Oklahoma Enhances Roster with Acquisitions from Transfer Portal and High School Recruitment.
The Sooners have had a productive week, securing commitments from a high school prospect and a skilled running back from the transfer portal.
While Oklahoma’s current roster gears up for the Alamo Bowl against Arizona, Brent Venables and his coaching staff remain active on the recruiting trail. Over the past seven days, the Sooners have gained two commitments and are actively pursuing another promising high school recruit. Additionally, they’ve extended preferred walk-on offers to two local high school football standouts.
Transfer Portal
In transfer portal news, running back Samuel Franklin from Tennesse-Martin revealed on Wednesday his decision to join the Sooners in Norman after three successful years with the Skyhawks. Franklin’s impressive 2023 season included 1,386 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns, and an average of 6.2 yards per carry. Standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing 200 pounds, Franklin is expected to vie for playing time in the OU backfield, especially with the departures of Tawee Walker, Daylan Smothers, and Marcus Major.
Alongside Franklin, the Sooners have extended an offer to former Oregon State defensive back Jermod McCoy. As a freshman, McCoy notched 31 tackles, two interceptions, and seven pass breakups, earning attention from various schools after entering the transfer portal.
High School Recruiting
In high school recruiting, Oklahoma celebrated a commitment from 4-star interior offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis on Friday. Hailing from Tampa Catholic (FL), Pierre-Louis is ranked as the No. 28 player and the top interior offensive lineman in the nation, according to Rivals. He chose OU over competing offers from Texas A&M, UCF, Miami, and Oregon, becoming Bill Bedenbaugh’s fifth offensive line pledge in the 2024 class.
The Sooners also made it to the top 11 for 2025 4-star defensive lineman Julian Marks, who included OU in his list alongside other prominent programs. Marks, standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 275 pounds, is rated as the No. 108 overall player and the No. 12 defensive lineman in the 2025 class, according to On3.
Oklahoma’s commitment to local talent is evident with two preferred walk-on offers extended to in-state prospects. Heritage Hall’s Zavier Freeman, an offensive and defensive lineman, announced his offer on social media.
Freeman, listed at 6-foot-1 and 250 pounds, is the younger brother of Sooners’ wide receiver Gavin Freeman and the son of former OU tight end Jason Freeman. Bixby’s Evan McClure, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound offensive lineman, also shared on social media that he received a preferred walk-on offer from the Sooners. McClure, the son of former Oklahoma offensive lineman Bruce McClure, holds Division I scholarship offers from Akron, Air Force, and South Dakota.
