Tag: Anton Harrison

‘He works hard’: McKade Mettauer a critical addition to Oklahoma’s offensive line

The Oklahoma Sooners added a veteran presence to their offensive line in guard McKade Mettauer.

One of the more critical additions that the Oklahoma Sooners made via the transfer portal this offseason was that of offensive lineman [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag] from Cal.

The former Golden Bear played 1,768 snaps over three seasons, including the Pac-12’s condensed 2020 season. He started 28 games at right guard. Landing with the Sooners, Mettauer is making the switch to left guard, replacing Tyrese Robinson, now with the Arizona Cardinals.

Mettauer’s experience, work ethic, and leadership have stood out since joining the Sooners.

“Yeah, I love how he works,” offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh said during OU Media Day. “Smart guy, loves playing football, passionate. He’s been a leader. He came in here and led from the beginning, worked hard. And obviously you can see it on his tape from the previous place he came from. And he’s getting a little bit bigger, a little bit thicker, which I think he needs. I don’t think it’s gonna hurt his athleticism. But [he’s a] really, really smart dude, plays hard. He’s consistent.”

Coach Bedenbaugh made no bones about the expectations for Mettauer when the offensive line coach spoke with the media back in the spring, and it seems like he’s living up to those expectations thus far.

“He works hard. He loves being here. He’s a great guy. He loves all the guys,” offensive tackle [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag] said. “He’s a guy you could chill with outside of football. And he’s always gonna work hard. So, that’s a guy I love playing beside me.”

Communication and chemistry are key along the offensive line. Especially among players who line up alongside each other. Offensive linemen have to have a feel for timing double-team releases, passing off pass rushers in stunts, and need to be able to communicate well before and during a play. Like a quarterback and a wide receiver, offensive line teammates must have a certain chemistry playing alongside one another. With fall camp underway, it sounds like the left side of the offensive line has worked hard to build that chemistry.

Harrison talked about what it’s been like working with a new left guard after Robinson left for the NFL. “It’s been good. We started in spring, like when McKade Mettauer first got here, really like when we find out he was gonna be left guard the first week in spring; me and him, we talked a lot. We went through the playbook a lot. We watched film from last year, even though we didn’t have the same playbook. We really just communicated. It’s a lot of communication, and then we’re going day-by-day. At practice, we got better every day. And now I feel like he’s been here for two years like I have. So, it’s just like it’s a great connection.”

With a new quarterback (though an experienced one), a new starting running back, and in a new offensive scheme, adding Mettauer has helped mitigate the losses of Robinson and Marquis Hayes. Replacing players on the offensive line is not an easy task and Coach Bedenbaugh and the Sooners were able to add one of the most experienced players in the portal in Mettauer.

Adding him to the returning Harrison, Andrew Raym, and Chris Murray should help the Sooners’ offense be ready to roll when they take the field week one against UTEP.

There’s no substitute for experience and McKade Mettauer’s years of experience at the Power Five level has been a welcomed addition to the Oklahoma Sooners.

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‘We’ll let our actions do the talking’: Oklahoma ready to prove it on the field

The feeling at OU Media Day was that the coaches and players were ready to let their actions speak louder than their words as fall camp approaches.

Fall camp is about to get going and the Oklahoma Sooners held their media day on Tuesday to get some last-minute opportunities in for the media to ask questions to the coaches and players before things get rolling.

The mood inside the Mid West Bank Stadium Club was one of focus and determination. The coaching staff and the players felt like a group of people ready to put the talk aside and get to work. Dillon Gabriel said what it sounded like everyone else was feeling like when he said, “we’ll let our actions do the talking.”

Gabriel’s actions speak louder than words sentiments summed up what the coaching staff was feeling. Time to go to work.

It was rare to hear any of the coaches speak specifically about any one player. When asked about a player, they worked to pivot the discussion to focus on that position group as a whole.

