Oklahoma Transfer Portal Tracker: Analyzing Every Player Coming In and Out of Norman

Stay up to date on all of Oklahoma’s offseason roster changes during the transfer portal window and what impact those moves will have on the 2026 season with the Sooners on SI transfer portal tracker.

Oklahoma’s Transfer Portal Additions

Player Name	Position	Former School	Years of Eligibility
Hayden Hansen	TE	Florida	1
Caleb Nitta	OL	Western Kentucky	2
Trell Harris	WR	Virginia	1
E'Marion Harris	OL	Arkansas	1
Lloyd Avant	RB	Colorado State	2
Rocky Beers	TE	Colorado State	1
Dakoda Fields	CB	Oregon	3
Parker Livingstone	WR	Texas	3
Kenny Ozowalu	DL	UTSA	3
Cole Sullivan	LB	Michigan	2
Peyton Joseph	OL	Georgia Tech	3
Mackenzie Alleyne	WR	Washington State	3
Bishop Thomas	DT	Georgia State	1
Jack Van Dorselaer	TE	Tennessee	3
Prince Ijioma	DB	Mississippi Valley State	2

What is Oklahoma Getting?

Former Mississippi Valley State defensive back Prince Ijioma adds depth to the secondary after the Sooners lost a few bodies to the portal and needed to sign another defensive back in the 2026 recruiting class.
Tight end Jack Van Dorselaer is Jason Witten's first official addition as a Sooner, and he brings a big frame with SEC experience to help OU's rushing attack as a blocker as well as three years of eligibility to continue to develop into a bigger threat in the passing game.
Defensive tackle Bishop Thomas adds needed depth to the interior of Oklahoma's defensive line. The former 4-star recruit enjoyed a breakout season last year for Georgia State, and now he'll add experience to the defensive tackle rotation behind David Stone and Jayden Jackson.
Receiver Mackenzie Alleyne adds another number to OU's receiving corps after the Sooners have lost a handful of players to the portal. He had one year of overlap with Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer at Washington State when he was a true freshman.
Offensive lineman Peyton Joseph is a positive addition in two ways for Oklahoma. First, the former Georgia Tech lineman adds needed depth to the interior of the Sooners’ line. Second, with three years of eligibility remaining, he’s a young player with plenty of time to develop with offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh.
Linebacker Cole Sullivan is an important pickup for Oklahoma. Owen Heinecke’s future is still up in the air while the Sooners wait ot hear back from the NCAA and Kobie McKinzie is off to Northwestern, meaning even if Kip Lewis signs up to return in 2026, OU needs to add an experienced linebacker. Who better than Sullivan, who starred in an excellent Michigan defense?
Defensive end Kenny Ozowalu helps add depth to Miguel Chavis’ room. Key contributors R Mason Thomas and Marvin Jones Jr. graduated following the 2025 season, leaving a big void of production. Taylor Wein, Adepoju Adebawore and Danny Okoye are primed to step into even larger roles, but the Sooners will have three years to continue to bring Ozowalu along after he totaled 17 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks as a redshirt freshman in 2025.
Receiver Parker Livingstone helps the Sooners out on a few fronts. First, his 6-foot-4 frame gives quarterback John Mateer another sizable target. Second, there will be no trouble projecting Livingstone’s production to the SEC after his stint at Texas. And finally, it’s always fun to pull a skill player away from a bitter rival — especially if that player arrives with an extra chip on their shoulder.
Cornerback Dakoda Fields checks a couple of boxes for the Sooners. First, his length is a great match for cornerbacks coach Jay Valai, and he can immediately step into the rotation behind Courtland Guillory and Eli Bowen. Fields also has three years of eligibility remaining, so he can grow with the OU defense beyond 2026.
Tight end Rocky Beers is another addition to an OU tight end room that is getting a facelift. The brother of Sooners basketball star Raegan Beers, Rocky is a 6-foot-5, 250-pounder who caught 31 passes for 388 yards and seven scores in 2025.
Running back Lloyd Avant was an all-purpose weapon for Colorado State last year. He rushed for 417 yards and five scores, averaging 4.6 yards per carry, and caught 24 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown. He also returned 11 kickoffs for 268 yards. Avant’s arrival was necessary after the losses of Jovantae Barnes and Taylor Tatum to the portal.
Former Arkansas offensive lineman E’Marion Harris checks a lot of boxes for the Sooners. First, he brings a wealth of SEC experience, having started 24 games in the past seasons for the Razorbacks. Harris started 11 games at right tackle in 2025, and before that, he started six contests at left guard and seven at right tackle in 2024. The Sooners needed to add an experienced interior offensive lineman and a handful of swing tackles. Harris can fill all those roles and more as he competes for time along OU’s offensive line in 2026.
OU general manager Jim Nagy gifted John Mateer a new weapon in former Virginia receiver Trell Harris. The 6-foot-0, 200-pound pass catcher hauled in 59 receptions for 847 yards and five scores this past season, earning Third Team All-ACC honors. With Deion Burks now graduated, the Sooners needed to add at least one playmaker at receiver — and Oklahoma hopes more will soon be on the way, especially if the Sooners can get Isaiah Sategna to return to Norman in 2026.
Interior offensive lineman Caleb Nitta is the first of many additions coming for Bill Bedenbaugh to bolster the trenches. He brings experience from Western Kentucky and should be a nice depth piece for a unit that lost a handful of bodies to the portal. Nitta has previous experience playing both guard and center, two positions where OU needed to add depth.
Tight end Hayden Hansen fills one of the Sooners’ biggest needs on offense. Oklahoma will have to completely rebuild its tight end room this offseason, and the former Florida man is a great start. He caught 30 passes for 254 yards and two scores last year, and in three years at Florida, he has 57 receptions for 611 yards and five scores. Hansen won’t be the only tight end the Sooners sign this offseason, but the 6-foot-7, 269-pounder is a good start for a unit needing a revamp.

