Random fans blasting Oklahoma for early portal signees have no clue what they're talking about

The transfer portal opened again for the spring cycle on Wednesday, and the Oklahoma Sooners, in true Sooner fashion, had already signed two players.

OU announced on Tuesday evening the additions of Stanford offensive lineman Jake Maikkula andCalifornia running back Jaydn Ott. Maikkula made 11 starts last season in various spots along the offensive line, while Ott was the No. 1 running back in the transfer portal after leading the Pac-12 in rushing in 2023.

Sooner Nation obviously celebrated the early additions, while the rest of the college football world took notice, but also questioned how the heck the Sooners were able to sign players before the cycle even officially began. Some even accused OU of tampering, which in reality, no longer exists in college football.

These fans and plenty others need to Google two things. First, the rules, then they would understand how it was possible. Second, what a Sooner actually is. The Sooners jumping the gun to get the best available is spot on.

Why Sooners were able to sign players before spring transfer portal even opened

New OU general manager Jim Nagy and the Sooners found two perfect situations to land these players on the eve of the transfer portal opening. Both were actually officially in the transfer portal before it opened for players with "regular" situations.

Stanford had a coaching change just a few weeks ago when Troy Taylor was fired. That opened a 30-day window for Maikkula and any other Stanford player to transfer. The Sooners were early frontrunners to land Maikkula, but he certainly didn't rush his decision and heard offers from plenty other programs.

Ott was also able to enter the portal early because he's a graduate transfer. Graduate students with just one year of eligibility left, like Ott, can enter the portal basically whenever they want.

But people were most up in arms over Ott's commitment, mainly because of his time in the portal and the fact he was such a sought-after player. It was reported on Monday that Ott was entering the transfer portal, and within moments, the Sooners were reported frontrunners.

Cal already had to fend off several SEC programs during the winter transfer cycle, during which Ott never actually entered the portal. This time, even during just 24 hours in the transfer portal, Ott was reportedly down to OU and UCLA, meaning the Sooners weren't the only ones after Ott.

These days, between agents and parents and GMs, tampering is just a myth in college football. It's like over-the-back in basketball. People will yell for it from the stands, but it's not actually a foul because someone isn't penalized just for being taller.

So if the Sooners are tampering, so is your favorite college football team.