The winter transfer portal is closed up, but time’s not up for the Oklahoma Sooners just yet. The deadline to enter the portal has come and come for most players. But there is no closing the window when it comes time for a player to decide on a new program. Head coach Brent Venables is still trying to fill the gaps amidst a mass exodus of players. In the portal’s narrowing time frame, who did Venables bring in? And who else does he still need to get?
Oklahoma Sooners Still Searching for Final Transfer Portal Wins
Kendal Daniels Is Leaving Stillwater
The Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Oklahoma Sooners might not be playing the Bedlam series anymore, but the rivalry is still alive. Venables is taking full advantage of Mike Gundy’s program woes to bring in some final wins to Oklahoma in the transfer portal. One of those wins is linebacker Kendal Daniels.
From the first week of the winter portal to now, Venables has been gunning for the veteran defender. Daniels, a former Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, was the number one player from the Panhandle state in the transfer portal. In the wake of Danny Stutsman’s graduation, Daniels could be the next big guy in the Sooners backfield.
Daniels, thankfully, is not an injury-prone glass cannon. He comes in with over 250 tackles, including five sacks in 2024. Daniels also has the versatility to fill in at both safety and cornerback. While Daniels only has one year of eligibility remaining, that’s more than enough time to get the other guys up to speed for 2026.
Bolstering the Defense
Additionally, Venables and the Sooners are adding another key piece to their defensive lineup. Edge rusher Marvin Jones Jr., from Florida State, is committing to Oklahoma. The former five-star has one season of eligibility remaining.
Jones is the 11th-best edge rusher in the portal and the 77th-best nationally. In his 2024 season with Florida State, Jones racked up 25 tackles and four sacks across nine games. Jones adds depth to a defensive line that has been devastated by the portal and graduation.
FCS Players in the Transfer Portal
This year’s Oklahoma transfer portal wins are being carried, primarily, by FCS schools. Austin Welch, a kicker for the Kennesaw State Owls, is signing up to move to Oklahoma this year. Welch has made 14 out of 18 field goals this season and completed 20 out of 21 extra-point kicks as well. Alongside him are punter Jacob Ulrich and tight end Carson Kent, both of whom are also Owls.
Kent, a tight end, is coming in to fill the gap left by Bauer Sharp. In 2024, Kent caught 18 passes for 217 yards for the Owls. He’s one of the standout players for Kennesaw this past year, earning All-Conference USA honors more than once.
Will Huggins, a tight end from Pittsburgh State, is also heading to Norman for the 2025 season. After not playing much at Kansas, Huggins transferred to Pittsburgh State for 2024. While at the FCS powerhouse, Huggins racked up 305 yards across 22 catches. Huggins, alongside Kent, are clearly moves being made with the intention of improving pass protection- something Sharp was repeatedly unable to do in 2024.
Oklahoma’s Empty Receiving Room
The winter transfer portal may be closing, but there are still players out there looking for a place to land. In most dire need is, of course, the wide receiving core. After a dreadful 2024, primarily due to no offensive line and, thus, no time for Jackson Arnold to throw, many of the receivers opted into the transfer portal. Despite some wins, there’s still not enough to muster a good group for new quarterback John Mateer to throw to.
One of those could be Kaedin Robinson. The Appalachian State receiver could easily slot into a roster that is slowly bringing on more and more FCS talents. Robinson was one of the best receivers nationally and earned First Team Sun Belt recognition for his efforts. Another potential addition on the radar should be Louisiana Tech receiver Tru Edwards.
Edwards was the leading receiver for Conference USA in 2024. With 84 receptions for 986 yards, including six touchdowns, Edwards is already a top target for several schools. Unlike a long-shot race for, say, players from a school like USC, Oklahoma has a better chance at signing Edward. That is, of course, if Edwards doesn’t sign with Kentucky first.
Last Thoughts on the Winter Portal Closing
As time winds down, the situation is once again looking dicey for Oklahoma’s transfer portal hunt. There are still gaps in the depth chart, and nobody knows when or if they’ll be filled.
Additionally, Venables and the Sooners are now on the hunt for a new defensive coordinator. The offseason is normally a time to regroup, but it seems like that’s not the case in Norman. Can Venables recover and lead Oklahoma to success in 2025? Only time will tell. Until then, be sure to check back in, every week, as Last Word On Sports brings you the most up-to-date news on all things Oklahoma Sooners football.
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