It’s been a long nine months for these coaches. Promoting the program in the wake of the Lincoln Riley departure to stem the national narratives proclaiming Oklahoma’s downfall. They’ve been busy on the recruiting trail. With fall camp set to get underway, there was a sense that talking season was over. Now’s the time to put in the work and let the work do the talking.

With fall camp set to begin on Thursday, the time for talk is finished. Everything from here on out is about preparing for the 2022 college football season.

Anton Harrison embracing leadership role for Oklahoma Sooners offensive line

Filling the void left by Marquis Hayes and Tyrese Robinson, tackle Anton Harrison is taking on leadership role for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Turnover at the college level comes around every year. It’s the reality that each and every college football program deals with each offseason. At offensive line, where continuity, chemistry, and communication are keys to successful units, that turnover can have a huge impact year-to-year.

In the case of the Oklahoma Sooners, they lost Marquis Hayes and Tyrese Robinson, taking nearly 5,000 collegiate snaps with them to the NFL.

That’s a lot of experience and leadership to lose along the offensive line. But the Sooners aren’t without leaders to step in and fill the void. Left tackle Anton Harrison is embracing the opportunity to lead along the offensive lile

“We all looked up to them. Like they lead us,” Harrison said at OU media days. “But now it’s me, Chris (Murray) and Andrew (Raym). We’re leading the group. So it’s like, we’re the leaders now. So all the young cats want to look up to us. So we got to make sure we’re on point and make sure we do everything right. So they know what to do in the future.”

Anton Harrison, Chris Murray, and Andrew Raym return to solidify an offensive line that will welcome transfer addition McKade Mettauer and a right tackle competition that will provide clarity as fall camp proceeds.

Entering his third season, Harrison is an anchor for the Oklahoma Sooners and is looking to improve upon a strong 2021, learning from the things that didn’t go well in the losses to Baylor and Oklahoma State.

“You try not to think about the losses because they suck, but you need them to get better,” Harrison said. “Like for me, I didn’t feel like in the losses that I played my best. So I watched those games to get better. So those won’t happen this season coming up.”

Early in the 2023 NFL draft cycle, Anton Harrison is getting buzz as a top 50 prospect in mock drafts and is considered the No. 6 offensive tackle prospect according to Pro Football Focus.

Oklahoma’s offense is going to be really good in 2022 and with Harrison, Raym, and Murray leading the way on the offensive line, the guys up front will be a big reason why they have so much success.

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10 Oklahoma Sooners who could end up as All-Big 12 first-team selections after 2022

After being shut out of the Big 12’s preseason first team, here are 10 players that could land on the conference’s first team after 2022.

It was noticeable that the only member of the Oklahoma Sooners to make the preseason All-Big 12 first team was punter Michael Turk. Nobody on offense or defense received consideration.

With all of the turnover the Oklahoma Sooners experienced on both sides of the ball this offseason, there is uncertainty regarding who will step up and take the place of those who left for the NFL draft or via the transfer portal.

But that shouldn’t be misconstrued as a lack of talent on the Sooners’ 2022 roster. The talent is there, it just hasn’t revealed itself on the field yet. By the end of the season, several Sooners will find their way onto the Big 12 all-conference first team. Here are 10 Oklahoma Sooners who could earn first-team honors in 2022.

Where does 4-star OL commit Cayden Green rank among Oklahoma’s best OL recruits all-time?

Taking a look back at where 2023 four-star commit Cayden Green ranks among Sooners all-time according to the 247Sports composite ratings.

For years, the Oklahoma Sooners have been a hot spot for talented offensive linemen. With Bill Bedenbaugh leading the position, Oklahoma’s developed a reputation for putting together some of the best offensive lines in college football over the last decade.

And Bedenbaugh hopes to take this next crop of linemen and turn them into the next great Sooners’ offensive line.

The Oklahoma Sooners 2023 recruiting class got a jolt over the last week and a half, picking up six recruits (three along the offensive line) since June 27. Heath Ozaeta kicked off, but since they’ve added Cayden Green and Logan Howland to the mix.

