Weekend Open Post | January 2nd – 4th
Posted on: January 2, 2026
Sunday Brunch | Sooners Should be Prepared for Portal Madness
– Charlie S – Posted on: December 28, 2025
With only one transfer portal window this cycle, some college football programs have shifted to a far more deliberate and front-loaded roster strategy. Coaches are doing extensive evaluation and scouting well before the window opens, tracking potential transfers throughout the season so they can move quickly during the short January period.
Retention has become more important than ever, as there’s no spring window to replace unexpected departures, pushing staffs to invest more in player relationships, role clarity, and NIL planning. The change also brings greater roster stability after January, allowing teams to enter spring practice with clearer depth charts and a more predictable offseason rhythm. Overall, the portal has become a high-stakes sprint rather than a year-round safety net, rewarding programs that plan ahead and manage their rosters proactively.
In my opinion, Oklahoma is ahead of the curve in the transfer portal largely because of how its personnel department is structured and empowered, not just because of coaching or NIL resources. OU has built an NFL-style personnel operation that blends pro scouting, college scouting, and roster management into one unified process, allowing the staff to treat the portal more like free agency than emergency recruiting.
OU’s personnel staff has been constantly evaluating its own roster while also tracking potential transfer candidates across the country months before they ever enter the portal. That means Oklahoma should rarely react late. Instead, it identifies needs early, builds internal boards, and already knows which players fit its schemes, culture, and development model when the window opens. This level of advance scouting is especially valuable now that there is only one portal window, where speed and decisiveness matter more than volume.
Just as important, OU’s department plays a major role in retention strategy. By projecting depth charts, NFL timelines, and positional attrition well in advance, the Sooners can proactively address potential departures rather than scrambling to replace them. That foresight allows OU to target specific portal additions with purpose, rather than chasing numbers.
The result should be a portal approach that is controlled, selective, and efficient. Oklahoma should now be in a position where it doesn’t rely on the portal to fix problems, rather it uses the portal to supplement a long-term roster plan. With fewer windows and less margin for error, that personnel-driven model gives OU a clear advantage over programs still operating with a more traditional, reactive recruiting structure.
It will be fascinating to watch how it all plays out. In a perfect world, OU should not be left scrambling or picking from the scrap heap as they were in years past at certain positions. They likely have extensive lists, at each position of need, that they will be able to attack from the top down. Hopefully, gone are the days of every fan knowing where the weaknesses are and watching potential targets not even get a call from the Sooners.
News From the Portal | OU Entries
– Charlie S – Posted on: January 2, 2026
Keeping track of the players who announce their intentions to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal when it opens on January 2nd.
So far, to this point, the following players have announced their intentions:
WR Jayden Gibson
DB Kendel Dolby
LB Kobie McKinzie
OL Isaiah Autry Dent
TE Kaden Helms
OL Jacob Sexton
RB Jovantae Barnes
DB Marcus Wimberly
OL Troy Everett
OL Luke Baklenko
CB Devon Jordan
QB Mike Hawkins
DB Maliek Hawkins
CB Gentry Williams
OL Logan Howland
WR Josiah Martin
WR KJ Daniels
TE Carson Kent
OT Jake Taylor
DT Markus Strong
RB Taylor Tatum
By The Numbers | 2025 Season | Offense
– Charlie S – Posted on: December 29, 2025
Let’s take a look at some of the PFF numbers from the Sooners 10-3 2025 Football Season.
We will start with the offensive side.
All data provided by PFF.
