Report: Another Oklahoma Linebacker the Latest to Enter Transfer Portal

Oklahoma’s defense is reportedly losing a young linebacker.

Redshirt freshman Phil Picciotti announced on Thursday that he is entering the transfer portal with three years of eligibility remaining. On3's Hayes Fawcett was the first to report the news on Picciotti.

Picciotti was a highly-touted linebacker out of high school but never panned out for the Sooners. He did not appear in any games for OU in either of his first two years in Norman.

BREAKING: Oklahoma LB Phil Picciotti plans to enter the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports

The 6’3 240 LB will have 4 years of eligibility remaining https://t.co/Kt5tzPHQrO pic.twitter.com/q5c3vwIbLb
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 12, 2024

A native of Pennsylvania, Picciotti played his senior year of high school football at IMG Academy in Florida. Picciotti led IMG Academy with 144 tackles and also played running back, rushing for 250 yards.

He was a 4-star recruit, per Rivals, while ESPN, 247 Sports and On3 all listed him as a 3-star.

Picciotti was highly regarded by both OU coach Brent Venables and his high school coach, Billy Miller, when he arrived on campus.

"I felt like (he) was one of the most violent middle linebackers,” Venables said. “Just can't block this guy. Violent hands. Great instincts. Really what you want to be strong on defense, just being strong up the middle.”

Miller said, “Phil’s an old-school player. I wish I could get six more of him. He’s a downhill guy — see ball, hit ball. Not afraid of violent contact. Does a great job shedding blocks and using his hands to get to the ball carrier."

While Picciotti is the second linebacker to reportedly seek a transfer, he’s merely the latest Sooners defensive player to reportedly be leaving.

Picciotti joins defensive backs Jayden Rowe, Kani Walker, Erik McCarty and Makari Vickers and cheetah linebacker Dasan McCullough as OU defenders on the move. The Sooners now have 23 players from the 2024 roster who have decided to enter the transfer portal.

The winter window of the transfer portal officially opens on Dec. 9 and closes on Dec. 28. Players are not required to choose their new schools by the closing date, but they must declare by the deadline to officially be a part of the portal during the winter window.

Players also have the option to return to their original school if they don’t find a program that suits them.