Two Oklahoma Sooners football players have entered the transfer portal following the team’s recent acquisition of standout running back Jaydn Ott. This move comes shortly after head coach Brent Venables indicated the program was exploring portal options at every position.
Running back Sam Franklin entered the portal on April 16, just hours after Oklahoma added Ott to the roster, according to Pete Nakos of On3. Franklin, a former UT-Martin standout, ran for 132 yards in 2024. Nakos noted, “Sooners picked up Jaydn Ott last night.”
Sam Herder of Hero Sports highlighted Franklin’s earlier success, noting that he was a top-tier FCS running back with over 1,300 rushing yards two years ago. However, his workload drastically dropped at Oklahoma, with only 18 carries in 2024 compared to 223 in 2023.
Tight end Davon Mitchell also entered the transfer portal on April 16, as reported by Nakos. Mitchell’s departure had been anticipated since April 4, when he reportedly cleared out his locker. The former four-star recruit has four years of eligibility remaining. Despite not playing a single snap in 2024, Mitchell addressed fans on social media, taking accountability for his lack of playing time and voicing his support for the coaching staff, saying: “I TRUST THE OKLAHOMA STAFF …YALL should do the same.”
Landing Jaydn Ott is considered a major win for the Sooners. Ott, who has started at running back for Cal since his freshman year in 2022, had an impressive debut season with eight touchdowns and a spot on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. Although his production dipped last year—385 rushing yards and four touchdowns—analysts expect him to thrive at Oklahoma.
