The transfer portal has profoundly impacted college football, and for Oklahoma, it has been a two-edged sword. While the program has managed to attract some high-profile talent from the portal, it has also witnessed some significant losses of key players who were once cornerstones of their team. This has reshaped both the depth and the trajectory of the program, as departures of star players can have lasting consequences for recruiting, team dynamics, and on-field performance.
Here, we take a closer look at the three biggest losses for Oklahoma from the transfer portal in recent years, analyzing the impact these departures had on the Sooners.
1. Spencer Rattler – Quarterback
Departure: After the 2021 season
Destination: South Carolina
Perhaps the most high-profile loss for Oklahoma in the transfer portal era was that of Spencer Rattler. As a former five-star recruit and the 2019 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Rattler entered the 2021 season as a consensus preseason All-American and the expected leader of the Sooners’ offense. Oklahoma had high hopes for Rattler, especially under head coach Lincoln Riley, known for his development of quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.
However, Rattler’s 2021 season was a tumultuous one. He struggled with inconsistency and was eventually benched mid-season in favor of Caleb Williams, another five-star freshman. While Rattler’s fall from grace within the program was swift, his departure was still a significant blow to Oklahoma. The Sooners not only lost their starting quarterback but also saw their supposed future signal-caller leave the program when they could least afford it.
Rattler’s decision to transfer to South Carolina for the 2022 season surprised many, but his performance in Columbia gave a glimpse into his potential. Rattler led South Carolina to a 2022 Gator Bowl victory and showed flashes of the talent that made him a top recruit. His success at South Carolina was a bittersweet reminder of what Oklahoma lost, especially given that Caleb Williams would also transfer, eventually leading USC to success under new coach Lincoln Riley.
Impact on Oklahoma: Rattler’s departure left Oklahoma in a vulnerable position at quarterback, especially with the loss of both him and Williams. The Sooners entered the 2022 season under new head coach Brent Venables with a quarterback battle between Dillon Gabriel, a transfer from UCF, and a few inexperienced players. While Gabriel did perform well enough to keep the offense functional, there was a noticeable drop-off in the explosiveness and playmaking ability that Rattler and Williams brought to the table. The Sooners’ offense seemed to lack the same level of dynamic play that they had previously enjoyed under Riley’s system.
Moreover, the loss of Rattler affected the overall recruiting outlook. Losing a top recruit like him was a tough blow to a program that prided itself on developing quarterbacks and consistently competing at the highest level. The gap left by Rattler’s departure was especially pronounced when considering the expectations set for Oklahoma before he left.
2. Caleb Williams – Quarterback
Departure: After the 2021 season
Destination: USC
Following Spencer Rattler’s benching in the 2021 season, Caleb Williams took over as Oklahoma’s starting quarterback. The freshman phenom immediately showed why he was so highly regarded in the recruiting world, leading the Sooners to several dramatic wins and displaying impressive mobility, arm strength, and poise. Williams’ early performances seemed to suggest he was the heir apparent to lead Oklahoma for the next few years. However, his time in Norman would be short-lived.
After the conclusion of the 2021 season, Williams made the highly publicized decision to enter the transfer portal, a move that shocked many fans and analysts. Given that his time at Oklahoma was successful and that he was still under contract with the program, his transfer was seen as a sign of the larger shifts happening within college football and the Sooners’ program. Ultimately, Williams followed former head coach Lincoln Riley to USC, a decision that further compounded Oklahoma’s sense of loss.
Impact on Oklahoma: Williams’ departure left Oklahoma reeling, as the Sooners had to go through yet another quarterback transition. In many ways, Williams’ transfer marked the end of an era at Oklahoma. With the transfer of both Rattler and Williams within the span of a year, the program lost two of its top quarterbacks in rapid succession. This left the Sooners in an unfamiliar position as they had to rebuild their quarterback depth and identity.
Williams’ impact at USC was immediate, as he led the Trojans to a successful 2022 season, finishing as a Heisman finalist and leading the team to a bowl game. His success in Los Angeles only highlighted the void left at Oklahoma, and the program’s struggles at the quarterback position seemed to confirm how difficult it is to replace such an elite talent.
Oklahoma’s offense in 2022, led by Dillon Gabriel, still had moments of success, but there was a clear drop-off compared to the electric playmaking ability Williams brought in his brief time with the Sooners. Williams’ departure also symbolized the larger trend of elite players flocking to the coast for NIL deals and new opportunities, something that impacted Oklahoma’s recruiting moving forward.
3. Marvin Mims – Wide Receiver
Departure: After the 2022 season
Destination: Denver Broncos (NFL Draft)
While Marvin Mims’ departure was not technically a transfer portal move, his loss had a massive impact on Oklahoma, especially considering the offensive identity shift under head coach Brent Venables. Mims, a dynamic playmaker and one of the most productive wide receivers in Oklahoma history, had a spectacular career with the Sooners. He was known for his ability to stretch the field with deep routes and his consistent playmaking ability. Over the course of his time in Norman, Mims developed into one of the top receiving threats in the Big 12.
In 2022, Mims was the go-to target for Oklahoma’s offense, and despite some inconsistencies at the quarterback position, he consistently put up solid numbers. His decision to leave for the NFL draft after the 2022 season was expected, given his success and potential at the next level, but it still represented a significant loss for Oklahoma.
Impact on Oklahoma: Losing Mims left a gaping hole in Oklahoma’s wide receiver corps. While the Sooners had talent in the position, no one was quite able to replicate the explosive plays that Mims was capable of. His departure was felt most acutely in Oklahoma’s passing game, which lacked a consistent vertical threat in 2023. With a changing offense under Brent Venables, Oklahoma needed Mims’ dynamic presence more than ever to help establish an effective aerial attack.
Additionally, Mims’ departure symbolized the broader trend of elite players opting to leave college early for the NFL, and it further complicated Oklahoma’s rebuilding efforts. While wide receivers like Jalil Farooq and Andrel Anthony showed potential, the void left by Mims’ absence was evident, particularly in high-stakes games where Oklahoma struggled to create explosive plays in the passing game.
