Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (11) has transferred to Oklahoma after spending the past three seasons at UCF.
Willie J. Allen Jr., AP
New Oklahoma coach Brent Venables (right, with strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt) has already brought in at least nine players through the transfer portal.
Oklahoma appears to have a love-hate relationship with college football’s transfer portal.
There has been plenty of roster shuffling coinciding with Lincoln Riley’s late November departure to USC. When Brent Venables arrived as the Sooners’ head coach, he understood the importance that the portal could play to his first team.
“We are certainly looking at transfer options. We’ve spoken to a few already and are trying to vet those guys,” Venables said on Dec. 15. “The biggest thing is trying to bring value to our locker room. Certainly, meet the needs we have from a functional standpoint where maybe experience lacks or playmaking lacks.
“It’s very important that we do a very good job of vetting the types of people we’re bringing into that locker room because we’re trying to build a culture, protect the culture, continue to enhance the culture. Starts with making good decisions with those people.”
OU has at least nine players moving onto the 2022 roster from other schools. Some bring needed experience at important positions (including quarterback Dillon Gabriel from UCF) while others who haven’t played much could provide depth at key positions (Louisville defensive back Kani Walker).
While Caleb Williams hasn’t officially announced his next move, it’s widely assumed he is leaving OU. He would join fellow quarterback Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) as well as former wide receivers Jadon Haselwood (Arkansas) and Mario Williams (USC) as well as tight end Austin Stogner (South Carolina).
USC quarterback Jaxson Dart is in the transfer portal and remains an OU target. Moving forward, all eyes continue to be on him.
Who can help the Sooners immediately? Who will provide important depth? Who can be contributors in the future?
Immediate help
Dillon Gabriel, QB, UCF: The quarterback played with new offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby for one season (2019). If Williams leaves, he would be the only scholarship quarterback on the roster with any experience.
Jeffery Johnson, DL, Tulane: Johnson, recruited by new defensive line coach Todd Bates, has played in 42 career games with 135 tackles (including 15 tackles for loss and 10 sacks).
McKade Mattauer, OG, California: A three-year starter for the Golden Bears, he was voted an All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection by coaches. The offensive line, hit with losses to the NFL draft, will benefit from the decision.
Trey Morrison, DB, North Carolina: Morrison, an honorable mention All-ACC selection in 2020, has started 42 games at nickel, cornerback and free safety during four seasons playing for UNC.
Key contributors
C.J. Coldon, CB, Wyoming: A veteran player who redshirted in 2017, played three games in 2018 and 2019 before starting every game in 2020. He had a team-high 67 tackles last season.
Jonah Laulu, DL, Hawaii: Laulu had a career-best 33 tackles last season — including four sacks — in 2021. He’s totaled 70 stops (19 TFLs) and eight sacks in three years at Hawaii.
Daniel Parker, TE, Missouri: Parker caught 12 passes for 97 yards in seven games for the Tigers last season. With Stogner and Jeremiah Hall leaving, his presence will aid the offense.
Depth needs
Kani Walker, CB, Louisville: As a true freshman last season, he only appeared in one game. He was a three-star recruit out of high school who originally committed to Boston College.
T.D. Roof, LB, Appalachian State: The son of new defensive coordinator Ted Roof, he’s played at Georgia Tech (2017), Indiana (2018) and Appalachian State (2020-21). He’s played in 45 career games and made 68 tackles last year, including 10 for loss and three sacks.
A look at OU, OSU and TU football transfers announced during the 2022 offseason
OL Hunter Anthony
DL Noah Arinze
OL Cade Bennett
CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
QB Davis Beville
OL Dante Bivens
OL Jason Brooks Jr.
CB C.J. Coldon
OL Casey Collier
WR Sam Crawford Jr.
WR Marcellus Crutchfield
WR Isaiah Epps
S Pat Fields
QB Dillon Gabriel
OT Tyler Guyton
WR Jadon Haselwood
WR JJ Hester
QB Shane Illingworth
WR Cody Jackson
RB Dezmon Jackson
DT Jayden Jernigan
NT Jeffery Johnson
DL Deven Lamp
DL Jonah La'ulu
DB Gabe Lemons
LS Jake Mann
DL Ian Marshall (walk-on)
S Tanner McCalister
CB Latrell McCutchin
OL McKade Mettauer
OL Monroe Mills
LB Jamal Morris
DB Trey Morrison
OL Prince Pines
DL Jaxon Player
WR Matt Polk
QB Spencer Rattler
DE/OLB Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge
LB T.D. Roof
WR Jonathan Shepard
OL Darrell Simpson
TE Austin Stogner
WR Haydon Wiginton (walk-on)
QB Caleb Williams
WR Mario Williams
OL Tyrese Williams
OSU's Mike Gundy on transfer portal
Sooners WR Jalil Farooq on former OU quarterback Caleb Williams: 'He made a decision, I made mine.'
New Oklahoma coach Brent Venables (right, with strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt) has already brought in at least nine players through the transfer portal.