As the 2024 college football season draws to a close, the Oklahoma Sooners are already turning their focus toward the 2025 season, and it is clear they are doing so with a renewed sense of urgency and ambition. Head coach Brent Venables and his staff have been active on the recruiting front, particularly in the transfer portal, where the Sooners have made several high-profile additions to their roster. These moves come as part of a broader strategy to bolster the team’s depth, enhance key positions, and ultimately position Oklahoma for a return to championship contention.
The Importance of the Transfer Portal in College Football
The NCAA transfer portal has become one of the most important mechanisms in college football recruiting over the past few years. For programs like Oklahoma, which have a long history of success and a tradition of excellence, the portal provides an opportunity to add experienced players who can make an immediate impact. With the landscape of college football changing rapidly, including the growing influence of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals and the expansion of the College Football Playoff, transfers are now an essential part of any program’s efforts to remain competitive.
Oklahoma is no stranger to the transfer portal. In recent years, the Sooners have been among the most active teams in acquiring talent through this route. In 2024, Oklahoma made significant moves to shore up their roster, adding key players who could contribute immediately, particularly in areas where the team needed the most help. Now, with 2025 on the horizon, the Sooners are continuing to build their program with strategic, high-impact additions that reflect their ambition to return to elite status.
Key Transfer Picks for the Oklahoma Sooners Ahead of the 2025 Season
Let’s take a closer look at the specific players that have committed to the Sooners through the transfer portal and how they are expected to help the team in 2025. Each of these athletes brings something valuable to the table, whether it be experience, depth, or talent at key positions.
Quarterback: Elijah Brown
The quarterback position has been a point of focus for Oklahoma in recent seasons. With a talented young signal-caller in Jackson Arnold poised to take the reins for the Sooners in the near future, the coaching staff was eager to secure an experienced backup to provide insurance in case of injury or performance issues. Enter Elijah Brown, a talented transfer from the University of Texas. Brown is an experienced starter with several seasons of college football under his belt. Known for his strong arm and leadership qualities, he adds a layer of stability to the Sooners’ quarterback room.
In his time at Texas, Brown displayed flashes of brilliance, earning a reputation as a reliable leader. His ability to make all the throws and keep the offense moving should provide valuable depth in the Sooners’ passing game. Oklahoma’s coaching staff has emphasized developing their quarterbacks, and Brown’s presence will be a great asset in terms of mentorship for Arnold and potentially offering a plug-and-play option if needed during the season.
Running Back: Ja’Kobi Brooks
Oklahoma’s running back room has traditionally been one of the program’s strongest positions, with a rich history of producing NFL-caliber talent. However, the departure of several key backs in recent years left a gap that needed to be filled. Enter Ja’Kobi Brooks, a dynamic running back who comes to Oklahoma from the University of Arkansas. Brooks is a bruising, physical runner who possesses excellent vision and quickness. His ability to read defenses and pick up yards after contact will immediately elevate the Sooners’ ground game.
Brooks’ arrival is especially important given the Sooners’ desire to balance their offensive attack and take pressure off the quarterback. As Oklahoma transitions into the 2025 season, the coaching staff is focused on re-establishing a run-first mentality, and Brooks is the perfect fit for that system. His combination of size, speed, and power makes him a potential game-breaker for the Sooners.
Wide Receiver: Tyrell Johnson
Oklahoma’s wide receiver room has been an area of strength for many years, but the Sooners needed to address a few concerns with depth and playmaking ability as they looked ahead to the 2025 season. To address this, they secured the services of Tyrell Johnson, a standout wide receiver from the University of Alabama. Johnson is a versatile, explosive playmaker who has the ability to stretch the field and create separation from defenders. His speed and agility make him a difficult matchup for opposing defenses, and his polished route-running will be an asset for quarterback Jackson Arnold.
Johnson’s ability to make plays both inside and outside the numbers will provide a much-needed boost to the Sooners’ receiving corps. His size and physicality will make him a tough cover in the red zone, while his speed will allow him to open up the field on deep routes. With the Sooners’ offense looking to become more dynamic in 2025, Johnson’s arrival is an exciting development.
