Five-star recruit to Oklahoma does 'Horns Down' at commitment

Makai Lemon, a five-star recruit, recently committed to Oklahoma made the “Horns Down” sign at his commitment announcement. The 33rd-ranked high school player in the nation chose Oklahoma as his school of choice, following his graduation in 2023.

The newest OU Sooner 5⭐️ Makai Lemon with the Horns Down@getabagkai | @OU247 pic.twitter.com/a6JpTacaJK

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) August 7, 2021

Horns Down

“As long as Horns have been going up, Horns have been going down at Oklahoma,” said legendary Oklahoma head coach Barry Switzer via ESPN’s Dave Wilson. “No one’s ever gonna stop doing it.”

At Oklahoma’s rival college, University of Texas fans use the “Hook ‘Em Horns” gesture as one of the most iconic symbols in all of sports. Nearly as long as Texas fans have used their symbol, rival schools have used “Horns Down” to mock them.

Makai Lemon certainly seemed to embrace the culture of his future school, doing Horns Down while celebrating his commitment to Oklahoma. One of many rich traditions in college football, the rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas is not going away as the teams move together into the SEC.

Makai Lemon will be a Sooner

“The 6-foot, 180-pound five-star junior had over 20 offers, and he has found the school he feels is best for him. Oklahoma is the school,” reported Chad Simmons of On3 Sports. “Lincoln Riley and the Sooners offered Feb. 16 and it got off to a great start. The communication was strong and Zoom calls happened often, and that pushed the Sooners toward the top of the list.”

The commitment was a huge boost to an Oklahoma team entering a new era of its history, with the school leaving the Big Twelve conference and joining the SEC. According to Lemon himself, he fell in love with the school from the moment he visited. After fielding offers from all over the nation, he chose to become the next major Sooner recruit.

“I was honestly really liking USC a lot early, and that was my No. 2 school, but Oklahoma is the best for me,” Lemon said. “Michigan was up there for me, too, at one time. But it was really down to USC and Oklahoma, but I have known for a while it was Oklahoma.”

“I knew before I left that visit to go back home that I was going to Oklahoma,” Lemon said. “That feeling was there early on the visit, so I knew. I went into the visit with Oklahoma on top in my mind, then after spending time there, I knew it was the school.”

Lemon will be joining his current teammate and quarterback Malachi Nelson at Oklahoma. Nelson is currently the number two ranked high school player in the country, per On3 Sports and is set to join Oklahoma in 2023 along with Lemon. The two friends have played together since they were seven years old, and their talents will carry them through to the next level together.

Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images