Green was one of the more highly anticipated commitments for the Oklahoma Sooners and his pledge had social media buzzing. Green is a talented prospect that gives the Sooners a huge boost in their team recruiting ranking, which has risen to No. 13 in the wake of his commitment.

With Green’s commitment, let’s take a look at where he ranks among Oklahoma Sooners’ offensive linemen all-time in the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Anton Harrison No. 6 among PFF’s best offensive tackle prospects for the 2023 NFL draft

Anton Harrison made a jump in 2022 to a full-fledged starter along the offensive line and now looks to be one of the best OT prospects for the 2023 NFL Draft.

This time a year ago, the makeup of the offensive line was very much in question. They had options, but it was unsettled heading into the summer. Anton Harrison’s emergence as the starting left tackle for Oklahoma was a bright spot in the 2021 season.

Heading into his junior season, he’ll be relied upon again as an integral part of the Oklahoma Sooners’ offensive line. Among the starters on the line, Harrison received the highest grade from Pro Football Focus for the 2021 season.

With his stock rising, NFL draft analysts are taking note, and believe Harrison has the potential to be a top 50 pick in the 2023 NFL draft and some even project him into the first round. Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus released his top 10 offensive tackles prospects for the 2023 NFL draft and Anton Harrison came in at No. 6.

While only a rising junior, Harrison already has over 1,000 snaps to his name at left tackle for the Sooners. He’s a smooth moving 6-foot-5, 309-pound offensive tackle who can mirror pass-rushers as well as anyone in the class. While that’s a good starting point, Harrison would get manhandled physically on an NFL field if asked to suit up tomorrow, as he needs to add considerable muscle to his frame before he can be considered a top prospect. He may even opt to return for his senior season to do so. – Renner, PFF

Harrison’s athleticism is his best trait as he does a great job in space and as Renner notes, moves well. With room to add to his frame and an offseason working with Jerry Schmidt, Harrison may have already added the muscle and strength that Renner’s looking for.

Another season at left tackle for Harrison will vault him into first-round discussion next spring. Experience matters and as the Big 12’s gotten more defensive over the last couple of seasons, the quality of competition on tape will help cement him as one of the top offensive line prospects in college football.

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6 Sooners make Athlon Sports’ All-Big 12 second team ahead of 2022 season

With an early look at the 2022 season, 6 Oklahoma Sooners were named to Athlon Sports All-Big 12 second team.

Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners coaching staff did a great job at addressing immediate needs in the transfer portal. Finding starters and rotational players to replace the guys they lost will help the Sooners stay in contention in the Big 12 and potentially for a playoff spot.

The new coaching staff combined with the addition of Dillon Gabriel has the Sooners projected to be one of the top teams in the Big 12 three months ahead of the 2022 season. At the same time, a lot of the optimism is in projecting how the new additions and the guys rising up the depth chart will do with increased opportunities.

Looking ahead to the 2022 season, Athlon Sports named their 2022 All-Big 12 first and second teams. The Oklahoma Sooners had six players selected to the second team and no first-team selections. Zero.

Dillon Gabriel, Marvin Mims, Anton Harrison, Jalen Redmond, Danny Stutsman, and DaShaun White were named to Athlon’s All-Big 12 second team.

It’s understandable how the Sooners might not get [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] in as a first-team wide receiver. Xavier Worthy, Quentin Johnston, and Xavier Hutchinson are really good players. Mims is in the mix and there’s certainly an argument to be made for his inclusion, but those three guys are just as talented and Worthy and Hutchinson have the production to go along with the talent.

Where an argument can be made is with Spencer Sanders as the first-team quarterback. Sure, I wrote about how Sanders could be a problem for Oklahoma in 2022 and he’s coming off of an incredible game against Notre Dame and was the first-team quarterback selection in 2021. But are we sure he can maintain the consistency needed to be the top quarterback in the conference again in 2022?

Of course, [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], who was the second-team quarterback hasn’t played a snap in the Big 12, but he’s had a ton of success in his career and his work against the Power Five is pretty solid. In games against Stanford, Pittsburgh, and Georgia Tech, UCF was 2-1 and Gabriel averaged 367 yards passing, threw 10 touchdowns, just two interceptions, and completed 65% of his passes.

[autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag] also made the second team and has received a lot of first-round buzz in early mock drafts for 2023. He’ll be relied upon to anchor the Oklahoma Sooners’ offensive line as it looks for a bounceback season in 2022.

The Sooners also had three defensive players selected to the second-team. [autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag], [autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag], and [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] lead the way for a Sooners defense that is looking to replace five NFL draft picks and a starter in [autotag]Patrick Fields[/autotag] who went to Stanford as a grad transfer. The talent is there, but it’s largely unproven.

White and Stutsman will be expected to take on bigger roles at linebacker along with [autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag] while Redmond will look to put together a big 2022 with [autotag]Perrion Winfrey[/autotag] gone.

[autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag], [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag], and [autotag]Key Lawrence[/autotag] were named to the third team while [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag], and [autotag]Reggie Grimes[/autotag] were selected to the fourth team.

With 13 selections, the Sooners were behind Texas, Oklahoma State and Baylor, who each had 14 players named to the four All-Big 12 teams.

There’s a buzz surrounding the Oklahoma Sooners, who have been considered the favorite in the conference despite all of the turnover on both sides of the ball. A testament to the addition of Gabriel and the new coaching staff, the Sooners might have questions to answer when the 2022 season gets underway, but there’s a lot of optimism about this roster.

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PFF’s 2023 NFL Draft List mentions Anton Harrison as a player to watch

This offensive tackle is on the radar.

With no meaningful college football action until Week Zero and spring ball behind us, the college football world will be looking ahead to what next year can potentially bring us. Looking for next year’s biggest stars and newest draft hopefuls is always a task that gets people going in the offseason as we not so patiently wait for meaningful action on our televisions.

The Oklahoma Sooners will be looking to bounce back from a lackluster season by their lofty standards in all phases and they’ll attempt to do so under the leadership of new head coach Brent Venables. Venables has brought some new energy to Norman and also brought along with him a new offensive coordinator and a new offensive system.

This new offensive system is different from Lincoln Riley’s and Lebby’s biggest hurdle to overcome is how to establish dominance upfront from the Sooners’ offensive line. One player with notable preseason draft hype starting to brew may end up being the biggest key to a bounceback performance for Bill Bedenbaugh’s offensive line. Left tackle Anton Harrison is as physically well put together as you could want out of a left tackle. He stands six-foot-five and over 300 pounds and is extremely agile and comfortable moving in space. For that reason, it makes sense why Pro Football Focus listed him on their 2023 NFL Draft Watch List. Here’s what they had to say about him:

Harrison moves like a jumbo tight end and is built like one, too. As a sophomore last season, he earned an 85.6 pass-blocking grade. The Sooner has the movement skills to come off the board early.

Harrison, a junior, was extremely reliable in protecting Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams all through the season. His pass protection was one of the few constants on an otherwise inconsistent and largely lackluster offensive line. Harrison has the eyes of the NFL already as mock drafts have honed in on him as a potential first-round hopeful assuming he takes another seismic leap from his sophomore year to his junior year and continues to develop and show consistency as well as improving as a run blocker which could very well be helped by a new offseason workout plan spearheaded by new Strength and Conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt.

The pieces are there for Harrison to be great. If he puts them together, he can solve a lot of puzzles for Oklahoma’s offense but also unlock a lot of personal success for himself come next April.

Pair of Oklahoma Sooners in Athlon Sports 10 Big 12 players to watch for 2023 NFL draft

Garnering first-round buzz in way-too-early 2023 NFL mock drafts, Marvin Mims and Anton Harrison are two of Athlon Sports Big 12 players to watch in 2022.

A lot has been made of the Big 12’s lack of first-round selections in the 2021 and 2022 NFL drafts. While it was the second-straight draft without a first round pick from the Big 12, don’t expect that run to go to three straight drafts. The Oklahoma Sooners have a pair of players who’ve already seen some buzz in way-too-early 2023 mock drafts. Wide receiver Marvin Mims and offensive tackle Anton Harrison.

