Oklahoma WR Gavin Freeman Enters Transfer Portal
In something of a surprising move, the Oklahoma Sooners saw a surprise entry in the transfer portal in the eleventh hour of the window as sophomore wideout Gavin Freeman decided to take his chances elsewhere.
Freeman, a former walk-on from Heritage Hall High School in Oklahoma City, was an Oklahoma legacy who followed in his father, Jason’s, footsteps. The elder Freeman played tight end for OU in the 90s, spurring a desire in Gavin’s heart to don the Crimson and Cream.
In the 2022 season opener, Freeman took an end-around 45 yards to the endzone in his first touch of college football. After an otherwise quiet offensive season, Freeman saw his role expand in 2023 after earning a scholarship.
He recorded 19 receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown this past season and also served as the Sooners’ primary punt returner. That paid immediate dividends as well, with Freeman taking a punt return in the season opener 82 yards to paydirt in a 73-0 beatdown of Arkansas State. In total, Freeman appeared in 26 games for the Sooners over two seasons and will take plenty of experience with him wherever he lands.
Freeman regularly garnered praise from Sooners’ head coach Brent Venables for his work ethic and attitude, but it appears that he’s in search of more playing time offensively heading into 2024.
Late Tuesday evening, Freeman announced his intentions on Twitter, sparking all kinds of discussion among the Sooner faithful.
Freeman’s ability to get on the field as a receiver in 2024 would’ve been much more of a challenge than it was is past seasons. The Sooners’ wide receiver room is incredibly deep entering the SEC, with Deion Burks, Jayden Gibson, Nic Anderson, Jalil Farooq, and Jaquaize Pettaway all figured to be ahead of Freeman on the depth chart.
Add the return of Andrel Anthony from injury and the further inclusion of Brenen Thompson and freshmen Zion Kearney and Ivan Carreon, and there just wasn’t a ton of opportunity for Freeman to break through the lineup in a major way.
Additionally, Peyton Bowen featured as the primary option at punt returner this spring, which also placed a limit on Freeman’s potential there.
Freeman, listed at 5-foot-8, 189 pounds, was a three-star athlete out of high school and held offers from Air Force, Texas Tech, and Tulsa out of high school.
