Oklahoma remains in the driver's seat for 4-star athlete CJ Nickson

The Sooner State is loaded with football talent in the 2025 cycle, and Oklahoma is making a number of schools inside their borders a top priority.

Brent Venables and Co. already have commitments from five of the state’s top 11 prospects, and now they’re waiting on a pledge from No. 6. And that happens to be the second-rated player in the state, Weatherford (Okla.) four-star jumbo athlete CJ Nickson.

The Sooners have been considered the frontrunners in his recruitment for some time, and SoonerScoop.com recruiting editor Josh McCuistion believes it’s a matter of when and not if he commits to the the local school.

“It’s kind of a ‘what is he waiting for at this point?’ That’s honestly what it feels like with CJ Nickson,” McCuistion said Wednesday during On3’s Inside Scoop recruiting show. “Because there’s no real indication of any other school making a run at him. He’s not ‘Oh, he’s taking a visit here or he was there a few weeks ago.’ It just feels like Oklahoma is where he’s the most comfortable, they’ve pushed for him really hard, they’ve made him a priority since early on. I don’t think there’s another guy in this class I’d be more surprised if he wasn’t part of Oklahoma’s class.”

Nickson would give the Sooners a dynamic two-way player

That also reflects the latest intel from On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons, who wrote this about Nickson last week.

“Oklahoma is in the driver’s seat for Nickson. He is close to the staff, especially Miguel Chavis, and the Sooners will be tough to beat. It is hard to name another school to watch. Nickson was back in Norman last week and the Sooners are trending in a big way.”

Nickson stars on both sides of the ball at Weatherford, but is primarily being recruited on defense at the next level by the Sooners.

In the past two seasons, he has racked up 100 total tackles, nine tackles for loss and four sacks playing defensive end. He could also see packages on offense as well, though. In three years at the high school level, he has totaled 94 receptions, more than 1,500 yards and 18 receiving touchdowns.

The 6-foot-5, 216-pounder is the No. 126 overall prospect in the 2025 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also ranks as the nation’s No. 5 athlete.