.
Rhodes, a standout prospect from Spring, Texas, and Klein Oak High School, is widely regarded as the top running back in the entire 2028 recruiting cycle. Standing at approximately 5-foot-10 and weighing around 195 pounds, he brings a dynamic blend of speed, vision, power, and elusiveness that has drawn comparisons to some of the top backs to come out of the Lone Star State in recent years.
He originally committed to Oklahoma on January 29, choosing the Sooners over strong interest from in-state powers like the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies, along with several other high-profile programs.
The commitment appeared solid at the time, driven largely by Rhodes' strong relationship with then-Oklahoma running backs coach DeMarco Murray. Murray played a pivotal role in landing the early pledge.
However, that foundation crumbled when there were calls fo Murray's dismal after a rough few seasons coaching tailbacks, he left Norman earlier this offseason to take the running backs coach position with the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs.
The departure created immediate uncertainty in Rhodes' recruitment, as the personal connection that helped seal his initial decision was no longer in place.
Rhodes made his first visit back to Norman on March 30 since Murray's exit. During that trip, he had the chance to meet and evaluate the new running backs coach, Deland McCullough, a veteran assistant with a strong track record of developing NFL-caliber talent from stops at Notre Dame, USC, and the NFL level with teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders.
McCullough, hired by head coach Brent Venables in late February, is expected to be an immediate upgrade from Murray after working with the development of Ashton Jeanty and Jeremiah Love.
Rhodes also took a recent visit to Texas, where his grandfather played college football in the 1980s. That family tie, combined with the natural pull of playing close to home in a loaded SEC environment, likely factored heavily into his decision to reopen his recruitment.
With Rhodes now back on the market as one of the most sought-after prospects in the country, major programs are expected to ramp up their efforts immediately. Texas, Texas A&M, and other top contenders will almost certainly circle back with renewed interest, offers, and official visit invitations.
From a rankings perspective, Rhodes sits among the elite in the 2028 class. He is rated as the No. 28 overall prospect nationally and the No. 1 running back in the country by 247Sports.
Additionally, he checks in as the No. 2 player overall from the state of Texas in the cycle, underscoring just how talented and productive he has been at the high school level.
His decommitment represents a tangible loss for Oklahoma's future backfield plans.
On the positive side for the Sooners, this setback comes early enough in the process that there is ample time to recover. The 2028 class is still years away from signing, and recruiting cycles at this stage are fluid by nature.
Brent Venables and his staff have already demonstrated elite recruiting prowess, as evidenced by Oklahoma currently holding the No. 1-ranked 2027 recruiting class in the nation. That momentum in the nearer-term cycle provides a strong foundation and recruiting infrastructure that can be leveraged to rebuild the 2028 group quickly.
The coaching staff will now shift focus toward identifying and pursuing other high-upside running backs while continuing to cast a wide net across the country and especially in talent-rich Texas.