No. 1 College Basketball Recruit Tyran Stokes Scores 45-Yard Touchdown As A Wide Receiver For Notre Dame Sherman Oaks Football Team

No. 1 college basketball recruit Tyran Stokes made his football debut as a wide receiver on Friday night for Notre Dame Sherman Oaks in California. 

Stokes made the decision to play football despite advice from his agent and mother, telling them that this was his last chance to be a kid. Stokes has already garnered offers from some of the top basketball programs in the country, including Kentucky, Kansas, Oregon, and Gonzaga. 

The consensus No. 1 recruit in the 2026 class and a potential top pick in the 2027 NBA Draft made waves for his decision to play football, in large part because he could be jeopardizing his basketball career with an injury on the field. 

However, his high school football debut did not disappoint.

Stokes Hauls In 45-Yard Touchdown In HS Football Debut

At 6-foot-8, Stokes was easily among the tallest athletes on the field under the lights on Friday night but he showed off his athleticism in a blowout win over Culver City.

His first career catch came when he hauled in a slant over the middle for a first down in the second quarter.

Tyran Stokes gets his first catch, a 12-yard gain. Notre Dame already leads Culver City 21-0 in the 2Q.pic.twitter.com/hVLDxfSfo3

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) September 27, 2025

Later in the game, Stokes was left one-on-one on the outside and scored his first career touchdown on a 45-yard deep ball.

Tyran Stokes touchdown.

45-yard pass from Wyatt Brown. That’s speed. 6-foot-8 strides. His second catch of the game.

Notre Dame leads Culver City 57-14. What a moment for the top basketball recruit in the nation in his high school football debut.@latsondheimer @latimessports pic.twitter.com/uoySz2bvzE

— Benjamin Royer (@thebenroyer) September 27, 2025

He finished with two catches for 57 yards and a touchdown but nearly had another score right before halftime.

Stokes Nearly Had Another Score On A Jump Ball In The Endzone

With Notre Dame leading 28-7 before halftime, Stokes had another opportunity for a touchdown on a fade route from inside the 10-yard line. Stokes used his body to box out the smaller defensive back and appeared to haul in the jump ball but the pass was ruled incomplete. The referees ruled that Stokes had bobbled the ball and came out of bounds, though video of the catch seems to show him catching it cleanly and landing with both feet in the field of play. 

Check out the video below.

Jump ball in the end zone for Notre Dame/Sherman Oask’ Tyran Stokes. He appears to come down with it, but is called out of bounds by the officials.

Video from Notre Dame athletic director Alec Moss. pic.twitter.com/KhcTbpIq5I

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) September 27, 2025

Notre Dame (CA) went on to defeat Culver City 57-14, improving to 3-2 on the season. Prior to Friday’s loss, Culver City was 3-1 with its only loss coming to Salesian.