Tag: Branson Hickman

College Football expert says it all starts up front for Oklahoma’s offense

On3’s J.D. PicKell says the Oklahoma Sooners offensive line is the key to the 2024 season.

It’s been an offseason of transition for the Oklahoma Sooners. A new quarterback, new coordinators, and a new conference have highlighted much of the change that is being experienced in Norman.

But at no spot is turnover more deeply felt than along the offensive line. Gone are [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag], [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag], [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag], and [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag], who are preparing for their first NFL training camps. Gone is [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag], who transferred to Missouri.

Those five players played an average of 762.2 snaps for the Sooners last season. Raym, Mettauer, and Rouse led the way for the Sooners offense in snap counts, according to Pro Football Focus.

It’s no small task to replace that much experience. And with a unit like offensive line where so much depends on the chemistry, communication, and continuity of the unit, the turnover is significant.

Oklahoma did a lot over the offseason to help replace the lost experience. They added [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag], [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag], [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag], [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag], and [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag] through the transfer portal. That group of five brings a lot of snaps at the collegiate level to combine with Bill Bedenbaugh’s blue-chip recruits that he’s been developing the last couple of years.

Tarquin, Hatchett, Hickman, and Nwaiwu each figure to compete for a role or will start for the Sooners week one against Temple. Mix in ascending players like [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag] and [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag], four-star offensive tackles in the [autotag]2022 recruiting class[/autotag], and four-star interior offensive linemen from the 2023 recruiting class [autotag]Heath Ozaeta[/autotag] and [autotag]Joshua Bates[/autotag], and the Sooners have options along the offensive line.

If there’s any position group that will determine how much success the Sooners have this season, it’s the offensive line. But On3’s J.D. PicKell argues that if the Sooners get good offensive line play, all of the other pieces are there for OU to be dynamic on offense once again.

“If you give him time to throw the football, they’re gonna have a chance to make some real noise and kind of rattle the cage in the SEC a little bit their first year out there because they replace pretty much the whole offensive line that’s been well documented.”

PicKell goes on to say, “But if they can make that mechanism work the way that it needs to give him time to get through his reads and progress and get comfortable. They got more than enough firepower that wide receiver room to make some shake.”

The talent that Oklahoma has at wide receiver, quarterback, and running back is impressive. Led by quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], the Sooners have the players capable of creating another explosive offense. But Arnold will need time to throw and Sawchuk will need lanes to run through.

There is enough talent and experience in Norman for offensive line wizard [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] to put another strong unit together once again. We’ve seen him do it before and when fall camp gets underway, competition will provide the answers up front to help lead this team into the SEC.

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Pro Football Focus sees offensive line as Sooners biggest weakness

Pro Football Focus tabs OU’s offensive line as the team’s weakness going into the SEC.

It’s preview season in the world of college football, and the Oklahoma Sooners football team got the spotlight this past week from Pro Football Focus in their College Football Preview (subscription required).

PFF gave the Sooners just a 4% chance to win the SEC this year, but did have OU 13th in their power rankings.

Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman, who co-wrote the article, named Oklahoma’s offensive line as their biggest weakness heading into the new season.

Here’s what PFF had to say:

The Sooners won’t return any starting offensive linemen from last season. While SMU transfer [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] is a terrific addition in the middle, there will be uncertainty around the other four spots.

Hickman was a big get for [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] out of the spring [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] window. He should be a plug-and-play piece at center to begin the season. [autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag] and [autotag]Joshua Bates[/autotag] provide depth in the case of an injury to Hickman.

It may very well be two transfers at the guard positions as well.[autotag] Febechi Nwaiwu [/autotag] and [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag] have the most experience in the room. Nwaiwu comes from North Texas and was a Freshman All-American in 2022. Hatchett is a veteran with big-game experience, transferring in from Washington after playing in the national championship game. [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag], [autotag]Heath Ozaeta[/autotag] and [autotag]Eugene Brooks[/autotag] headline the homegrown talent at this position.

Rounding out a transfer-heavy offensive line, [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] and [autotag]Spencer Brown [/autotag] could make it five-for-five on o-line starters who weren’t Sooners last year. Tarquin transferred in from USC, while Brown comes by way of Michigan State. [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag] is a younger option at tackle, and Sexton can kick outside if needed.

