Oklahoma beats Texas A&M for 5-star DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy

Texas A&M made its case, and Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy will see his parents move close to the Aggie campus in January for work, but the five-star out of Lakeland, Fla. couldn’t say no to Oklahoma.

Both his parents went to school in Norman. Other family members are Oklahoma graduates as well. Some family members still live in the state, so his love for the Sooners runs deep.

“Me choosing Oklahoma makes my family happy for sure, but this was my decision all the way,” Brownlow-Dindy said. “With me going to Oklahoma, it does continue a trend in our family, so everyone is happy.

“I grew up following Oklahoma, my whole family loves Oklahoma, so this is big for the family.”

The No. 3 player in the country and the No. 1 defensive lineman in the 2022 class felt no pressure to choose Oklahoma, but that is where his heart led him.

“My dad has a lot of Oklahoma shirts, but he always told me that he would get new shirts if I chose another school. My dad never told me to go to Oklahoma or anything like that.

“This was my experience, my decision, and this was all on my own. I felt very comfortable with Oklahoma and it is a great school for me.”

Relationships with Oklahoma staff key in Brownlow-Dindy’s commitment

Texas A&M put a lot of time and effort into Brownlow-Dindy’s recruitment. Jimbo Fisher and the coaches in College Station knew what they were up against, but numerous staff members recruited the top player in Florida hard, got to know the parents well, and made a strong effort.

Lincoln Riley and his staff in Norman did the same. They took nothing for granted despite the strong connections to the Sooners.

“The relationships I have with the coaches at Oklahoma are a big part of my decision,” Brownlow-Dindy said. “Out of all the head coaches from the schools that recruited me, coach Riley talked to me the most.

“Some head coaches would reach out every month or every two months, but coach Riley was every week. He was always checking on how I was doing, getting to know me, and that stood out.

“Coach Thib (Calvin Thobodeax, defensive line) did the same thing. He has been very consistent, and he, coach Riley, and the Oklahoma coaches made it seem like family.

“In recruiting, sometimes you can tell when coaches are being a little fake, and it is a long process for all coaches, but Oklahoma coaches were real, they were genuine, and the connection they made with me and my family meant a lot.”

Brownlow-Dindy feels Norman fits his personality

Brownlow-Dindy complimented the environment at Texas A&M, and he felt good on his visits there too, but the feeling in Norman was just right for him.

“It felt like a big family atmosphere to me,” Brownlow-Dindy said. “The people love their players. The environment felt good.

“Game-day was crazy, every seat was filled, and it was really loud. I loved the game-day environment. The people there support the team.

“Then, when I was there in the summer, and even on my official visit before game-day, things were camp. It was laid back and a calm city. It was not too busy, and it fits me.

“I really like what it is like during the week, then the spirit on game-day.”

There wasn’t anything missing for Brownlow-Dindy in Norman. He felt was he needed to feel, he saw what he needed to see, and he found his future home.

“Oklahoma had all I was looking for. The environment, the city, the coaches, the school, the education, the trust, and the fit was right at Oklahoma.

“It was about trust, relationships, and my feeling on campus. I needed a good feel on campus, and it needed to feel like family for me.

“Oklahoma is chill, it is like family, and it fits my personality. It is like home.”

Brownlow-Dindy ready to help the Sooners win a championship

Alabama was considered by Brownlow-Dindy, and when people think about the Crimson Tide, they think championships.

That is what the new Oklahoma commit wants to help the Sooners win.

“There was more to this decision than winning a championship for me,” Brownlow-Dindy said. “Of course, I want to win a championship, but I want to be one of the pieces coming in that helps Oklahoma win a championship.

“I want to be a piece of what a team needs to win it all, and I am hoping to be that at Oklahoma.”