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Oklahoma DL Davon Sears announces plans to enter NCAA transfer portal

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz12/28/24NickSchultz_7
Syndication: The Oklahoman
OU defensive tackle Davon Sears. (Nathan J. Fish - The Oklahoman/USA TODAY Network).

Oklahoma defensive lineman Davon Sears plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, he announced Friday night after the Armed Forces Bowl. He spent two years with the Sooners after coming in from Texas State and the JUCO level.

Sears appeared in four games this season for OU. He totaled four tackles during that time, including two tackles for loss and a sack, and did not play in Friday’s bowl game.

Sears initially declared for the NFL Draft after his college career ended. But in light of the NCAA’s decision to grant a waiver to JUCO products with one more year of eligibility in 2025, he’s hitting the open market.

Davon Sears started his college career at Ellsworth C.C. in 2020 and spent two years with the program before heading to Texas State. After totaling 15 tackles, four TFLs and a sack in 2022, he then made his way to Norman for two years.

Sears’ extra year stems from the fallout of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s lawsuit against the NCAA. A JUCO product himself, Pavia sued and argued those years shouldn’t count toward his eligibility as he sought to play another year of college football.

Judge William Campbell sided with Pavia, granting a preliminary injunction which paved the way for him to return to Vanderbilt in 2025. The timing of Campbell’s decision came more than a week after the transfer portal opened. Pavia cited the portal window in the suit, citing the need for time to negotiate NIL deals.

In previously filed documents, Pavia wrote that he believed he could earn more than $1 million through NIL in 2025 if allowed another season. Sources told On3’s Pete Nakos that as the decision, Pavia does not plan to enter the transfer portal, and he has been outspoken about his desire to suit up for Vanderbilt one more time. The transfer portal window officially closes Saturday.

In light of the ruling, the NCAA opted to grant a blanket waiver. Athletes who attended a non-NCAA school for at least one year and have eligibility left will be able to compete in 2025-26 as a result of the decision. That means players such as Pavia and Sears will be able to suit up, if they so choose. The NCAA is also appealing Campbell’s decision in the lawsuit, as expected.