Oklahoma Sooners defender realizes that he won't have it better anywhere else and pulls his name from the portal

With this new era of college football, the Oklahoma Sooners and the rest of the country are getting a real taste of what NFL free agency could be like for the college world. That means they have gotten a taste of players leaving, joining, and leaving and re-joining. This new era truly has it all. […]

Justin Churchill College Football & NFL Trending News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables
BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With this new era of college football, the Oklahoma Sooners and the rest of the country are getting a real taste of what NFL free agency could be like for the college world. That means they have gotten a taste of players leaving, joining, and leaving and re-joining. This new era truly has it all.

With the Sooners having move-in day this week, we soon found out who is with the team from last year, and who is not. And, one guy that originally entered the transfer portal, appears to be back.

Maybe he realized there's nowhere better for him than Oklahoma?


Sooners defender pulls name from transfer portal

Mykel Patterson-McDonald is a defensive back for the Sooners, that is set to return for the 2025 season. He was a four-star safety recruit from West Moore High School in Moore, Oklahoma, where he was not just elite in football but also in track and field. During his high school career, Patterson-McDonald recorded impressive stats, including 62 solo tackles, 14 pass breakups, and an interception in his senior year, earning him the title of District 6A-I Defensive Back of the Year.

Patterson-McDonald committed to OU, choosing to stay close to home, over other offers from schools like Missouri, UNLV, and Houston. His decision was influenced by his relationship with OU's coaching staff and the opportunity to play in the SEC. He is the son of Larry McDonald, who was a walk-on at OU.

Now, he is set to return, adding depth to what is already a very young defensive back room with tons of talent. With how we saw the depth play a role in the success of the defense last year, he could have a big year.