Although it would be an unfamiliar name for Sooner Nation, Siolaa Lolohea wouldn't be a complete unknown to Oklahoma's football program.
Lolohea, a redshirt freshman defensive tackle, played under OU's new inside linebackers coach Nate Dreiling at Utah State, and now, the Sooners are trying to make a reunion happen between the two in Norman.
Former Utah State, Oklahoma State DL Siolaa Lolohea reportedly visiting Sooners
Lolohea announced on Friday that OU offered him out of the transfer portal. It's the only offer Lolohea has announced so far after the Sooners did so the same day he entered the portal.
There's apparently serious mutual interest because, according to George Stoia of SoonerScoop, Lolohea is visiting OU on Monday.
The former Oklahoma State and Utah State defensive tackle tells me he’s visiting OU today. He played for new #Sooners inside linebackers coach Nate Dreiling last year. https://t.co/T3ax7NGfGY
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) April 21, 2025
Brent Venables hired Dreiling in February away from Arkansas State, where he was for less than a month as the Red Wolves' defensive coordinator. Dreiling spent last season as Utah State's defensive coordinator and interim head coach.
Lolohea played in eight games last season at Utah State under Dreiling. Despite a small sample size during his first full college season, Lolohea, listed at 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, still apparently made a good impression.
As a redshirt freshman, Lolohea recorded 10 tackles and a tackle for loss. He had a season-high three tackles against then-No. 21 Boise State.
This is Lolohea's second time in the transfer portal after starting his career at Oklahoma State, where he redshirted and never saw the field. He signed with the Cowboys as a three-star recruit out of Trinity High School in Euless, Texas.
Lolohea would be the Sooners' third transfer addition this spring and first on the defensive side of the ball. OU signed Stanford offensive lineman Jake Maikkula and Cal running back Jaydn Ott the day before the transfer portal even opened.
The Sooners don't have as many immediate needs on defense, but have reportedly been after multiple defensive linemen during this cycle. They already missed on Maryland transfer Lavon Johnson, who chose Texas after first committing to North Carolina earlier the same day.
Initially, it was assumed OU was looking for a defensive tackle to help replace David Stone, who entered the transfer portal on Friday. However, Stone, a former five-star recruit, announced on Sunday that he withdrew from the transfer portal and will return to OU for the 2025 season.
There's apparently still interest from OU in Lolohea if he's reportedly visiting Monday and he hasn't shown any interest in anywhere else. At this point, Lolohea would be added depth as the Sooners have to endure a physical SEC.