Brent Venables weighs in on state of transfer portal, impact it has had on Oklahoma roster turnover

There was nothing Brent Venables could have done to stop it.

Venables, formerly Clemson’s defensive coordinator, made his return to Norman, Oklahoma this offseason, where he used to serve as the defensive coordinator; only now, Venables is Oklahoma’s head coach. However, following the departure of former Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley, who left Norman in favor of USC shortly before, the transfer portal certainly had a huge impact on Oklahoma’s roster makeup.

Some of the former Oklahoma players, like quarterback Caleb WIlliams, wide receiver Mario Williams, and defensive back Latrell McCutchin joined Riley in Los Angeles. Others like Patrick Fields, Jamal Morris, Jake Mann, Brey Walker, Jadon Haselwood, Austin Stogner, Spencer Rattler and more entered the portal and ultimately ended up elsewhere. Regardless, Venables has experienced firsthand how the NCAA Transfer Portal can impact a roster like the Sooners’.

“Well, there’s no question that there has to be some adjustment,” Venables said of the NCAA Transfer Portal. “Both kids and coaches that are trying to manage rosters, kids need to have a little bit more guidelines, if you will. I think as adults, providing some boundaries to help guide them and help them navigate just from a timing standpoint. But I think that’s a two-way street with both coaches to manage their rosters from a timing standpoint, being able to maintain that and still be able to adhere to an 85 scholarship number. Logistically, there could be some challenges there. Again, in a place like Oklahoma, I believe it should always be in a pretty good position.”

To Venables’ credit, Oklahoma has certainly benefitted from the NCAA Transfer Portal, too, despite also having it take some of the Sooners’ most talented players.

Venables picked up 10 total players out of the NCAA Transfer Portal, helping fill an array of needs in the Sooners’ roster. Oklahoma received commitments from Tulane defensive lineman Jeffery Johnson, Missouri tight end Daniel Parker, UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Cal offensive lineman McKade Mettauer, UNC cornerback Trey Morrison and several more. According to Venables, they might not be done, either.

“There are some places that are just going to be devastated (by the transfer portal) for whatever reason, whether it’s a coaching change or a cultural issue or whatever reason, if you have one of those years where you have a bunch of guys that pack it up and decide to move on,” Venables continued. “So, I think having some boundaries for both the coaches and the players from a timing standpoint could be really beneficial. Again, as it stands, with no restriction — obviously, you can’t transfer twice, you have to sit out — there’s no reason to pause. I know I’ve said that before.”

Venables’ proposed “restriction” on the transfer portal would theoretically incentivize student-athletes not to transfer. He believes that if these players are granted an extra year of eligibility for a year they might spend on the bench, or in a time-share with another student-athlete, it may help encourage them to stay put at their current university.

“I believe that we should incentivize it, with graduation in mind. I believe the more unstable the environment, skipping from one school to the next and not having some stick-to-it-ness,” Venables said. “I think it would help everybody, but most importantly the kids, to be able to incentivize (staying at your school) for graduation. Then you can get that year back if you had to sit. It would make you think twice before you’re in a hurry to jump ship (and transfer).”