The Oklahoma Sooners will look for a bounce-back win this week as they take to the road for the first time in 2024. OU will visit the Auburn Tigers on Saturday afternoon, looking to improve on their 3-1 record and find their first conference victory in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].
Third-year head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has chosen five players to represent the Sooners as captains for this game. OU is hoping to avoid back-to-back losses. Wide receiver [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag] represents the offense. Linebacker [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag] and defensive backs [autotag]Kani Walker[/autotag] and [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] represent the defense. Punter [autotag]Luke Elzinga[/autotag] represents the special teams.
With all of the injuries at the wide receiver position, Thompson has gotten more playing time than expected. He’s been largely held in check by opposing defenses, registering just eight catches for 76 yards and one touchdown in four games. He’ll be asked to step up his performance as the Sooners look for something playmakers on offense.
Lewis starts at one of the inside linebacker positions for Oklahoma. He had one of his best performances of the season last week, as OU’s defense kept the team in the game. He’s becoming more of a vocal leader for the Sooners, and is getting so many valuable snaps as he continues to develop as a player.
Walker has been starting at one cornerback spot for the Sooners. It hasn’t been perfect at the position for Oklahoma this season, but considering some of the injuries that have taken a toll at corner, OU has held up fairly well. Walker uses his size and length to get into passing lanes and shut things down. He nearly had an interception in the end zone against Tennessee and helped create a pick against Tulane the week before.
Bowen is one member of the excellent safety trio in the back end of OU’s defense. The former five-star prospect is on the field way more this year than he was last season and is developing into someone that Venables can count on. He was on the field a lot last week. Despite being just a true sophomore, he wasn’t picked on at all by the offense.
Elzinga has been one of the best players on OU’s roster this year and the headliner of the improved special teams unit. He’s been excellent since taking over punting duties midway through last season. As the Sooners transition to a defense-and-field-position type of team, he is solid at downing punts deep in opponent territory.
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