Tag: DaShaun White

5 Oklahoma Sooners that will be key on defense vs. the Baylor Bears

Oklahoma’s defense has a tough task ahead of them against a strong Baylor rushing attack. Here are 5 Sooners that will be key on defense. From @thatmanbryant

Oklahoma enters Saturday’s contest with a chance for revenge. Oklahoma lost to just two teams last year, Baylor and Oklahoma State. Both losses came on the road, which means both will be home games for Oklahoma this season.

Their mini revenge tour starts Saturday as they take on the Baylor Bears at home. Bears’ head coach Dave Aranda has had success against Oklahoma and members of this coaching staff before. Aranda’s 2019 LSU defense suffocated the Sooners in the College Football Playoff before going on to defeat Clemson in the National Championship game. At Baylor, his teams have played Oklahoma incredibly hard.

While Aranda has his handprints all over the defense, Oklahoma must figure out how to stop the Baylor offense that ranks 27th nationally in yards per game at 456.2 and just ahead of the Sooners in yards per play at 6.13 compared to 6.10.

Oklahoma has Billy Bowman back and looks to have Damond Harmon back as well. With a defense that is getting healthy, here are five players that will be key to a win on Saturday vs. Baylor.

Report Card: Trench warfare, special teams set the tone for Oklahoma win over Iowa State

Oklahoma was stout in the trenches, and the special teams shined in Oklahoma’s win over Iowa State. Here’s how each position group performed in the weekly report card. From @thatmanbryant

Oklahoma’s win against Iowa State wasn’t a flashy endeavor. But it was a two touchdown win over a team that hadn’t lost a Big 12 game by more than a touchdown.

The Sooners’ 27-13 win over Iowa State was a combined effort that saw some inspired performances from several areas. It truly was a team win.

Here’s how Oklahoma graded out by position group for their performance against Iowa State.

REPORT: 3-star linebacker Kaleb Spencer flips commitment from Oklahoma to Miami

In a surprise, 2023 three-star linebacker Kaleb Spencer flipped his commitment from the Oklahoma Sooners to the Miami Hurricanes.

The ebb and flow of recruiting provides a roller coaster journey for college football programs through the early signing period to national signing day.

Oklahoma’s 2023 recruiting class took a hit on Friday night when three-star linebacker [autotag]Kaleb Spencer[/autotag] flipped his commitment from the Oklahoma Sooners to the Miami Hurricanes. Spencer had been committed to Brent Venables and Oklahoma since May and was one of the earliest commitments in the 2023 class.

Speaking with Hayes Fawcett of On3 Recruiting, Spencer cited his relationship with the coaching staff, in particular with Miami assistant Jahmile Addae.

According to the 247Sports composite, Spencer is the No. 692 player in the class and ranks as the No. 58 linebacker.

Even with the loss of Spencer, the Sooners still have three linebackers committed to the 2023 class. Linebacker [autotag]Samuel Omosigho[/autotag] is the No. 99 player and No. 8 linebacker in the 2023 class, while [autotag]Lewis Carter[/autotag] ranks No. 159 and is the No. 13 linebacker in the class. Then there’s [autotag]Phil Picciotti[/autotag], who is a top 50 linebacker in the class.

Spencer is an athletic player on the rise, but the competition for snaps would have been fierce in 2023 at the position. Oklahoma’s depth at linebacker has been tested this fall: [autotag]T.D. Roof[/autotag] and [autotag]Shane Whitter[/autotag] were lost for the year.

[autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag], [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], and [autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag] have been forced to play a lot. Waiting for their chance to shine are four-star linebackers in the 2022 class are [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag], [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag] and [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag]. So while the linebacker depth appears a bit thin at the moment, over the next couple of years, the position will be filled with blue-chip talent up and down the depth chart.

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Eric Gray leading the way of highest-graded Oklahoma Sooners per Pro Football Focus

Eric Gray leading the way for the Oklahoma Sooners as the highest-graded player from Pro Football Focus.

At the midway point of the season for the Oklahoma Sooners, we’ve seen enough that we should have a good feel for who some of the best players are on this squad.

Dillon Gabriel may be the most valuable player on this team. We witnessed the difference in the offense when he wasn’t available. His and the Sooners’ performance against the Kansas Jayhawks a week ago put his value to this team on full display, throwing for 403 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

But there’s another player that should be in the discussion of best player on the squad and that’s Eric Gray. He’s been invaluable this season, rushing for 695 yards and averaging 7.2 yards per carry. Even after the bye week, he’s still inside the top 10 in runs of 10 yards or more.

