Oklahoma veteran RB, team’s leading rusher in 2024, will reportedly enter transfer portal
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Oklahoma will apparently see a big change to its running back room in the offseason.
Jovantae Barnes, a member of the Sooners program for four seasons, is reportedly planning to enter the transfer portal when it opens in January. He told Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett of his decision.
Barnes played in the Sooners’ first four games in 2025, totaling 19 carries for 45 yards and scoring a touchdown. But he missed the remainder of the season due to an undisclosed injury.
It was a setback for a player who led the Sooners in rushing in 2024. Barnes took 122 carries for 577 yards and five touchdowns that season, adding a receiving touchdown.
A member of Oklahoma‘s 2022 class, Barnes was a four-star recruit and ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 10 running back. He immediately made his mark on the field as a true freshman, with his 519 yards ranking second on the team behind starter Eric Gray. In 2023, he played in seven games while dealing with an injury.
He eventually put together his best season in 2024, but another injury in 2025 meant his time on the field was limited. He’ll have one year of eligibility remaining after redshirting the season.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
