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OU football loses veteran QB Cole Gonzales to NCAA transfer portal

by: Carey Murdock04/24/25
Cole Gonzales
Cole Gonzales, competes during Oklahoma's Crimson Combine, Saturday, April 12, 2025. Photo by Carey Murdock

OU Football is losing Cole Gonzales, who transferred into Norman from Western Carolina Dec. 25. Gonzales was a full participant in spring practices, but with John Mateer having a stranglehold on the starting job, he has decided to transfer once again, as first reported by 247sports.com’s Matt Zenitz.  

Gonzales committed to Oklahoma just 23 days after Ben Arbuckle was named the Sooners’ newest offensive coordinator. The announcement came just 7 days after Mateer made his decision to transfer from Washington State to OU.  

Gonzales came to Oklahoma with an impressive resume. Throwing for 2,803 yards and 23 touchdowns against just 8 interceptions for the Catamounts as a sophomore and 2,543 yards, 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions as a junior.  

Gonzalez leaves Norman never having played a down for OU football, but his performances this spring were impressive at times. With Mateer solidifying himself as the unquestioned starter, he’ll look to find a better fit to finish his college career. 

OU football QB room shrinking, but still some experience left

With the loss of Gonzales, the Sooners will rely on backup quarterback Michael Hawkins, Jr., who started the Sooners’ bowl game against Navy last December.

Hawkins ended last season throwing for 783 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs during his true freshman season. He also started four games.

Arbuckle also signed Jet Niu as his lone high school quarterback in 2024. Niu was a full participant in spring practices as well. So he’s had a head start in picking up OU’s new offensive system.

With a key group of three quarterbacks, the Sooners are expected to, and will have to be much better heading into next season. Oklahoma football threw for just 2,286 yards total in 2024, which made them the 119th passing offense in the nation.

And even worse, the Sooners ranked 132 out of 133 in passing yards per completion.

Arbuckle and Senior Offensive Analyst John Kuceyeski will now work to improve those numbers dramatically with a quarterback room of three.

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