Former blue-chip cornerback Makari Vickers to transfer from Oklahoma

in other news

Bates, Oklahoma land Utah State transfer DL Ricky Lolohea

Former Oklahoma State and Utah State defensive tackle joining the Sooners, will provide depth at DT

• Parker Thune

Oklahoma makes a big splash, landing St. Joe's transfer Xzayvier Brown

Porter Moser and the Sooners have made a splash in the transfer portal, adding St. Joe's transfer guard Xzayvier Brown

• Brody Lusk

Isabella Smith, Hannah Coor highlight OU's sweep vs. Mississippi State

Oklahoma simply needed to take care of business over the weekend. Two players, in particular, were huge helps.

• Jesse Crittenden

Jennie Baranczyk discusses Aaliyah Chavez' recruitment, fit with OU roster

Baranczyk discussed Chavez' recruitment process and what she adds to OU's roster during a press conference Monday.

• Jesse Crittenden

OU sweeps Mississippi State, rallies to win both games Sunday

The Sooners rallied from a 4-0 deficit in both games of Sunday's doubleheader to complete the sweep.

• Jesse Crittenden

in other news

Bates, Oklahoma land Utah State transfer DL Ricky Lolohea

Former Oklahoma State and Utah State defensive tackle joining the Sooners, will provide depth at DT

• Parker Thune

Oklahoma makes a big splash, landing St. Joe's transfer Xzayvier Brown

Porter Moser and the Sooners have made a splash in the transfer portal, adding St. Joe's transfer guard Xzayvier Brown

• Brody Lusk

Isabella Smith, Hannah Coor highlight OU's sweep vs. Mississippi State

Oklahoma simply needed to take care of business over the weekend. Two players, in particular, were huge helps.

• Jesse Crittenden

Published Dec 9, 2024

Former blue-chip cornerback Makari Vickers to transfer from Oklahoma

Parker Thune • OUInsider

Co-Publisher

@ParkerThune

When Makari Vickers saw plenty of action for the Sooners as a true freshman, many imagined he would help stabilize the cornerback room for years to come at Oklahoma.

Instead, he's portal-bound after a tumultuous sophomore season that included a June arrest and an unexpected tumble down the depth chart. Vickers missed the majority of fall camp due to an undisclosed ailment, which didn't help his case, but he only appeared in four games and recorded just one tackle in 2024. If nothing else, Vickers' participation in only four games ensures that he'll preserve three years of eligibility at his next destination.

Per an open records request with the OU Police Department, Vickers was arrested on June 12 for driving under the influence and possession of marijuana. An OU Athletics spokesperson informed OUInsider that the matter would be handled internally, and there was never any announcement of discipline or suspension for Vickers.

When the season began, Vickers sat out the entirety of nonconference play before returning to action against Tennessee. He played in the Sooners' next four games, but never made an appearance after Oklahoma's Oct. 19 loss to South Carolina. In the season's latter stages, he hadn't even cracked the Sooners' travel squad for road games, which provided a rather obvious indication of where things were headed between Vickers and OU.

A native of Quincy, Fla., Vickers was ranked No. 81 overall and No. 10 among cornerbacks in the 2023 recruiting class. He chose Oklahoma from a final three that also included Alabama and Michigan, and worked his way into the Sooners' cornerback rotation as a true freshman. He finished the 2023 season with eight tackles and a pass breakup, and had been expected to contend for a starting role in 2024. Instead, he fell behind freshman Eli Bowen and proved unable to challenge veterans Dez Malone, Kani Walker and Jacobe Johnson for the leftover snaps.

Now, Vickers will look for a larger and more consistent role elsewhere, as his time in Norman appears to be over.

Not an OUInsider.com premium member? Sign up today to get loads of inside information on Oklahoma football, softball, basketball, and recruiting, all for just a few dollars a month. Click HERE to get started!

Follow us on Twitter @OUInsider and on Instagram @ouinsiderofficial!

Subscribe on YouTube by clicking here for daily video content on all things Oklahoma!