3 Oklahomans in the portal Jim Nagy needs to bring back home to the Sooner State

One of the most infuriating things for a fan to watch is a local product from down the road get away and succeed for a program in a different state. The Oklahoma Sooners have lost their fair share of local talent, and some was just flat out overlooked, but sometimes, the Transfer Portal provides a second chance for some Oklahomans to still find success in the Sooner State for the state's top program.

The Sooners already missed out on wide receiver Cole Adams when he had OU among his top schools as a consensus four-star recruit in 2023 but chose Alabama. Three years later, OU still needs some more depth at the position after losing six players to the portal and don't have any receivers left from its 2023 class.

Adams, listed at 5-foot-10, will have two years of eligibility left after returning punts and being a depth piece at receiver the last two seasons for the Crimson Tide. This season, he appeared in every game to total five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown, plus 19 punt returns for 156 yards and a kickoff return for 20 yards.

Broderick Shull, listed at 6-foot-5 and 327 pounds, was a four-star recruit out of Bixby High School and On3 ranked him as the No. 7 offensive tackle in the 2025 class. He was included on 247Sports’ 2025 Freaks List. Yet, none of the local major football programs extended an offer to Shull before he went to Auburn for a year and decided to transfer after redshirting.

The fact no Oklahoma programs offered a highly touted local product could be a red flag, but the Sooners need all the help they can get at offensive tackle right now, and Shull could be a value depth piece to play in his home state.

The Sooners are seemingly set at running back with Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock as their 1-2 punch in 2026, plus just added Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant to replace depth that was lost. However, Caden Durham is a player the Sooners can't ignore if available, just like how they also reportedly pursued Oklahoma native Caleb Hawkins, who just transferred from North Texas to Oklahoma State as the top portal running back.

Originally from Oklahoma City, Durham went to Duncanville High School as a sophomore to finish his preps career. The Sooners wanted him then as a four-star recruit and No. 5 running back in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports Composite, but he chose LSU. As a freshman, Durham led the Tigers with 753 rushing yards and six TDs while averaging 5.4 on 140 carries. This season, he totaled 11 carries for 505 yards and three scores.