Team Needs

Oklahoma Sooners, Jim Nagy — Oklahoma general manager Jim Nagy on the field at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. | Carson Field, Sooners On SI

Brent Venables and general manager Jim Nagy have Oklahoma’s roster in a good spot.

On offense, adding depth along the offensive line will be a priority. Febechi Nwaiwu is out of eligibility, leaving a hole at one starting spot. The rise of freshmen Michael Fasusi, Ryan Fodje and Eddy Pierre-Louis has Bill Bedenbaugh in a good spot, but OU will need to bring in a few bodies — especially after signing just two offensive linemen in the 2026 recruiting class.

Where Nagy and the Oklahoma front office could really spend big is at the skill positions.

Nagy arrived after the receiver rush last year, and OU opted to play Moneyball. Going after a Cam Coleman would be a shock, but the Sooners could look to spend a little more on proven wide receivers and tight ends to help Ben Arbuckle’s quarterbacks out in 2026.

What the Sooners end up doing on defense could be interesting.

Venables and his staff have done a phenomenal job developing young talent, which means OU has ready-made starters ready to fill roles all across the field.

The most pressing need, however, could be at linebacker.

Depth has been thin behind Kip Lewis, Kobie McKinzie and Owen Heinecke. Sammy Omosigho is primed for a larger role in 2026, but OU might have to add two or three linebackers through the transfer portal.

Lewis may opt to head to the NFL, McKinzie announced he will transfer and Heinecke is still waiting to hear back from the NCAA on if he will get an extra year of eligibility in 2026.

Miguel Chavis and Todd Bates could both probably use a depth signing or two at defensive end and defensive tackle after Gracen Halton, Damonic Williams, R Mason Thomas and Marvin Jones Jr. all graduated following the 2025 season.

Nagy noted that he would have liked to add one more cornerback in the 2026 recruiting class, so that may be an option for the Sooners as well, but Brandon Hall looks stocked at safety despite Robert Spears-Jennings’ departure.

