Tag: Gavin Sawchuk

5 takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners 2023 Spring Game

5 takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners spring game!

Oklahoma football is back. Well, sort of. The Oklahoma football team took the field in public for the first time since the Cheez-It Bowl in December. Team 129 stepped out and participated in its 2023 spring game in front of a raucous home crowd and a list of more than 60 recruits across four classes.

As many fans and former players descended upon Norman, the energy felt unmatched from the beginning. Brent Venables spoke before the game, and the red and white teams got underway. It was a competitive atmosphere and a competitive game all told.

The target score for points was 84, and the two sides entered the fourth quarter well within reach.  The defense won a thriller as the game came down to a two-point conversion after Jackson Arnold linked up with sophomore wide receiver Gavin Freeman to tie the game. The defense got the stop and the points after Jayden Gibson dropped what would have been a game-winner.

We saw strong efforts from returning players on both sides of the ball and encouraging performances from new faces, whether it be freshmen or transfers.

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Here are our five takeaways from the 2023 spring game.

‘DeMarco is really excited about him’: Kalib Hicks standing out in first spring with the Sooners

True freshman Kalib Hicks performing well in his first spring with the Oklahoma Sooners.

The running back position at the University of Oklahoma has had a number of productive runners over the course of its history. As the Oklahoma Sooners work through spring ball, they’re looking for the guy that’ll take the reigns as the next starting running back. Someone they can rely on in every situation.

Though most figure the lead roles will go to [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] and [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag], true freshman [autotag]Kalib Hicks[/autotag] is having a strong start to his Sooners career.

“Hicks has done really well,” Brent Venables said after Wednesday’s practice. “He catches the ball well, he’s fearless, runs behind his pads does a great job in blitz protection… He plays fast and plays with really good instincts and good pace to him behind the line, and I know DeMarco (Murray) is really excited about him.”

Hicks amassed 3,228 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns, averaging 7 yards per carry on 455 rushing attempts in high school. He’s a fluid and physical runner that displays a lot of patience before hitting the hole.

With Jovantae Barnes recovering from surgery, Hicks has the opportunity to carve out a role on the depth chart this spring. In last year’s spring game, Barnes carried the ball a ton. With Barnes likely to be out, this could be Hicks’ time to shine at Oklahoma’s 2023 spring game on April 22.

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Brent Venables likes his ‘physically and mentally’ tough running back room

In an effort to replace Eric Gray’s production, Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners turn to a “mentally and physically tough” running back group.

One of the questions that the Sooners have had to deal with over the last couple of years is the production of the running back position in the wake of [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag]’s journey to the NFL. As they enter spring ball, they’re answering that question yet again.

Though Gray’s departure took a lot of production with him, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] likes what he has in the running back room for 2023 with [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag], [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag], and [autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag].

Speaking with the media yesterday, Venables said, “So these are good, tough mentally and physically, players that we’re talking about at the running back position.”

They’re taking on the identity of running backs coach [autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag], who was a tough, do-it-all runner during his time in Norman and in the NFL. He took on heavy workloads during his playing days and was incredibly productive along the way.

“But it’s a really good strong group of guys that are really looking forward to having their opportunity to be the guy,” Venables said. “But I think for us to be at our best, we’re gonna have to have good competitive depth.”

Though offensive coordinator [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag] and Oklahoma have this perceived reputation of being a pass-happy team, they’re really a running football team. In 2022, they averaged 13 more rushing attempts per game than they did passing attempts. Considering how much they want to run it, they’ll need several guys to be up to the task of taking 10-15 carries a game.

As a true freshman, Jovantae Barnes proved up to the task of being the backup running back. Although injuries opened the door for Barnes to get significant work as the backup to Eric Gray, his performance allowed him to hold onto the job. And with that performance, Barnes provided a glimpse of what’s to come for the Sooners in 2023.

Last season, Barnes ran for 519 yards and five touchdowns at 4.5 yards per carry. He ran with burst and with purpose, providing a physical element to the Sooners rushing attack.

As spring ball opened on Monday, Barnes is viewed as the frontrunner to lead the running back room in 2023. But the running back room gets a boost as Gavin Sawchuk takes on more responsibilities.

Waiting in the wings for much of 2022, Sawchuk got his opportunity to contribute significantly in the Cheez-It Bowl. In the three-point loss, Sawchuk carried the ball 15 times for 100 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry, showing off his elusiveness and speed in the open field.

Another offseason to work in the strength and conditioning program and to get further acclimated to the offense has Gavin Sawchuk on breakout watch. Because of his breakaway ability, Sawchuk adds a big-play threat to the offense that can help replace the explosive plays lost by the departures of Gray and wide receiver [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag].

And then there’s Marcus Major. Major, a red-shirt senior, has yet to fully realize his potential. Injuries and academics have limited him the last couple of seasons, but we’ve seen what he can do when the opportunity presents itself. If he can stay healthy, he provides another player who can run with power and can create big plays.