One thing Bedenbaugh has at his disposal is that many of these players are capable of playing multiple positions. Everett, Nwaiwu, Hatchett, Sexton, and Ozaeta all have some experience lining up at least two different spots. Sexton and Ozaeta could play anywhere but center in a pinch and Hatchett is capable of playing all five positions. He’s lined up at tight end as a blocker for the Huskies before, as well.

[autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has surely heard all of the talk about this unit heading into his third year in Norman. The offensive line looks like the hinge point of the entire 2024 season for the Sooners. Don’t be surprised if these players have a chip on their shoulder and a fire lit underneath them.

After all, they’ve been hearing for months that they aren’t good enough to play in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

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3 reasons the Oklahoma Sooners will win big in 2024

The Oklahoma Sooners are a talented football team, but for them to win big, these three things have to happen.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a better idea of what the 2024 season will look like with the SEC’s release of game time windows on Tuesday. How they and the Texas Longhorns will fare in their first year in the SEC is anyone’s guess.

Texas made the playoffs last season, and the Sooners are one of the winningest programs over the last 25 years. [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] was brought in to prepare Oklahoma for this conference move.

His experience with the Clemson Tigers certainly informs Venables about what it takes to be successful in their new conference home. Each of his first three offseasons has been about getting Oklahoma “SEC ready.”

At the same time, the Sooners provide a new challenge for Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee and LSU. OU is considered a blue-blood program for a reason. With seven national titles and 50 conference championships, the Sooners will be a contender in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Can they do it in Year 1? That’s the question everyone’s asking. Here are three reasons OU will win big in 2024 and make the College Football Playoff.

More: College Football Playoff Projections for 2024

Up Next: 3 reasons OU wins big in 2024

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Oklahoma Sooners No. 18 in ESPN’s post-spring power rankings

ESPN released their post-spring power rankings for 2024 and the Oklahoma Sooners came in at No. 18.

Feelings are all over the place about the Oklahoma Sooners. From USA TODAY Sports’ post-spring power rankings, which have the Sooners at No. 8, to On3’s, which has them at No. 24, opinion on OU is scattered as they enter year one in the SEC.

Oklahoma is a talented team, but it also has questions that will only be answered when it faces SEC teams in the first month of the conference schedule.

In ESPN’s post-spring power rankings, the Oklahoma Sooners come in at No. 18.

Spring update: The Sooners improved by four victories in coach Brent Venables’ second season, and programs typically make an even bigger jump in Year 3. The only problem: It’s also Year 1 in the SEC, and the schedule is downright scary. The offense will have a new look after Dillon Gabriel left for Oregon, and former North Texas coach [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] took over the playcalling. Quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] had a good spring and looks like a future star. Purdue transfer [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] had five catches for 174 yards with two scores in the spring game. Transfers [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] (USC) and [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag] (North Texas) were working with the No. 1 offensive line, which must replace all five starters. OU added SMU center [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] in the spring portal opening. The Sooners could be good again, but they’re going to face one of the most difficult schedules in the FBS with road games at Auburn, Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU and home contests against Tennessee, Texas (in Dallas) and Alabama. – Schlabach, ESPN

The transfer additions are going to be key for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2024. From the offensive line to Deion Burks, Oklahoma is banking on those guys making an impact and helping first-year starter Jackson Arnold make a smooth transition into the lineup.

Defensively, the Sooners didn’t have as much to replace, but were able to add one of the best defensive tackles in the country via the portal in Damonic Williams. Williams in the middle of a defense that has improved year over year in Brent Venables first two seasons in Norman gives OU the chance to take another significant step toward being an elite defense.

Regardless of the level of competition the Sooners will face, Brent Venables and his staff have been building the Sooners roster to compete with the heavy hitters in the SEC. Although there will be challenges, there’s no reason the Sooners can’t contend in the SEC. They’ve got a ton of talent on both sides of the ball.

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Oklahoma is a spring transfer portal winner according to 247 Sports’ Josh Pate

Josh Pate of 247Sports thinks the Oklahoma Sooners are one of the big winners of the spring transfer portal window in 2024.

The Oklahoma Sooners were very busy in the spring [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] window. It’s caught the eyes of at least one national college football analyst.

