Quarterback Cole Gonzales, who threw for more than 6,600 yards in three seasons with Western Carolina football, will transfer to Oklahoma for 2025, according to multiple sources.
Gonzales will have two years of eligibility remaining. He was the 2023 Southern Conference offensive player of the year and made first-team all-conference in 2024 despite missing games at the end of the season due to injury.
Gonzales completed 205-of-332 passes over games this past fall for 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. That included a monster 620-yard, five-TD effort at Furman in a Western Carolina victory.
His final 2023 stat line included completing 204-of-310 passes for 2,803 yards and a school-record 28 touchdowns.
Over three seasons, Gonzales has completed 64 percent of his passes for 6,682 yards, 51 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. He joins former WCU offensive lineman Derek Simmons in committing to Oklahoma, which joined the SEC in 2024.
Despite losing one of the top quarterbacks in FCS football to the portal, Western Carolina will have an experienced signal caller under center going into 2025. Taron Dickens took over starting duties when Gonzales went down with injury and earned freshman All-American status. Dickens had multiple games throwing for 400+ yards.
Western Carolina finished the 2024 campaign with a 7-5 record, 6-2 in the SoCon – good enough for second place in the league behind FCS quarterfinalist Mercer.
Gonzales visited Pittsburgh and Charlotte before deciding on the Sooners, per his social media. He also reported an offer from UTEP.
Check out our FCS Transfer Tracker HERE
WCU and coach Kerwin Bell – who recently signed an extension to stay in Cullowhee as head coach – will have to replace a stockpile of players lost to the portal this cycle. But Catamount fans can take solace in the fact the current staff has been able to attract and develop top level talent.
In addition to Gonzales and Simmons, several players have committed to FBS and Power Four programs, including offensive lineman Caleb Carter (Michigan State), defensive lineman Tahjae Mullix (Oregon State), linebacker Antarron Turner (Wisconsin), defensive back Jordy Lowery (East Carolina) and tight end Jake Young (Charlotte).
