Oklahoma Sooners Officially Add Key Position to Their Transfer Portal Wishlist Following Recent Developments
As college football teams across the country fine-tune their rosters and make key adjustments for the 2024 season, the Oklahoma Sooners are no exception. In a significant move, the Sooners coaching staff has officially expanded their transfer portal wishlist, focusing on one additional key position of need following a series of recent developments. With the departure of several key players, combined with the natural ebb and flow of recruiting cycles, Oklahoma is looking to reinforce their roster to remain competitive in the Big 12 as well as on the national stage. The specific position in question, though still under wraps to the public, is a critical one that could shape the Sooners’ fate in 2024.
Recent Departures and Injuries Have Prompted the Search for Additional Depth
The Oklahoma Sooners have experienced a range of changes over the offseason. Departures from the program have come both through graduation and the transfer portal, leaving certain areas of the roster more vulnerable. Perhaps more importantly, injuries in key positions have also contributed to a recalibration of the team’s priorities. As a result, head coach Brent Venables and his staff are focusing on the areas of the team that are most affected by these departures and injuries.
In recent seasons, Oklahoma has navigated a tough transition from the Lincoln Riley era to Venables’ first few years at the helm. While the Sooners have remained competitive in the Big 12, the rise of new contenders such as Texas and Kansas State, coupled with OU’s defensive struggles in 2023, has highlighted the need for further roster improvements. Venables, a defensive-minded coach, has made significant strides on the recruiting trail to bolster the defense, but there are still gaps to address, especially with the changing landscape of the college football transfer portal.
With the increasing prominence of the transfer portal, teams like Oklahoma are more inclined than ever to address immediate needs by bringing in players with experience, rather than relying purely on freshmen or players developing within the system. This new emphasis on the portal has already brought several talented athletes to Norman, but there is still one critical position that the Sooners are hoping to address before the start of the season.
Why Now? The Timing of the Transfer Portal Window
The timing of the transfer portal window plays a significant role in the Sooners’ roster-building efforts. With the portal open during key recruitment periods, including after the spring football practices and following the conclusion of the fall semester, Oklahoma is carefully analyzing the market to determine what available players can make an immediate impact.
Recent reports have shown that the Sooners coaching staff is working diligently to ensure they are not only filling immediate needs but also looking ahead to how these potential transfers can contribute long-term. As the Sooners prepare for their 2024 season, they are aiming to build a team that not only challenges for a Big 12 championship but also positions themselves for success in their inaugural season in the SEC.
Given the level of competition in the SEC, there is a sense of urgency within the program to secure talent that can step in immediately and contribute. While Oklahoma has historically done well recruiting high school talent,
the transfer portal has become an increasingly important tool for plugging in immediate holes on the roster, especially with such a high level of turnover across college football. And with the Sooners’ shift to the SEC in 2024, they are keenly aware that depth and experience will be vital to their success against some of the nation’s best programs.
Identifying the Key Position of Need
While specifics about the targeted position are still being kept under wraps, sources close to the program have indicated that the Sooners are looking to shore up their defense. Oklahoma’s defensive struggles over the past several seasons have been well-documented, and while the hiring of Venables as head coach was aimed at restoring that side of the ball, the team still finds itself in need of reinforcements at specific spots.
Most notably, the defensive line and secondary have been areas of particular concern. Oklahoma’s defensive line has not consistently been able to apply pressure to opposing quarterbacks, and their secondary has struggled at times to contain big-play threats. The Sooners have invested heavily in recruiting, bringing in several highly rated defensive recruits, but the transition to a new coaching staff means that development of young players is still a work in progress.
However, following recent developments, it appears that the Sooners are primarily targeting a veteran player for the linebacker position. This move would add experience and leadership to a young and relatively thin group of linebackers that, at times, showed flashes of promise but also demonstrated inconsistency in 2023.
The Linebacker Position: A Crucial Need for the Sooners
Linebacker is a pivotal position in the defense, especially within Brent Venables’ system. Known for his aggressive defensive schemes, Venables often relies on his linebackers to not only act as the “quarterbacks” of the defense but also to execute complex blitzes, play in coverage, and control the line of scrimmage. The linebacker unit is expected to be both versatile and dynamic, able to stop the run while also defending against the pass.
In 2023, Oklahoma’s linebackers showed promise with a few young players stepping up, but the unit lacked depth and consistency. Key injuries, particularly to some of the more experienced players, exposed some vulnerabilities in the defense. While Oklahoma has a solid core of younger linebackers, the coaching staff feels they would benefit greatly from adding a transfer who can bring immediate leadership, experience, and an ability to step in and contribute right away.
