OU Football Secures Game-Changing CB Derrick Johnson II in 2026 — What This Means for Sooners’ Future Defense

Recruiting season at Oklahoma is buzzing louder than a packed stadium on game day, and the Sooners are making moves you won’t want to blink past. Snagging their third pledge in a mere 72 hours, they’ve added three-star cornerback Derrick Johnson II to the roster, who chose OU over some heavyweight programs like TCU, UCLA, and Washington. This momentum builds on the recent commits of standout interior offensive lineman Noah Best and dynamic edge rusher Matthew Nelson, confirming that Oklahoma’s 2026 class is shaping up to be something special. Johnson, standing tall at 6-foot-2 and boasting impressive track times despite battling injuries, brings a blend of athleticism and grit that has fans and scouts intrigued. With a football pedigree tracing back to his father, a former NFL draft pick, Derrick II is poised to make his own mark in Norman. It’s clear—OU’s pipeline is flowing strong, and there’s plenty more action on the horizon! LEARN MORE

NORMAN — OU football’s recruiting is heating up following its massive official visit weekend.Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.At 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, Johnson is ranked as the No. 50 cornerback nationally and the No. 52 player in California out of Murrieta High School by 247Sports.

The younger Johnson is the first cornerback and 10th overall commit of the Sooners‘ 2026 class.

A multi-sport athlete, Johnson recorded personal best times of 11.12 seconds in the 100 meters, 22.40 in the 200 and 51.82 in the 400 on the track this spring despite dealing with injuries. Last fall, he finished with 47 tackles, seven for loss, two sacks and an interception in 13 football games.

His father, Derrick Johnson Sr., played at Washington and was a sixth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2005.

The Sooners landed their third commitment in as many days Tuesday after three-star cornerback Derrick Johnson II chose OU over TCU, UCLA and Washington. Johnson’s commitment follows four-star interior offensive lineman Noah Best and edge rusher Matthew Nelson’s pledges on Monday and Sunday, respectively.