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Oklahoma lands another difference maker from the transfer portal

For the second time in two weeks, the Sooners have plucked a player from Tennessee out of the transfer portal, this time bringing an impactful playmaker to the defense

John E. Hoover

Oklahoma lands another difference maker from the transfer portal
Oklahoma lands another difference maker from the transfer portal /

Oklahoma landed another former Tennessee Volunteer from the transfer portal on Monday.

Key Lawrence announced via Twitter that he was committed to OU.

Lawrence, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound safety, was a Tennessee freshman in 2020, playing in 10 games as a backup safety and on special teams.

At Ensworth High School in Nashville, Lawrence was a consensus 4-star defensive back, ranked as the No. 6 safety in the nation and the No. 1 player in the state of Tennessee by the 247 Sports Composite.

Out of high school, Lawrence chose Tennessee over offers from Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M, Miami, Clemson, Ohio State, Penn State, USC, Virginia Tech and others.

The Sooners kicked off last week earning the commitment of Lawrence's Knoxville teammate, offensive tackle Wanya Morris out of the transfer portal. 

Lawrence still has four years of eligibility, due to last season's eligibility waiver granted by the NCAA, plus the ability to redshirt if needed.

The Volunteer exodus in the wake of Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt's firing may not be over either, as 2020 leading rusher Eric Gray has also entered himself into the transfer portal. 

OU also has landed a transfer quarterback (Micah Bowens from Penn State) and a transfer interior offensive lineman (Robert Congel from Arizona).

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John E. Hoover
JOHN E. HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.

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