Oklahoma’s defense is about to lose one of its most experienced voices in the locker room - and a key contributor on the field.
Linebacker Kobie McKinzie is planning to enter the transfer portal when it opens in January, a move he confirmed via social media. The redshirt junior has one year of eligibility remaining and will be looking for a new opportunity after four seasons in Norman.
At 6-foot-2 and 236 pounds, McKinzie brought size and physicality to the Sooners’ linebacker corps. A product of Lubbock, Texas, he was part of Brent Venables’ first recruiting class at Oklahoma in 2022 and went on to appear in 39 games, including 10 starts. His career numbers reflect a player who made his impact felt: 84 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and 21 total pressures, per Pro Football Focus.
Where McKinzie really shined was against the run. This past season, he posted a 70.1 run defense grade according to PFF - a solid mark that speaks to his ability to diagnose plays and fill gaps with consistency.
He opened the season as a starter, locking down one of the inside linebacker spots for the first eight games. But a groin injury in late October disrupted that rhythm.
He missed most of the Ole Miss game and didn’t suit up for the Nov. 1 win at Tennessee.
After Oklahoma’s bye week, McKinzie returned to action in the stretch run, including the Sooners’ road trip to Alabama, but he didn’t reclaim his starting role. Instead, Owen Heinecke stepped into the lineup and held onto the job as Oklahoma pushed toward the College Football Playoff.
Even in a rotational role, McKinzie stayed productive. He finished the season with 32 tackles, a career-high 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and 11 pressures while rotating alongside Heinecke, Kip Lewis, and Sammy Omosigho in a four-man inside linebacker group.
His decision to transfer comes just ahead of the NCAA’s new single-window winter transfer period, which opens Jan. 2. Unlike previous years that featured both winter and post-spring windows, this cycle offers just two weeks for players to officially enter the portal.
McKinzie becomes the second Oklahoma defender to announce a transfer since the regular season wrapped, following defensive back Kendel Dolby, who made his move ahead of the Sooners’ first-round College Football Playoff matchup.
For Oklahoma, McKinzie’s departure means losing a veteran presence who brought toughness, leadership, and experience to the middle of the defense. For McKinzie, it’s a chance to reset, get healthy, and potentially find a bigger role elsewhere in his final year of eligibility.