It’s a busy time in the transfer portal for the Oklahoma Sooners, with roster battles across the country continuing through January 16th. However, OU saw a former player and a once-highly-rated recruit sign with a team they will face in 2026.
Former Oklahoma State running back Tyler Tatum has committed to the Michigan Wolverines through the transfer portal. Tatum came to Norman with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 recruiting class and spent two years in Norman. He showed some promise as a true freshman, but he only played one game in 2025 because he was hit hard and buried on the depth chart.
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Tatum is now the third former Oklahoma player Oklahoma State will see on the court in 2026. South Carolina wide receiver Jayden Gibson and Kentucky running back Jovanta Barnes will also face their former teams next season.
Tatum will look to capitalize on his commitment out of high school in Longview, Texas, where he transferred from a Noble college football program in Norman to another in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines have hired Kyle Whittingham as their new head coach through 2026.
Tatum and Barnes, along with senior Jaydn Ott (who has exhausted his eligibility), are Oklahoma’s departures in the running back room so far this offseason. However, the Sooners hope to return Xavier Robinson and Torrey Blaylock, as well as Gabe Sawchuk and Andy Buss. Oklahoma is adding true freshmen Jonathan Hutton Jr. and DeZephan Walker, and Colorado transfers Lloyd Avante to the RB room, but may not add a spot in the portal.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Former Oklahoma State RB transfers to Big Ten