With the news breaking yesterday that Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Zac Alley is leaving the Sooners to take the defensive coordinator spot under Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia, an entire new potential transfer portal pipeline has opened for the Mountaineers. It is certainly likely that at least one or two players that grew accustomed to Alley's system and style as a coach will want to follow him to Morgantown.
As of this article being published, there are three Oklahoma defensive players currently in the transfer portal that have not yet committed to a new program. Two of these transfers entered the portal before the news got out that Alley was leaving for WVU, with one entering afterwards. Let's take a look at the current candidates below.
Lewis Carter, LB
Carter is the sole player to enter the transfer portal for Oklahoma since the news broke. He has played two seasons with the Sooners and will have two additional years of eligibility remaining. He saw action immediately as a true freshman in 2023 and has played in all 26 OU games over his two season collegiate career. This past season, he recorded 23 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery as a backup linebacker and special teams player for the Sooners.
BREAKING: Oklahoma LB Lewis Carter plans to enter the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 29, 2024
The 6’0 225 LB totaled 30 Tackles, 1 FF, & 1 FR in his 2 years with the Sooners
Will have 2 years of eligibility remaining https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/3mCwILJPRH
Davon Sears, DT
Sears hit the portal just one day before the news broke regarding Alley, immediately after the Sooners dropped a bowl game to Navy. Sears has played for Oklahoma the past two seasons after a two-year stint at Texas State and a one-year community college stint. Having preserved a season of eligibility with a redshirt and being granted another one due to his community college stint (which also occurred during the COVID season, so he would have earned an additional year of eligibility regardless), he'll have one season left to play.
Sears saw limited action at Oklahoma, playing in only six games over two seasons. But four of those games came in 2024 as he saw his role on the defense grow under Alley, and he recorded 4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 sack this past season.
Erik McCarty, S
McCarty hit the portal way back on December 9th, and only saw action on special teams in one game in 2024 over his two-year stint in Norman.