3 defensive players Oklahoma should target in transfer portal

You can never have enough talent on defense in the SEC.

Chris Kwiecinski/Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK

So far, Oklahoma is doing pretty well at keeping its defensive players in Norman, but in the SEC, the Sooners can never have too much talent on defense.

Of the 20 Sooners who have entered the transfer portal so far, five played on the defensive side of the ball. Most of the hits came in the secondary, with four defensive backs reportedly planning to leave. The biggest blow, though, was probably linebacker Dasan McCullough, who started at Brent Venables' hybrid cheetah position most of the past two seasons.

Although there might not be any immediate needs yet on defense, there are still players available who could bolster the Sooners' defense in 2025 and possibly beyond.

Williams Nwaneri, Edge, Missouri

The Sooners have been after Williams Nwaneri before.

Nwaneri signed with Missouri over OU and plenty others as a five-star recruit from the 2024 class. He's available again only a year later, though.

As a freshman, Nwaneri logged 38 snaps in four games, meaning he'll still have four years of eligibility left after redshirting this season. In those four games, Nwaneri had two tackles and a sack.

Landing Nwaneri this time around could not only bolster OU's defensive line in 2025, but could gain a huge assett for the next few years.

Kendal Daniels, LB, Oklahoma State

If Venables were to go to a lab and design a player to play his cheetah position, he might have developed Kendal Daniels.

Daniels is a local product from Beggs, Oklahoma, and originally had an offer from the Sooners as a four-star safety in the 2021 class. He committed to Texas A&M first before flipping to Oklahoma State, where he was a three-year starter, earning Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-America honors in 2022 after redshirting his first year.

This season, Daniels moved from safety to linebacker. That change seemed inevitable with Daniels' size at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds. The experience as both a linebacker and safety would be appreciable at the cheetah position, though, which combines responsibilities of a linebacker and defensive back.

Brice Pollock, CB, Mississippi State

The Sooners need reinforcements in the secondary, especially at cornerback, and Brice Pollock would be that imediately.

Pollock already has vital SEC experience after two years at Mississippi State and starting every game this season. This season as a sophomore, he had 48 tackles, seven pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble.

Additionally to his experience, Pollock would also add length to OU's secondary at 6-foot-1. That might be the only thing starting freshman Eli Bowen doesn't posess for the Sooners at 5-foot-9.

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