I don't see any way we don't lose 3-5 players to the Portal after spring practice.
I could be wrong also, but listening to CMS he alludes to the fact some will be leaving in May.
A timely subject. You might turn out to be right. But no UK players have left yet this spring. Maybe it is coming, since it often happens at this time of year. If players leave, that would increase the number of new players Coach Stoops could take from the portal next month.
But I looked at the portal yesterday, and the uncommitted players available at this time do not match up with our roster needs. Specific to your comment, there is not currently an uncommitted RB in the portal that Stoops would take. Of course, that could change in the weeks ahead.
In any case, I would guess Stoops' highest priorities for May transfers are likely to be-
OL
ILB
QB
DB
We obviously need another OL and an ILB. Our coaches have already spoken about this. None of the reserve QBs established himself as Leary's backup, so it would be tempting to take a younger, high upside QB with multiple years of eligibility. In reading analyses of spring practice, our defensive secondary is not settled beyond the question of the starting safeties. We have three starting-caliber safeties, but no experienced safety depth after those three because Tisdale is gone. Andru Phillips had a solid spring but they aren't sure whether he is an outside CB or a nickel. The other CBs are still competing for jobs. Although inexperienced, JQ Hardaway and Max Hairston look promising. But Jantzen Dunn's experiment as a CB did not go very well. Alex Afari's position is still not established but he is probably a nickel. So they could still use a lockdown CB and some safety depth (similar to taking transfers Kelvin Joseph in 2019 and Zion Childress last year).
We might need another WR. We might need another placekicker. Our coaches will have to assess that.
There have been some rumors that LaVell Wright might transfer. I hate to mention it because I have no idea whether there is any truth to this. Often, these rumors are without a basis. But if a RB leaves, then I could envision trying to get another RB out of the portal. Otherwise, I think RB would be pretty far down the priority list. Davis, Jefferson, McClain, Wright, and Wilcox comprise a loaded room. All five are on schedule to be healthy by next August. You could lose two of them to injuries and still be three-deep with solid RBs, not to mention PWO Isaac Dixon who is not exactly chopped liver. Dee Beckwith is primarily a receiver, but he showed this spring that he can play a little RB in a pinch.
It's always better to have one more at every position. But we only use one RB at a time in the offense, and there is an 85 scholarship limit. This is my reasoning, and I could be wrong. If a RB leaves the team this spring, that could change the calculation. JMO.