247Sports’ Josh Pate named four teams that were transfer portal winners from the spring window on his show The Late Kick with Josh Pate. Oklahoma was the very first team he mentioned.

“I think Oklahoma is one of the winning teams,” Pate said, “When they got [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] … it is symbolic that Oklahoma gets where they are.”

Pate is referring to Williams’ high-profile recruitment earlier this month. It was a battle that [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] won to get the All-Big 12 honorable mention defensive tackle to Norman.

Williams’ commitment sent a signal to Pate and the rest of the college football world. That signal is that the Sooners are going to do whatever it takes with name, image, and likeness to acquire talent, especially now that they’re in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

“Oklahoma’s not taking a backseat to anyone when it comes to aggressiveness and when it comes to exploring every possibility to fortify their roster,” Pate said.

Pate also highlighted [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag], who transferred to Oklahoma from SMU. Hickman was a big get for [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] at the center position. He should start right away after starting all 14 games for the Mustangs last year and with more than 2,400 snaps to his name.

[autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag], the Purdue transfer was also mentioned, though he came in the winter portal window. Burks dominated in the [autotag]2024 Spring Game[/autotag], and could be the go-to option in the passing game this season.

Pate’s other three spring portal winners were Miami, UCF, and Oregon. The Ducks added former OU quarterback [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] in December and were busy again this spring. He also chose four losers from the spring window with LSU, who missed out on Williams when he chose the Sooners, Michigan State, Colorado, and Clemson making the list.

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Sooners with a top 5 spring transfer portal class per ESPN

ESPN believes the Oklahoma Sooners added one of the best spring transfer portal classes, ranking them inside the top 5.

Heading into the offseason, the Oklahoma Sooners had several needs. They did a nice job addressing the offensive line with the additions of Febechi Nwaiwu, Michael Tarquin, Geirean Hatchett, and Spencer Brown. But a spring ball injury to projected starting center Troy Everett created a need at center. Lack of experience along the defensive interior beyond Da’Jon Terry created another need at defensive tackle.

And the Oklahoma Sooners were able to address both issues with the addition of SMU transfer center Branson Hickman and TCU transfer defensive tackle Damonic Williams.

Jermayne Lole flipped to Texas after the Williams commitment, but Brent Venables and his staff made impact additions in the spring transfer window, earning ESPN’s No. 4 spring portal class (ESPN+).

The Sooners are arriving in the SEC with an upgraded defensive front. Landing five-star defensive tackle [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] was huge considering he’s a young player with impact potential. OU also added experience through the portal. TCU transfer [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], the No. 4 prospect in the spring portal, was the most notable addition. The 320-pounder is a big body with good quickness and performed well for the Horned Frogs after arriving as a four-star recruit in the 2022 class. He’s a strong candidate to seize a starting role. Adding those two players helps Oklahoma offset the loss of several contributors.

The Sooners also added an experienced, sound interior offensive lineman in SMU transfer [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag]. He has more than 30 career starts and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him assume a starting role this fall.

Both players are likely to start for the Oklahoma Sooners and both bring a ton of experience to the roster. Williams started 26 games for TCU as a true freshman and sophomore, helping the Horned Frogs reach the national title game in 2022. Williams is a legit nose tackle that has strong production at a spot that doesn’t typically fill up the stat sheet. With improved talent around him and on the depth chart, he’ll have the opportunity to face fewer double teams, but even when he does, Williams has the power and quickness to beat the double. And just as important is Williams will keep Oklahoma’s fast and athletic linebacker group clean to run free and make plays in Brent Venables and Zac Alley’s downhill attacking defense.

Hickman has more than 2,400 snaps to his ledger as a three-year starter for the Mustangs. That experience will be huge for first-year starter Jackson Arnold, especially as the Sooners work for cohesion with five new starters along the offensive line. There’s a lot of talent there, but building chemistry is key for the offensive line to function at its highest capabilities. Hickman’s experience will help bring that together.

As Brent Venables and his coaching staff continue to recruit at a high level like they’ve done in the three years since arriving in Norman, they’ll be less reliant on the transfer portal. However, as they’ve done this spring, the Sooners will continue to make splashes when the opportunity arises.

