The Oklahoma Sooners scored two quarterbacks out of the transfer portal during the winter, and one is already heading elsewhere after never taking a snap for OU.
According to multiple reports on Thursday evening, OU quarterback Cole Gonzales is planning to enter the transfer portal before it closes on Friday. Gonzales just transferred to the Sooners from FCS Western Carolina on Christmas Day.
Sooners QB Cole Gonzales transferring months after getting to OU from Western Carolina
Gonzales will start looking for his third home for his final year of eligibility. His transfer to OU was Gonzales' first time in the transfer portal after spending three years at Western Carolina.
Out of Gainesville, Florida, Gonzales immediately got four starts as a freshman for Western Carolina. It was then his team from then on.
Gonzales was a two-time finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which is given to the national offensive player of the year in FCS. He was also First-Team All-SoCon both seasons and won Southern Conference Roy M. “Legs” Hawley Offensive Player of the Year in 2023.
Last season, Gonzales played only eight games because an injury sidelined him the last four games of the season. He still threw for 2,543 passing yards and 12 TDs while also rushing for 212 rushing yards and two scores.
In 2023, Gonzales had 2,803 yards passing and a program-record 28 passing touchdowns. He also missed a game that season because of injury so has never played a full season.
It was a shock when Gonzales went to OU because the Sooners already had a commitment from Washington State quarterback John Mateer, the No. 1 player in the transfer portal, and still had Michael Hawkins Jr., who started four games last season.
Gonzales was likely the third quarterback on OU's depth chart after the spring ended, meaning he probably wouldn't have seen the field in his final season. His departure also means Hawkins is OU's clear backup QB heading into the 2025 season.
With Gonzales' departure, the Sooners have three quarterbacks left on their roster, including incoming freshman Jett Niu. They could look for more depth there before the season starts.
The Sooners have lost six players to the transfer portal so far this spring.
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