Sooners grab a promising transfer portal player from the FCS level in Mississippi Valley State DB Prince Ijioma
The Sooners are closing in on finalizing their 2026 roster even more with help from the transfer portal.
Just as most thought the Oklahoma Sooners were close to being done with the transfer portal after adding former Tennessee Volunteers TE Jack Van Dorselaer, they made another move. According to On3, the latest addition is Prince Ilioma, a former FCS defensive back from Mississippi Valley State.
Last offseason, the Sooners added almost no defensive backs from the portal, outside of Kendal Daniels, who may not even fit that designation. Oklahoma typically prefers homegrown talent in the secondary. However, this offseason, they made two exceptions: first, they picked up former Oregon Ducks defensive back Dakoda Fields, and then they added Ilioma.
The Sooners are now in a position to have some very good depth in the secondary, as well as guys with major upside. Depth is super important, especially for a team like Oklahoma, which has dealt with some pretty massive injuries the last few years. The players they have brought in fit what OU has needed most, as does Ilioma. Sure, he played at the FCS level, but he’s not a bad football player. A to Z Sports College Football Analyst Ryan Roberts broke down some of Ilioma’s game for us.
Who is Ilioma, and what does he bring to the Sooners?
From a raw tools perspective, there’s a lot to like about Prince Ijioma. At 6-3 and 190 pounds, he has a long frame with easy developmental upside. Ijioma is at his best when he’s asked to utilize his length to be disruptive at the line of scrimmage and catch point. He also has enough long speed to be able to match vertically, rarely getting beaten over the top. With two years of eligibility remaining, there is some developmental upside to tap into as Ijioma fills out and improves technically.
Ijioma’s biggest downfall is his limited change-of-direction skills. In off coverage, he can be slow to react due to his high-cut frame. That could limit his coverage diversity a bit. At worst, this should be a player who can contribute upside during his final two years. If used properly, there is some potential to play a role in the correct scheme.
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