Things don’t always go according to plan.
For Evan McClure , his time as an offensive lineman was shorter than he expected.
As Oklahoma continues to deal with roster limitations and the reduction of walk-on positions, McClure announced Monday he was entering the NCAA Transfer Portal.
After a conversation with my family I have decided to enter the portal with 4 years of eligibility. I want to thank the University of Oklahoma, Coach Bedenbaugh, Coach Venables, and the Oklahoma staff for everything. pic.twitter.com/bLgMVxqvIW
— Evan Mcclure (@EvanMcClure17) December 9, 2024
“After a conversation with my family I have decided to enter the portal with 4 years of eligibility,” McClure wrote on Twitter/X. “I want to thank the University of Oklahoma, Coach (Bill) Bedenbaugh, Coach (Brent) Venables, and the Oklahoma staff for everything.”
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound McClure came to OU this year as a preferred walk-on for Bedenbaugh’s rebuilt o-line room. After receiving his PWO offer in December and committing to OU in February, he arrived on campus as a true freshman in June.
An all-star offensive tackle who won four straight state championships at 6A powerhouse Bixby, McClure is the son of former 4-year OU center Bruce McClure (1993-97).
He chose to walk on at OU over offers from Arkansas (PWO), Air Force, Tulsa, Abilene Christian, Pittsburgh State, Missouri Western, Akron, Central Oklahoma, East Central and Merrimack.
“It was a slow process,” McClure told Sooners On SI in February. “I was looking to get some more offers maybe and figure out kind of where I was going. And then OU kind of hopped in with the PWO and I started liking it a lot. I went down there and visited last Friday. Just, Coach B is someone I’d really like to play for, and that’s why I chose there.”
“Going up there last Friday, I mean, the SOUL Mission was a big part of it,” McClure said. “My family and I liked the connection that has with the whole team. And then, you know how great (Jerry Schmidt’s) program is and the weight lifting room. I mean, a big thing for me is I’m ready to get in the weight room and get a lot stronger, and that’s what Schmitty can do.”
McClure was a bonus to a 2024 recruiting class that featured scholarship recruits like Josh Aisosa, Daniel Akinkunmi, Isaiah Autry, Eugene Brooks and Eddy Pierre-Louis on the offensive line.
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