Mount Rushmore of Oklahoma Football Transfers
The transfer portal has significantly expanded in recent years, transforming the landscape of college football recruiting. It has become a dynamic exchange, with players both exiting and entering programs through this system.
While transfers are not new to college sports—junior college athletes have long sought Division I opportunities—the current transfer rules allow Division I athletes to switch schools without having to sit out a year, granting them immediate eligibility. This change mirrors the concept of free agency in professional sports.
Debates continue about the pros and cons of the transfer portal, but for the Oklahoma Sooners, the incoming transfers have generally been more beneficial than the departures.
One of the most significant recent departures was quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who transferred to Oregon for his final year of eligibility. Gabriel’s decision was influenced by the expectation that he would turn pro after two seasons, clearing the way for Jackson Arnold, a former five-star recruit, to take over as the starter. Staying at OU might have prompted Arnold to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Looking back, it’s clear that the Oklahoma football program has greatly benefited from the transfer portal, adding talent and experience that weren’t initially recruited out of high school. This led us to imagine what a “Mount Rushmore” of the best Oklahoma transfers in the 21st century might look like. Here are four players we believe deserve to be immortalized in this way:
Baker Mayfield (QB): Mayfield, possibly the most iconic and controversial quarterback in Oklahoma history, joined OU as a walk-on in 2015 after transferring from Texas Tech. He led the Sooners to three consecutive Big 12 titles and two College Football Playoff appearances. His remarkable senior season earned him the Heisman Trophy, and he ended his college career with 12,292 passing yards and 119 touchdowns. Mayfield was the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, selected by the Cleveland Browns.
Kyler Murray (QB): After transferring from Texas A&M and sitting out the 2016 season, Murray shone in his one season as OU’s starting quarterback. He threw for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns while rushing for 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning the Heisman Trophy in 2018. Like Mayfield, Murray was the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, selected by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019.
Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown (WR): Brown joined OU after a season at College of the Canyons, a junior college. Despite not receiving any Division I offers out of high school, he became a star at Oklahoma, known for his speed and deep-threat ability. In two seasons, Brown caught 132 passes for 2,413 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
Dede Westbrook (WR): Westbrook transferred to Oklahoma from Blinn College and quickly became a standout receiver. In his two seasons, he recorded nine 100-yard receiving games and 21 touchdown catches. Westbrook was a Heisman finalist in 2016 and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Honorable Mentions:
- Jalen Hurts (QB): Transferred from Alabama (2019)
- Damien Williams (RB): Transferred from Arizona Western College (2012-13)
- Jalen Saunders (WR): Transferred from Fresno State (2012-13)
- Lane Johnson (OL): Transferred from Kilgore College (2009-12)
- Eric Gray (RB): Transferred from Tennessee (2021-22)
- Michael Turk (P): Transferred from Arizona State (2021-22)
Leave a Reply