As the Oklahoma Sooners turn the page on a season that ended with a tough loss to Alabama in the opening round of the College Football Playoff, the focus in Norman is quickly shifting to the offseason-and that means eyes on the transfer portal. One name that’s starting to gain traction is linebacker Kobie McKinzie, a former four-star recruit who may be looking for a fresh start.
McKinzie has been a player with upside ever since he arrived at OU. While he hasn’t quite had the breakout campaign some expected, this past season was his most productive yet. He posted 32 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and one sack-solid numbers that suggest he’s starting to find his footing and could be ready to take the next step with the right opportunity.
Now, the question is whether that next step happens in Norman-or somewhere else.
There’s growing buzz that McKinzie could be exploring a move through the portal, and Texas Tech is one of the programs that’s been floated as a potential landing spot. That connection isn’t random. McKinzie is a Lubbock native, and his recruiting journey out of high school had more twists than a Big 12 shootout.
Back in February 2019, McKinzie originally committed to Texas Tech, a pledge that made sense given his hometown roots. But the recruiting process soon picked up steam.
After receiving an offer from Oklahoma, he flipped to the Sooners in January 2020. That wasn’t the end of the story.
In November 2021, McKinzie decommitted from OU, then committed to Texas after a late push from the Longhorns. But just a month later, he reversed course again-decommitting from Texas on December 13, re-committing to Oklahoma, and signing with the Sooners two days later.
It was a whirlwind recruitment, and it showed just how in-demand McKinzie was coming out of high school. That kind of attention doesn’t just disappear, especially now that he’s shown flashes of potential at the college level. Expect multiple programs to be in the mix if he officially enters the portal.
As for Texas Tech, it’s not hard to see why they’d be interested-or why McKinzie might give them a serious look. He’s from the area, has a history with the program, and the Red Raiders have been aggressive and effective when it comes to adding talent through the portal. Whether it’s a full-circle homecoming or a new chapter elsewhere, McKinzie’s next move will be one to watch closely this offseason.
The Sooners, meanwhile, are bracing for a wave of roster movement as they gear up for their transition into the SEC. McKinzie’s potential departure would be a notable one-not necessarily because of what he’s done so far, but because of what he could become. And for a linebacker-needy team looking for a physical, athletic presence in the middle of the defense, that’s a gamble worth taking.