The Oklahoma Sooners have filled all their vacancies on the coaching staff, but there's still one job opening left within the football program.
After only one year at the position, former OU linebacker Curtis Lofton stepped down as the Sooners' football general manager on Jan.16. The move became effective on Saturday. Lofton announced he is pursuing a new career path.
College football programs around the country are scrambling to hire GMs as athletic departments are beginning to be run more like pro sports franchises.
Most candidates have a history with the program and experience in pro football or the business world. With that mind, as OU athletic director Joe Castiglione said he'd like to hire a GM by the spring transfer window in April, here are three candidates molded for the role.
Alonzo Dotson
Alonzo Dotson has been mentioned by multiple outlets as a serious candidate for the job.
Dotson played defensive end for the Sooners on the same defense as Lofton. After his playing career ended in 2007, Dotson eventually emerged as one of the top young scouts in the NFL.
Currently, Dotson is a national scout for the Buffalo Bills and has been with the franchise since 2022. He also spent time with the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers.
Dotson obviously has history at OU as an alumni, but he also has that vital experience inside the front office of a pro football franchise, which is what the Sooners want to transform into.
Bob Stoops
An OU staple, it seems like Bob Stoops was built for this role.
Stoops has everything needed for this job as a former college football coach, a current professional coach in the UFL and an entrepreneur. He led the Sooners to their last national championship, assembled a talented roster with little resources for the Arlington Renegades as head coach and GM, and launched a successful tequila brand.
Stoops should be OU's top choice for this opening.
Jason White
It's underrated how well-suited Jason White is for this position.
All of Sooner Nation knows White as the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback in 2003, but most of his experience to benefit this job came after his playing days.
White never got much of a chance in the NFL because of knee injuries, but he still kept busy and became successful. Since his playing days ended, White has owned and operated multiple businesses, worked alongside former OU running back and athletic director Steve Owens, and even co-owned a team in the Indoor Football League.
There's yet to be anything that White hasn't thrived at. He would certainly quickly figure out a GM job that's ever-changing in college football with his diverse background that started at OU.