Gray’s elusiveness has led to a breakaway percentage of 43.7%, which is top 20 in the nation among running backs with at least 96 carries on the season. Breakaway percentage reflects the percentage of carries that have gone for more than 15 yards. Eric Gray’s 12 runs of 15 yards or more is tied for 15th in the nation.

And it’s that ability to break big plays that has the Eric Gray as the highest-graded Sooner through the first half of the season.

Here’s how the Oklahoma Sooners rank and were graded by Pro Football Focus among players with at least 100 snaps.

Report Card: Offense carrying the load in a bounce-back performance

Oklahoma’s offense led the way versus Kansas, and it shows with their grades in this week’s report cards.

The last three weeks had to be an evaluation and film study nightmare for the Oklahoma Sooners. There were injuries, bad technique, and missed assignments on both sides of the ball. They needed a decent performance against a tough Kansas team, and they delivered on Saturday.

The result was far from dominant unless you look at the offense’s performance alone but what transpired was a team desperate for a win that played hard and didn’t let up.

As we do at Sooners Wire, we took time to grade each unit for their performance in Oklahoma’s 52-42 win..

Oklahoma announces captains for Red River Showdown with Texas

Oklahoma Sooners name the captains that will be leading them into the Cotton Bowl for their matchup with the Texas Longhorns in the Red River Showdown.

The Oklahoma Sooners look to break their two-game losing streak this Saturday against the Texas Longhorns in the Red River Showdown.

Ahead of one of the biggest games in college football’s long history, Oklahoma announced who will be representing the team as a captain in the Cotton Bowl.

Tight end Brayden Willis, guard Chris Murray, linebackers David Ugwoegbu and DaShaun White, and safety Justin Broiles will be leading the Sooners as they prepare for the Texas Longhorns.

Each player will be making their second appearance as a weekly captain for Oklahoma. This group represents some of the most veteran players on the roster. Reeling after two-straight losses, Oklahoma needs leadership now more than ever.

Take a look at some of the best pictures of Oklahoma’s captains during their time at Oklahoma.

 

 

Report Card: Oklahoma grades poorly in loss to Kansas State

A poor showing by Oklahoma’s defense doomed the Sooners against Kansas State in our report card from week four.

Any dreams of an undefeated season have officially come to an end as Oklahoma suffered its first loss of the season Saturday night against the Kansas State Wildcats. This has become a recurring theme over the last four years between these two.

Somehow Kansas State just finds a way to beat Oklahoma. Saturday’s loss against the Wildcats followed the same script as the previous losses. Deuce Vaughn was a thorn in Oklahoma’s side, accompanied by a breakout performance from an athletic quarterback. This time, instead of Skylar Thompson, it was Nebraska transfer, Adrian Martinez. He looked like the second-coming of former Heisman winner Cam Newton against Oklahoma. He diced them up through the air and ran for days against this Sooners’ defense.

Ultimately, Oklahoma lost the game 41-34. The story may have ended differently if they could’ve come up with two more plays on both sides of the ball. They couldn’t get out of their way. With that said, we have our final grades for the game and shared them below.

5 Sooners to watch on defense against Kansas State

Oklahoma will need a solid performance from these five defensive players when they take on Kansas State.

Oklahoma’s Big 12 campaign gets underway under the lights Saturday night in what should be a competitive matchup. Oklahoma and Kansas State two have played each other fairly close over the last few years. Kansas State comes into the game on the heels of a loss while Oklahoma straps their pads up following a dismantling of their longtime rivals, the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

In recent years, Kansas State felt like a lock to push the Sooners to the brink. While that remains a possibility, if Oklahoma can take care of things on the defensive side of the ball, they’ll put themselves in a much better position to win on Saturday.

There are a handful of Oklahoma players that could play a significant role in propelling this defense to victory. Take a look at our five defensive players to watch heading into the matchup with the Wildcats.

No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners vs. UTEP Miners: Stream, injury report, broadcast info for week 1

Trying to figure out where to find the Sooners game on Saturday, here’s how to watch, stream or listen to Oklahoma vs. UTEP.

No. 9 Oklahoma will play UTEP on Saturday, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

The Sooners will open the season in Norman against the Miners in what will be an incredible atmosphere. Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is sold out in anticipation of Brent Venables’ head coaching debut. The Sooners will begin to unveil Venables’ vaunted defense and Jeff Lebby’s fast-paced offense.

