BREAKING: Nation’s No. 1 Recruit, Four-Star Running Back Jonathan Hatton Jr., Flips Commitment Back to Oklahoma Sooners
**NORMAN, Okla.** – In a stunning, full-circle recruiting victory that has sent shockwaves through the college football world, the Oklahoma Sooners have secured a commitment from one of the most coveted running backs in America. **Jonathan Hatton Jr.** , the four-star running back from Cibolo, Texas, and ESPN’s No. 8 running back in the Class of 2026, announced his decision to flip his commitment from Texas A&M back to the Oklahoma Sooners .
The announcement, which came just days before National Signing Day, represents one of the most dramatic recruiting victories of the Brent Venables era. Hatton, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound rusher and ESPN’s No. 71 overall recruit in the 2026 class, had been committed to Texas A&M since March after originally pledging to Oklahoma in October 2023 . His decision to return to Norman marks the second time he has committed to the Sooners, making this flip particularly significant.
“This is home,” Hatton reportedly told OU coaches. “I never should have left.”
This monumental flip is the ultimate validation of the momentum head coach **Brent Venables** has built as the Sooners prepare for the early signing period beginning Dec. 3 . Following a 10-win season that culminated in a College Football Playoff appearance, Oklahoma has positioned itself as a legitimate national contender, and landing a player of Hatton’s caliber proves that vision is now resonating at the highest level .
Hatton, a 1,200-yard rusher in each of his last three seasons at Cibolo Steele High School, joins a loaded 2026 Oklahoma backfield class that also includes four-star rusher DeZephen Walker . His return immediately elevates the Sooners’ recruiting class, which began Monday ranked 21st in ESPN’s team rankings . Following Hatton’s flip, Oklahoma now holds four SC Next 300 pledges in its incoming class, joining five-star defensive end Jake Kreul (No. 25 overall), No. 2 dual-threat quarterback Bowe Bentley (No. 103), and four-star pass catcher Daniel Odom (No. 299) .
“This is a massive recruiting victory for Oklahoma and Brent Venables,” declared recruiting analysts. “For the Sooners to win back a player of Hatton’s caliber—especially from a conference rival like Texas A&M, and especially after he had been committed elsewhere for months—is a testament to the culture Venables has built. Hatton is the kind of foundational offensive piece that can anchor a championship backfield.”
The move is deeply connected to Oklahoma’s offensive philosophy under coordinator Ben Arbuckle and the program’s recent success on the field. With quarterback John Mateer returning for the 2026 season, Hatton’s addition provides a dynamic, proven playmaker to complement the passing attack . The Sooners, who rank 99th nationally in rushing yards per game in 2025, clearly prioritized upgrading their ground game through elite recruiting .
The implications are immediate and profound. Hatton’s commitment adds to a late-surging 2026 class that also recently flipped three-star safety Markel Ford from SMU and re-established momentum after losing a long-time pledge . Oklahoma remains active in the lead-up to signing day, with sources expecting the Sooners to continue pursuing four-star Wisconsin wide receiver commit Jayden Petit and others .
For Texas A&M, the loss of its top running back commit is a significant setback. For Oklahoma and Sooner Nation, it is a transformative, program-defining moment that signals a new era of championship ambition.
Jonathan Hatton Jr. is more than a running back; he is a symbol of Oklahoma’s restored recruiting power and the catalyst for its brightest future. In Norman, the message is clear: Boomer Sooner, an oldd welcome back home.
