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OU loses out on transfer portal tight end; what's next?

headshotby:George Stoia•about 12 hours•

GeorgeStoia

Syndication: The Oklahoman
Oklahoma's Joe Jon Finley. Photo credit: Sarah Phipps - The Oklahoman.

OU was unable to land its top tight end target in the NCAA transfer portal on Friday, as Missouri State’s Lance Mason announced his commitment to Wisconsin.

Mason chose the Badgers over Cal, Purdue and OU after visiting Norman on Monday. He visited Wisconsin on Tuesday. Last season at Missouri State, he totaled 34 receptions for 540 yards and six touchdowns. At 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, Mason has the size and athleticism that OU felt would allow him to be a dynamic playmaker in offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle’s offense.

Unfortunately for Oklahoma, it will have to either rely on the guys it has or go back to the portal to find someone. As for where the Sooners might look in the portal, there are limited options. Cal’s Jack Endries signed with Texas and Wisconsin’s Tanner Koziol signed with Houston. Those two, along with Mason, were considered the best tight ends in the portal this spring.

Oklahoma added three tight ends during the winter portal cycle. Pitt State’s Will Huggins, Kennesaw State’s Carson Kent and Louisiana Tech’s John Locke transferred to OU in January. Senior Jaren Kanak also moved to tight end after playing linebacker the last three years. Still, the Sooners wanted to add someone who could elevate the room after the departure of former four-star tight end Davon Mitchell.

The Sooners may go into 2025 with the guys they have.

“I would say, of any position group, they are the position group that has shown the most improvement over spring ball,” Arbuckle said at the end of spring practice. “From where they were on day one to where they are now — I mean, I’m pretty sure in the last four practices, we’ve thrown like nine touchdowns to the tight ends. And not just wide-open touchdowns. I’m talking aggressive contested catches. I’m talking they’re on the line of scrimmage and we’re running the football, and they’re getting so much better with their hand placement, moving people. And they’re all unreal kids.

“That’s one of my favorite position meetings to go sit in, because Coach Finley is an unbelievable coach, and those are unbelievable kids in that room, and they’re so fun to be around, and they’ve shown the most improvement.”

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