Another offensive lineman from Oklahoma has entered the transfer portal.
The Sooners are in desperate need of bodies for their bowl game against Arizona, but they have lost yet another backup across the front five.
Oklahoma’s offensive line depth for the Alamo Bowl just got a whole lot thinner.
Aaryn Parks, a career reserve who played effectively in last year’s Cheez-It Bowl and might have offered some solid backup snaps against Arizona on December 28, has apparently joined the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Parks, a fourth-year junior from Seat Park, MD, appeared in three games as a reserve this season, but after the Sooners lost four potential starters up front for the Alamo Bowl — center Andrew Raym and right tackle Tyler Guyton opted out for the NFL Draft, and left guards Savion Byrd and Cayrd both entered the transfer portal — he was expected to play a bigger role against the Wildcats. Nate Anderson, the backup, also went through the portal.
Of course, Parks had already traveled through the portal once, so that was never a guarantee.
He entered the portal in late June, after the window for instant eligibility for 2023 had ended, and then withdrew his name 48 hours later, declaring, “I’M BACKKKKKKK.”
Parks was pressed into action against Florida State in Orlando last year to finish Brent Venables’ first season after Bill Bedenbaugh’s offensive line experienced similar turbulence. Both starting tackles (Anton Harrison and Wanya Morris) had opted out of the draft, and backup starter Jacob Sexton was hurt during pregame warmups, allowing Parks to play — and play well — against FSU All-American edge rusher Jared Verse.
Parks, who did not play in his first two seasons in Norman, may now look for greener pastures abroad.
