Players often face dilemmas when they enter the transfer portal. However, this year’s portal may have witnessed the shortest-lasting dilemma. Defensive lineman PJ Adebawore, who was seemingly on his way out of the Sooners, has surprisingly decided to stick with Oklahoma.

According to reports, the Sooners’ front office has been pushing hard to retain the former 5-star at Norman. But Adebawore believed it was better to enter the portal and made that decision on the morning of January 12. However, he quickly decided to go back on his decision and exited the portal just two minutes later.

SoonerScoop’s George Stoia reported that negotiations between PJ Adebawore and OU had been going on for a few days prior. It is unclear whether he has officially signed a new contract, but the absence of his name from the portal is a big win for the front office.

Adebawore has spent three seasons at Oklahoma, but didn’t really receive big opportunities compared to others on the roster. So far, the DL has produced 17 total tackles and 5 sacks, but he was a 5-star recruit for the Sooners, and a unique one at that. The DL started his journey as an unranked player. Within a few months, Adebawore skyrocketed to being the No. 2 edge prospect in the 2023 cycle. He was also ranked as the second-best recruit among OU’s 2023 signees. At 6’4” and 260 pounds, he is one of the best defensive prospects in the country, at least in terms of physicality.

Oklahoma’s defensive ends coach, Miguel Chavis, played smartly while recruiting him. He offered when Adebawore was unranked and was able to win his commitment over schools like Georgia, Missouri, and Northwestern. That connection could have been key for Oklahoma in retaining Adebawore for one more season. Adebawore clearly entered the portal with hopes of getting to play more. So, his return will likely center on whether the Brent Venables defense can offer him more than they did in the past.

As Brent Venables plans for a strong season in 2026, it is clear that the defense needs to at least replicate, if not outdo, the successes from the 2025 season. PJ Adebawore’s return is a key element in those plans.

The significance of PJ Adebawore’s return to Oklahoma

PJ Adebawore is part of what was the strength of the Oklahoma defense. In 2026, he will play a vital role. Marvin Jones Jr., R Mason Thomas, Damonic Williams, and Gracen Halton have graduated. Markus Strong and Siolaa Lolohea entered the portal. This leaves Adebawore and Jayden Jackson as the best remaining veterans in the front seven.

A stifling D-line has always been Brent Venables‘ signature. This was the unit that restricted even Alabama at a time when the latter was on a hot run in the 2025 season. PJ Adebawore is one of 10 Sooner defensive linemen who logged more than 100 snaps. Now that there is some more room in the wake of player departures, he will definitely get to be a notable performer. He made his worth known after stepping in for Thomas this season, and also by hauling in 10 pressures in 137 pass rush snaps. Adebawore can be a real threat to offenses with his strong arms and explosive bursts.

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Interestingly, he is not the only Oklahoma defensive recruit who went back and forth in the portal. This development weirdly mirrors that of LB David Stone, who withdrew his name from the portal two days after entering. But Stone proved to be a big contributor for Oklahoma this year, which is also something that could happen to PJ Adebawore.