The Oklahoma Sooners have been through a lot since the start of the 2021 college football season. There was a quarterback change, a Bedlam loss, missing out on the Big 12 championship for the first time since 2014, and a coaching change that shocked the sports world.
After the coaching change that saw Lincoln Riley leave the Oklahoma Sooners for USC and Brent Venables arrive as the next head coach, Caleb Williams and his teammates went to work to prepare for the Oregon Ducks and the Valero Alamo Bowl. Williams went 21 of 27 for 242 yards and three touchdowns as the Sooners won 47-32.
Now with the season in the rearview, Williams will evaluate his options by entering the transfer portal.
Caleb Williams shared via his personal Twitter account that he’ll be entering the transfer portal. In his statement, he said, “As you all know the sudden changes this season sent shockwaves through Sooner nation and were really hard for the whole team. Proud of what we did this whole season but especially the last four weeks.”
In his announcement that he’d be entering the transfer portal, Williams shared more about why he’s exploring other options. “I think we all come to college to find our own path and prepare for the future. I came to Oklahoma with a game plan, but with all of the recent changes, I need to figure out what is the right path for me moving forward. According to NCAA rules, as a student-athlete, the only way I can speak with other schools and see who may offer the best preparation and development for my future career is by entering the portal. Staying at OU will definitely be an option as I begin this process.”
In response to Williams decision to enter the transfer portal, Oklahoma Sooners athletic director Joe Castiglione released a statement saying, “Caleb Williams enjoyed an exciting and impactful first season at the University of Oklahoma and we will continue to be engaged with him and his family on a comprehensive plan for his development as a student and a quarterback, including a path to graduation and strategic leveraging of NIL opportunities. While we believe OU provides Caleb the best opportunity to develop as a player and realize his goals for college and beyond, we respect his right to explore his options following key staffing changes here.”
Statement from Joe Castiglione and Brent Venables on today’s announcement by Caleb Williams: pic.twitter.com/qGHlDqIDp2
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) January 3, 2022
It’s an unfortunate development for the Oklahoma Sooners who’ve now had two highly regarded quarterbacks enter the transfer portal in the last month. First, Spencer Rattler, who found a new home at South Carolina, and now Caleb Williams may do the same.
The Sooners have seen players enter the portal only to return. Theo Wease and Brey Walker have done just that in recent weeks. And Williams has left open the possibility of a return to the Oklahoma Sooners.
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