Just one fan’s thoughts on how the offseason has transpired a week into the transfer portal:
The Bad:
We are seemingly in a holding pattern, held “hostage” by a 20 year old QB whose fate appears to dictate the entire optics of the 2025 season. Until said QB makes a decision, prospective offensive skill players in the portal have even less incentive to choose OU after an abysmal 2024 season.
Our sheer numbers at WR are bleak. We have whiffed on our top 3-4 portal targets, failing to even secure visits. More to come on this in a bit.
We are down to (2) scholarship QBs for next year and our TE room will currently return zero production. Can this change? Absolutely. Will it? Remains to be seen…
The Concerning:
We have a lame-duck TE coach who, to anyone who is paying attention, has checked out on this team and program beyond calling the bowl game against Navy. Instead of cutting ties and moving quickly to secure his replacement (and build the room out for 2025), Brent has opted to preserve the relationship and let JJF “land on his feet” gracefully. While admirable, it’s the wrong move given OUs current situation. These are the types of small nuances that eventually add up and hurt the program in the long run. For Brent to not move with extreme urgency and a businesslike approach hints at a fundamental problem with his ability to “CEO” this program.
While it’s been communicated that OU will be competitive spenders in the NIL space this offseason, we aren’t even getting sniffs from top transfers. I keep seeing the term “overspend” and the assumption that OU is sticking to their budget. Other schools know this offseason is the last chance to splurge before revenue sharing and the cap…yet OU appears to be sitting on its hands. If the top handful of WRs are commanding NIL offers in the high six-figures, is it still considered overspending…or is that the new going market rate?
After a year in which, very early on, it was apparent to everyone in and around the program that this offense would need an overhaul of talent, it just seems like there is not an organized, strategic approach to acquiring talent. I think the upcoming front office restructuring is fantastic, but it still seems like OU is just treading water thus far in the offseason. It’s EXTREMELY apparent which schools dipped their toes in the tampering game. OU was not one of those schools.
The Good:
OL is encouraging. Not worried about any of the portal losses and it seems like BB is in the mix for at least a couple quality starters. Losing out on the Onianwa sweepstakes stinks, but still some quality players slated to visit OU.
Love what we have coming back on defense. Kani was a rotational CB at best in the SEC (lacks SEC speed and quickness IMO) and while losing Dasan is a bummer, we have plenty of talent at Cheetah w/ Sammy O, Powers, and potentially Dolby.
If we bring back 3 of the 4 of X, Barnes, Sawchuck, and Tatum…that’s a solid backfield for 2025.
The Hope:
JJF jumps ASAP and we still have a shot at 1-2 quality portal TEs
Mateer enters the portal ASAP and gives some much needed juice to the program
If no Mateer, pray that Arbuckle/BV have some type of contingency plan in their back pocket as they will be late to the game with other top QBs
Gibson comes back and we add the likes of Bradley, Satenga, and Stribling (or similar players)
We add depth at edge, CB, and DT
R Mason and Damonic Williams commit to 2025. We keep Halton, Jackson, and Stone heading into next year
Last but not least, OU gets its sh** together for talent evaluation, NIL/revenue management, and talent acquisition for next offseason, regardless of who is coaching at OU in 2026
The Bad:
We are seemingly in a holding pattern, held “hostage” by a 20 year old QB whose fate appears to dictate the entire optics of the 2025 season. Until said QB makes a decision, prospective offensive skill players in the portal have even less incentive to choose OU after an abysmal 2024 season.
Our sheer numbers at WR are bleak. We have whiffed on our top 3-4 portal targets, failing to even secure visits. More to come on this in a bit.
We are down to (2) scholarship QBs for next year and our TE room will currently return zero production. Can this change? Absolutely. Will it? Remains to be seen…
The Concerning:
We have a lame-duck TE coach who, to anyone who is paying attention, has checked out on this team and program beyond calling the bowl game against Navy. Instead of cutting ties and moving quickly to secure his replacement (and build the room out for 2025), Brent has opted to preserve the relationship and let JJF “land on his feet” gracefully. While admirable, it’s the wrong move given OUs current situation. These are the types of small nuances that eventually add up and hurt the program in the long run. For Brent to not move with extreme urgency and a businesslike approach hints at a fundamental problem with his ability to “CEO” this program.
While it’s been communicated that OU will be competitive spenders in the NIL space this offseason, we aren’t even getting sniffs from top transfers. I keep seeing the term “overspend” and the assumption that OU is sticking to their budget. Other schools know this offseason is the last chance to splurge before revenue sharing and the cap…yet OU appears to be sitting on its hands. If the top handful of WRs are commanding NIL offers in the high six-figures, is it still considered overspending…or is that the new going market rate?
After a year in which, very early on, it was apparent to everyone in and around the program that this offense would need an overhaul of talent, it just seems like there is not an organized, strategic approach to acquiring talent. I think the upcoming front office restructuring is fantastic, but it still seems like OU is just treading water thus far in the offseason. It’s EXTREMELY apparent which schools dipped their toes in the tampering game. OU was not one of those schools.
The Good:
OL is encouraging. Not worried about any of the portal losses and it seems like BB is in the mix for at least a couple quality starters. Losing out on the Onianwa sweepstakes stinks, but still some quality players slated to visit OU.
Love what we have coming back on defense. Kani was a rotational CB at best in the SEC (lacks SEC speed and quickness IMO) and while losing Dasan is a bummer, we have plenty of talent at Cheetah w/ Sammy O, Powers, and potentially Dolby.
If we bring back 3 of the 4 of X, Barnes, Sawchuck, and Tatum…that’s a solid backfield for 2025.
The Hope:
JJF jumps ASAP and we still have a shot at 1-2 quality portal TEs
Mateer enters the portal ASAP and gives some much needed juice to the program
If no Mateer, pray that Arbuckle/BV have some type of contingency plan in their back pocket as they will be late to the game with other top QBs
Gibson comes back and we add the likes of Bradley, Satenga, and Stribling (or similar players)
We add depth at edge, CB, and DT
R Mason and Damonic Williams commit to 2025. We keep Halton, Jackson, and Stone heading into next year
Last but not least, OU gets its sh** together for talent evaluation, NIL/revenue management, and talent acquisition for next offseason, regardless of who is coaching at OU in 2026
