It really is a different time in college athletics. Think back to 10 or 15 years ago. If college kids were on a team and were a part of that team succeeding, very rarely did you see those players leave for different programs. Of course, the rules were a little stricter when it came to transferring. But now, we’ve got the transfer portal. Some people are fans of the portal. Others are not. Regardless of where you stand on it, it’s here to stay and players are putting it to use.
Oklahoma Softball has seen first hand this offseason the effect the transfer portal can have on your program. Just weeks after winning their 3rd straight national championship, the Sooners saw their 3rd player make their way to the transfer portal. Yesterday, it was announced that freshman utility player Jocelyn Erickson has entered the transfer portal. Erickson is coming off an extremely successful freshman campaign where she played in 52 games (32 of which she started). In those 52 games, she put together a .323 batting average with 7 home runs and 32 RBIs. Erickson also added 10 doubles which means 17 of her 32 hits this season were for extra bases. On the defensive side, Erickson had 124 putouts without committing a single error this season! Any program in the country would take that kind of production from a freshman. Erickson’s production added to the insane depth the Sooners had which led to them winning their 3rd straight national championship.
No word on a possible destination for Erickson. Erickson is from Phoenix but hasn’t said anything about wanting to go closer to home. Wherever she ends up, that program is going to be getting a young player who will definitely help out their program…likely in a big way.
Erickson, as mentioned before, is the 3rd OU player to enter the transfer portal. Just days after winning the national championship, Jordy Bahl entered the transfer portal in an effort to “return home” then just days later announced she would be going to Nebraska (less than an hour away from her hometown). About a 2 weeks ago, it was announced that Sophia Nugent would be entering the transfer portal. Nugent didn’t play much this season for the Sooners so one would suspect that was in order to get more playing time. A few days later, Nugent signed on with Tennessee and will be playing for the Lady Volunteers.
