Kissimmee, Florida - After plenty of spring visits to the Florida Gators, defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc bucked expectations by announcing his commitment to the Oklahoma Sooners on Thursday.

The Boomer Sooners had plenty to celebrate as top defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc announced his commitment to their football program.

LeBlanc was long considered a shoo-in for the Florida Gators after making over 10 program visits, including an official trip between June 10-12. That sort of attention is virtually unheard of, yet the 6-foot-5 athlete ended up choosing the Sooners over the previous favorites, as well as the less-likely Penn State.

"I knew the staff since I was like in 8th grade," LeBlanc said. "I think it was just the best decision for me to make."

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Ranked the No. 64 overall player and the No. 9 defensive lineman in the country, LeBlanc is the second-highest ranked recruit overall for the Sooners in the 2023 cycle, following No. 15 quarterback Jackson Arnold.

In his season as a junior, Leblanc totaled 38 tackles and 8 sacks for Osceola High School of Kissimmee, Florida.

His performance on the field along with high school teammate John Walker, who committed to UCF, helped lead the school to a second round appearance in Florida’s 8A football playoffs.

With LeBlanc becoming the ninth commit this July, the Sooners have jumped into the top 10 of the 2023 recruiting class team rankings.