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Oklahoma lands Tennessee transfer Wanya Morris

Former 5-star recruit and two-year starter for the Vols is headed to Norman to fill an immediate need on the offensive line
John E. Hoover|
Oklahoma lands Tennessee transfer Wanya Morris
Oklahoma lands Tennessee transfer Wanya Morris

Finally, some good news for Oklahoma from the NCAA transfer portal

Wanya Morris, a former 5-star recruit and a two-year starter at Tennessee, announced via Twitter Monday that he was committed to Oklahoma.

OU was in Morris' final three after he entered the portal, along with Texas A&M and USC.

The 6-foot-5, 320-pound former 5-star recruit from Grayson, GA, started 19 games for Tennessee, and could be Oklahoma’s solution to the roster hole at offensive tackle. He officially entered the transfer portal on Jan. 13, four days after telling the Vols and coach Jeremy Pruitt of his intentions.

Programs have just 48 hours to enter a player's name into the portal so other schools may contact him, but, not yet knowing his fate, Pruitt may have tried to slow-play Morris, but to no avail. Pruitt was fired Monday after a university investigation reportedly uncovered recruiting improprieties. Pruitt's tenure in Knoxville lasted just three seasons.

Morris' decision was the first good news Oklahoma has received via the portal since before the Cotton Bowl.

Linebacker Robert Barnes (Colorado), tight end Jalin Conyers (Arizona State), quarterback Tanner Mordecai (SMU), quarterback Chandler Morris (TCU), running back T.J. Pledger (Utah), wide receiver Charleston Rambo (Miami) and linebacker Jon-Michael Terry (Tulsa) all recently left the program.

Things are even more pressing up front.

After starting right tackle Adrian Ealy and starting center Creed Humphrey declared early for the NFL Draft, OU missed on 2021 SI All-American Tristan Leigh, leaving the OU short on bodies across the offensive line for this fall. 

Two-year starter Erik Swenson could return for another senior season, and Anton Harrison and Stacey Wilkins also figure to be in the mix at tackle, although Morris is seen as an immediate contributor and likely starter.

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John E. Hoover
JOHN E. HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.

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