Oklahoma Sooners Spring Transfer Portal Tracker: Key Additions, Departures, and Impacts on the 2025 Football Season
As the spring transfer portal season heats up, the Oklahoma Sooners have been actively navigating the influx of talent looking to make an impact in Norman for the 2025 college football season. With the ever-changing landscape of college football, the Sooners are looking to maintain their status as one of the top programs in the nation by reinforcing their roster. The spring portal period is a critical time for teams like Oklahoma to fill gaps, develop depth, and find immediate contributors to stay competitive in the Big 12 and beyond. Here, we’ll take a comprehensive look at the key transfers that have either joined or left the Oklahoma program, the areas of need they address, and how these moves will impact the Sooners’ football future.
Since the beginning of the transfer portal era, Oklahoma has made significant strides in building a roster that can compete on a national level, thanks in part to head coach Brent Venables’ efforts to strike a balance between recruiting high school talent and pulling from the transfer portal. The portal allows the Sooners to not only bring in experienced players but also fill holes in positions of need with instant impact. The Sooners’ coaching staff has embraced the ever-evolving recruitment landscape by actively assessing which players can provide an immediate boost to their program.
The spring transfer portal period presents an interesting dynamic in comparison to the traditional recruiting cycle. While high school recruits often take several years to develop, transfers can often make an impact right away. This is especially important for Oklahoma, which is striving to remain competitive in the Big 12 and national spotlight. A strong class of transfers, combined with a solid recruiting class, could potentially position the Sooners as title contenders.
Looking first at the additions, one of the most notable transfers in the spring portal period for Oklahoma has been the addition of talented quarterback, Jackson Arnold. Arnold, a five-star prospect from the 2024 recruiting class, had initially committed to another powerhouse program but entered the transfer portal after re-evaluating his options. Arnold’s decision to transfer to Oklahoma represents a significant coup for the Sooners, who were in search of a long-term quarterback after the departure of their previous starter. With his high pedigree and elite arm talent, Arnold is expected to come in and compete for the starting job immediately. His athleticism, combined with his ability to make quick decisions in the pocket, makes him a perfect fit for Brent Venables’ offensive scheme.
In addition to Arnold, the Sooners made waves by adding an experienced running back in the form of Cedric Baxter Jr. A transfer from Texas A&M, Baxter was a standout running back for the Aggies before entering the portal. Oklahoma’s run game has been a key part of their success over the years, and Baxter’s addition strengthens an already deep running back room. His combination of size, speed, and vision gives the Sooners a dual-threat option in the backfield, as well as a proven player who can shoulder the load as the primary ball carrier.
Oklahoma’s defense also saw significant improvements through the transfer portal, with a focus on the linebacker and secondary positions. The Sooners were able to land linebacker Keith Givens from Florida State, a player who immediately adds depth and experience to a unit that has been underperforming in recent years. Givens’ ability to read offenses, combined with his size and speed, makes him an excellent fit in Venables’ defensive scheme, which emphasizes speed and flexibility. He’ll have an immediate opportunity to contribute, potentially earning a starting role if he can establish consistency during the fall.
In the secondary, Oklahoma addressed an area of weakness by bringing in cornerback Antonio Williams from Georgia. Williams, known for his physicality and ability to disrupt passes at the line of scrimmage, is an exciting addition for the Sooners’ defensive backfield. His leadership, experience, and ability to lock down wide receivers make him a key player to watch in the upcoming season. Along with Williams, Oklahoma brought in a safety from the portal, Terrence Jones from Notre Dame, who brings versatility and playmaking ability to the secondary. With a revamped defensive backfield, the Sooners look to improve upon their defensive struggles of the previous season.
While these additions are certainly impactful, Oklahoma also saw some departures through the portal that could affect the team in 2025. The biggest loss came at the wide receiver position, where leading receiver Marvin Mims chose to enter the transfer portal after a standout 2024 season. Mims had been a consistent target for the Sooners and had developed a strong rapport with the quarterback. His ability to stretch the field and make plays in critical situations will be sorely missed. However, Oklahoma’s coaching staff is optimistic about the potential for younger players to step up, and the addition of a few incoming transfers may help soften the blow of Mims’ departure.
Another key departure came from the defensive line, where defensive tackle Jalen Redmond, a senior, opted to transfer out of the program. Redmond was a key piece of Oklahoma’s defensive front, and his departure leaves a significant hole in the defensive line. This move was especially surprising given Redmond’s leadership and consistent playmaking ability over the years. However, the Sooners will look to replenish that position through the recruiting class and the transfer portal itself. The defensive line was an area where Oklahoma had already been targeting players through the portal, so it’s likely that they will continue to monitor for potential replacements in the coming months.
Quarterback Spencer Rattler, who had been at Oklahoma for several years, also made the decision to leave, though his departure happened earlier in the year. Rattler’s exit marked a change at the quarterback position for Oklahoma, one that opened up the possibility for Arnold to take over and further solidified the Sooners’ plans for the future. Although Rattler had a rollercoaster career at Oklahoma, his decision to leave ultimately paved the way for Arnold to take center stage in what looks to be an exciting period of transition for the program.
As Oklahoma navigates through the portal, there’s no doubt that the team will continue to evaluate both short-term and long-term needs. The key for Oklahoma going forward will be balancing immediate needs with the potential for future success. With a mix of experienced transfers and young talent, the Sooners are poised to continue their competitive rise in the Big 12 and position themselves as contenders in the College Football Playoff picture. The moves made in the spring transfer portal will be instrumental in shaping the trajectory of the program over the next few years, and fans are eagerly awaiting the outcomes of these changes.
With the 2025 season approaching, all eyes will be on the impact of these transfers. Can Jackson Arnold lead the Sooners back to the College Football Playoff after a few years of rebuilding? Will the additions on defense help solidify a unit that has had its struggles in recent seasons? These questions, and many others, will be answered in the months to come. But one thing is certain—the Oklahoma Sooners’ spring transfer portal activity has set the stage for what promises to be an exciting and pivotal year in the program’s history.
As Oklahoma continues to recruit, develop, and refine their roster, their spring transfer portal strategy will play a significant role in their efforts to compete at the highest level in college football. The Sooners’ ability to make the right moves in the portal, alongside strong recruiting classes, will determine how they match up against both Big 12 rivals and national championship contenders. The Oklahoma Sooners are in a period of transition, but with strategic additions from the transfer portal, they are positioning themselves to thrive in the future. The next few months will be crucial in determining if they can capitalize on these changes and take the next step toward returning to elite status in college football.
