Tag: Wanya Morris

How did Oklahoma rebuild in 2021 transfer portal?

247 Sports breaks down winners of the 2021 transfer portal.

After the pandemic year, anticipation grows for the upcoming season and a sense of normalcy again. College football’s transfer portal has added to the excitement, similar to the free agency period in the NFL. Programs have been replenished by replacing departures with experienced players from other universities.

The NCAA transfer portal was initially introduced in 2018 giving players the opportunity to switch teams and explore options. Players do not have to ask for permission, they simply put in a request and enter their name. Once approved and their name shows up in the portal, teams can vie for their services. Players can withdraw their name at any time and just because a name is entered, does not specifically mean that player will leave.

Some teams have made bigger splashes than others via the transfer portal, adding players to their current roster. As summer approaches, 247Sports compiled a list of teams considered to be the greatest transfer portal winners. The Oklahoma Sooners were among the group.

 “The Knoxville-to-Norman movement was forged this offseason, as Oklahoma managed to land three players who left Tennessee following the firing of coach Jeremy Pruitt. Running back Eric Gray (2) offensive lineman Wanya Morris (7) and safety Key Lawrence (20) all bring SEC experience to the Big 12, highlighted by Gray who had four 100-yard performances last season. Receiver Mike Woods (44) from Arkansas is another newcomer who brings plenty of product with him.”

Lincoln Riley also added a quarterback in Penn State’s Micah Bowens and interior offensive lineman Robert Congel from Arizona. Congel is competing with Chris Murray who transferred from UCLA last year at center. Gray is one of OU’s most promising newcomers with his one-cut ability and is projected to be one of the nation’s top backs with the departure of Rhamondre Stevenson to the NFL. Morris earned Freshman All-American honors and even though he never hit his ceiling with the Vols, Bill Bedenbaugh has a way of getting the most out of his lineman. He will be unleashed in the trenches protecting Spencer Rattler.

Every Oklahoma Sooner added/subtracted through the transfer portal

A look at each player the Oklahoma Sooners added or lost through the transfer portal for 2021.

The transfer portal has become free agency for college football. Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley has added quite a bit to the team through the portal and lost his fair share as well. After added six players for the 2021 season via the transfer portal, they only signed a total of 16 players through recruiting.

With the one-time transfer rule being put in place, there will be plenty more where that came from. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a lot of these recruits signed their letters of intent without seeing the campus or even having a face-to-face meeting with their new coaches. We could see an even larger rise in players entering the portal to find where they believe to fit best.

A full list of every player the Oklahoma Sooners added or lost through the transfer portal ahead of the 2021 college football season.

(not pictured) the team added Josh Plaster. A punter from Arizona State. 

Sooners Wire staff picks position groups to watch for the Oklahoma spring game

Sooners Wire staff makes the case for which position group to watch for the Oklahoma spring game.

After discussing the Oklahoma Sooners spring game ad nauseam it seems, the time has come to put on the pads and lace the cleats. Saturday evening when the lights come on, the football team will prepare to go to war, with each other.

There are plenty of position groups on full display that have questions that need to be answered. Can Isaiah Thomas fill the void left by Ronnie Perkins? What about the return of Jalen Redmond on the defensive line, and how will Marcus Stripling perform backing up Nik Bonitto at rush linebacker?

This is the first game action for top 2021 signee Caleb Williams. Will the game prove to move too fast for him, or will he show the staff why he was the top quarterback of his class? A pair of teammates wearing No. 4 will also have their opportunities, Mario Williams and Jaden Davis.

The staff takes a look at which position group they have their eyes on for Saturday.

First up Josh looks in the trenches

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

A look at the 2022 NFL draft hopefuls for the Oklahoma Sooners

College Football News breaks down top draft prospects for 2022.

The 2021 NFL draft is just a couple of weeks away and there will be a few former Oklahoma Sooners looking to jump to the next level. Continue reading “A look at the 2022 NFL draft hopefuls for the Oklahoma Sooners”

Current and former Sooners make list for most impactful transfers

A look at which current and former Oklahoma Sooners will have huge impacts following their transfer.