Oklahoma’s Transfer Portal Departures

Player Name	Position	Transfer Portal Destination	Years of Eligibility
Jayden Gibson	WR	South Carolina	2
Kendel Dolby	DB	Mississippi State	1
Kobie McKinzie	LB	Northwestern	1
Isaiah Autry-Dent	OL	Mississippi State	2
Kaden Helms	TE	Minnesota	2
Jacob Sexton	OL	Oklahoma State	1
Jovantae Barnes	RB	Kentucky	1
Marcus Wimberly	S	Utah	4
Troy Everett	OL	Ole Miss	1
Luke Baklenko	OL	Arizona State	1
Devon Jordan	CB	Baylor	2
Michael Hawkins Jr.	QB	West Virginia	3
Maliek Hawkins	DB	West Virginia	4
Gentry Williams	CB	Georgia	1
Logan Howland	OT	Virginia Tech	2
Josiah Martin	WR	North Texas	3
KJ Daniels	WR	UAB	3
Carson Kent	TE	Pitt	1
Jake Taylor	OT	Iowa State	1
Markus Strong	DT	Clemson	2
Taylor Tatum	RB	Michigan	3
Zion Kearney	WR	Wisconsin	2
Ivan Carreon	WR	TBD	2
Javonnie Gibson	WR	Cincinnati	1
Sammy Omosigho	LB	UCLA	1
Zion Ragins	WR	Mississippi State	3
Jaydan Hardy	S	Colorado	2

What is Oklahoma Losing?

