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The college football spring transfer portal window will open in a week and all of a sudden, the Oklahoma Sooners have some pressing needs. The Sooners were aggressive in the winter portal window, adding John Mateer and several players that could start for them in 2025.
But as spring football has taken its toll, Oklahoma could venture into the spring portal window looking to be equally aggressive.
Injuries to the wide receiver room, including one that's been described as a significant injury to wide receiver Javonnie Gibson, could lead the Sooners to go after another wide receiver in the portal.
A week out from the opening of the spring transfer portal window, here are the top needs for the Oklahoma Sooners.
According to reports from Parker Thune of OUInsider and Rivals and George Stoia of SoonerScoop and On3, the Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver room is dealing with a rash of injuries as OU looks to close out spring ball. Javonnie Gibson is dealing with a lower leg injury that could keep him out of fall camp and part of the 2025 season. Keontez Lewis, Zion Ragins, Ivan Carreon, and Deion Burks have been limited throughout spring ball. Jayden Gibson suffered a setback early in camp, pushing his timeline for a return back to the fall.
Along with the report that Javonnie Gibson was hurt, fellow transfer wide receiver Isaiah Sategna suffered an injury that will likely limit him the rest of spring ball. Though his injury isn't believed to be as significant as Javonnie Gibson's after what happened to the wide receiver room last year, the Sooners can't take any chances. They have to make sure they have enough bonafide playmakers available for Ben Arbuckle's offense to hum.
Thankfully, the offensive line isn't dealing with the same number of injuries as it was dealing with last year and true freshman Elijah Thomas and Emmanuel Choice have stood out in spring ball. But Oklahoma needs to go into 2025 with more security at wide receiver.
Former Sooner Trejan Bridges and former Sooners commit Keyon Brown are in the portal. Sincere Brown and Emmett Mosley could be names to watch as well.
Oklahoma has improved its offensive line depth with additions of Derek Simmons, Luke Baklenko, and true freshmen Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje. Tackle looks pretty well solidified, but the Sooners could afford some experienced depth at guard and center ahead of 2025.
Oklahoma hosted Stanford center Jake Mailakka last week, someone who could help out at center and guard, providing experience behind center Troy Everett. With two years of eligibility remaining, Mailakka could be their answer at center for the 2026 season after Everett leaves.
But if it's not Mailakka, who's being pursued by a number of programs across college football, the Sooners should be looking to add some interior offensive line depth.
The Oklahoma Sooners are talented at cornerback, but they're young. Gentry Williams has been practicing this spring, but he's been limited. The hope is he'll be ready to roll in 2025 along with Eli Bowen, who suffered an ankle injury early in the offseason.
The Sooners have some young and talented options in Jeremiah Newcombe, Jacobe Johnson, Courtland Guillory, and Maliek Hawkins. At the same time, the Sooners may want a bit more experience on the outside behind Bowen and Williams.
Davon Mitchell was supposed to be the next great tight end at the University of Oklahoma. However, he wasn't up to the task and is no longer with the team. The Sooners brought in veteran transfers Will Huggins, John Locke, and Carson Kent. Jaren Kanak moved to tight end from linebacker. Oklahoma also has young, unproven prospects in Kaden Helms, Kade McIntyre, and true freshman Trynae Washington.
Does Oklahoma need to add a tight end? Not necessarily. They have some intriguing options. But if there is a player that is head and shoulders a better option at the position than what they currently have on the roster, it might behoove them to make a move. The Sooners have good depth on the roster. They don't need another depth piece. But there is room to upgrade if there's an option in the portal that makes sense.
After listening to the latest Oklahoma Breakdown with Teddy Lehman and Gabe Ickard, kicker may be an issue. The Oklahoma Sooners brought in Austin Welch and Grayson Miller via the transfer portal. Former Kohl's Kicking 5-star Liam Evans returns to compete for the kicking job. But according to the former Sooner greats, nobody has really separated themselves in the kicking competition.
In a league like the SEC where the margin of victory is so small, the Sooners can't afford to have a question at kicker. The competition will linger on into fall camp but if the Sooners can find some more consistency via the transfer portal, it would behoove Brent Venables and Jim Nagy to find an answer.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: 5 transfer portal needs for the Oklahoma Sooners
Continue reading...
