Oklahoma football: Lincoln Riley pumped for flood of Tennessee transfers

Lincoln Riley is excited about the SEC talent coming to Oklahoma football.

National Signing Day has come and gone. Lincoln Riley has another high-ranking recruiting class. The 2021 Oklahoma football recruiting class ranks 11th in the country and No. 1 in the Big 12. Five-star Quarterback Caleb Williams headlines the class.

Lincoln Riley has five transfers in this year’s class, and three of them come from the Tennessee Volunteers. Eric Gray, Keyshawn Lawrence and Wanya Morris are now Sooners. Oklahoma football recruited Lawrence and Morris in high school, and Riley believed that there was a good chance that they would be Sooners during that process. According to 247Sports, familiarity worked to their benefit.

“I think it was pretty natural for them that when they made the decision to leave, that this was going to be one of the places they considered because we had built up some good relationships with those guys,” Riley said. “So, you know, those guys, it’s like they took a one-year hiatus, but it almost feels like we recruited them [and] we know them.”

On the other hand, Gray wasn’t recruited as much as the other two were, but the Sooners still felt like there was an opportunity to connect. When Gray hit the transfer portal, he reached out to them, they evaluated him, and the Sooners felt that he could help them win.

Lincoln Riley will put the SEC transfers in the best position to succeed

Gray is coming off a season where he ran for 772 yards (4.9 yards per carry) and four touchdowns. He caught 30 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns. The former Gator Bowl MVP is a shifty runner who can elude tacklers but run with power to get extra yards. He will join a talented running back room with Seth McGowen, TJ. Pledger, Todd Hudson, Jaden Knowles and Marcus Major.

The man who will be setting the edge for him on outside runs or blocking downfield on screens is Morris. The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder will add talent and depth to the Sooner offensive line and protect Spencer Rattler’s blindside. He was an integral part of the Volunteers’ running game as they put up 222 yards at No. 23 Auburn last season.

Lawrence is going to be a player to watch in the Sooners secondary. He is joining a defensive backfield led by Tre Norwood. Brendan Radley-Hiles entered the transfer portal, which is a huge blow for the Sooners secondary. Norwood led the team and the Big 12 with five interceptions. Lawrence could fill in the gap if he continues to progress game-to-game. Riley has a solid recruiting class on his hands and talented transfers, which could be difference-makers next season.