Oklahoma Sooners tight end enters transfer portal

Oklahoma Sooners tight end Austin Stogner has entered the transfer portal according to On3’s Matt Zenitz. Stogner was a member of the 2019 recruiting class and was a four-star recruit on the On3 Consensus.

A junior out of Plano, TX, Stogner had been with the Oklahoma program for three seasons. He appeared in 32 games, switching back between the tight end and H-back position in Lincoln Riley’s offense. Over Stogner’s career, he recorded 47 receptions for 654 yards and eight touchdowns.

The likes of Alabama, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State were some of the programs to offer the No. 3 tight end coming out of high school.

Since Riley left for USC, the Oklahoma offense has been hit hard by players hitting the transfer portal. Stogner is just the latest, with quarterback Spencer Rattler and wide receivers Theo Wease and Jaden Haselwoord entering on Monday.

Lincoln Riley gives parting message to Oklahoma Sooners

For the first time as the USC head coach, Riley sat down for an interview. Fox’s Joel Klatt asked him about the switch to Los Angels from Norman, specifically about what the conversations were like with the Oklahoma administration and players.

“They were all tough,” Riley said. “President Joe Harroz, athletic director Joe Castiglione were so good to me so that conversation was certainly tough. The conversation with Coach (Bob) Stoops was tough because he was so instrumental in bringing me there and has helped guide me throughout my entire career. That was tough. The toughest one was probably with the players. We’ve been on an unbelievable run with those guys, I love those guys. They have given everything to that program and were so good to me. None of that was easy, it was the toughest part about this.”

Riley went on to talk about what the Sooners meant to him and why he wishes no ill toward them. He even went as far as to say he hopes they’re the second-best program in college football.

“There was nothing wrong with OU,” said Riley. “It wasn’t anything they didn’t do, they were phenomenal to us. It was just the right time in our lives for a new opportunity. I know some people will understand it, I know some people won’t but I have a genuine love for that place. I want it to be the second-best program in the country. I will root for them and forever be a part of them and linked to them and I am proud of that.”