Oklahoma Sooners defensive back enters transfer portal

Oklahoma defensive back Justin Harrington has entered the transfer portal, according to 247Sports. The junior college transfer redshirted during the 2020 season and has made a limited impact this season.

Harrington was a four-star recruit and the No. 1 JUCO safety in the 247Sports Composite Player Rankings for the 2020 cycle, and was also the top JUCO prospect from the state of North Carolina. Harrington had yet to break through as a starter for the Sooners’ defense this year.

His decision comes one day ahead of Oklahoma’s Week 5 road game at Kansas State. The Sooners won their Big 12-opener at home vs. West Virginia in Week 4, prevailing on a walk-off field goal.

The NCAA introduced the transfer portal on Oct. 15, 2018, providing athletes a path to explore their options. Players do not need to ask permission from their coaching staff in order to transfer. They merely need to request that compliance enter their name. Usually, it takes 24-48 hours for a player to appear following their request. Schools are free to contact a player without restriction once their name appears in the portal.

While a Justin Harrington entering his name in the transfer portal means he intends to explore their options, it does not necessarily mean they will leave. A player is free to withdraw his name at any time. However, schools are under no obligation to keep a player on scholarship once they enter the portal.

Although in years past it has been the OU defense receiving most of the flack, that isn’t the case in 2021. The Sooners defense ranks third in the Big 12, giving up an average of just 301.3 yards per game. They are second in the league with 16 points allowed per contest.

The Sooners kick off against Kansas State at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in what will be their first game since Harrington announced his decision to transfer.