Portal Chaos: Sooners See Mass Exodus, Add QB Cole Gonzales
NORMAN — The post-season roster churn at Oklahoma hit a fever pitch on December 28, with a massive wave of players announcing their intentions to enter the transfer portal.
The Exodus Continues
Following the departures of starters like Jovantae Barnes and Jacob Sexton earlier in the week, Sunday saw a flood of reserves and depth pieces look for new homes. The list of players expected to enter the portal includes:
- Maliek Hawkins (CB)
- Josiah Martin (WR)
- Troy Everett (OL)
- Sean Hutton (OL)
- Owen Hollenbeck (OL)
- Zion Ragins (WR)
- Alex Shieldnight (DE)
- Trystan Haynes (DB)
This mass exit clears significant scholarship space but also strips the roster of critical depth, particularly along the offensive line and in the secondary.
New Quarterback in the Room
Amidst the departures, the Sooners added a new arm. Cole Gonzales, a transfer quarterback from Western Carolina, announced his commitment to Oklahoma on Christmas Day.
Gonzales brings experience and depth to a quarterback room that faces uncertainty with Jackson Arnold’s potential draft decision and the need for reliable competition. While not expected to be the immediate starter, his addition provides a veteran presence for offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle’s system.
Rebuilding Mode
The sheer volume of departures confirms that Brent Venables is overseeing a comprehensive rebuild of the roster’s bottom half. The focus now shifts entirely to the portal to find plug-and-play starters to replace the significant talent drain of the last week.
