Former Oklahoma defensive back transfers to SEC program

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The Oklahoma Sooners enter the second week of the 2026 transfer portal cycle with a lot of great acquisitions under their belt, but also with a lot more to be done in the next five days. On Monday, they saw a former starter land within the Southeastern Conference and find his new portal home.

Former Oklahoma defensive back Kendel Dolby has committed to play for the Mississippi State Bulldogs out of the transfer portal. Dolby was a breakout player at the Cheetah position for OU’s defense in 2023, and he became a starter and a playmaker that season for the Sooners, after transferring in from the junior college level. He was the starter again in 2024, before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Tennessee.

Dolby came back to OU for his redshirt senior season in 2025, and he played a few different positions for the OU defense, but mainly had switched over to playing cornerback. He made his season debut in Week 3 against Temple, but his final snaps of the season came in Week 7 against Texas, where he played very sparingly.

Ultimately, Dolby chose to preserve his redshirt, and he announced his intent to enter the portal before Oklahoma’s College Football Playoff game against Alabama. He’ll be staying in the SEC with the Bulldogs, and he’ll see his former team on the field in 2026, when the Sooners come to Starkville on October 24th.

Dolby brings a veteran presence to Mississippi State’s defense for his final collegiate season, and he’ll reunite with Bulldogs’ head coach and former OU offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, who were both in Norman in 2023. He’s a versatile player who can still be a big playmaker for a defense if he’s in the right role.

Lebby has already added three former Sooners to his roster at Mississippi State. Dolby joins wide receiver Zion Ragins and offensive lineman Isaiah Dent as former OU players moving from Norman to Starkville this offseason.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Sooners see former DB transfer to fellow SEC school

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