OU football transfer portal live updates: Tracking who’s in, out for Sooners

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

NORMAN — Transfer portal season if officially here for coach Brent Venables and the OU football team.

Many players have already announced their intention to enter the portal when it opened on Jan. 2. The portal remains open until Jan. 16.

Here’s a look at Oklahoma’s portal departures and, eventually, additions:

MUSSATTO’S MINUTES: Why John Mateer, OU football reunion best for both parties

Departures

Markus Strong, defensive lineman

Oklahoma defensive lineman Markus Strong plans to enter the transfer portal, On3 reported on Dec. 31.

Strong was expected to play a role on the Sooners‘ defensive line next season.

The 6-foot-3, 297-pound lineman recorded four career tackles for loss and three sacks.

Strong will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Jake Taylor, offensive lineman

Oklahoma offensive lineman Jake Taylor is entering the transfer portal, CBS Sports reported on Dec. 31.

The 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman has struggled to stay healthy throughout his Sooners career.

Taylor was a starter for OU at one point.

Carson Kent, tight end

Oklahoma tight end Carson Kent plans to enter the transfer portal, On3 reported on Dec. 31.

The 6-foot-4, 247-pound tight end is a former All-Conference USA performer with 44 career receptions for 408 yards and three touchdowns.

He’ll be a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining.

KJ Daniels, wide receiver

Oklahoma wide receiver KJ Daniels plans to enter the transfer portal, On3 reported on Dec. 31.

Daniels never appeared in a game in two seasons.

He’s a former three-star recruit from Franklinton, Louisiana.

Josiah Martin, wide receiver

Oklahoma wide receiver Josiah Martin plans to enter the transfer portal, ESPN reported on Dec. 31.

Martin transferred from Cal this past offseason and appeared in two games for the Sooners.

Logan Howland, offensive lineman

Oklahoma offensive lineman Logan Howland plans to enter the transfer portal, On3 reported on Dec. 31.

Howland played in five games this past season and was a starter at one point.

The Sooners have now lost five depth pieces on the offensive line.

Gentry Williams, cornerback

Oklahoma cornerback Gentry Williams plans to enter the transfer portal, On3 reported on Dec. 31.

Williams struggled to stay healthy throughout his career with the Sooners.

The three-year starter recorded 47 tackles and four interceptions in 30 career games.

Michael Hawkins Jr., quarterback

Oklahoma backup quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. plans to enter the transfer portal, he announced on Dec. 31.

Hawkins started five games and appeared in nine during his two seasons for the Sooners. He completed 62% of his passes for 950 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions during his OU career.

He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Maliek Hawkins, cornerback

Oklahoma cornerback Maliek Hawkins plans to enter the transfer portal.

Hawkins, a freshman this past season, is a former four-star recruit out of Emerson High School in Texas.

He’ll have four years of eligibility remaining.

Devon Jordan, cornerback

Oklahoma cornerback Devon Jordan plans to enter the transfer portal, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported Dec. 31.

The Tulsa native played in every game this season and recorded 16 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.

Jordan is a former four-star recruit out of Union High School.

Luke Baklenko, offensive lineman

Oklahoma offensive lineman Luke Baklenko plans to enter the transfer portal, he announced Dec. 31.

Baklenko, who transferred to the Sooners from Stanford last offseason, appeared in 12 games for OU this past season.

The Sooners seem to have their starting offensive line set for next season and it was expected that depth pieces would transfer.

Troy Everett, offensive lineman

Oklahoma offensive lineman Troy Everett plans to enter the transfer portal, he announced Dec. 29.

Everett, a team captain, began the season as the Sooners’ starting center before suffering a season-ending knee injury after the opener. He played in eight games and started each of the last seven at center last season.

Marcus Wimberly, safety

Safety Marcus Wimberly plans to enter the transfer portal, he announced on Dec. 26.

A true freshman this past season, Wimberly didn’t appear in a game.

The Bauxite, Arkansas, native is a former four-star prospect who chose OU over Arkansas, Oregon and others.

Jovantae Barnes, running back

As expected, Oklahoma football running back Jovantae Barnes plans to enter the transfer portal, he announced Dec. 23.

Barnes spent four seasons with the Sooners. He finished his career with 294 carries for 1,281 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Barnes last played against Auburn on Sept. 20 and coach Brent Venables said late in the season that he was in “good standing” with the team.

Jacob Sexton, offensive lineman

As expected, OU football offensive lineman Jacob Sexton plans to enter the transfer portal, On3 reported Dec. 23.

Sexton battled injuries throughout his Sooners career. He started OU’s season opener this past year against Illinois State but sustained a knee injury that sidelined him for the rest of 2025.

The Edmond native and Deer Creek High School standout was a consensus four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class.

Kaden Helms, tight end

Helms plans to enter the transfer portal, his agent told On3 on Dec. 22.

Helms, a former consensus four-star recruit, battled injury throughout his Sooners career, missing the entirety of 2023, five games in 2024 and four games this season.

Tight end is a position OU is expected to aggressively target in the portal.

Isaiah Dent, offensive lineman

Dent announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 22.

A former consensus three-star recruit, Dent’s lone appearance at OU came last season against Maine. The Sooners are expected to lose some depth pieces throughout the offensive line.

Kobie McKinzie, linebacker

OU linebacker Kobie McKinzie plans to enter the transfer portal, he told On3 on Dec. 21.

The 6-foot-2, 236-pound veteran’s decision to enter the portal was a bit of a surprising one, given he’s been a core piece of the Sooners’ rebuild and could enter the NFL Draft. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

McKinzie was the first OU player to declare intentions to enter the portal since the Sooners lost to Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 19. Over his four seasons in the program, McKinzie recorded 84 tackles, 10 1/2 tackles for loss and 2 1/2 sacks.

Kendel Dolby, defensive back

As expected, OU defensive back Kendel Dolby plans to enter the transfer portal, he announced on Dec. 17.

After transferring to the Sooners from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M prior to the 2023 season, Dolby totaled 68 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions. Dolby showed flashes of excellence at OU coach Brent Venables’ famed hybrid cheetah position last season before sustaining a season-ending injury.

Dolby appeared in four games this season after returning from injury, but was a late “out” addition to the Sooners‘ availability report ahead of their game against South Carolina in October and never played again.

Jayden Gibson, wide receiver

Sooners coach Brent Venables said Oct. 15 on the weekly SEC teleconference that wide receiver Jayden Gibson was no longer with the team.

Not long after, Gibson announced he planned to enter the transfer portal.

Gibson, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last August during training camp and sustained a setback prior to the start of practice this past spring, was expected to return to the field early this season. He never did.

Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football transfer portal tracker: Live updates on who’s in, out

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos