The Oklahoma Sooners just landed a major piece for their future backfield - and it’s a big one. Micah Rhodes, one of the most coveted running backs in the 2028 recruiting class, has officially committed to OU, choosing the Sooners over in-state heavyweights Texas and Texas A&M.
Rhodes, out of Klein Oak High School in Spring, Texas, is a name that’s been rising fast in recruiting circles - and for good reason. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, he’s the No. 40 overall prospect in the 2028 class, a top-three running back nationally, and one of the top four players in the football-rich state of Texas. But even that might be underselling him.
The 247Sports national evaluators have him even higher on their board, slotting Rhodes in as the No. 28 overall prospect in the country, the No. 1 running back, and a top-two player in Texas. That’s elite company - and it speaks to just how complete a back he already is, even with years of high school football still ahead of him.
For Rhodes, the decision to commit early wasn’t taken lightly - but Oklahoma made it easy.
“Oklahoma just feels right to me,” Rhodes said. “From the first time I was around the program, I felt comfortable.
The coaches, the players, the culture - it all matches what I’m looking for. It’s a place where I know I can grow as a player and as a person.”
That comfort didn’t happen overnight. The Sooners were one of the first programs to believe in Rhodes, offering him back in June of 2024 - when he was still in middle school.
That early belief wasn’t lost on him. In fact, it became a foundation for the relationship that ultimately led to his commitment.
“Getting offered so early meant a lot to me,” he said. “It showed that they believed in me… They've been showing love to me since my eighth grade year.
Coach Murray has always stayed in touch with me, checked on me, and made sure I knew they believed in me. They never treated me like just another recruit.
They made me feel important from day one.”
That last part - the personal connection - is where Oklahoma separated itself. The Sooners didn’t just recruit a player.
They built a relationship. And at the heart of that connection is running backs coach DeMarco Murray.
Murray, a former Oklahoma star and NFL standout, has been in Rhodes’ corner since the beginning. And for a young back with big-time aspirations, there’s something powerful about learning from someone who’s walked the same path.
“My relationship with Coach Murray is very strong,” Rhodes said. “He’s been there for me since eighth grade, so it’s bigger than football.
He always pushes me to work harder, stay focused, and do the right things on and off the field. I can talk to him about anything, and he’s always honest with me.
He wants the best for me. Not just as a player, but as a person.”
That type of mentorship matters - especially for a player committing this early in the process. And it wasn’t just the coaching staff that made an impression. Rhodes got a full taste of the Oklahoma atmosphere, and it hit different.
“What stood out the most was the environment and how everybody treated me,” he said. “The facilities are crazy, the fans are loud, and the energy is different. But the biggest thing is how the coaches made me feel comfortable every time I went there, like I was already part of the program.”
That kind of feeling - the sense of belonging before even stepping on campus - is what sealed it. For Rhodes, there was no need to wait.
“Coach Murray and the staff have always been real with me and consistent, so I trusted them,” he said. “I felt like Oklahoma was the right place for me, and once I knew that, I didn’t feel like I needed to wait.”
From a scouting perspective, Rhodes brings a well-rounded skill set to the table. He’s not just a burner or a bruiser - he’s a blend of both.
According to 247Sports national analyst Gabe Brooks, Rhodes is a back who “does several position-specific duties well,” with the ability to play through contact and finish runs. He’s got respectable speed - both out of the gate and at the top end - and shows real nuance in how he changes gears.
That kind of acceleration and deceleration ability is rare at this stage.
What’s more, Rhodes has already shown flashes as a pass-catcher, something evaluators noted during live evaluation in Spring 2025. And he’s not just doing it against light competition - he’s been producing at the varsity level in Texas 6A football since his freshman year.
That’s no small feat. Add in a strong football pedigree, and you’ve got a back who checks just about every box.
For Oklahoma, this is more than just a big-time commitment. It’s a statement.
The Sooners identified Rhodes early, built a relationship, and now they’ve secured one of the top offensive weapons in the 2028 class. If he continues on this trajectory, he could be the centerpiece of a future Oklahoma offense - and a name we’ll be hearing a lot more of in the years to come.