Oklahoma Sooners DE enters transfer portal, withdraws immediately

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The Oklahoma Sooners dodged a bullet in the transfer portal on Monday. Multiple outlets reported that Oklahoma defensive end Adepoju Adebawore was entering the transfer portal. Two minutes later, reports came out that he withdrew his name.

George Stoia of SoonerScoop.com (subscription required) reported over the weekend that Oklahoma had been in negotiation with Adebawore on a new deal for 2026, and there was “some concern he might leave.” According to Pete Nakos of On3, it’s now expected that Adebawore will remain with the Oklahoma Sooners for his final season in 2026.

Adebawore was a five-star signee in the 2023 recruiting class. He was the Sooners’ highest-rated player, according to 247Sports, finishing the cycle as the No. 9 prospect in the class. He’s one of just six players remaining from a class that finished top 10 in the nation and included Jackson Arnold, Peyton Bowen, and Taylor Wein.

With R Mason Thomas and Marvin Jones Jr. off to the NFL, Adebawore is expected to see a significant increase in snaps along Oklahoma’s defensive line and is expected to compete for a starting job. He played 283 snaps on defense this season, which was 18th on the defensive side of the ball and fourth among defensive ends. Wein, Adebawore, and Danny Okoye figure to be the top three players in Oklahoma’s edge rotation.

With Adebawore back in the fold, defensive end feels solid going into 2026, but Oklahoma will need the former five-star and Okoye to take their games to another level to help the Sooners get back into the College Football Playoff.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Adepoju Adebawore enters the transfer portal, withdraws immediately

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