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Oklahoma Sooners are a wild card in 2024 according to On3’s Andy Staples

Andy Staples of On3 thinks the Sooners will be a “wild card” in Year 3 under Brent Venables. Could they make the expanded playoff?

The Oklahoma Sooners are at an interesting inflection point two and a half months from the beginning of the 2024 college football season.

The Sooners are entering year three of the [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] era in Norman. After he was hired to be OU’s next head coach in December of 2021, a disappointing 6-7 campaign in 2022 followed.

Oklahoma rebounded in 2023 with a 10-3 mark in year two, and there’s no question that this is a Brent Venables program now. He’s got his guys in place on the field and on the coaching staff.

But the Sooners head to the [autotag]Southeastern Conference[/autotag] in 2024, after a long run atop the [autotag]Big 12 Conference[/autotag] that featured fourteen conference titles. That’s ten more than anyone else.

The SEC will be a much tougher road than the Big 12 was, and On3’s Andy Staples has some concerns for the Sooners in 2024, calling them a mystery.

According to Staples, the floor for this Oklahoma team could be 6-6. However, he also thinks the ceiling could be a trip to the [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag].

“If they’re 6-6, if they’re 7-5,” Staples said, “What do you do about Brent Venables? How do you feel about Brent Venables if you’re [autotag]Joe Castiglione[/autotag], their athletic director?”

Staples and others present the offensive line as a concern for the team in 2024. Oklahoma is replacing the entire unit this season. [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the [autotag]NFL Draft[/autotag] and [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag] transferred to Missouri. The Sooners also lost [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag], [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag] and [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag] up front.

Staples notes that the Sooners added pieces via the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] to fill those holes. [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag] came over from Michigan State in the winter portal window. [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] is a plug and play piece at center, transferring in during the spring window from SMU. [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag], [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag] and [autotag]Geriean Hatchett[/autotag] also arrived via the portal and will have an impact along the offensive line this fall.

These players will form the core of the unit along with young pieces like [autotag]Joshua Bates[/autotag], [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag],[autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag] and [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag], but it is a patchwork O-line that will have to protect quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] if the Sooners want to be successful in 2024.

Staples thinks the Sooners are the deepest they’ve been in a while on defense,  and he knows why the OU staff and fans are excited for Arnold. He praised the wide receiver group as well.

Many in the national media don’t seem to have the faith in Venables quite yet that most Sooner fans do. They site the SEC presenting a challenge that Oklahoma hasn’t seen before.

But Venables is one of the great defensive minds in college football. He’s leading the way for the program, in addition to all of the skill and depth on that side of the ball. Then, of course, there’s that talented but young quarterback stepping into the starting role.

The Sooners may very well be a wildcard in year one in their new conference. But if the offensive line can hold up long enough for Arnold to have time to throw, it could be a very fun year in Norman.

If not, it could be detrimental to Arnold’s development, and 2024 could be a long season in the SEC.

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ESPN concerned the Sooners offensive line may be their undoing

ESPN handed out spring overreactions for each team in their Way-Too-Early Top 25, and Oklahoma’s offensive line was highlighted in a positive light.

The Oklahoma Sooners continue building toward the 2024 football season, their first as a member of the SEC. It’ll be the third year at the helm for head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag].

The Sooners bring back a great deal of production, especially on defense. They have quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] stepping into the spotlight to lead an offense that has its fair share of weapons.

But the question for most of the offseason has been whether the offensive line can hold its own after losing all five of last year’s primary starters to the [autotag]2024 NFL draft[/autotag] and the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag].

It’s a challenge as they head into the SEC, and Dave Wilson of ESPN thinks it could be Oklahoma’s undoing. ESPN’s college football writers shared their spring overreactions in their top 25. While the Sooners have question marks, there’s reason for optimism. Dave Wilson praised the transfer additions on the offensive line and was complimentary of offensive line coach [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag].

Not ideal heading into its first SEC season. But the Sooners boast one of the top offensive line coaches in the country in Bill Bedenbaugh, who is piecing together transfers from Washington, Michigan State and USC, among others, to pair with young OU linemen. – Wilson, ESPN

Portal additions [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag], [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] are Power Four transfers, while [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag] has impressed after coming over from North Texas.

