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Jim Nagy is the magician behind this Sooner Magic, and the college football world is already taking notice

Jim Nagy, the magician.
ByDekota Gregory|
SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As if he has a magic wand, new Oklahoma general manager Jim Nagy is already making talent appear on the Sooners' roster.

The transfer portal opening on Wednesday starts the Sooners' first transfer cycle since Nagy was hired, and he shattered the window before it even opened.

On Tuesday, the evening before the transfer portal even officially opened, OU already announced two new additions in Stanford offensive lineman Jake Maikkula and California running back Jaydn Ott.

Oklahoma Sooners add two big-time players from transfer portal

Both were in unique situations where they could enter the portal and commit early. Ott is a graduate transfer so could enter whenever he wanted, and Maikkula had a 30-day window after a late coaching change at Stanford.

Maikkula, at 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds, helps feel a big need for the Sooners on the interior of the offensive line. He has experience after starting 11 games last season, and is versatile having played both guard positions and center.

Ott was the No. 1 running back available in the transfer portal. An ankle injury hindered him last season, but in 2023 as a junior, Ott was First-Team All-Pac-12 after leading the conference with 1,305 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He's also dynamic on special teams as a return man, having more all-purpose yards than anyone else in FBS the last three seasons.

The Sooners already made some noise before things even got going, and they're not done yet as expected big-time buyers this spring.

Sooner Nation obviously celebrated as OU not only gained two stellar additions, but also already vindicated its home-run hire of Nagy as GM. The rest of the college football world also took quick notice and is anticipating a drastic rise back to the top for the Sooners after a rough 2024.

Oh, yeah, the Sooners had also already added quarterback John Mateer, who was the No. 1 player in the transfer portal when he committed in the winter.

What a time for the future of the Oklahoma Sooners, and not just for football. Can Sooner Nation skip to August already?

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