College football recruiting is basically a high-stakes game of musical chairs played with millions of dollars and teenagers' futures. If you’ve been following the 2026 cycle, you know James Carrington—better known as "Tank"—just pulled one of the most interesting moves of the year. One minute he’s a lock for the Florida State Seminoles, and the next, he’s headed to Norman to play for Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners.
It’s wild how fast things change.
He decommitted from FSU on August 14, 2025, and by August 16, he was officially a Sooner. That’s a 48-hour whirlwind that left recruiting analysts scrambling to update their boards. Honestly, if you're a fan of either program, the James Carrington college football recruiting saga tells you everything you need to know about how the SEC and ACC are battling for defensive dominance.
The Journey of a Thousand Jerseys
Most high school kids stay at one, maybe two schools. Carrington? He’s basically had a season-pass to the nation’s best programs. He started out in Baltimore at St. Frances Academy before heading down to Rabun Gap-Nacoochee in Georgia. Then he spent time at the legendary Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas before finally landing at Crean Lutheran in Irvine, California.
That’s a lot of bubble wrap and moving boxes.
But there’s a reason every coach in America kept his number. At 6-foot-2 and roughly 260 pounds, Carrington isn't just big; he’s an elite athlete with a wrestling background. He was the No. 9 ranked heavyweight wrestler in Maryland as a freshman. You can see that on his football tape—the way he uses his hands and understands leverage isn't normal for a kid his age.
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Why Oklahoma Won the Battle
A lot of people think recruiting is just about the biggest NIL check. Sure, that's part of it now. But with Carrington, it felt more like a slow burn. Even when he was "committed" to Florida State, Oklahoma’s defensive tackles coach Todd Bates never stopped calling. Bates is widely considered one of the best in the business at building relationships.
He didn't take the initial "no" as a final answer.
When Carrington took his official visit to Tallahassee in June 2025, he loved the "brotherhood" vibe. He committed on the spot. But recruiting experts like Steve Wiltfong and Hayes Fawcett noticed the smoke around Oklahoma wasn't going away. By the time August rolled around, the flip felt almost inevitable. Oklahoma is moving into the SEC, and you can't survive that conference without guys like Tank who can plug the "A" gap and still chase down a quarterback.
Analyzing the "Tank" Stats
If you're looking for why he's a consensus four-star (and even a five-star on some niche boards), look at his junior year at Bishop Gorman. In one of the toughest high school schedules in the country, he put up:
- 33 total tackles
- 14 tackles for loss
- 9 sacks
- 36 quarterback hurries
That last number is the one that makes scouts drool. Hurrying the QB 36 times in a single season means he is constantly in the backfield. He's not just a "space eater." He’s a disruptor.
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The Scouting Report
Greg Biggins, a heavy hitter in the scouting world, notes that Carrington has a nearly 80-inch wingspan. That’s massive for a guy who is 6'2". It allows him to "rag doll" offensive linemen who are actually taller than him because they can't get into his chest.
Is he perfect? No. He can get a bit "swim-happy" with his moves, which sometimes leads to him getting washed out of plays. But you can't teach that first-step explosiveness. Brent Venables’ defense relies on defensive linemen who can win one-on-one battles without needing a blitz to help them out. Carrington fits that mold perfectly.
The Bigger Picture: FSU vs. Oklahoma
There’s a bit of a "revenge" narrative here too. Earlier in the 2026 cycle, Florida State managed to pull four-star QB Jaden O’Neal away from Oklahoma. Flipping Carrington was basically the Sooners' way of evenning the score.
It’s kinda funny how that works out.
Florida State’s 2026 class is still ranked highly, but losing a blue-chip defensive tackle hurts, especially when you’re trying to build depth to compete with the SEC powers. Meanwhile, Oklahoma is stacking the trenches. Carrington joined guys like Jake Kreul and Brian Harris to form what looks like one of the nastiest defensive line hauls in recent Sooner history.
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What’s Next for James Carrington?
Now that he’s officially signed (as of December 3, 2025), the focus shifts from "where is he going" to "how soon can he play?"
Expect him to be an early enrollee. Getting into a college strength and conditioning program in January is huge for a defensive tackle. He’s already strong, but leaning out that 260-pound frame and adding five pounds of muscle could make him a rotational player as a true freshman in the SEC.
If you're following James Carrington college football recruiting, the drama is mostly over, but the work is just starting. He’s got the Polynesian Bowl and the Navy All-American Bowl on his schedule before he heads to Norman.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Recruits
- Watch the "Flipped" Players: A commitment is never truly over until the NLI is signed. Keep an eye on recruits who take late visits to schools they previously "passed" on.
- Relationship Recruiting Matters: Todd Bates proved that staying in touch—even after a decommitment—is the key to landing elite talent.
- Multi-Sport Backgrounds: If you’re a young athlete, stay in wrestling. Every college coach we talk to says they value wrestling tape almost as much as football tape for interior linemen.
James Carrington is the type of player who changes the ceiling of a defense. Whether he lives up to the "Tank" nickname in the SEC remains to be seen, but the Sooners definitely got a win with this one.
Next Steps for You:
If you want to see exactly how Carrington stacks up against the rest of the 2026 class, you should check out the latest 247Sports Composite rankings or watch his junior season highlights from Bishop Gorman to see that "speed-to-power" move for yourself.