Peyton Bowen, Oklahoma 5-star signee, says paperwork miscue led to Oregon Ducks decommitment: Report

A.M. or P.M.?

That little detail made all the difference, at least according to Oklahoma Sooners five-star safety signee Peyton Bowen.

In an article by the Tulsa World, Bowen, a coveted class of 2023 recruit, said he signed and sent in his binding National Letter of Intent to the University of Oregon upon his verbal commitment in December. 

But a miscue in the paperwork opened the door for his eventual flip to Oklahoma.

“I sent (the letter of intent in) but we didn’t put the a.m. or p.m. on by accident,” Bowen told the newspaper. “So I should be there right now, honestly. I wrote the time, but didn’t write a.m. or p.m. by it.”

Two days later amid national speculation on where he'd eventually end up, Bowen officially - and finally - signed with Oklahoma, ending his recruitment for good.

Overall, Oregon finished with the nation's No. 8 recruiting class, finishing with a "bang" despite the loss of Bowens.

The Ducks secured late commitments from St. John Bosco (California) five-star edge-rusher Matayo Uiagalelei, Dripping Springs (Texas) four-star quarterback Austin Novosad, Long Beach Poly (California) four-star cornerback Daylen Austin, Lake Stevens (Washington) four-star running back Jayden Limar and Gardena Serra (California) four-star cornerback Rodrick Pleasant. 

Oklahoma's 2023 recruiting class finished No. 4 nationally and was headlined by Guyer (Texas) five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold, North Kansas City (Missouri) five-star edge-rusher Adepoju Adebawore and Bowen.

Perhaps those final recruiting class rankings would be reversed if not for an incomplete timestamp.