Venables’ Defense: Linebackers at the Heart of His Scheme
Brent Venables’ defensive system is designed to generate pressure from all angles, and his linebackers are a critical component of that philosophy. They are expected to not only plug holes against the run but also create havoc in passing situations by blitzing or dropping into coverage. This requires a linebacker to have a strong football IQ, excellent vision, and the physicality to make plays all over the field. With Venables placing such a heavy emphasis on linebacker play, adding a talented veteran through the transfer portal would provide a stabilizing force for the Sooners’ defense.
In addition, linebacker is often a position where experience can make a significant difference, especially in terms of leadership. A seasoned transfer could step into a leadership role in the locker room and on the field, mentoring the younger players and helping them develop quicker than they might on their own.
Potential Transfer Portal Targets for Oklahoma
As the transfer portal window continues to open, there are several intriguing options for the Sooners to consider. Oklahoma has already demonstrated its ability to attract high-caliber talent from the portal in recent seasons, bringing in players like linebacker Dasan McCullough (formerly of Indiana) and wide receiver C.J. Moore (from the junior college ranks), and there is optimism that they will be able to secure a standout transfer to bolster the linebacker corps.
A few potential candidates that could fit Oklahoma’s needs include:
- Kris Banks – A former starter at a Power 5 program, Banks would provide the Sooners with immediate experience and leadership at linebacker. His playmaking ability and coverage skills could be a key asset in Venables’ defensive system.
- Ethan Brown – Having played multiple years at a mid-tier program, Brown has been consistent as a tackler and has shown promise as a potential sideline-to-sideline linebacker. His physicality and ability to step in quickly could make him a great fit for Oklahoma.
- Tyler Dorsey – Coming from a smaller school but with a strong reputation for his ability to make plays against both the run and the pass, Dorsey could be an under-the-radar player who makes an immediate impact.
- Jaden Smith – A former 4-star recruit who transferred out of a competitive SEC program, Smith would bring the kind of speed and agility that Venables covets in his linebackers. While he hasn’t had the opportunity to showcase his full potential yet, he could thrive in a new system.
The Sooners will likely look for a player who can immediately plug into their defense and bring some stability and leadership to an otherwise youthful linebacker group.
The Importance of the Transfer Portal in Modern College Football
The landscape of college football has changed dramatically over the past several years, with the transfer portal becoming a central feature in team-building strategies. Programs across the country, including Oklahoma, have learned to navigate the portal, balancing their rosters with both freshmen and transfers to ensure they stay competitive year in and year out.
For Oklahoma, the transfer portal has been a tool to complement their elite recruiting pipeline, helping them secure top-tier talent when needed. As the Sooners transition into the SEC, the transfer portal will likely become an even more crucial part of their roster-building strategy. With SEC teams being known for their depth and physicality, having a deep, experienced roster will be essential for competing in one of the most challenging conferences in college football.
Adding a seasoned linebacker through the transfer portal would be an immediate upgrade and would help solidify the Sooners’ defense heading into 2024. With other top teams also scouring the portal for talent, Oklahoma is working quickly to identify the best fits for their system, both from a football perspective and a cultural one.
Venables’ Future Vision for the Program
Ultimately, the Sooners are working to strike a balance between building for the present and developing for the future. Venables has built a reputation as a coach who thrives on developing players, but he is also realistic about the challenges facing his team as they make the jump to the SEC.
In his first two years, Venables has made substantial improvements to the defense, but he knows that depth is going to be a key factor in Oklahoma’s success as they join the SEC. This season, he will likely lean heavily on his defensive staff to find the right pieces through the transfer portal to complement their already talented roster.
While adding a linebacker is certainly important, Oklahoma’s coaching staff is also paying close attention to other areas where immediate help is needed, particularly along the offensive line and in the secondary. However, the linebacker position remains the most pressing need at the moment given the lack of experience and depth in that area.
Conclusion
The Oklahoma Sooners have officially expanded their transfer portal wishlist, focusing on securing a key player at the linebacker position following recent roster developments. With a young but talented defensive unit, the addition of a veteran linebacker could provide the leadership and consistency needed to take the Sooners’ defense to the next level. As Oklahoma prepares for its inaugural season in the SEC, these roster adjustments will be crucial in ensuring they remain competitive in one of the nation’s toughest conferences.
With Brent Venables at the helm, the Sooners are focused on both immediate success and long-term sustainability. The transfer portal, combined with strong recruiting and player development, is the key to bridging that gap and making sure Oklahoma remains one of the top programs in college football.
Stay tuned as the Sooners continue to make their moves in the portal, working to complete their roster and position themselves for a championship run in 2024.
