Jan. 11, 2026, 5:02 p.m. CT
It’s been a busy, busy transfer portal week for the Oklahoma Sooners, and there’s still another week left of portal madness to go. However, OU saw one of their veteran players declare that he’s entering his name into the NFL Draft on Sunday.
Oklahoma offensive lineman Derek Simmons announced his intentions to enter the draft this weekend. Simmons spent just one year at OU, after he transferred in from Western Carolina to help the Sooners on their run to the College Football Playoff. Simmons was a sixth-year senior in 2025, and had exhausted his collegiate eligibility.
Simmons was a key piece at right tackle for OU this past season, playing in 10 games. He was the starter on the right side early in the season, before going down with an injury that pushed true freshman Ryan Fodje into the lineup in his place. Fodje was excellent in the role, and Simmons was relegated to spot duty when he got back healthy.
However, when starting center Jake Maikkula missed he LSU game, forcing senior starting right guard Febechi Nwaiwu to play center, and Fodje to slide inside to right guard, Simmons was called on to be the starting right tackle again, and helped the Sooners clinch a spot in the CFP. The same arrangement was used for the first round playoff game against Alabama.
Though he spent just one year with the Sooners, Simmons added a veteran presence to an improved offensive line in 2025, and helped Oklahoma on its journey from 6-7 to a berth in the CFP.
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