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Oklahoma football: Where does OU rank in outgoing transfers?

By Chip Rouse

Sep 10, 2022; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Justin Harrington (37) and Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Damond Harmon (17) lead the team onto the field before the game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2022; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Justin Harrington (37) and Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Damond Harmon (17) lead the team onto the field before the game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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The season of giving (and taking) in college football kicked off on Monday with the ubiquitous opening of the double-edged sword known as the transfer portal, and the Oklahoma football program was an active participant.

At latest count, as many as 15 Oklahoma players on the 2022 roster have placed their names in the transfer portal. That is already larger than the number of Sooners who transferred out of the OU football program a year ago and could grow some more before the 45-day window closes on Jan. 18.

An estimated 16 percent of all college players at the FBS level entered the transfer portal following the 2021 season. That adds up to more than 2,500 players, and the number is expected to be higher this year.

Accurate team rankings are difficult to come by because the fluidity of the process, but it would appear the number of Sooner transfers who have officially declared is well within the top 10 of all FBS programs.

The most notable of the Oklahoma players to date who have entered the 2023 transfer portal are former five-star wide-receiver Theo Wease and former four-star quarterback recruit Nick Evers. Wease entered the portal following the 2021 season but later elected to return for the 2022 season. Evers was three or four down on the depth chart this season, although he might have had the most promise of all the backups behind starting QB Dillon Gabriel.

What you have to remember, though, is the transfer portal not only taketh away, but it also giveth. The Sooners have gained two incoming transfers so far. Former Notre Dame defensive tackle Jacob Lacey committed to Oklahoma over the Thanksgiving holiday, and this week former Sooner tight end Austin Stogner announced he is returning to OU for the 2023 season after a year at South Carolina.

Head coach Brent Venables may not be a big fan of the transfer portal, but he absolutely knows the value of the portal as an additional recruiting tool to fill needs and gain some experience along with it.

Several transfer prospects that are high on Oklahoma’s wish list include DE Trace Ford of Oklahoma State, who has the ability and the experience level to step in immediately for the Sooners in an area of high need for next season. OU might also have interest in another Oklahoma State player, WR/all-purpose back Braylin Pressley, who reportedly wasn’t happy that he didn’t see the field more this season.

There have been several crystal-ball projections that Oklahoma will flip Cincinnati DB recruit Daeh McCullough. The benefit of that possibility is that McCullough’s brother, Dasan McCullough, who enjoyed a solid season as a linebacker at Indiana, would likely transfer to join his younger brother. Both brothers reportedly will be in Norman this weekend on a recruiting visit.

Other portal prospects who have said they are moving on from their present team and would make some sense for Oklahoma to go after are WR Tre Harris of Louisiana Tech, WR Dorian Singer of Arizona, WR Dante Cephus of Kent State and RB LJ Johnson Jr. of Texas A&M.

With Wease leaving through the portal and Marvin Mims likely declaring for the NFL Draft after the Sooners bowl game, OU is going to have a depth and experience issue at the wide-receiver position next season. Any or all three of the aforementioned receivers in the portal could come in and play immediately for the Sooners.

OU could also use more depth at the running back position. The former four-star recruit Johnson was used sparingly at Texas A&M this season but did gain 39 yards on 10 carries and rushed for a couple of touchdowns.

This is just a tip of the tip of the iceberg as far as prospects that will be available through the transfer portal for the right team and fit. Venables and staff added 11 last offseason, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Sooners pick off at least that many this time around along with one of the country’s top recruiting classes, which is drawing considerable attention right now with National Signing Day just a dozen days days off (Dec. 21)

Buckle up and stay tuned. The future of Oklahoma football awaits.

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