The biggest news in college football this season is Oklahoma State firing their head coach, Mike Gundy, after he had been the head coach for the Pokes for 21 years. Gundy holds multiple records for the Cowboys football program, but after OSU fell to Tulsa 19-12 this past Friday night, many fans assumed their coach would be fired sooner rather than later.
Well, Louisville football fans immediately get good news after the firing, as the Cardinals were once one of the top candidates for an elite 4-star running back, and just hours after OSU fired Gundy, that elite running back decommitted from Oklahoma State, making it appear Louisville is back in the running for him.
Louisville football's new No. 1 target is clear after Oklahoma State fires Mike Gundy
Kaydin Jones is a 4-star running back out of Jenks, Oklahoma, and is one of the top-rated running backs in the 2026 cycle. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound running back logged 1,476 rushing yards last season and 17 touchdowns on 229 rushing attempts. He was also used as a receiver, earning 24 catches for 256 yards and four touchdowns.
BREAKING: Class of 2026 RB Kaydin Jones has Decommitted from Oklahoma State, he tells me for @rivals
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) September 23, 2025
The 6’0 185 RB from Jenks, OK had been Committed to the Cowboys since March
He currently holds a total of 30 Offershttps://t.co/QZIGJswq5L pic.twitter.com/tykLQsEWmR
Jones was one of the Cardinals' top targets in the 2026 class as he was supposed to visit Louisville this summer, but committed to Oklahoma State on March 26. However, now that he decommitted from OSU, Louisville reemerges as one of his top choices, as the Cardinals were one of his final five schools.
The other four programs included Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Kansas, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Louisville. The Pokes ended up beating out his final five as they earned a visit days before his commitment, but with Gundy out, these five schools are the new frontrunners.
Kentucky's No. 1 recruit and elite 4-star running back, Evan Hampton, flipped from Louisville to Vanderbilt, making it crucial that the Cardinals secure Jones' commitment immediately. Jones is a unanimous 4-star recruit and is ranked No. 3 out of Oklahoma and No. 305 in the nation.
Vince Marrow and Jeff Brohm have a massive opportunity in front of them, and it is crucial that they finally replace Hampton and get Jones.
Related: Elite 4-star RB gives Louisville football great news
For all the latest on Louisville football's recruiting, stay tuned.