© NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY
OU Football: Oklahoma LB Enters Transfer Portal
Sooners' senior linebacker Shane Whitter has been a steady contributor on special teams for four years after arriving as a 4-star prospect from North Carolina.
As Oklahoma’s annual spring game approaches on Saturday, it appears players are beginning to advantage of the latest opening of the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Shane Whitter, a fifth-year senior linebacker for the Sooners, announced Tuesday night that he is entering the portal “with gratitude.”
“First and foremost, thank you God for guiding me to where I am today,” Whitter wrote in a post on Twitter/X. “I would like to thank Sooner Nation for an unforgettable chapter at Oklahoma! It has been an honor to work alongside the exceptional coaches, teammates and staff here who have helped me grow as a person and athlete. I am honored to have been able to call myself a Sooner for four years and appreciate every step of my journey at OU.
“With gratitude, I’m entering the transfer portal for my final two years of eligibility. While I’m excited for the journey ahead, Oklahoma will always hold a special place in my heart."
Whitter is the second Sooner to enter the portal on Tuesday, the first day of the spring portal period. Earlier in the day, walk-on tight end Hayden Bray hit the portal.
Whitter came to OU in January 2020 a 4-star prospect out of Burlington, NC, and the No. 11 inside linebacker in the nation according to 247 Sports.
He played mostly special teams during his career, including nine games in 2020, 13 games in 2021, four games before a knee injury in 2022 and 13 games in 2023.
In his career, the 6-foot-, 220-pound Whitter made 48 total tackles, including a career-high 27 in 2021. He finished with 3.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery while playing in 39 total games.
Whitter chose the Sooners over North Carolina, Navy and Wake Forest, among others.
The NCAA Transfer Portal is open after the conference championship games and for 15 days in the spring. It’s also open for specific programs who experience a head coaching change.
