Oklahoma football: Sooners lose top defensive back to transfer portal

Oklahoma football star Brendan Radley-Hiles is leaving the program after three seasons.

The Oklahoma Sooners will have to adjust, as one of their best defensive backs, Brendan Radley-Hiles has entered the transfer portal.

Radley-Hiles committed to Lincoln Riley’s Oklahoma football program as part of the 2018 recruiting class. He played 35 games for the Sooners over the last three years, amassing 115 total tackles, nine for a loss of yardage and hauling in three interceptions. The Las Vegas native played his final year of high school ball at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida before heading to OU.

What does Radley-Hiles entering the transfer portal mean for Oklahoma?

This is a tough blow for Oklahoma, as the Sooners should be among the favorites to contend for and possibly win the national championship. They have one of the best returning starting quarterbacks in Spencer Rattler who is the early Heisman favorite. With really only the Iowa State Cyclones challenging them in the Big 12, Oklahoma stands a great chance to make the playoff for the fifth time ever in 2021.

However, the Sooners are still winless in the four-team tournament. Their biggest issue had been on the defensive side of the ball. Sure, the Sooners can put up points with the best of them under Riley’s watch, but not being able to get a critical stop has largely been their undoing. It was vastly improved last year under Alex Grinch. However, losing a veteran playmaker like Radley-Hiles to the transfer portal hurts the depth in the secondary.

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