Oklahoma Target Williams Nwaneri Says He's 'Gonna Let Everything Play Out'

The Sooners' top target in the 2024 recruiting class committed to Missouri on Monday, but Thursday night he was wearing OU gear during his team's scrimmage.
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TULSA — What was Williams Nwaneri’s motivation for wearing Oklahoma gloves and OU shoes during his scrimmage against Tulsa Union on Thursday night?

“I had to show love,” Nwaneri said after his Lee's Summit North squad opened the preseason with an 18-7 one-quarter victory over Union.

Nwaneri, the No. 1 recruit in the nation per On3 and the consensus No. 1 edge rusher in high school football in the 2024 recruiting class, said he’s had the OU gear since taking his official visit in June.

But on Monday, the 6-foot-6, 270-pound Nwaneri broke hearts throughout Sooner Land — particularly among the coaching staff in the Switzer Center — by verbally committing to Missouri. He even said he chose the Tigers over Georgia, meaning OU somehow finished third in his eyes even though the consensus opinion for the last several months was that Oklahoma was leading the pack.

And yet, there was Nwaneri, wearing OU apparel for his scrimmage in the Sooner State.

Was it a tribute? Or trolling?

Could OU fans (and Missouri fans) read anything into it — such as Brent Venables’ staff is still recruiting him, and he’s openly still considering the Sooners?

Nwaneri’s answer was somewhat cryptic.

“Oh yeah. They’re still recruiting me and all that,” he said. “But I’m gonna let everything play out. I’ll let the whole season play out. I don’t know. I’m committed to Mizzou though. Just having fun with it. Showing love. All that.”

Nwaneri looked relaxed and comfortable on Thursday night as he took the time to explain to a trio of media why he chose Missouri over Oklahoma (and Georgia, apparently).

“Really I felt like I was just most comfortable with that coaching staff, and it as close to home and all that," he said. “So I felt like it was just the right decision for me at the time.”

He also explained why he held Oklahoma in such high regard for so long.

“Mostly just my relationships with coach (Miguel) Chavis and coach (Todd) Bates,” he said. “I probably had one of my best relationships with them. It was always love with the coaching staff. And I like the scheme there and all that.”

Nwaneri explained that the decision was not an easy one. He said he was nervous in the buildup to his announcement.

“It w\as very emotional,” he said. “Like, the hardest decision I’ve had to make. But I just had to do what I felt was best for me.”

Throughout it all, Nwaneri said he leaned on his family and LSN head coach Jamar Mozee for advice.

“My family,” he said. “My head coach, Coach Mozee, had a big say in my decision and guided me throughout the whole process. Definitely my family and my coach.” 



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John E. Hoover
JOHN E. HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.