Key Lawrence, a talented defensive back, entered the transfer portal on December 4 after a productive career at Oklahoma.
Lawrence committed to Mississippi on Thursday afternoon, and it didn’t take long for the veteran safety to find a new home.
Lawrence, who is from Nashville, Tennessee, spent three seasons in Norman after playing as a freshman at
Tennessee. The former 4-star recruit had 149 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, 12 pass breakups, and six forced fumbles during his OU career.
Despite a productive career with the Sooners, Lawrence would have been pushed out of the starting lineup by younger players like Robert Spears-Jennings and freshman phenom Peyton Bowen next season.
Lawrence’s transfer to Mississippi means that the 6-foot-1, 206-pound safety will have the opportunity to play his former team next season, when the Rebels take on Oklahoma in Oxford on Oct. 26 in the Sooners’ inaugural year in the SEC.
Mississippi went 10-2 in 2023, earning a Peach Bowl berth against Penn State.
Lawrence visited Oxford shortly after entering the transfer portal, prior to his commitment.
Former OU offensive and defensive lineman Marcus Hicks announced his commitment to South Dakota State on Monday, making Lawrence the second former Sooner to find a home since the transfer portal window opened.
Reggie Grimes and Kelvin Gilliam Jr. are the only other defensive players on Oklahoma’s 2023 roster who have announced their intention to transfer. Brent Venables’ team has had 15 players enter the portal since the end of the regular season.
Randall Sweet is a 2022 graduate of the University of Oklahoma who has covered high school, collegiate, and professional sports throughout the Sooner State. Sweet interned at the OU Daily, OU Nightly, and Sooner Sports Pad while in college. The Lubbock, Texas native has written for the Norman Transcript and VisitOKC.com, as well as AllSooners and Inside the Thunder.
