Oklahoma Sooners Football: Trey Sermon announces decision to enter transfer portal

After three seasons in Norman, Oklahoma Sooners running back Trey Sermon has announced his decision to enter the transfer portal as a graduate transfer. The decision was first reported late Friday evening by SoonerScoop’s Josh McCuistion.

After arriving in Norman as a four-star prospect in 2017, Sermon first made his presence felt in Oklahoma’s monumental win over Ohio State in Columbus. Needing ball security and tough running out of the backfield, OU began to lean on Sermon in the second half. While the stats from the performance don’t jump off the page (62 rushing yards on 17 attempts, three receptions for 23 yards), he was exactly what the Sooners needed that evening.

The Marietta, Ga. native would go on establish himself as Oklahoma’s “closer”, as he would punish exhausted defensives late in games while chewing clock and keeping Oklahoma’s defense off the field. His 2017 performance at Baylor comes to mind, as does the 2018 game at Texas Tech.

In three seasons, Sermon totaled 2,076 yards on 339 carries (6.1 yards per attempt) while rushing for 22 touchdowns. He was also a weapon as a receiver, hauling in 36 receptions for 391 yards and three TDs. Unfortunately, his junior season was cut short after suffering a knee injury against Iowa State.

In 2019, Sermon was seeing a reduced number of carries prior to his injury, and they might’ve been even tougher to come by with the potential emergence of young backs such as Marcus Major and Seth McGowan in 2020. Regardless, it’s tough to see him go, as he’s created so many memories whilst donning the Crimson & Cream. Wherever he ends up (ironically, Ohio State is considered the current favorite), we all hope his senior season propels him to a bright future.

As things currently stand, Kennedy Brooks is the clear No. 1 back for 2020, but he’ll have no shortage of talented help surrounding him. TJ Pledger should see an increased role, while the aforementioned Major and McGowan are loaded with potential. Additionally, OU should have the services of proven senior Rhamondre Stevenson following his suspension hiatus, and things will look even better if that decision is somehow overturned.