Sophomore linebacker/defensive end Addison Gumbs broke spring practice atop on Oklahoma’s depth chart at the Jack linebacker position. He maintained that top-spot through August camp and had high hopes for a great season.
That all changed on Friday, just a day before the Sooners kickoff the season, when Gumbs was lost for the year with a knee injury. “I’ll be back,” Gumbs Tweeted on Saturday but it wasn’t known at that time that his struggles were bigger than just a knee injury.
“We get it, too, so we’ll support him,” Lincoln Riley said on Wednesday afternoon. Oklahoma’s second-year coach announced that Gumbs had left the program and is seeking to transfer. “He’s done a great job here,” Riled said. “No bad blood. No messy exit. None of that. Just life comes up and you have to deal with it. We’re very supportive of him and his family.”
“I’ve been close with him,” roommate Kenneth Murray said after Saturday’s 63-14 win over Florida Atlantic. A lot of people don’t really know his story, so just knowing his story, knowing what he’s been through and having to go through something else is really tough. I couldn’t help but cry and be there for him and sit there and pray for him because of what he’s going through. It just sucks.”
Obviously there’s more to the story than what we’re aware of and while it’s disappointing to see a young man with such potential leave the program you can’t help but wish him the best. Especially when there’s personal matters involved.