Another major addition has been secured for the Oklahoma Sooners out of the transfer portal. Former Louisville defensive tackle Jermayne Lole has announced his decision to commit to OU and join the program ahead of its move to the Southeastern Conference.

Lole features a three-star transfer ranking from the 247Sports Network, graded at an 86 overall. He is a seventh-year senior with one year of eligibility remaining. After visiting OU for its spring game, Lole chooses to close his career at Oklahoma over Washington, Texas A&M and USC.

In 2023, Lole appeared in 12 games and started nine contests for the Cardinals. He finished with 19 tackles, including five for a loss and 1.5 sacks, while also logging a QB hurry and a pair of pass breakups. Lole joined the U of L program late prior to the 2022 season, committing to the Cardinals in late May. He arrived during the summer and at the time had to work himself into shape. At the time of his commitment, Lole was the No. 2 prospect available in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports.

In a season-opening 31-7 loss to Syracuse, Lole was the backup to defensive lineman Dez Tell. Lole played 25 snaps and graded out as a top-six player on the defensive side of the ball for Louisville, according to Pro Football Focus. But he was injured late in the game and never played the rest of the year, sitting out the remainder of the 2022 season.

Prior to his time at Louisville, Lole started his college career at Arizona State. In three seasons with the Sun Devils, Lole was a productive interior pass rusher, totaling 123 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and eight pass breakups.

Lole, who announced on January 19 of this year that he was planning to return to Louisville for another season, had gone through a bit of spring practice with the Cardinals. However, he eventually opted to transfer and quickly became a coveted player in the portal.

Oklahoma joins the SEC in July and in preparation of the transition, the Sooners have poured a ton of focus into improving the defensive line of scrimmage. That goal has been relatively accomplished to this point, Lole bolstering what’s already a strong group of defensive tackles.

Oklahoma joins the SEC in July and in preparation of the transition, the Sooners have poured a ton of focus into improving the defensive line of scrimmage. That goal has been relatively accomplished to this point, Lole bolstering what’s already a strong group of defensive tackles.

Oklahoma heads into the SEC with a proven front-liner in Da’Jon Terry, a rising talent in Gracen Halton, two true freshmen nationally renowned in David Stone and Jayden Jackson, plus greater depth in Davon Sears or Ashton Sanders. But the room suffered a huge loss as one of the best and most experienced among the defensive tackle in Jacob Lacey was forced to medically retire after a blood clot issue reemerged. While Lacey is still around the program, helping out where he can, the replacement of his production was going to be a tall task. That’s where Lole could step in.

Lole could easily compete for plenty of playing time and might even be able to earn the starting role vacated by Lacey. It’s likely a big reason why OU and Lole ended up seeing a fit. The defensive tackles at Oklahoma are clearly talented, but it’s a younger group that could use another player at the position with collegiate experience. Lole provides that and more, to say the least.