The Sooners need a quarterback.

Many might have entered this statement into the transfer portal before starter Jackson Arnold. But now, with Arnold transferring and Casey Thompson out of eligibility, freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. would be the only quarterback to have stepped on a college football field, even on the current roster. Every quarterback on the roster other than Arnold and Thompson is a rookie.

There is untapped potential in OU’s current quarterback room, but after a 6-6 season, the Sooners have no time for development and growing pains. Brent Venables needs a quick fix, and the transfer portal finds just that.

However, the Sooners don’t need a quarterback waiting in the portal, no matter where they come from and what the experts predict. Obviously the guy has to be able to throw the football, but there are two musts the next QB1 also needs: experience and running ability.

Before we look at five quarterbacks in the transfer portal who possess both traits, it’s obvious that Washington State quarterback John Mateer also has everything the Sooners could want in a quarterback.

Mateer was expected to enter the transfer portal and most likely follow his offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to Norman. But as of now, Mateer hasn’t put his name in the portal and is still practicing with the Cougars as they prepare for their bowl game.

The goal of Sooners’ No. 1 would be Mateer, but if he actually stays at Washington State, these are five people, in no particular order, that you should make a move before making a new quarterback with what it wants.

Matthew Sluka is the first on this list and was also the first quarterback in the transfer portal this cycle.

Sluka made headlines when he sat out the remainder of the season and entered the portal in September, while UNLV was ranked undefeated due to a no contest. Because of this situation, there is a negative connotation surrounding Sluka, but there is still no denying that the guy can play.

Had he finished the season, there wouldn’t be a fan base that wouldn’t want Sluka. Instead, however, he actually has another year of eligibility for whoever he chooses next. Sucks for UNLV, but better for Sluka’s next team.

Sluka had the Rebels undefeated in his fourth season as a starter. However, it was only his first year at UNLV after transferring from Holy Cross, where he was for four seasons.

In just three games, Sluka threw for 318 yards and six TDs compared to one interception. However, his 43.8 completion percentage is alarming. Sluka also ran for 253 yards and a score.

At Holy Cross, Sluka was a two-time finalist for the Walter Payton Award, the FCS’s Heisman.

247Sports lists SLUKA as the seventh quarterback in the transfer portal.

Previously, fans should be familiar with Darian Mensah after he won the job at Tulane before the Green Wave came to Norman Week 3.

In his first season as a starter, Mensah, a freshman, threw for 2,723 yards and 22 TDs compared to six interceptions while completing 65.9% of his passes. He also rushed for 132 yards and a score.

Mensah led Tulane to a 9-4 record and the American Conference championship game, which the Green Wave lost to Army.

The downfall of getting Mensah is that he only has one year of experience and is the same class as Hawkins, potentially dropping Hawkins. And it’s still uncertain whether Hawkins isn’t a better player than Mensah.

Of the five on this list, Mensah would be at the bottom if ranked. However, according to 247Sports, he is the highest-rated bunch, ranking third among portal quarterbacks.

Kaidon Salter is probably the least talked about on this list, but also perhaps the most dangerous.

Salter, a junior, has started for Liberty the past three seasons. Most recently, he led the Flames to an 8-3 record this season. But Salter has never experienced a losing season, winning a Conference USA title last season and losing a game until the Fiesta Bowl against Oregon.

This season, Salter has been less productive, throwing for 1,886 yards and 15 TDs compared to six INTs. He is explosive as a runner, rushing for 587 yards this season and eclipsed the century mark with 1,089 rushing yards last season. He also threw for 2,876 yards last season.

Salter has everything the Sooners could want in a quarterback and would be surrounded by more talent than ever before.

247Sports rates Salter as the No. 5 quarterback in the transfer portal.

Chandler Morris was able to finish what he started.

Morris originally signed with the Sooners and spent 2020 in Norman while redshirting. He then transferred to TCU for three years before spending this season at North Texas.

With the Mean Green this season, Morris threw for 3,774 yards and 31 TDs as UNT went 6-6. He also carried the ball 60 times for 242 yards and four TDs.

Not only does Morris have the experience as a five-year veteran, he is also the son of Chad Morris, who was the head coach at SMU and Arkansas and is now the passing game coordinator at Texas State.

Devon Dampier’s stats almost seem unreal.

Dampier, a sophomore, accounted for 3,934 yards this season. He also threw 12 TDs, but also 12 INTs and ran for 19 points.

It was only Dampier’s first season as a starter when the Lobos went 5-7, so he’s certainly not an experienced quarterback. However, he is raw with a lot of ability.

247Sports rates Dampier as the No. 8 quarterback in the transfer portal.