Zion Ragins was unable to build off of his freshman season, which lacked production but saw extended opportunities. He only appeared in two games in 2025 after playing in 10 in 2024. He is the seventh WR — the fifth who was recruited to Oklahoma out of high school — to enter the transfer portal.
Sammy Omosoigho’s reported departure is another hit to the depth of Oklahoma’s linebacker room. Kobie McKinzie has already transferred to Northwestern, and questions still linger about Owen Heinecke’s appeal with the NCAA for another year of eligibility. Retaining Kip Lewis is essential, and the addition of Michigan’s Cole Sullivan means that OU has talent arriving. Still, Oklahoma is now very thin on proven depth at the heart of Brent Venables’ defense.
Javonnie Gibson’s season was derailed by a leg injury suffered near the end of spring football, and with the Sooners’ additions in the portal, he’ll be looking for another school in 2026.
Receiver Ivan Carreon’s size never translated to production. He totaled 12 catches for 124 yards in two seasons with the Sooners.
Zion Kearney was unable to build off his true freshman season where he saw serious action in 11 games. A former four-star recruit, Kearney could not crack a consistent rotation in 2025, appearing in five games, with his final appearance against Ole Miss.
Taylor Tatum could never seem to get healthy enough to make a true run at cracking the rotation in 2025, but the former top-rated running back flashed plenty of ability in 2024. Tatum’s departure, paired with the exit of Jovantae Barnes, means the Sooners will definitely have to add to their backfield via the portal.
Markus Strong would have had a major opportunity to step into the defensive tackle rotation in 2026 alongside David Stone and Jayden Jackson, but he will instead look for opportunities as a starter elsewhere. Oklahoma will likely need to add a defensive tackle to replace Strong.
Jake Taylor's OU career was derailed by injuries, and while he would have been needed depth at offensive tackle, he was hardly a number that could be counted on to be healthy and ready to play at any time in 2026.
Tight end Carson Kent would have been one of the lone holdovers from the 2025 tight end room, but the Sooners would have added multiple tight ends that figured to play over Kent in 2026.
Receivers KJ Daniels and Josiah Martin saw no playing time in 2025 for the Sooners.
Offensive tackle Logan Howland has starting experience in the SEC, and he could have played a key role as OU’s swing tackle next year to back up both Michael Fasusi at left tackle and Ryan Fodje at right tackle. He’s a hit to the depth of Bill Bedenbaugh’s unit, and the Sooners will have to add an offensive tackle out of the portal to fill Howland’s spot in 2026.
Both Hawkins brothers are on the move. Maliek Hawkins’ OU career never really got going as he redshirted in the secondary in 2025, but the Sooners will lose key quarterback depth with Michael Hawkins Jr.’s departure. His starting experience is invaluable, but the projected return of John Mateer, paired with the arrival of Bowe Bentley, who was heavily pursued as Ben Arbuckle’s quarterback of choice in the 2026 recruiting class, left a murky path forward for Hawkins Jr. to get playing time under center in Norman.
When on the field, Gentry Williams has always been one of Oklahoma’s top-performing cornerbacks. Unfortunately, his 2025 campaign was again cut short due to injury. With the future of the position lying in the hands of Courtland Guillory and Eli Bowen, Williams can look for a fresh start for his final year, but the departure of Williams and Devon Jordon means the Sooners will likely need to add a cornerback out of the portal to round out depth at Jay Valai’s position.
Though he was not expected to start ahead of either Courtland Guillory or Eli Bowen in 2026, Devon Jordan was a trusted piece of Jay Valai’s cornerback rotation, and he would have seen significant playing time alongside Jacobe Johnson next year.
Oklahoma added Luke Baklenko for more depth last offseason, though he rarely featured for the Sooners in 2025.
Entering the offseason, it was unclear if center Troy Everett would even have another year of eligibility, pending his appeal for a medical waiver to the NCAA. Jake Maikkula was likely going to take over for Everett as OU’s starting center anyway before Everett’s unfortunate injury, meaning the Sooners are losing an experienced depth piece along the offensive line with Everett’s departure.
Freshman Marcus Wimberly’s OU career appears over before it really got going. He’ll have four years of eligibility remaining, as he redshirted this year following an injury. Wimberly never got to show off his potential in Norman, but with Peyton Bowen, Jaydan Hardy and Michael Boganowski all able to return, OU will be set at safety as long as there are no further departures.
Nobody should raise an eyebrow at the news that Jovantae Barnes is headed to the portal. The running back dropped out of the rotation after he played in his fourth game as he worked to redshirt and maintain a year of eligibility. He was a leader for OU’s running back room during his time in Norman, but he got passed up on the depth chart by sophomore Xavier Robinson and freshman Tory Blaylock.
Unfortunately, injuries prevented Jacob Sexton from fulfilling his full potential in Norman. With Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje each having three years of eligibility remaining as well, it was going to make sense for OU to continue to play the youth in 2026, leaving Sexton without a role. Now he’ll get his chance to make the most of his final season of college football with a fresh start, and the Sooners can focus on adding another piece on the interior of their offensive line to round out Bill Bedenbaugh’s starting unit in 2026.
Kaden Helms' departure ensures the OU tight end room will look completely different in 2026. He's battled through injuries throughout his entire Oklahoma career, and while he played well enough to be in the rotation next year, the Sooners still needed to add a legitimate receiving threat and a more consistent blocker to bolster the offense in 2026.
Isaiah Autry-Dent's decision to enter the portal was not a major shock. After playing in just one game in 2024, the redshirt sophomore didn't make it onto the field in 2025. The Sooners will need to add a few bodies on the interior, though, to carry a comfortable amount of offensive linemen in 2026.
Kobie McKinzie's entrance into the portal was perhaps surprising, but after his injury, he played less and less to make room for Heinecke. Over the last month of the season, McKinzie was mum about his future, though it was assumed he'd look toward the NFL draft as opposed to the transfer portal. Regardless, his experience and leadership will be a big loss to the linebacker room. His production dipped in November after he returned from injury, but he still would have represented a veteran presence in 2026 even if he split time with Sammy Omosigho and a handful of new additions.
Kendel Dolby's decision to hit the portal became apparent after he dropped out of the rotation following his fourth appearance in 2025. Dolby worked hard to recover from the lower leg injury that he sustained against Tennessee in 2024, but the emergence of Kendal Daniels and Reggie Powers at Brent Venables' cheetah position pushed Dolby outside to corner. With Courtland Guillory and Eli Bowen already shining on the field and Devon Jordan, Jacobe Johnson, Jeremiah Newcombe and Omarion Robinson available for depth, the Sooners have plenty of young talent to keep Jay Valai's cornerback room well stocked in 2026.
Jayden Gibson’s departure was expected after Brent Venables announced the receiver was no longer with the program in October. Gibson’s time at Oklahoma was marred by injury, and he was not projected to be a factor in the rotation even if he stayed with the program into 2026.