BREAK: Oklahoma facing 25 shocking transfers 2024 season
The transfer portal has transitioned from a useful tool to an essential resource for college football programs in recent years. It aids in restocking rosters and can provide a College Football Playoff contender with the crucial pieces needed to push towards a national title.
In his first two-plus years as Oklahoma’s head coach, Brent Venables has heavily utilized the portal to revamp the Sooners’ roster. This approach addresses key needs while maintaining high-level recruitment from high schools to ensure the program’s long-term stability. This offseason, in preparation for Oklahoma’s move to the SEC, Venables and his staff brought in 16 players from the transfer portal, including standout additions like wide receiver Deion Burks, defensive tackle Damonic Williams, and center Branson Hickman.
While Oklahoma bolstered its roster with significant portal additions, they will also compete against numerous talented transfers this fall. Five of the teams on OU’s schedule this season recruited top-20 transfer classes, according to the 247Sports team transfer rankings: No. 1 Ole Miss, No. 3 Alabama, No. 6 Texas, No. 14 Missouri, and No. 16 South Carolina. Additionally, Auburn, Tennessee, and Houston brought in transfer classes ranked within the top-35 this offseason.
Previously, we highlighted the top transfer addition for each of Oklahoma’s 2024 opponents. Now, let’s examine the top-25 overall transfers — along with a few honorable mentions — that the Sooners will face this season. This list is organized in descending order based on the 247Sports transfer rankings and includes a mix of experienced Power 5 players, Group of 5 athletes transitioning to the Power 4 level, and even one former OU player.
For reference, Oklahoma signed two players (Burks and edge rusher Caiden Woullard) who would have made this top-25 list. The teams OU will face that feature the most players on this list are Alabama (seven), Texas (five), and Ole Miss (five). Four teams on the Sooners’ schedule do not have a player in the top-25 list — each of OU’s nonconference opponents: Temple, Houston, Tulane, and Maine.
— DL DeAndre Jules, South Carolina (Pitt transfer)
— WR Silas Bolden, Texas (Oregon State transfer)
— LB Corey Platt Jr., Houston (Tulane transfer)
— CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee (Oregon State transfer)
— WR Zavion Thomas, LSU (Mississippi State transfer)
— EDGE Kyle Kennard, South Carolina (Georgia Tech transfer)
— LB Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina (Charlotte transfer)
— WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee (Tulane transfer)
25. **WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Auburn**
– **Previous school:** Penn State
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 13 wide receiver, No. 68 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 53 receptions, 673 yards, four touchdowns in 13 games
24. **QB Austin Mack, Alabama**
– **Previous school:** Washington
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 9 quarterback, No. 67 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** Did not play as a freshman at Washington and redshirted
23. **S Keon Sabb, Alabama**
– **Previous school:** Michigan
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 5 safety, No. 58 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 28 tackles, five pass breakups, two interceptions, including a pick-six in 14 games for national champion Michigan
22. **S King Mack, Alabama**
– **Previous school:** Penn State
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 4 safety, No. 57 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** Three tackles in 13 games, primarily playing on special teams
21. **RB Raheim Sanders, South Carolina**
– **Previous school:** Arkansas
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 4 running back, No. 53 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 62 carries, 209 yards, two touchdowns in six games during an injury-shortened season
20. **LB Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss**
– **Previous school:** Arkansas
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 2 linebacker, No. 51 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 74 tackles, 6.5 for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup, 11 total pressures in 11 games
19. **WR Matthew Golden, Texas**
– **Previous school:** Houston
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 9 wide receiver, No. 50 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 38 receptions, 404 yards, six touchdowns in nine games
18. **CB Toriano Pride Jr., Missouri**
– **Previous school:** Clemson
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 9 cornerback, No. 47 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 14 tackles, one for loss, four pass breakups in 12 games
17. **CB Trey Amos, Ole Miss**
– **Previous school:** Alabama
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 8 cornerback, No. 46 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 12 tackles, five pass breakups, 45% completion rate allowed in 14 games
16. **WR CJ Daniels, LSU**
– **Previous school:** Liberty
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 7 wide receiver, No. 45 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 55 receptions, 1,067 yards, 10 touchdowns, 19.4 yards per catch in 14 games
15. **CB Domani Jackson, Alabama**
– **Previous school:** USC
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 7 cornerback, No. 43 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 33 tackles, three pass breakups in 11 games
14. **TE Holden Staes, Tennessee**
– **Previous school:** Notre Dame
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 2 tight end, No. 34 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 15 receptions, 176 yards, four touchdowns in 11 games
13. **TE Amari Niblack, Texas**
– **Previous school:** Alabama
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 1 tight end, No. 31 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 20 receptions, 327 yards, four touchdowns, 16.4 yards per catch in 14 games
12. **DL LT Overton, Alabama**
– **Previous school:** Texas A&M
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 3 defensive lineman, No. 30 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 17 tackles, three total pressures in 12 games
11. **S Andrew Mukuba, Texas**
– **Previous school:** Clemson
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 3 safety, No. 29 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 42 tackles, two for loss, six pass breakups, one fumble recovery, 54.3% completion rate allowed in 10 games
10. **S Jardin Gilbert, LSU**
– **Previous school:** Texas A&M
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 2 safety, No. 27 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** Five tackles, one pass breakup in two games during injury-shortened season
9. **WR Antwane Wells Jr., Ole Miss**
– **Previous school:** South Carolina
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 4 wide receiver, No. 26 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** Three receptions, 37 yards, one touchdown in three games during injury-shortened season
8. **EDGE Trey Moore, Texas**
– **Previous school:** UTSA
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 3 edge, No. 23 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 45 tackles, 17.5 for loss, 14 sacks, one interception, three pass deflections, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, 38 total pressures in 12 games
7. **IOL Parker Brailsford, Alabama**
– **Previous school:** Washington
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 2 interior offensive lineman, No. 22 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 15 starts at center, 976 total snaps, one sack allowed, 98.7% pass-blocking efficiency
6. **OT Lance Heard, Tennessee**
– **Previous school:** LSU
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 3 offensive tackle, No. 19 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** One start in five appearances, 195 total snaps, zero sacks allowed, 98.3% pass-blocking efficiency
5. **EDGE Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss**
– **Previous school:** Florida
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 2 edge, No. 18 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 39 tackles, 11.5 for loss, seven sacks, 45 total pressures in 12 games
4. **OT Cayden Green, Missouri**
– **Previous school:** Oklahoma
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 2 offensive tackle, No. 11 overall, four-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** Five starts at left guard in 11 appearances, 568 total snaps, zero sacks allowed, 97.8% pass-blocking efficiency
3. **WR Isaiah Bond, Texas**
– **Previous school:** Alabama
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 1 wide receiver, No. 4 overall, five-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 48 receptions, 668 yards, four touchdowns in 14 games
2. **DL Walter Nolen, Ole Miss**
– **Previous school:** Texas A&M
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 1 defensive lineman, No. 3 overall, five-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 37 tackles, 8.5 for loss, four sacks, one pass deflection, 16 total pressures in 12 games
1. **OL Kadyn Proctor, Alabama**
– **Previous school:** Iowa in the spring; Alabama last season
– **247Sports transfer ranking:** No. 1 offensive tackle, No. 2 overall, five-star transfer
– **2023 stats:** 14 starts at left tackle, 811 total snaps, 12 sacks allowed, 93.9% pass-blocking efficiency