When you get right down to it, there’s just so much about what Oklahoma will look like in 2022 that we simply don’t know yet.
In short, the biggest storyline for the Sooners is just how the heck all of this will come together. And that’s really the most exciting part about this offseason. Nobody truly knows. That’s precisely what ESPN’s Dave Wilson wrote for his biggest spring narrative surrounding the Sooners entering 2022. Everything.
It’s a new/old era in Norman, with former Bob Stoops lieutenant Brent Venables taking over after former Stoops coordinator Lincoln Riley up and left for USC. So what is there to watch? How about everything. Is Dillon Gabriel the answer at quarterback after star freshman Caleb Williams joined Riley in L.A.? Can the offensive line come together to buy Gabriel time after Spencer Rattler and Williams both bought time last year? Under Venables’ watch, will the defense add back some bite that was lacking? – Wilson, ESPN.
It’s Brent Venables’ first year as a head coach. OU will have a new starting quarterback in Dillon Gabriel with a new offensive coordinator in Jeff Lebby. Marvin Mims is one of college football’s biggest stars at wide receiver and he returns, but, outside of that, there’s more questions than answers offensively.
Theo Wease returns from injury and he came to Oklahoma as a five-star talent. Fellow wide receiver Jalil Farooq showed signs in the Valero Alamo Bowl against Oregon that he’s ready for a starring role after leading the Sooners in receiving against the Ducks with three receptions for 64 yards. Four-star signees Nic Anderson and Jayden Gibson could factor in straightaway among the wide receiver group simply because of defections from the program.
Along its offensive line, OU will be replacing a pair of longtime starters in left guard Marquis Hayes and right tackle Tyrese Robinson. Assuming the offensive line gels together with the addition of Cal transfer guard McKade Mettauer, who is going to step up and be the Sooners’ leading rusher to replace Kennedy Brooks?
Eric Gray is the most seasoned, but OU fans have been pining for Marcus Major to get more carries. Major has just 60 career carries for 298 rushing yards, though. The door seems wide open for either true freshmen running backs in Jovantae Barnes or Gavin Sawchuk to step right in and get serious carries.
The Sooners are replacing six of 11 starters defensively and it remains to be seen if transfer portal additions like Jeffery Johnson, Jonah Laulu, C.J. Coldon, Trey Morrison, Kani Walker, and T.D. Roof will impact OU immediately. Defensive lineman Jalen Redmond is the leader in the clubhouse to finish as Oklahoma’s leading sacks and tackles for loss producer, but his career has been defined in part by absences and this will be his first season playing without Nik Bonitto, Ronnie Perkins or Isaiah Thomas to help shoulder the load.
Marcus Stripling was another star in OU’s 47-32 Alamo Bowl triumph over Oregon. Stripling had a pair of tackles for loss and a sack against the Ducks. How he, Ethan Downs and Clayton Smith come along will be another deciding factor in Oklahoma’s success or failure in 2022.
Thanks to the return of DaShaun White and a talented 2022 signing class, linebacker suddenly might be OU’s most talented position group on the entire roster. Is Danny Stutsman primed for a breakout season? Portions of 2021 certainly hinted at that.
On the back end of OU’s defense, the Sooners return their starting cornerbacks in D.J. Graham and Woodi Washington to go along with starting nickel back Justin Broiles and Key Lawrence who played at both corner and safety last year.
It’s new, it’s unknown and that’s exciting.
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