The Oklahoma Sooners continue to restructure their roster through the NCAA transfer portal ahead of a piviotal 2025 season. The program is making the most of the spring window after a strong haul in the window, adding another defensive lineman to an already talented room. Former Utah State and Oklahoma State front liner Siolaa Ricky Lolohea has announced his intention to head to Norman for the next chapter of his career.
Lolohea entered the portal following his redshirt freshman campaign. He’ll bring three seasons of eligibility with him to Oklahoma.
Lolohea appeared in eight games during the 2024 season with Utah State and finished the season with 10 tackles, six solo stops and one tackle for loss. He had a season-high three tackles against No. 21 Boise State. Lolohea’s lone tackle for loss was against UNLV and he added two tackles at No. 20 Washington State and at Colorado State. According to Pro Football Focus, Lolohea tallied 145 snaps on defense and recorded six total pressures, including one quarterback hurry and one QB hit.
Lolohea finished the 2024 season with a 54.4 defensive player grade, according to Pro Football Focus. This included a 57.7 pass rush grade and a 52.6 run defense grade.
The 6-foot-3 and 305-pounder began his career at Oklahoma State. The Cowboys redshirted Lolohea during the 2023 season and he did not appear in any games.
Lolohea finished as a consensus three-star recruit in the class of 2023. According to the industry generated 247Sports Composite Player Rankings, the world of recruiting combined to see Lolohea as the No. 1332 overall recruit of the ’23 class. He also ranked as the No. 143 defensive lineman nationally and the No. 221 player in the state of Texas. As for the 247Sports Network’s specific rankings, our panel of national experts were a bit higher on Lolohea’s abilities. There he checked in as the No. 127 defensive front liner across the cycle and the No. 199 prospect inside the talented Lone Star State.
Lolohea officially entered the transfer portal on Friday, April 18. He got his offer from Oklahoma on Saturday, April 19. On Monday, April 21, Lolohea arrived in Norman for a visit and now a day later, OU seals the deal.
A preexisting relationship helped accelerate the process for the Sooners. Lolohea played for new OU inside linebackers coach Nate Dreiling at Utah State, Dreiling serving as the interim head coach and defensive coordinator for the Aggies last year.
Dreiling helps OU bring Lolohea into an already impressive defensive tackle room. The Sooners were able to hold onto David Stone after his brief stint in the portal, he returns and Lolohea comes in alongside the likes of Damonic Williams, Jayden Jackson and Gracen Halton, among others.
Lolohea projects to the nose tackle spot in Oklahoma’s defensive system and because he has multiple years left to play, this gives the Sooners valuable depth at a premium position. Oklahoma essentially fortifies its defensive line of scrimmage longterm as it continues to transition into the Southeastern Conference.
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