5 positions the Oklahoma Sooners don’t need to pursue in the transfer portal
The transfer portal is set to open on Monday, Dec. 4 and the Oklahoma Sooners will be active to improve the talent on the roster.
Bryant Crews, here at Sooners Wire, highlighted several positions that should be a priority for the Sooners in portal season. However, there are a few spots that Oklahoma looks pretty good at heading into the 2024 offseason.
Brent Venables and his staff have done a great job building the talent base on both sides of the ball through both the high school and transfer portal ranks. And as the young talent on the roster continues to develop, there will be less need to attack the transfer portal for starters.
Here are five areas that look good to go for the Oklahoma Sooners as they head into the opening of the transfer portal.
Let’s get the obvious one out of the way.
The Oklahoma Sooners are set at quarterback. Whether Dillon Gabriel returns or not, this team knows who their quarterback will be in 2024. It’s unlikely Gabriel’s back, which means the reins get passed to Jackson Arnold.
Arnold showed a ton of promise in limited opportunities in 2023. When he was inserted into a tie game in Provo against BYU, he looked the part of a big-time college quarterback.
After Arnold, the Sooners have a veteran backup in Davis Beville that can help bring the younger guys along. The Sooners are expected to sign quarterbacks Michael Hawkins and Brendan Zurbrugg in the 2024 recruiting class.
Oklahoma would be wise to prepare Hawkins to be the backup because he has a higher ceiling than Beville, but there’s no need to bring a portal quarterback in and take those snaps.
Another position that feels pretty secure is the running back spot. Sure, the loss of Tawee Walker creates some intrigue in the competition for snaps. However, the Sooners return their leading rusher from this season, Gavin Sawchuk and the guy who was No. 2 in rushing yards in 2022 in Jovantae Barnes.
They also bring back Daylan Smothers and Kalib Hicks, two highly thought of freshmen. Add to that the guys they expect to add in the 2024 signing class, Taylor Tatum, Xavier Robinson, and Andy Bass, and the Sooners are going to be flush with talent.
The key for the running back room is staying healthy throughout the offseason so they can continue to develop.
We’re noticing a theme here. Oklahoma’s skill position depth is really good going into the offseason ahead of 2024.
Yes, they’re losing Drake Stoops, the Sooners’ leading receiver in 2023. That’s a loss that will be difficult to replace from a production and a leadership standpoint.
However, the Sooners received breakout seasons from Andrel Anthony (before injury), Nic Anderson, and Jayden Gibson. Each of those guys should be back in 2024 and there’s a possibility Jalil Farooq returns as well.
Add in Brenen Thompson, who flashed his ability in the second half of the season, Jaquaize Pettaway, a former four-star prospect, and the talent they have coming in the 2024 recruiting class, and there’s not much need here.
Anthony, Anderson, and Gibson each flashed lead wide receiver potential. Unless there’s a definitive upgrade at the position, there’s no reason to add a depth option. Oklahoma has a lot of depth at the position to build with.
There’s no real need to address the position in the portal.
Whether Danny Stutsman returns or goes to the NFL, the Oklahoma Sooners are set at linebacker.
I get it. Jaren Kanak had an up-and-down season, and Kip Lewis can still afford to add some size. But they had some really good moments at linebacker for the Sooners this season.
With Kobie McKinzie starting to get significant playing time and Lewis Carter, Samuel Omosigho, and Phil Picciotti waiting in the wings, the Sooners have a deep corps of young linebackers that will be big-time players in 2024 and beyond.
Sure, they could do something like add a veteran depth option to provide a safe floor, but after getting significant snaps this season, continue to let your young linebackers develop.
For the first half of the season, punting was an adventure. But halfway through the season, Luke Elzinga got his legs under him and improved. He was really good over the last five games of the season, averaging 43.4 yards per punt. Nearly half of his 23 punt attempts were downed inside the 20 this season.
There’s certainly room to improve, but with the way Elzinga finished the season, you can feel comfortable with him as your punter for 2024.
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