OSU Wrestling: Jax Forrest Commits to Oklahoma State

Within the span of a few days, David Taylor picked up a pair of commitments from top three recruits in the 2026 class.

Jax Forrest, the No. 2 prospect on Flo’s big board, announced his commitment to Oklahoma State on Thursday morning. He chose Taylor and the Cowboys over Penn State, Iowa and Ohio State.

 

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“The biggest thing that I kind of noticed the last couple weeks going through this and knowing that my choice is gonna be narrowed down is just the similarities that it seemed like me and David had was I think the leading thing,” said Forrest on Flo Radio Live. “He’s an Olympic gold medalist, an NCAA champ, he’s done all the things that I want to achieve. Just the fact that we’re similar in a lot of ways in how we wrestle, how we are on and off the mat, I think he’s somebody who can get me to achieve those goals. Sitting down with my parents, I think that’s been the real game changer.”

Forrest wrestled grown men at the United States Olympic Trails as a 17-year-old last year and came in fourth in the 57KG (about 125 pounds) bracket. He lost to Thomas Gilman, an assistant coach at OSU, 5-4. In 2022, Forrest won a silver medal at the U17 World Championships going into his freshman year as a high schooler. Originally from North Carolina, Forrest transferred up to Bishop McCort in Pennsylvania and won a state title at 127 pounds as a sophomore. Still a high school junior, Forrest said he thinks his early days in Stillwater will be at 141 pounds or 149 pounds.

It’s been an outstanding week for OSU on the recruiting trail. On Sunday, OSU landed Dreshaun Ross out of Iowa. Ross, projected to wrestle at heavyweight in college, is the No. 3 prospect on Flo’s big board. OSU also has No. 22 Kellen Wolbert and No. 84 Rocklin Zinkin committed in the class. And this 2026 class will add to a stacked 2025 class the Cowboys have signed, which features No. 3 LaDarion Lockett out of Stillwater.

“It’s just been my calling,” Forrest said. “Through everything, it seems like this is just the place that always stuck out in my mind of where is gonna help me be my best and still be able to be myself and not really have to change anything about me depending on where I’m going.

“Oklahoma State, obviously I’m not there yet, but I think we’re gonna be a team that’s gonna be good. We’re gonna be on the come-up. Obviously they’ve already been doing some really big things. I’m sure Coach David is gonna keep trying to keep making the best team that he can. It’s gonna be exciting.”