Unlike recent seasons, Oklahoma comes into 2022 with something to prove. Turnover on the roster and the coaching staff has cloaked this team with doubt heading into the season. There’s reason for optimism, however, that Oklahoma can return to the Big 12 title game and College Football Playoff.

In addition to what many believe will be an upgraded coaching staff, the Sooners bring in one of the more highly-coveted quarterbacks in the transfer portal, Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel has thrown 900 collegiate passes across 25 career starts. He recorded more than 8,000 passing yards and 70 touchdowns through the air during his time at UCF. His experience and leadership have been huge for an offense in transition.

The defense will feature a host of new starters across the board. While we often look at individual performances, how this unit plays as a team will be something to watch in their first game in the Brent Venables-Ted Roof defense.

Here’s when you should tune in to see the game:

  • Date: Sept. 3, 2022
  • Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
  • TV Channel: Fox
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch here)
  • Listen: Sreaming on the Varsity App

No. 9 Oklahoma vs. UTEP injury report:

Oklahoma

[autotag]T.D. Roof[/autotag], LB: Elbow (out for season).

Players to watch:

Oklahoma

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], QB: 70 of 102 (68.6%) for 814 yards, 9 touchdowns and 3 interceptions (2021).

[autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] WR: 32 receptions for 705 yards, 22 yards per reception and 5 touchdowns (2021).

[autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], RB: 78 carries for 412 yards, 5.3 yards per carry, and 2 touchdowns; 23 receptions for 229 yards and 2 touchdowns (2021).

[autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag], LB: 60 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss (2021).

[autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag], DT: 19 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks (2021).

[autotag]Key Lawrence[/autotag], S: 47 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 4 passes defended and 3 forced fumbles (2021).

UTEP

Gavin Hardison, QB: 21 of 48 (43.8%) for 293 yards, 1 touchdown (2022).

Tyrin Smith, WR: 7 receptions, 127 yards, 1 touchdown (2022).

Reynaldo Flores, WR: 8 receptions, 122 yards (2022).

Tyrice Knight, LB: 11 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss (2022).

Kobe Hylton, CB: 9 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss (2022).

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Versatility gives DaShaun White an opportunity to shine as Sooners’ ‘Cheetah’

Moving from WILL linebacker, DaShaun White has the versatility to be productive as the Sooners’ “Cheetah” in Oklahoma’s defense.

A new defensive scheme brings new deployments to the Oklahoma Sooners. Unlike the 3-3-5 of the Alex Grinch era, Brent Venables runs more of a traditional 4-3 defense in base packages.

To combat the passing and spread evolution that’s occurred in college football over the last 20 years, teams are looking for versatile athletes to play hybrid positions on defense. For Brent Venables, his answer has been the development of the “Cheetah” position in his defense.

The player in recent years that’s best displayed the versatility that the “Cheetah” requires is former Clemson star, Isaiah Simmons.

The “Cheetah” serves as a hybrid between a linebacker, slot cornerback, and safety. A player that can provide support in the running game and be a difference maker in coverage. They can also rush the passer when called upon. Not only does a player have to have the requisite athleticism to cover a variety of pass catchers and be effective in the running game, but they also have to have the football IQ to understand his responsibilities at a variety of positions within the defense.

The “Cheetah” will line up all over the field, and that’s what the Oklahoma Sooners are asking of senior linebacker DaShaun White. White, who was also elected captain for the week one matchup against UTEP, made the move from WILL linebacker over to Cheetah, and Oklahoma defensive coordinator Ted Roof spoke on how he feels White will fit in there at Cheetah.

โ€œWell, it starts with the versatility, the ability to play coverage and at the same time be physical enough to get in the box and be efficient in there,” Roof said during media availability on Monday. “So, [itโ€™s] a lot of versatility there when you start looking at the overall skill set and job description of that position. And thatโ€™s where it starts. So, that’s where we are. But DaShaunโ€™s had a great camp, has adjusted really well because, you know, he was playing WILL earlier in camp, and we moved him to the Cheetah position. But he still has the ability to play WILL as well.”

While [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and [autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag] will man the Sooners’ traditional linebacker spots, White’s ability to play “Cheetah” allows the Sooners to keep three linebackers on the field in a lot of situations. Even when teams go with three or more wide receivers, Oklahoma won’t give up anything in the running game because of White’s ability to play the run.

Changing positions in the middle of fall camp can provide a challenge, but White’s experience as a three-year starter in the Sooners’ defense provides him the opportunity to find success because of his versatility. He’s seen a lot in his time with the Sooners, and that experience will help White thrive in his new position.

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