The much-anticipated commitment of Michael Hawkins landed with the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday. The Sooners’ legacy announced his commitment via Instagram, picking between the Sooners and the TCU Horned Frogs.
Originally slated to make his verbal commitment at the end of January, the coaching carousel provided a new wrinkle to his decision. Garrett Riley’s decision to leave the Horned Frogs for Clemson created a ripple effect that led TCU to bring in Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Briles.
While at Arkansas, Briles and Hawkins had developed a strong relationship, one that made the Horned Frogs a player in Hawkins’ recruitment in the home stretch.
But ultimately, it was the allure of Oklahoma and the relationships forged with the Sooners’ coaching staff that won out. As Hawkins told Parker Thune of OUInsider at 247Sports, “I was kind of disappointed with him leaving Arkansas. Because they were really a top school for me, and I had built a good relationship with that staff. So he went to TCU, and I kind of just followed him. When I got up to TCU, it was good, but I just didn’t feel all the love. It wasn’t the same [as Oklahoma].”
So now Hawkins is in the fold for the [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag]. After Jeremiah Newcombe broke the ice a couple of weeks ago, Brent Venables now has a pair of blue-chip prospects to lay the foundation of his next recruiting class.
Here are some of the best social media reactions to Hawkins’ commitment to Oklahoma.