Defensive Line: Michael Harris
One of the most critical areas of need for Oklahoma has been on the defensive line. The Sooners have always prided themselves on having a tough, physical defense, but they’ve struggled in recent years to consistently get after the quarterback and stop the run. To address this issue, Oklahoma made a major move in bringing in Michael Harris from the University of Florida. Harris is a disruptive force on the defensive line, capable of wreaking havoc in the backfield. His combination of size, speed, and strength makes him a perfect fit for Venables’ defense.
Harris has the potential to immediately contribute as a starter for the Sooners. He has the ability to collapse the pocket from the interior or provide pressure from the edge. His presence will not only improve Oklahoma’s pass rush but also provide much-needed depth along the defensive front. The Sooners’ defensive line is expected to be a major strength in 2025, and Harris will be a key piece in that puzzle.
Linebacker: Jake Matthews
Another position where Oklahoma has had to reload in recent years is at linebacker. With a desire to strengthen their defense, the Sooners targeted Jake Matthews, a transfer from the University of Michigan. Matthews is a sideline-to-sideline linebacker with an instinctive nose for the football. He has the speed and athleticism to cover ground quickly and can play in both run support and coverage situations. His ability to read the quarterback’s eyes and react quickly will make him a major asset to Oklahoma’s defensive scheme.
Matthews’ leadership and experience will also be invaluable in mentoring younger linebackers on the roster. His presence will help solidify the Sooners’ front-seven and give them the flexibility to adjust their defensive schemes based on the opponent. Whether as a run-stopper or as a player in pass coverage, Matthews is expected to be a key component of Oklahoma’s defense in 2025.
Defensive Back: Isaiah Washington
The Sooners also made significant strides to improve their secondary by adding Isaiah Washington, a talented cornerback from the University of Miami. Washington is known for his sticky coverage skills and ability to lock down wide receivers on the outside. His ball skills and ability to create turnovers will make him a valuable asset to Oklahoma’s defensive backfield. With the Big 12 becoming more and more reliant on high-powered passing offenses, having a cornerback who can match up with elite receivers is crucial.
Washington’s ability to play physical at the line of scrimmage and then stay with his man downfield will make him an immediate starter. His arrival will help bolster a defensive backfield that struggled at times in 2024. The Sooners will be counting on Washington to shut down opposing pass-catchers and give their defense a chance to get off the field quickly.
Brent Venables’ Vision for 2025
Head coach Brent Venables has always been known for his defensive prowess, and his vision for Oklahoma’s future includes a return to a balanced, hard-hitting, and disciplined brand of football. The Sooners are moving toward a more physical style of play on both sides of the ball. The additions of players like Harris, Matthews, and Washington signal a renewed commitment to improving their defense, which will be vital if they hope to compete at the highest level in 2025.
On offense, the transfer of players like Brooks and Johnson is an indication that Oklahoma is committed to improving its explosiveness and versatility. With a talented quarterback like Jackson Arnold leading the way, the Sooners will need to surround him with playmakers who can take their offense to the next level. The mix of veterans and young talent on the roster should give the Sooners a deep and dynamic offensive attack.
Venables has made it clear that his goal for Oklahoma in 2025 is to not just return to relevance, but to compete for championships. To do that, the Sooners will need to continue building depth across the roster and ensuring that they have the right mix of experience, talent, and leadership. The key transfers Oklahoma has secured in the lead-up to the 2025 season are clear signs of the program’s ambitions to not just compete, but dominate.
Conclusion
As the Oklahoma Sooners prepare for the 2025 season, the work they are putting in now—particularly in the transfer portal—is setting the stage for a competitive and potentially championship-contending team. By adding key players like Elijah Brown, Ja’Kobi Brooks, Tyrell Johnson, Michael Harris, Jake Matthews, and Isaiah Washington, Oklahoma is strengthening both sides of the ball and addressing their areas of need. With Brent Venables at the helm, the Sooners are setting themselves up for success in the upcoming season and beyond. 2025 could very well be the year that Oklahoma returns to the elite ranks of college football, and their strategic roster moves are a step in the right direction.
