Much like most of Sooner Nation did, Oklahoma defensive back Mykel Patterson-McDonald also went elsewhere instead of the Sooners’ first Crimson Combine.
Patterson-McDonald on Saturday, less than 30 minutes before the Crimson Combine was scheduled to start, announced via X that he planned to re-enter the transfer portal once it officially opens on Wednesday for the spring window, which ends April 25.
— Mykel Patterson-McDonald (@MykelPM) April 12, 2025
Mykel Patterson-McDonald enters transfer portal for second time
Patterson-McDonald, a redshirt freshman, has already been in the transfer portal once before during this offseason. He entered in January as the Sooners’ last entrant, then he withdrew to rejoin OU as a walk-on.
At the time, it was reported that Patterson-McDonald never actually intended to leave OU, but only entered the transfer portal as part of a loop hole to stay with the program during roster cuts and rejoin as a walk-on.
That made Patterson-McDonald's entrance into the transfer portal a formality to negate a rule that protects athletes from losing their scholarship once with a program unless they transfer, or at least enter the transfer portal.
It was also reported then that OU's NIL collective, 1Oklahoma, would compensate walk-ons who made the move like Patterson-McDonald did to make up for the lost scholarship.
From nearby Westmoore High School, Patterson-McDonald never saw the field for OU after redshirting last season. He was a former four-star recruit, according to Rivals, and the outlet also ranked him as the No. 2 overall prospect in the state from the 2024 class.
Considering his situation already as a walk-on, Patterson-McDonald’s departure was most likely part of the Sooners’ roster cuts as they have to trim the roster down to 105 players soon.
The Sooners will already lose two to the transfer portal this spring after tight end Davon Mitchell is also expected to leave. Mitchell, also a redshirt freshman, had reportedly missed several team activities recently before the news broke that he and OU parted ways.
Those two losses put the Sooners right at 105 players based on the most recent roster from the spring. But that doesn’t include incoming freshmen Marcus James and CJ Nickson.
The Sooners also still need to add some pieces from the transfer portal before next season, so more departures are likely ahead.