But as spring football has taken its toll, Oklahoma could venture into the spring portal window looking to be equally aggressive.
Injuries to the wide receiver room, including one that's been described as a significant injury to wide receiver Javonnie Gibson, could lead the Sooners to go after another wide receiver in the portal.
A week out from the opening of the spring transfer portal window, here are the top needs for the Oklahoma Sooners.
1. Wide Receiver
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According to reports from Parker Thune of OUInsider and Rivals and George Stoia of SoonerScoop and On3, the Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver room is dealing with a rash of injuries as OU looks to close out spring ball. Javonnie Gibson is dealing with a lower leg injury that could keep him out of fall camp and part of the 2025 season. Keontez Lewis, Zion Ragins, Ivan Carreon, and Deion Burks have been limited throughout spring ball. Jayden Gibson suffered a setback early in camp, pushing his timeline for a return back to the fall.
Along with the report that Javonnie Gibson was hurt, fellow transfer wide receiver Isaiah Sategna suffered an injury that will likely limit him the rest of spring ball. Though his injury isn't believed to be as significant as Javonnie Gibson's after what happened to the wide receiver room last year, the Sooners can't take any chances. They have to make sure they have enough bonafide playmakers available for Ben Arbuckle's offense to hum.
Thankfully, the offensive line isn't dealing with the same number of injuries as it was dealing with last year and true freshman Elijah Thomas and Emmanuel Choice have stood out in spring ball. But Oklahoma needs to go into 2025 with more security at wide receiver.
Former Sooner Trejan Bridges and former Sooners commit Keyon Brown are in the portal. Sincere Brown and Emmett Mosley could be names to watch as well.
2. Interior Offensive Line
Oklahoma has improved its offensive line depth with additions of Derek Simmons, Luke Baklenko, and true freshmen Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje. Tackle looks pretty well solidified, but the Sooners could afford some experienced depth at guard and center ahead of 2025.
Oklahoma hosted Stanford center Jake Mailakka last week, someone who could help out at center and guard, providing experience behind center Troy Everett. With two years of eligibility remaining, Mailakka could be their answer at center for the 2026 season after Everett leaves.
But if it's not Mailakka, who's being pursued by a number of programs across college football, the Sooners should be looking to add some interior offensive line depth.
3. Cornerback
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The Oklahoma Sooners are talented at cornerback, but they're young. Gentry Williams has been practicing this spring, but he's been limited. The hope is he'll be ready to roll in 2025 along with Eli Bowen, who suffered an ankle injury early in the offseason.
The Sooners have some young and talented options in Jeremiah Newcombe, Jacobe Johnson, Courtland Guillory, and Maliek Hawkins. At the same time, the Sooners may want a bit more experience on the outside behind Bowen and Williams.
4. Tight End
Davon Mitchell was supposed to be the next great tight end at the University of Oklahoma. However, he wasn't up to the task and is no longer with the team. The Sooners brought in veteran transfers Will Huggins, John Locke, and Carson Kent. Jaren Kanak moved to tight end from linebacker. Oklahoma also has young, unproven prospects in Kaden Helms, Kade McIntyre, and true freshman Trynae Washington.
Does Oklahoma need to add a tight end? Not necessarily. They have some intriguing options. But if there is a player that is head and shoulders a better option at the position than what they currently have on the roster, it might behoove them to make a move. The Sooners have good depth on the roster. They don't need another depth piece. But there is room to upgrade if there's an option in the portal that makes sense.
5. Kicker
After listening to the latest Oklahoma Breakdown with Teddy Lehman and Gabe Ickard, kicker may be an issue. The Oklahoma Sooners brought in Austin Welch and Grayson Miller via the transfer portal. Former Kohl's Kicking 5-star Liam Evans returns to compete for the kicking job. But according to the former Sooner greats, nobody has really separated themselves in the kicking competition.
In a league like the SEC where the margin of victory is so small, the Sooners can't afford to have a question at kicker. The competition will linger on into fall camp but if the Sooners can find some more consistency via the transfer portal, it would behoove Brent Venables and Jim Nagy to find an answer.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: 5 transfer portal needs for the Oklahoma Sooners
Continue reading...