Brent Venables is right to feel good about his lead group of running backs. There’s a lot of talent for Jeff Lebby and DeMarco Murray to deploy. If Oklahoma hopes to return to Big 12 title contention in 2023, they need their running back group to have a great year. With as much emphasis as the offense places on running the football, this group has a chance to put up some big-time numbers.

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Sooners offer 2024 offensive lineman Gage Ginther

The Oklahoma Sooners go back to the Rocky Mountains to offer 2024 offensive lineman Gage Ginther.

After landing Colorado prospects in each of the last two cycles with [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and [autotag]Joshua Bates[/autotag], the Oklahoma Sooners are heading back to the Rocky Mountains.

This time it’s to offer 2024 three-star offensive lineman [autotag]Gage Ginther[/autotag]. Ginther, who plays left tackle for Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, Co., is the No. 3 prospect in the state according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

He’s a player that could see his stock rise considerably over the next year. Ginther is a physical player at the point of attack. He displays a fantastic punch at the snap, disrupting pass rushers off the line of scrimmage. Ginther moves well, getting to the second level with ease, and does a great job eliminating linebackers and defensive backs.

Though only a three-star prospect at the moment, he’s garnered a lot of attention from top Power Five programs in the Big 10, Pac 12, and Big 12. Wisconsin, USC, Penn State, and Oregon are just a few of the teams on his offer sheet that will continue to grow over the next year.

Gage Ginther’s Recruiting Profile

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2023 Player Profile: Jovantae Barnes looks to build on strong freshman season

Oklahoma’s starting running back job looks like it will be Jovanate Barnes’ to lose to start. Here’s a profile of Barnes now.

Evaluating the current roster, Sooners Wire profiles the current players, with running back Jovontae Barnes up next.

Continue reading “2023 Player Profile: Jovantae Barnes looks to build on strong freshman season”

How do Oklahoma and the Big 12 stack up in ESPN’s returning production for 2023?

Taking a look at how the Big 12 stacks up in ESPN’s returning production for the 2023 season.

Winter workouts are underway, and spring ball is right around the corner. It’s that time of the football schedule when teams are figuring out how to deal with the turnover they endured with NFL draft declarations and transfer portal departures.

Turnover is the name of the game in college football. The teams that consistently win are the teams that have had the best recruiting classes, which has allowed them to withstand that turnover.

Each offseason, ESPN’s Bill Connelly takes a look at the roster overhauls to determine which teams have the greatest amount of returning production (ESPN+). Returning production has had an impact in his SP+ ratings.

On average, teams returning at least 80% of production improve by about 5.8 adjusted points per game in the following season’s SP+ ratings. That’s a pretty significant bump! For a team ranked 25th in SP+ last year, adding 5.8 points to its rating would have bumped it to 10th. And in the past two seasons that weren’t majorly impacted by a pandemic (2019 and 2022), the average improvement for teams at 80% or higher is 6.8 points. – Connelly, ESPN

Not all programs are alike, however. Alabama, which ranked 125 in returning production, will be able to withstand losses a bit easier because they’ve recruited better than other teams in the bottom 33. We’ll have to wait and see if teams like TCU and Cincinnati are able to overcome their lack of returning production. Interestingly, those two schools each appeared in the College Football Playoff in the last two seasons.

Here’s how Connelly weighs the offense:

Broken out by position/player, you’re looking at roughly 29% for the quarterback, 6% for the running back and each of four wide receivers and/or tight ends and 9% for each offensive lineman. With each year of data, offensive line snaps become a heavier piece of the equation, which I find interesting. – Connelly, ESPN

So based on his equation, the Sooners lost 27% along the offensive line with the departures of [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag], and [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag]. Toss in another 18% for the losses of [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], and [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag], and the Sooners have lost roughly 45% of their offensive production from a year ago.

Now the Sooners did welcome transfer additions [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag] and [autotag]Caleb Shaffer[/autotag] to replace two of their three departing offensive line starters, but given that Shaffer is coming from the Group of Five, his snaps don’t count as much as [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag]’s.

Conversely, here’s how he evaluates the defensive side of the ball.

Perhaps surprisingly, turnover in the back of the defense causes far more of a shift in a team’s SP+ rating from year to year than turnover up front. By position, defensive backs make up about 46% of the defensive formula, while linebackers are at 40% and the defensive line is at 14%. – Connelly, ESPN

The Sooners’ biggest departures were at the linebacker level with [autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag] (transfer portal) and [autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag] (NFL) moving on. They also lost [autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag] and [autotag]Jeffery Johnson[/autotag], but according to Connelly’s metrics, those snaps don’t weigh as heavily.

Oklahoma added some pieces along the defensive front to help bolster its pass rush and mitigate the losses. However, they are hoping for their young linebacker corp to take a step forward in 2023 to replace their veteran backers.

Here’s a look at how the Big 12 stacks up in terms of ESPN’s

Final thoughts on the Oklahoma Sooners 2022 season

The final ‘Final Thoughts’ of the 2022 football season for the Oklahoma Sooners, taking a look back at their first season under Brent Venables.

