Tag: Creed Humphrey

The coronavirus pandemic struck sports just as spring football was starting up for Oklahoma. Saturday would have been the Sooners spring game and the big spring game recruiting weekend would be currently taking place.

Lincoln Riley was supposed to sort out his quarterback and left tackle position. Alex Grinch had a chance to mold his newcomers like Perrion Winfrey and Bryson Washington. It was going to be glimpse of what the future of Oklahoma football looks like, way more so than most years.

The Sooners have the talent and are poised to defend their five-straight Big 12 Championships, but without a spring, that idea becomes a lot more complicated.

Here are the five questions that were going to have a chance to be answered for Oklahoma if spring football would have happened.

---

WHAT WILL OKLAHOMA’S OFFENSE LOOK LIKE?

The answer to who wins the quarterback battle between Spencer Rattler and Tanner Mordecai can go unsaid. What the offense looks like with Rattler at quarterback is another thing.

Lincoln Riley would not have shown much during the spring game, but the spring game has been a showcase before and no better way to show how much different the 2020 offense was going to be in a spring game with Rattler.

WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN AT LEFT TACKLE? 

The biggest question mark on Oklahoma’s offense this entire offseason will be the situation at left tackle. This spring was set to be a big one for redshirt freshman Stacey Wilkins and what sounds like the future at left tackle for Bill Bedenbaugh.

I still feel as if Wilkins is the guy over incumbent Erik Swenson, but this spring was going to be huge for the young guys development.

WHO IS OKLAHOMA’S INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE? 

Not only who, but what is the defensive front going to look like. Alex Grinch has one true nose tackle in Perrion Winfrey and a bunch of 2i to 4i technique defensive lineman (ranging from lining up inside the guard to inside the tackle).

Winfrey, without a full spring practice under his belt, remains the hallmark of the defensive line. Joining him are guys like Jordan Kelley, LaRon Stokes, Jalen Redmond and Kori Roberson. Does junior college counterpart Joshua Ellison make a push?

There was plenty to sort out for Grinch and two defensive line coaches Calvin Thibodeaux and Jamar Cain, and now that is going to have to wait.

WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE NICKEL BACK SPOT?

The biggest question surrounding the defense was the ever-evolving situation at nickel back. This is a place where Bryson Washington could have taken a stranglehold of not just the position, but the entire defense. How guys like Grant Delpit and Isaiah Simmons have impacted the game has changed how the nickel spot is played in our current age of college football.

Brendan “Bookie” Radley-Hiles remains the safest bet and playing in the same capacity he played a year ago, but I wouldn’t have been so sure if there were spring practices to be had.

IS WIDE RECEIVER DEPTH THAT MUCH OF A PROBLEM?

Oklahoma has a core group of wide receivers that is as talented as anyone in the country. Jadon Haselwood, Theo Wease, Trejan Bridges, Charleston Rambo and Theo Howard could respectively lead Oklahoma in receiving in a game and it shouldn’t surprise a soul. But after that, it’s slim pickings, and something we could have seen first-hand at the spring game.

All three of the incoming receivers, specifically Marvin Mims, and FLEX receiver Jalin Conyers are going to need to come along quick this fall.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

The coronavirus pandemic struck sports just as spring football was starting up for Oklahoma. Saturday would have been the Sooners spring game and the big spring game recruiting weekend would be currently taking place.

Position battles were set to take place on the offense—Spencer Rattler and Tanner Mordecai, Stacey Wilkins and Erik Swenson. While the answer to one is certain, the other is much less clear.

What will the 2020 offense look like? It’s sure to be a near 180 from what we saw Lincoln Riley do with Jalen Hurts in 2019.

Sooners Wire projects the 2020 offensive depth chart without spring practices and months to go before the season.

---

QUARTERBACK

1. Spencer Rattler
2. Tanner Mordecai

This has taken all the headlines, but I think we would have seen a distinct difference in the way the offense rolls with Spencer Rattler and the way it does with Tanner Mordecai.

RUNNING BACK

1. Rhamondre Stevenson
2. Kennedy Brooks
3. Marcus Major

The battle for the third running back spot is the major one here. Rhamondre Stevenson is slated to miss the first five games of 2020. All the reviews of Marcus Major before his season-ending injury in the fall raved about what he could become.

H-BACK

• Jeremiah Hall
• Brayden Willis

Not much more to add here. Jeremiah Hall and Brayden Willis will be the glue to Riley’s offense and play the same, but different roles within the confines of the offense.

X-RECEIVER

1. Theo Wease
2. Jadon Haselwood

Oklahoma is extremely thin at receiver in 2020. The most flexibility they have comes with Jadon Haselwood’s ability to play inside or outside. 

Z-RECEIVER

1. Jadon Haselwood
2. Charleston Rambo
3. Theo Howard

This is all under the assumption that Theo Howard will be back in time for 2020 after suffering an alleged injury. Haselwood takes over Lamb’s ‘do-it-all’ role for next season with Charleston Rambo and Howard benefitting from his ability to play inside and out.

H-RECEIVER

1. Trejan Bridges
2. Drake Stoops
3. Marvin Mims

Trejan Bridges is a selfless player who comes from a selfless family. This is the same position Nick Basquine and Myles Tease played in the past and one that Bridges could flourish in with his ability to block and make yards after the catch. Would foresee a lot of crossing and underneath routes and then benefit from one-on-one coverage from what defenses have to do to cover Wease and Haselwood. 

Obviously Bridges will likely miss the first five games of 2020, which should open the door wide open for Marvin Mims impact.

Y-RECEIVER

1. Austin Stogner
2. Jalin Conyers

This may be the best 1-2 punch at tight end in the country. Austin Stogner is well on his way to being a George Kittle type of tight end as Jalin Conyers fits more in the mold of what Jermaine Gresham brought to the table in 2008. 

LEFT TACKLE

1. Stacey Wilkins
2. Erik Swenson

No surprise here, though this cancelation of spring football makes the battle for left tackle even more intriguing. Still think Stacey Wilkins is the future.

*LEFT GUARD

1. Tyrese Robinson
2. Brey Walker

Status quo. Tyrese Robinson was solid for much of 2019.

CENTER

1. Creed Humphrey
2. E.J. Ndoma-Ogar

Go ahead and insert a Bill Bedenbaugh-ism here.

*RIGHT GUARD

1. Marquis Hayes
2. Andrew Raym

Same with Robinson. Will be interesting to see where Andrew Raym lands on the offensive line. 

RIGHT TACKLE

1. Adrian Ealy
2. Anton Harrison

Adrian Ealy also retains his spot at right tackle. Continue to keep an eye on Anton Harrison as fall camp approaches.

*The caveat to the offensive line unit for 2020 is if UCLA transfer Chris Murray can play immediately or not. He may be Oklahoma’s second-best offensive lineman right now and there is no way Bedenbaugh is going to be able to keep him off the field. Robinson has played right tackle before and that could end up being the pivotal position battle between he and Ealy.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]