The Sooners need a quarterback.
Many might have been saying that statement even before starter Jackson Arnold entered the transfer portal. But now with Arnold transferring and Casey Thompson out of eligibility, freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. would be the only quarterback that has even stepped on a college football field on the current roster. Every quarterback on the roster other than Arnold and Thompson is a freshman.
There is untapped potential in OU's quarterback room right now, but after a 6-6 season, the Sooners don't have time for development and growing pains. Brent Venables needs a quick fix, and the transfer portal is where he finds just that.
The Sooners don't need just any quarterback waiting in the portal, though, no matter where they come from and what the experts predict they'll do. Obviously the guy needs to be able to throw the football, but there are two musts that OU's next QB1 also needs: experience and running ability.
Before we take a look at five quarterbacks already in the transfer portal who possess both of those attributes, it's obvious Washington State quarterback John Mateer also has everything the Sooners could desire in a quarterback.
Mateer has been expected to enter the transfer portal and most likely follow his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, to Norman. But as of now, Mateer still hasn't put his name into the portal and is even still practicing with the Cougars as they prepare for their bowl game.
The Sooners' No. 1 target would be Mateer, but if he does indeed stay at Washington State, these are five guys, in no particular order, that OU should get a move on before missing out on bringing in a new quarterback with what it wants.
Matthew Sluka, UNLV
Matthew Sluka is the first one on this list and was also the first quarterback in the transfer portal this cycle.
Sluka made headlines when he opted out the rest of the season and entered the portal in September while UNLV was ranked and undefeated because of an NIL dispute. There's a negative connotation surrounding Sluka because of that situation, but there's still no denying the dude can play.
Had he finished the season then entered, there wouldn't be a fanbase that wouldn't want Sluka. Instead, though, he actually has another year of eligibility for whoever he chooses next. Sucks for UNLV, but better for Sluka's next team.
Sluka had the Rebels undefeated in his fourth season as a starter. It was just his first year at UNLV, though, after transferring from Holy Cross, where he was for four seasons.
In just three games, Sluka threw for 318 yards and six TDs compared to one interception. His 43.8 completion percentage is alarming, though. Sluka also ran for 253 yards and a score.
At Holy Cross, Sluka was a two-time finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which is the Heisman of the FCS.
247Sports ranks Sluka as the seventh-best quarterback currently in the transfer portal.
Darian Mensah, Tulane
Sooner fans should be familar with Darian Mensah after he won the job at Tulane before the Green Wave came to Norman Week 3.
In his first season as a starter, Mensah, a freshman, threw for 2,723 yards and 22 TDs compared to six interceptions while completing 65.9% of his passes. He also rushed for 132 yards and a score.
Mensah led Tulane to a 9-4 record and to the American Conference Championship Game, which the Green Wave lost to Army.
The downfall of getting Mensah is he has only one year of experience and is the same class as Hawkins, possibly running Hawkins off. And it's still uncertain if Hawkins won't end up being a better player than Mensah.
Of the five on this list, Mensah would be at the bottom if ranked. However, he is the highest-rated of the bunch, according to 247Sports, ranked third among portal quarterbacks.
Kaidon Salter, Liberty
Kaidon Salter is probably the least talked about on this list, but also maybe the most dangerous.
Salter, a junior, has started for Liberty the past three seasons. Most recently, he guided the Flames to an 8-3 record this season. But Salter has never experienced a losing season, winning a Conference USA title last season and not losing a game until the Fiesta Bowl against Oregon.
This season, Salter was less productive, throwing for 1,886 yards and 15 TDs compared to six INTs. He's explosive as a runner, rushing for 587 yards this season, and last season he eclipsed the century mark with 1,089 rushing yards. He also threw for 2,876 yards last season.
Salter has everything the Sooners could want in a quarterback and would be surrounded by more talent than he ever has.
247Sports ranks Salter as the No. 5 quarterback in the transfer portal.
Chandler Morris, North Texas
Chandler Morris could finish what he started.
Morris originally signed with the Sooners and spent 2020 in Norman while redshirting. He then transferred to TCU for three years before spending this season at North Texas.
With the Mean Green this season, Morris threw for 3,774 yards and 31 TDs as UNT went 6-6. He also carried the ball 60 times for 242 yards and four TDs.
Morris doesn't just have the experience as a five-year veteran, he's also the son of Chad Morris, who was a head coach at SMU and Arkansas, and is now the pass game coordinator at Texas State.
Devon Dampier, New Mexico
Devon Dampier's stats almost don't seem real.
Dampier, a sophomore, accounted for 3,934 total yards this season, passing 2,768 and rushing for 1,166. He also threw 12 TDs, although also had 12 INTs, and ran for 19 scores.
It was only Dampier's first season as a starter, as the Lobos went 5-7, so he's certainly not a seasoned quarterback. He is raw with a lot of ability, though.
247Sports ranks Dampier as the No. 8 quarterback currently in the transfer portal.