Offensive Snap Counts | 898 Total Offensive Snaps
1 OL Febechi Nwaiwu – 845
2 QB John Mateer – 804
3 WR Deion Burks – 757
4 WR Isaiah Sategna III – 737
5 OL Jake Maikkula – 710
6 OL Michael Fasusi – 676
7 TE Jaren Kanak – 576
8 OL Derek Simmons – 556
9 OL Eddy Pierre-Louis – 446
10 OL Ryan Fodje – 433
11 RB Tory Blaylock – 407
12 OL Heath Ozaeta – 398
13 WR Javonnie Gibson – 373
14 WR Keontez Lewis – 341
15 RB Xavier Robinson – 337
16 OL Logan Howland – 221
17 TE Kaden Helms – 201
18 WR Jer’Michael Carter – 174
19 OL Luke Baklenko – 155
20 TE Carson Kent – 130
21 TE Will Huggins – 87
22 RB Jovantae Barnes – 78
23 QB Michael Hawkins Jr. – 73
24 WR Ivan Carreon – 71
25 RB Jaydn Ott – 69
26 OL Troy Everett – 39
27 WR Elijah Thomas – 37
28 WR Jacob Jordan – 29
29 WR Zion Kearney – 27
30 QB Whitt Newbauer – 20
31 TE Kade McIntyre – 17
32 WR Josiah Martin – 15
33 WR Zion Ragins – 9
34 OL Jacob Sexton – 6
35 WR Manny Choice – 5
35 OL Gunnar Allen – 5
37 RB Gabe Sawchuk – 3
38 TE Trynae Washington – 2
38 RB Taylor Tatum – 2
38 DT David Stone – 2
38 OL Daniel Akinkunmi – 2
38 TE John Locke Jr. – 2
43 DT Jayden Jackson – 1
43 P Jacob Ulrich – 1
43 K Tate Sandell – 1
43 LS Ben Anderson – 1
43 DT Gracen Halton – 1
Top 10 PFF Ratings for Non-Redshirts
1 RB Xavier Robinson – 72.1
2 WR Isaiah Sategna III – 70.8
3 OL Febechi Nwaiwu – 69.6
4 OL Jake Maikkula – 68.6
5 OL Luke Baklenko – 68.4
6 RB Tory Blaylock – 67.5
7 OL Michael Fasusi – 66.2
8 OL Derek Simmons – 66.0
9 WR Jacob Jordan – 65.8
10 WR Deion Burks – 65.0
Bottom 10 PFF Ratings for Non-Redshirts
1 TE Will Huggins – 49.5
2 TE Kaden Helms – 52.3
3 RB Jaydn Ott – 53.1
4 OL Ryan Fodje – 54.0
5 OL Heath Ozaeta – 56.4
6 WR Javonnie Gibson – 56.8
7 WR Zion Kearney – 56.9
8 WR Ivan Carreon – 58.4
9 TE Carson Kent – 59.1
10 OL Logan Howland – 60.0
Quick Team Notes | Sourced
– Super K – Posted on: December 30, 2025
***I am checking on Coleman with some sources around him. But I have been told that it’s going to take some big money to get him. One person in the business said it might be something like 3 million.
***As I mentioned, the clearinghouse is impacting the average players but not so much the super stars. NIL is still going in that department.
***Also, for anyone worried about Courtland Guillory, I’m told, not to worry.
***No surprise but I am told that tight end and wide receiver will be the focus of this transfer class/roster supplement.
***I think there is some understanding in the building that TE has been a problem in part because it’s been the least financially invested in. But, was told, that also doesn’t excuse the lack of development from the high school level. Still waiting to see what will ultimately done there.
***Was told there was some frustration after the Alabama game that every time the Sooners had Bama dead to rights, it seemed like their TE showed up to make a catch.
For daily sourced Notes and Portal rumblings, check out the Donor Board for Portal season.
Looking at Tight End Coaches
– Charlie S – Posted on: January 1, 2026
With the Sooners having a coaching vacancy in the tight end room, lets take a look at some potential early candidates.
I mentioned a few in the comment section of the thread about Joe Jon Finley being let go and I will include them on this list:
***Brian Lepak: Five seasons, most recently served as the Wildcats’ offensive line coach in 2025. He served as the tight ends coach from 2022 through 2024. Former Sooners OL.
***Kevin Wilson: Former HC at Indiana and Tulsa, former OC at Northwestern, OU, and Ohio State, currently an analyst at OU. Would be a seamless transition, but not a guy I would lean on for recruiting.
***Jason Witten: Former all-pro NFL tight end, currently a high school coach at Liberty Christian in Texas. Obviously, would be a first time coach. Also obviously, he would have some clout on the recruiting trail, but zero skins on the wall in regard to development.
***Ty Darlington: Former Sooner OL who spent four years on the support staff in Norman before going to Florida for a QA role. After that he went to UIW where he was a TE coach (2023) and a OL coach (2024). Currently at Tulsa as the co-OC and TE coach. Has put in the leg work for sure.
***Jon Cooper: Currently is the tight ends coach and run game coordinator at Mississippi State. He previously worked with or coached tight ends or offensive line at UCF, Arkansas, North Texas, Western Carolina, and Oklahoma, and was an offensive analyst at Missouri and Oklahoma. A former Oklahoma center, Cooper was a two-time All-Big 12 selection and played in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans.
