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Oklahoma Beefs Up the Defensive Line From the Transfer Portal, per Report

The Sooners won out for the services of a coveted edge rusher from the state of Texas.
Brady Trantham|
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables | Carson Field, Sooners On SI

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Oklahoma Sooners

The Oklahoma Sooners continue their hot streak in the transfer portal.

University of Texas-San Antonio's Kenny Ozowalu entered the portal on Dec. 17 as one of the more coveted defensive linemen in the transfer portal. Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, the Sooners won out over a "flurry of SEC schools."

Oklahoma won in the transfer portal recruitment of Ozowalu over Texas — speaking of which, the Sooners recently signed a former wide receiver of theirs.

Ozowalu, a young and talented edge rusher from San Antonio, redshirted in 2024 during his true freshman season — he appeared in four games. Last season, earned a starting spot in UTSA's second game onto the scene with three sacks and 17 total tackles. He has three years remaining as a college player.

Oklahoma's new edge rusher hails from Reagan High School and was not rated per 247Sports' recruiting service.

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Ozowalu is the first edge rusher that general manager Jim Nagy has signed in the wake of the program losing R Mason Thomas and Marvin Jones Jr. to graduation. Taylor Wein, who earned All-SEC honors in 2025, along with Danny Okoye and Adepoju Adebawore are all expected back to highlight what should be another stellar defensive line unit.

At 6-4, 270 pounds, Ozowalu is a gifted pass rusher. Per Pro Football Focus, he averaged out with a 75.3 pass rush grade, 76.0 grade overall.

The Sooners have now added two players on defense via the portal. Yesterday saw the addition of former Oregon cornerback Dakoda Fields, another young player with three years of eligibility remaining.

A full list of incoming and outgoing transfer portal players can be found here.

Oklahoma Sooners, Marvin Jones Jr., Miguel Chavis
Oklahoma defensive end Marvin Jones Jr., defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis | Carson Field, Sooners on SI

Ozowalu fits the mold of the type of talented and raw athletes that defensive ends' coach Miguel Chavis thrives with.

The Sooners will likely look to answer graduation (Gracen Halton and Damonic Williams) and transfer portal departures (Markus Strong) along the interior of their defensive line. Oklahoma has hosted a few defensive linemen visitors over the last week with decisions expected over the next few days.

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Brady Trantham
BRADY TRANTHAM

Brady Trantham covered the Oklahoma City Thunder as the lead Thunder Insider from 2018 until 2021 for 107.7 The Franchise. During that time, Trantham also helped the station as a fill-in guest personality and co-hosted Oklahoma Sooner postgame shows. Trantham also covered the Thunder for the Norman Transcript and The Oklahoman on a freelance basis. He received his BA in history from the University of Oklahoma in 2014 and a BS in Sports Casting from Full Sail University in 2023. Trantham also founded and hosts the “Through the Keyhole” podcast, covering Oklahoma Sooners football. He was born in Oklahoma and raised as an Air Force brat all over the world before returning to Norman and setting down roots there.

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