NORMAN — OU has been active in the transfer portal over the past week.
In addition to landing the top portal quarterback, John Mateer, the Sooners have signed eight transfers and are still awaiting decisions from others. OU has been aggressive in filling its top positions of need at offensive tackle and wide receiver.
With the portal closing on Dec. 28, here’s a breakdown of OU’s portal commitments and where it could be looking next:
More:From Baker Mayfield to Ben Arbuckle, why John Mateer is transferring to OU football
The Sooners have added two veteran portal offensive linemen, Stanford’s Luke Baklenko and Western Carolina’s Derek Simmons, to a young and talented room.
Baklenko committed on Dec. 16 after visiting Norman. He adds versatility having started nine games at right tackle and one at left tackle in 2024 for the Cardinal, as well as five games at left tackle as a true freshman in 2023. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
After losing out on top target, former Georgia Tech offensive tackle Corey Robinson to Arkansas, Venables and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh snagged Simmons. At 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, Simmons also brings versatility as he can play guard or tackle.
After last season’s struggles, offensive line was always going to be an emphasis for the Sooners to address in the portal and they’ve done just that.
More:For Navy coach Brian Newberry, facing OU football in bowl game is full-circle moment
A little over a week ago, the panic among the OU fan base was high following six wide receivers lost to the portal.
Nic Anderson (LSU), Andrel Anthony (Duke), Jalil Farooq (Maryland), JJ Hester (Kentucky), Jaquaize Pettaway (East Carolina) and Brenen Thompson (Mississippi State) all departed the program. It didn’t take long for head coach Brent Venables and receivers coach Emmett Jones to get to work finding their replacements.
UAPB’s Javonnie Gibson and Southern Illinois’ Keontez Lewis were the first to commit to the Sooners on Dec. 18, before Arkansas’ Isaiah Sategna III followed on Dec. 19.
Sategna brings SEC experience. He caught 37 passes for 491 yards for the Razorbacks this season. Gibson’s numbers stand out from a production standpoint as he recorded 70 receptions for 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore this past season.
OU could still use another receiver for depth purposes out of the portal.
Jacksonville State wide receiver Cam Vaughn could be an option. The Sooners have offered Troy speedster Devonte Ross but he has a plethora of suitors and will likely be costly.
More:OU football transfer portal tracker: Sooners land tight end Carson Kent
OU finally landed a much-needed transfer tight end commitment from Kennesaw State’s Carson Kent on Dec. 23.
In 21 career games, Kent, primarily known as a blocking tight end, has recorded 32 receptions for 382 yards and three touchdowns.
The Sooners’ struggles at the position the past few seasons have been well-documented. This is also a position OU could look to add one more piece in the coming days.
More:What went wrong for OU football in 2024 season? Diagnosing the Sooners’ issues
OU’s first portal commit of the winter window came via Kennesaw State transfer punter Jacob Ulrich.
Ulrich averaged 46 yards per punt this season and was selected to the Conference USA All-Freshman and First Team All-Conference teams. It’s expected he’ll compete with Ashton Logan to replace Luke Elzinga, who averaged 45.2 yards per punt for the Sooners this season.
The Sooners are also in search of a transfer kicker.
OU lost out on Western Kentucky kicker Lucas Carneiro, one of the top kickers in the portal, to Mississippi on Dec. 23.
More:How former OU football players are letting Barry Switzer know how they feel about him
All of Oklahoma’s transfer portal additions, outside of Ulrich, have come on the offensive side of the ball.
The Sooners have yet to add a transfer on defense but their first one might be coming soon. Defensive line and the secondary are areas OU could look to add before the winter window closes.
Washington State defensive back Ethan O’Connor visited the Sooners, as well as Georgia and Miami, last week. O’Connor is one of the most coveted defensive players nationally and could provide a veteran presence to a talented defensive back room.