The transfer portal is a huge part of the game of college football, and college basketball for that matter. The Oklahoma Sooners are no strangers to this as they have seen many players come and go in both sports. Continue reading “Current and former Sooners make list for most impactful transfers”

The top newcomer for each Big 12 team

A look at each impact newcomer for every school in the Big 12 Conference for the 2021 college football season.

With spring football in full swing, there is plenty of excitement around the coonference. Continue reading “The top newcomer for each Big 12 team”

Oklahoma Sooners Snapshot Profile: No. 64 Wanya Morris

Player profile for Oklahoma Sooners OT Wanya Morris.

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Evaluating the current roster, Sooners Wire profiles the current players with left tackle Wanya Morris up next. Continue reading “Oklahoma Sooners Snapshot Profile: No. 64 Wanya Morris”

Spring Football: A look at the offensive tackle position

A look at the offensive tackle depth for spring football.

Spring football is just days away for the Oklahoma Sooners. With the return of football on the way, Sooners Wire takes a look at each position group ahead of camp. This time we journey into the trenches with the offensive tackles.

Last season Oklahoma deployed the tackle duo of Adrian Ealy and Erik Swenson. After one game, Ealy and Swenson swapped sides putting the former at the right tackle spot. Ealy is now heading to the NFL through the draft meaning there would be at least one new starter on the offensive line, turned out there would be more.

Positional Breakdown: Left Tackle

Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Wayna Morris

Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh will have a talented new left tackle as his starter when the season rolls around. Wayna Morris joins the Sooners after transferring from the University of Tennessee along with defensive back Key Lawrence and running back Eric Gray. Morris started 17 games over the first two years for the Vols at left tackle.

Backup: Stacey Wilkins

Wilkins returns to the team after opting out of the 2020 season. In 2019 he played in four games in a reserve role.

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Positional Breakdown: Right Tackle

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Starter: Erik Swenson

A season ago, Swenson became the starter at left tackle for 10 games and right tackle for just one. His performance against the Florida Gators in the Cotton Bowl Classic, Swenson earned a spot on the AP’s All-Bowl team. Now Swenson looks to lock down the right tackle position with the addition of Morris at left tackle.

Backup: Anton Harrison

Anton Harrison played 333 snaps at left tackle, much like the move for Swenson, Morris is forcing him to move to right tackle. This will be a battle to watch in the spring. Which tackle comes out on top and is named the starter for 2021? Sooners Wire gives Swenson the slight edge due to his starting experience.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions.

Lincoln Riley discusses Tennessee players transferring to Oklahoma for a change of scenery

Three Tennessee football players have transferred to Oklahoma following the conclusion of the 2020 season.

Three Tennessee football players have transferred to Oklahoma following the conclusion of the 2020 season.

On national signing day, Sooners’ head coach Lincoln Riley discussed Eric Gray, Key Lawrence and Wanya Morris transferring from the Vols to Oklahoma.

“I think they decided that they needed a change of scenery, and they liked what we were doing here, and those things came together pretty quickly,” Riley said during a national signing day press conference.

Dec 7, 2019; Arlington, TX; Oklahoma Sooner head coach Lincoln Riley on the sidelines during the third quarter against the Baylor Bears in the 2019 Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Riley mentioned he does not believe that one former Tennessee player caused another to leave UT for Oklahoma.

“I don’t know that one caused another to leave,” Riley said. “It wasn’t really a domino effect type deal. I think it was three separate situations, and they just happened to be from the same university.”

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Wanya Morris transfers to Oklahoma

Wanya Morris will play for the Sooners.

Tennessee sophomore offensive lineman Wanya Morris entered the NCAA transfer portal earlier this month.

Morris announced that he is transferring to Oklahoma. He chose the Sooners over Texas and Southern Cal.

Morris appeared in 22 games for the Vols during 2019 and 2020 seasons.

He started seven games in 2020 — five at left tackle and two as a blocking tight end in a jumbo package.

During the 2019 season, Morris started 12 games at left tackle.

KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 27, 2020 – Offensive lineman Wanya Morris #64 of the Tennessee Volunteers during practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics

The 6-foot-5, 320-pound sophomore is from Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia. He signed with Tennessee in the Vols’ 2019 recruiting class.

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