The Oklahoma Sooners are already losing talents to the transfer portal. In a world where a team can see a deluge of players overnight, the transfer portal has become an ominous addition to modern-day college football. As head coach Brent Venables sees some big-name departures, the question of whether he can replace them is also being raised.
Oklahoma’s Biggest Losses to the Transfer Portal
The Major Departures
Whether it’s a lack of faith in the head coach, the coordinator, or the program, transferring out means that the player can’t see a future in the program. While NIL and other incentives are definitely a part of the issue, those problems are far and away from the Oklahoma Sooners this year. After a less-than-stellar season, its clear that those jumping to the transfer portal are looking for a way out.
The highest profile departure so far is, of course, Jackson Arnold. The starting quarterback’s faith seems to have been broken when Venables benched him at Tennessee. Now, Arnold is looking to greener pastures for his future. There’s speculation that he’ll either go to Mississippi State to be with the man who recruited him, Jeff Lebby, or even to Auburn. A serious issue with the fundamentals and inability to pass consistently has led to questions of whether or not Arnold’s a bust or a gem. No matter where Arnold goes, Venables and Ben Arbuckle will have trouble replacing him in an untested quarterback room.
Other big losses include tight end Bauer Sharp and wide receiver J.J. Hester. Both players account for the majority of Oklahoma’s receiving yards this season. They’ve also both avoided the injury curse that struck most of the Sooners offense. Sharp is leading the team this year with 42 catches for 324 yards and two touchdowns. Hester had 14 catches for 315 yards and one touchdown.
Glass Cannons Hitting The Transfer Portal
This next group is what we’ve been calling Oklahoma’s ‘glass cannons’. They’re the talents who could make big plays but who have been unable to remain on the active roster. While their names may generate buzz and interest, these departures won’t be hurting the Sooners that much.
Nic Anderson tops the list. One of the more highly-touted wide receivers, Anderson has spent most of his college career out on injury. In 2024, Anderson had a single play before going back to the injury tent. It’s not likely he would’ve seen the field too much next year either.
Jaquaize Pettaway, Jalil Farooq, and Andrel Anthony are also set to depart. An early-season knee injury and then a mid-season hamstring injury kept Pettaway from making much of an impact. Farooq has been out since week one dealing with a broken foot. Anthony has been recovering from a potentially career-ending knee injury he suffered against Texas in 2023.
Offensive linemen Joshua Bates, Evan McClure, Kenneth Wermy, and Geirean Hatchett are all reportedly entering the transfer portal as well. The only noteworthy name here is Hatchett, who left after injuring his bicep against Houston. Bates, McClure, and Wermy were all redshirt freshmen.
Oklahoma’s Hidden Gems
These losses will be felt next year. They’ve either made a name for themselves or had massive potential. Ultimately, whatever their reasons, these players are going to be hard to replace.
Kalib Hicks is undoubtedly at the top of the Sooners’ hidden gems being lost. Despite an excellent spring showing, Hicks was underutilized. In his second season with Oklahoma, he only held the ball twice, both times being against South Carolina.
Cornerback Kani Walker has been competing with the Sooners since 2021. He’s been averaging twenty-four tackles and one interception per season. Walker is entering the transfer portal with just one year of eligibility remaining.
Prospective Replacements for Oklahoma
Plenty of talents all over the nation are entering the transfer portal in just the first week alone, but where they’re going is up in the air. Oklahoma State may be taking North Texas’ Chandler Morris. The Oregon Ducks are targeting Purdue’s All-American Dillon Thieneman. But who are the Oklahoma Sooners likely to go after?
The hiring of Arbuckle and the departure of Arnold both felt like indications that Washington State quarterback John Mateer could follow his coach to Oklahoma. Whether or not Mateer actually will is another story, as he’s still preparing for the Cougars’ bowl game and isn’t in the portal.
Other major targets include Stanford’s Luke Baklenko, who is visiting Oklahoma in December. Wide receivers Donaven McCulley and Reginald Virgil, from Indiana and Miami-Ohio, respectively, are high on Venables’ list. Each of these names could be a massive step towards replacing the struggling Sooners offense.
As most of the veteran backfield is now out of eligibility, defensive transfers are a high priority. Tulsa’s R.J. Jackson Jr., Louisiana Tech’s David Blay, Western Kentucky’s Hosea Wheeler, and Oklahoma State’s Kendal Daniels are all currently receiving offers from the Sooners. Unlike last year, Venables isn’t looking for glass cannons. Each of these targets comes with a proven record and has a higher resiliency.
Whether or not the Oklahoma Sooners can replace this deluge of talent is a question of if and not when. The 2025 schedule is already a difficult slate for the Sooners. If Venables can’t stop the bleeding, Oklahoma’s transfer portal woes will only worsen next year.
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