The Oklahoma Sooners are one of the best programs in college football when it comes to putting players in the NFL. The best of the best at OU not only get to the next level but also shine when they get to the pros.
With football season inching closer, ESPN Rank unveiled their list predicting top 100 players for the 2024 season. A total of six former Sooners made the list, spanning multiple positions.
72. Lane Johnson, T, Philadelphia Eagles
Lane Johnson spent four seasons at Oklahoma, starting on the offensive line in both 2011 and 2012. He was the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, spending his entire career in Philadelphia.
Signature stat: Johnson and his former teammate Jason Kelce are the only two offensive linemen over the past 10 seasons to both win a Super Bowl and have at least five Pro Bowl nominations. – Tim McManus, ESPN
70. Creed Humphrey, C, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs center [autotag]Creed Humphrey[/autotag] checks in two spots above Johnson at No. 70. Humphrey was a Sooner for four seasons, and was a three-year starter from 2018-2020. He was the 63rd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and has won two Super Bowls as a Chief. He signed a massive contract extension last week to stay in Kansas City.
There’s no reason to expect any kind of drop-off this season from Humphrey, who led all centers last season in pass block win rate at 98.8%… Signature stat: Humphrey did not allow a sack on Mahomes in the Chiefs’ first two playoff games in 2023 against the Dolphins and the Bills. – Adam Teicher, ESPN
64. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
Next up at No. 64 is Baltimore Ravens tight end [autotag]Mark Andrews[/autotag]. He is another four-year Sooner who started for three seasons from 2015-2017. Andrews was the 86th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and quickly became one of the NFL’s best tight ends. Though he has battled through injuries, he’s one of the biggest matchup nightmares in the league when he’s healthy.
Since (Lamar) Jackson’s first full season as a starting QB in 2019, Andrews ranks fourth in the NFL with 31 red zone touchdowns. Signature stat: In the past five seasons, Andrews has 347 receptions and 37 touchdown catches. Both are the second most of any tight end after Travis Kelce.” — Jamison Hensley, ESPN
32. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Jumping all the way to No. 32 on ESPN’s rankings, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback [autotag]Jalen Hurts[/autotag] is the next Oklahoma representative. Hurts spent just one season in Norman (2019) but was excellent in leading the Sooners to another conference title and a playoff berth. After being the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, he was chosen 53rd in the 2020 NFL Draft. Hurts has become a star in Philly, leading the Eagles to Super Bowl LVII after the 2022 season.
Given his abilities and the strong supporting cast around him, (Jalen) Hurts could return to his 2022 form, where he went 14-1 as the starter and finished second in MVP voting. Signature stat: Hurts had 15 rushing TDs last season, tied with Josh Allen (also last season) for most by a quarterback in a single season in NFL history. Hurts’ 28 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons lead all players. – Tim McManus, ESPN
14. Trent Williams, T, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle [autotag]Trent Williams[/autotag] lands at No. 14 on the list. The fourth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft spent four years in Norman, becoming a starter during his true freshman season and never looking back. He was particularly impressive in 2008 and 2009, helping anchor the offensive line during his final two seasons as a Sooner.
At 36, Williams is closer to the end than the beginning, but he’s showing no signs of slowing down. Williams did miss two games with injury in 2023 and has yet to play a full season since he arrived in San Francisco in 2020. He remains dominant but could continue to cement his Hall of Fame status with a full season in which he once again ranks near the top of the league in pass block win rate. Signature stat: Williams’ 95.8% PBWR last season was the best among offensive tackles (ESPN Analytics/NFL Next Gen Stats). – Nick Wagoner, ESPN
11. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Finally, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver [autotag]CeeDee Lamb[/autotag] is the highest-ranked Sooner on the list. Lamb was a starter all three years he was at Oklahoma, and a member of three straight playoff teams in Norman. In his final season, he was named a first-team All-American, after catching 62 passes for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was chosen as the 17th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Lamb is coming off a year in which he led the NFL with 135 receptions, but how will a training camp holdout impact him, at least at the start of the season? Lamb’s strength is working all three receiver spots, making it difficult for defenses to get a read on where he will be — he can even line up in the backfield. Lamb has certainly proved worthy of the No. 88 worn by Drew Pearson, Michael Irvin and Dez Bryant. Signature stat: Lamb’s 395 receptions is the third most by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. – Todd Archer, ESPN
Lamb’s holdout is over after he agreed to a historic contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys. The deal is the second-highest non-quarterback in NFL history.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.