Looking ahead to the 2022 college football season, the Big 12 has a lot of talented players to watch this year. Bijan Robinson, Quentin Johnston, and Deuce Vaughn provide some high-end talent that could get the Big 12 multiple picks in the first round in 2023.

Kyle Kensing of Athlon Sports took a look at 10 players to watch in the Big 12 in 2022 ahead of the 2023 NFL draft and he included [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag] and [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag].

Here’s what Kensing had to say.

One big reason — literally and figuratively — to assume the Big 12 will not again be shut out of the NFL draft’s first round is Harrison. The star bookend for Oklahoma’s potent offense may well be the first tackle taken next year. – Kensing, Athlon Sports

Harrison is a bit of a surprise after starting just one season for the Sooners. He’s certainly a talented player, he just needs to put together a dominant 2022 to be considered the top offensive lineman in the draft like he was in Pro Football Focus’ mock draft.

Kensing is equally high on Mims who is looking for the first 1,000-yard season in his collegiate career.

The All-Big 12 selection and electrifying big-play threat could well be a top-10 pick come next spring. Mims maximized his opportunities in 2021, offering up a sampling of his explosiveness. In 2022, expect much more production from Mims as he gets to showcase more of his reliable hands, speed and ball IQ. – Kensing, Athlon Sports

Mims isn’t much of a surprise as the Sooners leading receiver over the last two seasons. He’s expected to have an even more productive year in 2022 as the lead guy in the receiving corps.

Despite the losses to the NFL and the transfer portal, Oklahoma has a talented roster that should have them in contention for the Big 12 and perhaps a spot in the College Football Playoff. For them to get back to the top of the conference, they’ll need big seasons from Mims and Harrison on the offensive side of the ball.

For the two Sooners to be in consideration in next year’s first-round, they’ll need to have big seasons as well.

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Anton Harrison getting 2023 first round buzz in Pro Football Focus’ way-too-early mock draft

In Pro Football Focus’ way-too-early 2023 NFL mock draft, offensive tackle Anton Harrison is selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round.

The Oklahoma Sooners haven’t had a first-round pick in the NFL draft since [autotag]CeeDee Lamb[/autotag] and [autotag]Kenneth Murray[/autotag] were selected by the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers. Over the last two draft cycles, their highest selections with the last pick in the second round with [autotag]Creed Humphrey[/autotag] and [autotag]Nik Bonitto[/autotag] going to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos at No. 64 overall.

This time last year, it was looking like the [autotag]2022 NFL draft[/autotag] would be another huge boon for the Oklahoma Sooners as [autotag]Spencer Rattler[/autotag] was projected to be the first overall pick. Just goes to show how much can change in one offseason.

In way-too-early season for the [autotag]2023 NFL draft[/autotag] however, it’s looking like the Sooners might break their first round pick drought. After [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] was selected in the first round of the CBS Sports‘ and Fox Sports 2023 mock drafts, Anton Harrison is receiving some first-round love from Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus. Harrison is selected No. 11 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers in this mock draft.

Harrison is an athletic 6-foot-5, 309-pounder who has already shown well in pass protection. In his first year as a full-time starter, Harrison earned an 85.6 pass-blocking grade. – Renner, PFF

What’s notable about this is that Harrison is the first offensive lineman taken in the draft and the sixth offensive player selected, four of which are quarterbacks.

There are tools that stand out for Harrison as an offensive tackle. He’s got good size, speed, and agility and improved a lot from his 2020 season when he was a rotational tackle to becoming a full-fledged starter in 2021.

If he can improve yet again in the 2022 season, it’s not outside the realm of possibility to see the talented offensive tackle taken in the first round. Harrison plays a premier position and has the requisite size and ability to be a difference-maker for an NFL offense.

It’s incredibly early to make any kind of proclamations, but this provides an idea of where Harrison stands in the eyes of NFL draft analysts.

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