Surprise Oklahoma Sooners transfer pull named one of CFB's best fits in 2025 portal class
The Oklahoma Sooners pulled in 15 transfers in the fall transfer portal window, a substantial haul for a team desperately looking to turn their offense around. That group was headlined by quarterback John Mateer, who promises to be one of the best quarterbacks in college football next season. However, it wasn't Mateer who was named […]
The Oklahoma Sooners pulled in 15 transfers in the fall transfer portal window, a substantial haul for a team desperately looking to turn their offense around.
That group was headlined by quarterback John Mateer, who promises to be one of the best quarterbacks in college football next season.
However, it wasn't Mateer who was named as one of the eleven best fits out of the transfer portal by 247Sports. It was Western Carolina offensive tackle Derek Simmons.
"Although there are many reasons you can point to Oklahoma's lack of offensive success last season, it should come as no surprise that the Sooners needed to upgrade the offensive line this offseason. Enter offensive tackle Derek Simmons. A position-versatile FCS transfer from Western Carolina, Simmons provides the Sooners with some exceptional position flex value, showcasing the ability to plug in at both tackle spots and guard if necessary. At 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds, expect the former Abilene Christian signee to acclimate quite seamlessly to the physicality of the SEC as he possesses desirable Sunday traits."
Simmons was a heavy target for the Sooners, who made a strong push for him early on in the portal window. He was one of two offensive linemen who committed to the Sooners out of the portal, joining Stanford tackle Luke Baklenko.
For 2025, Simmons is likely set to play right tackle for Oklahoma. Logan Howland seems likely to maintain his spot at left tackle, leaving right tackle open for grabs. Simmons played both tackle spots for the Catamounts and possesses some quality tools to work with.
Right tackle was a weak spot for the Sooners in 2024, with Jake Taylor's injuries and Spencer Brown's poor play outside. It's no surprise that both offensive linemen Oklahoma pursued had experience playing there in their careers, given the obvious Achilles heel on the offense.
Hopefully, Simmons is able to lock down the right tackle position for the Sooners in 2025, enabling the offense to get back on track after a dismal 2024.
