Oklahoma football’s recent move involves the addition of transfer running back Samuel Franklin to the Sooners’ roster.
Last week, Oklahoma football witnessed another player exiting to the transfer portal, but simultaneously, they acquired two new additions.
Samuel Franklin, the former University of Tennessee-Martin running back, pledged his commitment to Oklahoma on Wednesday. Just a day earlier, Deion Burks, the Purdue wide receiver, also committed to joining the Sooners.
During his time at UT-Martin, Franklin, a redshirt sophomore, displayed his prowess, accumulating 2,129 rushing yards and securing 20 touchdowns over three seasons, maintaining an impressive average of 6.8 yards per carry. His most recent season concluded with a career-high 1,386 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.
Despite receiving offers from USC, South Carolina, Arkansas, Texas Tech, and Indiana, Franklin opted for Oklahoma. He stands as a finalist for the 2023 Walter Payton Award, an accolade bestowed upon the most exceptional offensive player in Division I FCS college football.
Hailing from Little Rock, Arkansas, Franklin now joins the 2024 running back roster, which includes redshirt-sophomore Gavin Sawchuk, the leading running back for the Sooners at the close of the 2023 season, along with junior Jovanate Barnes and incoming freshmen Taylor Tatum, the top-ranked running back recruit in the 2024 class, and Xavier Robinson.
Oklahoma’s roster saw three running backs entering or intending to enter the transfer portal: Seasoned RB Marcus Major, Daylan Smothers, and Tawee Walker. Walker, while planning his portal entry, continues to practice with the team ahead of the Alamo Bowl game against Arizona State.
Franklin becomes the fourth player to commit to Oklahoma from the transfer portal, joining the likes of All-Big Ten second-team awardee Burks, Michigan State’s offensive lineman Spencer Brown, and San Diego State’s defensive back Dezjhon Malone. Presently, Oklahoma has a net loss of 12 transfers, with a total of 16 players entering the portal since the regular season’s conclusion.
