The NFL Draft took place in Detroit last weekend and three former Sooners were selected: Tyler Guyton, Walter Rouse, and Jonah Laulu. Six other players have also signed with teams as undrafted free agents. The transfer portal also officially closed on Wednesday for all players, meaning Oklahoma’s roster should be mostly stable from here on out. Here’s a breakdown of the former Sooners who were just signed or drafted into the NFL and a look at two of the newest transfers Brent Venables and Co. landed.
NFL Draft and Portal Additions
Newest Transfer Portal Additions
Damonic Williams, Defensive Tackle
Williams was one of the best players available in this cycle and he chose Oklahoma over the likes of SEC foes Texas and LSU, which bodes well for OU’s NIL efforts. Williams is coming over from TCU, where he was named a Freshman All-American and started for the 2022 team that went to the College Football Playoff National Championship. Last year, he was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and in two seasons with TCU, he recorded 60 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. Defensive line has been a huge focus for Brent Venables and Williams was the best tackle to hit the portal. This was a huge win for Oklahoma and should make fans confident in not just next season’s defense, but also the team’s ability to attract high-end talent from other schools.
Jermayne Lole, Defensive Tackle
Lole began his career at Arizona State before transferring to Louisville. He is from Long Beach, California and is listed at 6’3, 310 pounds. Venables recently spoke about wanting more experience on the defensive line and that’s exactly what he’s getting with Lole. To this point, Lole has played in 66 games and racked up 141 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks. He should step in immediately into a starting role and help boost what looks to be an intriguing defensive line for the Sooners.
Branson Hickman, Center
Hickman is transferring in from SMU where he made 33 career starts and was named to the All-AAC Second Team. With Troy Everett, the team’s presumed starting center, out until at least the end of fall camp, OU was in desperate need of a proven player at the center position. Hickman will bolster the Sooners’ offensive line and is set up nicely to compete for the starting center job once practice begins again in the fall.
3 Players Selected in the NFL Draft
Tyler Guyton, Offensive Tackle
Drafted in the 1st round with the 29th pick by the Dallas Cowboys. He began his career at TCU before transferring to Oklahoma. In two season in Norman, he started 14 games and allowed just two sacks, and was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2023.
Walter Rouse, Offensive Tackle
Drafted in the sixth round with the 177th pick by the Minnesota Vikings. He transferred from Stanford and in one season for OU, he made 13 starts at left tackle while also being named a 2023 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.
Jonah Laulu, Defensive Tackle
Drafted in the seventh round with the 234th pick by the Indianapolis Colts. He spent four years at Hawai’i before transferring to Oklahoma. Played in 26 games for the Sooners over two years, recording 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Undrafted Free Agents
Drake Stoops, Wide Receiver
This Norman legend signed with the Los Angeles Rams. In six seasons with the Sooners, he caught 164 passes for 1,876 yards and 17 touchdowns. The former walk-on was also named to the All-Big 12 First Team in 2023.
Isaiah Coe, Defensive Tackle
Signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Started at a junior college before playing three years at OU, where he racked up 55 tackles and three sacks and was a 2023 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.
Andrew Raym, Center
Signed with the Carolina Panthers. He spent his entire college career in Norman, starting 29 games. He was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team in 2023.
Austin Stogner, Tight End
Signed with the Atlanta Falcons. He started his career at Oklahoma, transferred to South Carolina in 2022, and transferred back to Oklahoma in 2023. In 59 career games, he hauled in 84 passes for 1,060 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Rondell Bothroyd, Defensive End
Signed with the Buffalo Bills. Spent five seasons at Wake Forest before transferring to Oklahoma. In 2023, he was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mentions after starting 13 games and recording 25 tackles, including 3.5 for loss.
McKade Mettauer, Guard:
Signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. Played three years at California before playing for the Sooners from 2022-2023. He made 15 starts for OU and, in 2023, he was named a permanent captain and an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection in 2023.
Good luck to all the Sooners now in the NFL!
