Oklahoma's secondary took some blows Monday evening.
On the evening of the first day of the transfer portal officially being open, there were multiple reports about all three stating that defensive backs Kani Walker, Makari Vickers and Erik McCarty are all planning to transfer.
CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz first reported that Walker and Vickers would be transferring. OUInsider had the first report about McCarty.
Oklahoma cornerback Kani Walker has entered the transfer portal, @chris_hummer and I have learned for @cbssports/@247Sports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 9, 2024
Opened this year as a starter for the Sooners.https://t.co/10Sz3YxlzO pic.twitter.com/v3k8YtnpxN
Walker, a cornerback, will by far be the biggest loss of the trio for the Sooners. He was in Norman for three seasons after transferring from Louisville and emerged as a staple in the secondary this season.
Walker played in all but one game this season as a redshirt junior and only Eli Bowen logged more snaps than Walker in OU's secondary. He recorded 24 tackles, seven pass breakups and an interception. He also started three games last season.
Vickers and McCarty's abscenses will go mostly unknown in the future. Vickers had a breakout freshman season at cornerback, but then he found himself in some trouble this offseason and suffered an injury, leading to a drastic dip in playing time this season.
Vickers was reportedly arrested on June 12 for driving under the influence and possession of marijuana, and OU only ever announced that discipline was handled internally. He then missed the Sooners' first three games before debuting against Tennessee and playing only four games this season. He will be able to redshirt this year after appearing in only four games.
McCarty was a safety from McAlester, Oklahoma, who appeared in only one game as a Sooner.
So far, Walker, Vickers, McCarty and Jayden Rowe, all defensive backs, are the only defensive players OU has lost to the transfer portal.