Oklahoma fans are intrigued by a familiar name in the Transfer Portal

In the bizarre world of college football today, fans sometimes recognize names in the Transfer Portal from other teams even more so than players leaving their own school right now, and one familiar name added to the list of transfers recently caught the attention of Oklahoma fans.

On3's Hayes Fawcett reported that running back Gavin Sawchuk is expected to enter the Transfer Portal once it officially opens on Friday, just a year after transferring from OU to Florida State during the last winter cycle. Sawchuk's player profile has already been removed from Florida State's website, all but confirming Fawcett's report.

Gavin Sawchuk transferring from Florida State a year after leaving OU

After signing as a consensus four-star recruit from the 2022 class, Sawchuk spent three years in Oklahoma before heading to Florida State last season. His younger brother, running back Gabe Sawchuk, even followed him to Norman as part OU's 2024 class and is still on the Sooners' roster.

After redshirting in 2022 and appearing in just two games, Sawchuk was the Sooners' leading rusher in 2023 as a redshirt freshman with 744 rushing yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards on 120 carries. In 2024, though, Sawchuk's production drastically dipped as he played in nine game and got just 39 carries, which was the sixth-most on the team as he was No. 4 on the running back's pecking order. Every running back that got more carries than Sawchuk returned in 2025, ultimately prompting his departure for more opportunity.

In his lone season at Florida State, Sawchuk led all running backs with 109 carries for 486 yards and eight scores. By the end of the season, though, freshman Ousmane Kromah had emerged as the Seminoles' No. 1 back in a backfield that experienced a lot of rotation throughout the season.

With Sawchuk, back on the market, many OU fans immediately dreamed up a return to Norman to give the Sooners more depth after losing Jovantae Barnes to the portal already.

However, although a nice thought, a return to Oklahoma does not make sense for either party unless the Sooners lose more running back talent to the portal. If Sawchuk is again seeking more opportunity, he won't get that at OU behind Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock and whoever else emerges from the backfield next season.

That also shows the Sooners are already set at running back with a 1-2 punch, plus (barring a transfer) Taylor Tatum, Gabe Sawchuk and incoming freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr. providing depth. There are better places for the Sooners to spend their money on incoming transfers, and Jaydn Ott should have already taught Jim Nagy not to overspend on a veteran running back.