One player the article didn’t highlight was [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag], another addition in the portal. Hickman looks to be a plug-and-play solution at center for Bedenbaugh and lets Sooner fans relax a little about the interior of the unit. Oklahoma is also developing young, home-grown players up front to help this season and lead the way in the years to come.

Wilson went on to write that if [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] and the OU defense can keep the team from becoming one-dimensional, [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] and the offensive staff will have time early in the season to scheme their way around any growing pains on offense.

Bedenbaugh remains the constant for the offensive line. His expertise can be further validated if he rebounds from the losses and turns 2024’s unit into a force.

It might just mean Oklahoma has a special kind of season in Year 1 in the SEC.

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Sooners land commitment from SMU transfer center Branson Hickman

Former SMU center Branson Hickman committed to the Oklahoma Sooners on Sunday.

With spring ball wrapping up, Oklahoma enters the break with a clear understanding of what their roster needs are before they return to campus for summer workouts.

One of those needs was filled on Sunday as the Oklahoma Sooners landed a commitment from former SMU center Branson Hickman.

Hickman entered the transfer portal in January and already holds his degree from SMU. Oklahoma reached out to him after Troy Everett’s injury, and he visited for the spring game. The visit went well enough this weekend that he committed. With more than 2,400 snaps to his ledger, he’s all but assured a leg up on starting at center this season.

Depth at the center was a significant issue when Everett went down. Joshua Bates was good in the spring game, but the addition of Hickman allows the Sooners to continue to be patient with Bates as he develops.

Hickman spent four seasons with the Mustangs. He started the final 33 games, including 12 in 2022 and all 14 this past season. This past season, he was named to the Rimington Trophy Preseason Watch List, which honors the best centers in the NCAA. He was also a Second-Team All-American Athletic Conference selection this year.

Hickman may be on the smaller side, playing just under 300 pounds this past year. However, his football IQ and technique have been lauded. He should add a lot of stability to the Sooners’ offensive line as they try to stabilize it in front of new starting quarterback Jackson Arnold.

Oklahoma’s commitment to improving their line play before entering the SEC continues with this commitment.

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Pair of Sooners portal targets among The Athletic’s top 10 transfer options

Branson Hickman and Damonic Williams considered top 10 transfer options by Max Olson of The Athletic.

The Oklahoma Sooners spring game provides an opportunity for the OU Football program to put its best foot forward for a number of high school and transfer targets.

A trio of transfers options is set to make their way to Norman for this year’s spring game. [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag], and [autotag]Jermayne Lole[/autotag] are all slated to be in attendance this weekend.

Each of those guys would provide immediate competitive depth for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2024. The Athletic’s Max Olson believes Williams and Hickman are two of the best transfer portal options in the spring window.

2. Damonic Williams, DT

He started all 15 games up front at nose as a true freshman for a Horned Frogs team that played for a national title in 2022 and earned Freshman All-America honors, then started every game in his sophomore year to pick up honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition. He has two more seasons of eligibility and will have lots of Power 5 contenders competing for him. Oklahoma is expected to get his first visit followed by Texas, Colorado and LSU. – Max Olson, The Athletic

Damonic Williams would instantly upgrade Oklahoma’s defensive tackle options for the fall and beyond. Though they bring back Da’Jon Terry and there’s a lot of optimism about Jayden Jackson, the Sooners could use an experienced defensive tackle option to help fortify their ranks.

10. Branson Hickman, OL

Hickman was a three-year starter at center for SMU who earned second-team All-AAC honors last year and finished as the fourth-best starting center in the country by PFF’s grading. The 6-foot-3, 294-pound senior has two more seasons of eligibility and has taken official visits to TCU and Arkansas with Oklahoma up next.

If there’s an area that’s the biggest concern, it’s along the offensive line. And at center in particular. That’s not because Josh Bates isn’t capable. It’s because he lacks experience. And if there’s one thing we know about Brent Venables and his coaching philosophy, it’s that experience matters. And Branson Hickman has that in spades.

Hickman would provide the Sooners a day-one starter if Bates isn’t ready to roll in the fall. And like Williams, he’d have more than one year of eligibility, which would help the offensive line further coalesce.

The Sooners don’t have many holes on the roster that they need to fill, but up front, OU could stand to get better heading into the 2024 season.

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