Iowa State did everything short of naming its stadium after Xavier Robinson. Notre Dame flirted briefly with the three-star RB from Midwest City. Oklahoma State positioned itself to receive Robinson's final official visit as his recruitment wound down.

But in the end, Oklahoma couldn't be denied in the battle for Robinson, who announced his commitment to the Sooners on Tuesday evening at Carl Albert High School. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound back thus becomes the ninth commit of the 2024 cycle for Oklahoma, and the first from within state lines.

"Committing to OU means a ton to me," Robinson told OUInsider shortly before going public with his pledge. "I get to carry on a legacy with my papa playing another sport there, and it just fits me. It fits my family too. My mom has always loved OU. And when you add the academics, the culture and program vibes, it’s just always been that perfect fit."

Though Oklahoma was the choice in the end, it wasn't always a given that Robinson would wear the crimson and cream. As a junior at Carl Albert in the fall of 2022, he racked up 2,594 rushing yards and over 40 total touchdowns, which led to interest from numerous FBS schools once the Titans wrapped up a 5A state title. However, one program was far ahead of the curve in pursuing Robinson, and that was Iowa State. The Cyclones extended an offer in mid-October, over two months before any other FBS school gave Robinson a scholarship opportunity.

By the time Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame and a myriad of other suitors entered the picture, Robinson had already developed deep relationships with members of the Iowa State staff. For most of the spring, the Cyclones remained neck-and-neck with the Sooners in the race for his pledge.

But when Robinson took his official visit to Norman, he realized he couldn't turn down the opportunity to play for DeMarco Murray and the Sooners just a few miles from his Friday night stomping grounds.

“It’s a great program," remarked Robinson, "from the noise and crowd at the games and the Champions Walk, to the support system and obviously Coach [DeMarco] Murray. I don’t look at him as just a coach and the relationship part, though that is important. I also look at him as a coach that can get me to the next level because he knows what it takes. That appeals to me a lot, and it’s one of the many reasons on why I chose OU.”

Robinson is the first running back in the Sooners' class, but the heavy odds are that he won't be the last. Oklahoma remains in the driver's seat for both Taylor Tatum and Caden Durham, the top two backs in the Lone Star State, and it's very much within the realm of possibility that they could both join forces with Robinson to form a backfield trifecta in the 2024 cycle.

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