Sooners' roster is full, but what about top transfer target NiJaree Canady?

Practically the instant it was learned that NiJaree Canady, college softball's best pitcher the past two seasons, was entering the transfer portal, Oklahoma's name popped up as a probable landing spot.

After all, it seemed like a natural fit, with the former Stanford star looking to be part of a winning program and a championship contender and the Sooners in need of pitching help after winning their NCAA record fourth consecutive championship.

It's been a month now since Canady went into the portal, and although there has been speculation about potential landing spots for the All-American pitcher and this year's National Collegiate Player of the Year. it has been radio silence as far as anything made public about what she is thinking or how she might be leaning. But Canady will need to be enrolling somewhere within the next month

Canady has been rumored to be considering Florida, Florida State, Texas and Oklahoma. All have qualities and benefits that would appeal to Canady, and the fall semester will begin for all of those schools in about a month.

OU's attractiveness to Canady wouldn't be just about the pitching opportunity but also having one of college softball's best offenses behind her and, of course the rich history and tradition and the huge resources available to augment her future development. We would be remiss not to note that NIL opportunity will also clearly play a factor.

While the Sooners would be fools not to be interested in earning a transfer commitment from Canady, there is now a complication to overcome if that were to be actualized. After the dust had settled from the 2024 season and the natural roster fallout from players out of eligibility and transfers, head coach Patty Gasso had five roster openings to fill in conjunction with the eight members of the Sooners' incoming freshman class.

This past week, Oklahoma filled the final roster spot with the addition of Louisiana pitcher and All-Sun Belt First-Team pitcher Sam Landry of the Sun Belt champion Louisiana Ragin Cajuns.

That of course leaves the impression that Canady will not be coming to Oklahoma, but I wouldn't be so quick to come to that conclusion. It will require some creative roster management for sure. But given that Canady has not made a decision yet, that she is from Topeka, Kansas, which would make it considerably more convenient for her family and friends to come see her play for the next two seasons, and knowing Gasso's power of persuasion in bringing the best talent available to Norman, I definitely wouldn't be so quick to close the book on the star pitcher just yet.

If the Sooners are able to get Canady to come to Norman, they should be the presumptive preseason No. 1 again next season. Not that OU can't be a national title contender without her, but that is how much Canady's commitment would mean to the dynasty that is Oklahoma softball over the past decade.

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