Jan. 4, 2026, 7:01 p.m. CT
The Oklahoma Sooners saw the NCAA transfer portal take many of the team’s players from the 2025 roster (currently 22 players so far), but on Sunday, OU reeled in its first portal addition of the 2026 cycle. As a bonus, it comes at a position of need.
Oklahoma earned a commitment from former Florida tight end Hayden Hansen out of the transfer portal to kick off what promises to be a busy couple of weeks of portal acquisitions. Hansen was a redshirt junior for the Gators in 2025, and he’d spent all four years of his collegiate career at Florida. He redshirted in 2022, but started nine games at tight end in 2023. For the last two years, he’s started every single game for the Gators at the tight end position.
Hansen stands at a towering 6-foot-8, and weighs in at 269 pounds. He has five career touchdowns on 57 receptions for 611 yards. He’s seen as mainly a blocking tight end, and hails from Weatherford, Texas. OU landed Hansen’s pledge, despite not currently having a tight ends coach. The Sooners fired former tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley on Thursday.
Tight end is definitely a need this offseason, even with the addition of Hansen. Seniors Jaren Kanak and Will Huggins have exhausted their collegiate eligibility, and both Kaden Helms and Carson Kent have entered the transfer portal. Hansen will be joining a room that currently consists of Kade McIntyre, John Locke Jr., Trynae Washington, Ryder Mix and Tyler Ruxer.
With Hansen arriving in Norman as a redshirt senior in 2026, he’ll have one year of eligibility remaining. He should be in line to compete snaps at tight end, depending on who else the Sooners bring in to that room.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.