Western Carolina QB transfer Cole Gonzales commits to Oklahoma

Western Carolina quarterback transfer Cole Gonzales has committed to Oklahoma, he told On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Gonzales has been a star for the Catamounts for the past three seasons, racking up 6,682 yards passing and 51 touchdowns in that timeframe. He is the son of current Florida receivers coach Billy Gonzales.

In addition to the numbers, Gonzales was named the 2023 SoCon Player of the Year. He’s a two-time first-team All-SoCon selection, as well.

Cole Gonzales, a junior from Ocala, Fla., began his playing career in 2022 at Western Carolina.

He threw for 1,336 yards and 11 touchdowns, against seven interceptions, during his first year. He also ran for 147 yards and a score.

A year later, Cole Gonzales had his most productive season to date, starring for the Catamounts in 2023. He threw for 2,803 yards and 28 touchdowns, while throwing just eight interceptions.

He followed that up with a junior campaign in which he threw for 2,543 yards and 12 touchdowns, with seven interceptions. He also ran for 212 yards and two scores.

Cole Gonzales should give Oklahoma another capable passer in the mix following the departure of Jackson Arnold via the transfer portal this offseason.

Brent Venables no fan of modern transfer portal

While Oklahoma will certainly be pleased with the addition of Cole Gonzales via the transfer portal, count coach Brent Venables as someone who’s not thrilled with the portal in general.

Oklahoma has had 25 players hit the NCAA transfer portal since it opened, including quarterback Jackson Arnold. That has left the Sooners with a thinner squad ahead of the Armed Forces Bowl.

“Yeah, this is modern college football,” he said. “I don’t think any team’s going to be immune to that. Certainly again, as we’ve said a lot here over the last several months, we’ve been preparing for that. Got to get our roster to 105. There’s a process that takes place. You don’t like it. I’ve said I don’t like it, but it’s part of where we’re at right now.”

Venables, though, is doing his best to adjust like everyone else.

“Everybody has to figure out what’s best for them, and we as a program, as we continue to try to grow and start back over with Team 131, that’s all part of the process,” Venables said. “So that’s right on schedule.”