All-SEC Lineman Offered Seven Figures to Transfer

Even when the college football transfer portal isn't open or a player isn't in the portal, other programs will still attempt to lure a player to their school behind the scenes.

Despite the transfer portal being established in 2018, the NCAA has yet to monitor or prevent backchanneling effectively. As a result, the most effective way for programs to police or bring attention to this issue is to highlight when it happens.

Something that Colorado head coach Deion Sanders did earlier in the offseason when singling out Virginia, and something that Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables did on Monday as the Sooners prepare for their Week 1 game.

Brent Venables Reveals DL R Mason Thomas Was Offered Seven Figures to Transfer

While appearing on his radio show, Venables discussed the team's All-SEC Second Team selection from a year ago, R. Mason Thomas. The fourth-year head coach highlighted how highly he thinks of the senior defensive lineman, but also pointed out that he wasn't the only one who felt that way.

According to Venables, following the team's 6-7 record in the 2024 season, at least one program offered Thomas millions of dollars to transfer.

“Through a lot of hard work, man, he's really developed into one of the most explosive defenders in all the college football,” Venables said. “(Thomas) was offered, you know, well over seven figures to leave Oklahoma in the offseason. But just goes to show the type of character, type of care, the type of investment that he has here at Oklahoma, what his opportunity means to him. So, really cool to see.”

Not Surprising a Team Was After Thomas