The Oklahoma Sooners 2022 season didn’t go the way many observers would have guessed. Finishing with a losing record for the first time since 1998 wasn’t in the cards for many. But it’s where they ended up.

Still, they feel like a team that was, dare I say, (shudders) “close.”

They lost four of their last five games, each coming by a field goal. They were 0-5 in games decided by a touchdown or less. That doesn’t mean they were going to be a national title contender or even a Big 12 contender, but they were literally closer to winning eight or nine games, even if they break even in those one-score losses.

There’s a lot of work to do in Norman to improve upon their 2022 season, but there were also some positive things we learned from Brent Venables’ first year with the Oklahoma Sooners.

So here are some final thoughts on the Oklahoma Sooners 2022 season.

Oklahoma vs. Florida State in the Cheez-It Bowl one of CBS Sports’ best of bowl season

The Sooners Cheez-It Bowl loss to Florida State ranked as one of CBS Sports’ best bowl games in 2022.

The Oklahoma Sooners took a loss in their final game of the 2022 regular season, a 35-32 loss to Florida State in the Cheez-It Bowl. If you were an independent observer, the game was an entertaining matchup of two of college football’s best programs.

The game didn’t end like we would have liked it, but it was an entertaining game from start to finish. Oklahoma’s defense was up to the task in the first half, but the Seminoles tall and athletic wide receivers were too much for the Sooners’ secondary to match up with in the second half.

CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli ranked each of the bowl games this season, and Oklahoma’s loss to Florida State came in at No. 4.

For the Sooners, you can’t spin the 2022 season as anything other than a failure. It’s the first time the Sooners finished with a losing record since going 5-7 in 1998, the season before Bob Stoops was hired. Still, this game showed plenty of signs for how good the Sooners can be next year.

Offseason narratives aside, the game itself was just a lot of fun. It was high-scoring with a lot of exciting plays, and the fourth quarter was nonstop drama. Oklahoma took a 25-18 lead early in the quarter; the Noles responded right away to tie the game at 25-25 and then took a 32-25 lead a few minutes later. It was then Oklahoma’s turn to respond with a 75-yard touchdown drive to tie the game one more time at 32-32. Finally, with the game on the line, Florida State drove into field goal range, and Ryan Fitzgerald kicked the game-winning 32-yarder with 55 seconds left to send the Noles home with all the Cheez-Its. – Fornelli, CBS Sports

For the Sooners, this game was a microcosm of much of the 2022 season. They had a good defensive half but couldn’t sustain that level of play for four quarters. With four offensive linemen missing in action due to NFL draft opt-outs and injury, they couldn’t pass block well enough to give Gabriel the time to make plays down the field.

It ended in another close loss for the Sooners in their first losing season since 1998.

Oklahoma took some positive things out of the game like the play of their true freshmen running backs, Jovantae Barnes and Gavin Sawchuk. Jalil Farooq continued to display his versatility as a pass catcher and runner on jet sweeps. He looks primed for a breakout 2023 season if Marvin Mims heads to the NFL.

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Oklahoma Sooners inside top 8 for 2024 4-star RB Stacy Gage

2024 4-star running back Stacy Gage included the Oklahoma Sooners in his top 8.

The Oklahoma Sooners finished the 2023 recruiting cycle with a lot of momentum, signing a top-five class in the early signing period. Despite the down year, the Sooners have a lot of momentum on the recruiting trail.

That momentum looks to be carrying over into the 2024 recruiting cycle. The Sooners were included in the top eight for 2024 four-star running back Stacy Gage. The Sooners joined Colorado, Alabama, Florida, Penn State, USC, Ohio State, and Miami in the top eight release.

Out of Tampa, Fla., Gage is a top 20 running back in the 2024 cycle. Playing for IMG Academy in Bradenton, the

[autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag] has done a really nice job over the last two recruiting cycles to add running back talent to the program. In the 2022 cycle, Murray brought in [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] and [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag], and in 2023, [autotag]Daylan Smothers[/autotag] and [autotag]Kalib Hicks[/autotag].

If Oklahoma were able to get a commitment and signature from Gage, the Sooners running back room would have really nice depth to it.

Here’s what Gage told Hayes Fawcett of On3 about Oklahoma, “Always home for me, and I feel like I will be a quick impact to the team.”

Stacy Gage’s Recruiting Profile

Projections

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Report Card: Young linemen, running backs stood out for the Sooners

With the final report card of the year, the Sooners’ young offensive linemen and running backs offer hope for the future.

Just like that, season 128 of Oklahoma football is done. By record, they were the worst Oklahoma team since 1998, finishing under .500 (6-7) on the season. However, after the Sooners’ performance against the No. 13 Seminoles, it’s hard to suggest they were as bad as that 1998 team.

Their performance against a good Florida State team offered hope. It provided encouraging signs as we head into the offseason.

Before doing so, we take a look at each position group and grade Oklahoma’s performance from the 35-32 loss to the Seminoles in the Cheez-It Bowl.