Tag: Gavin Sawchuk

2022 Spring Preview: What does the running back room look like for the Sooners?

A deep dive at the Oklahoma Sooners’ running back room ahead of spring practice.

Spring is upon us, and that means spring practice for the Oklahoma football team. Spring practice will not get underway until March 22 for the Sooners, who head into the 2022 season under Brent Venables, who took over after the departure of Lincoln Riley at the tail end of last season.

Venables is widely respected in all collegiate coaching circles for his character, passion and defensive wizardry. It’s hard to imagine the Oklahoma Sooners struggling to become an elite defensive unit over time, considering Venables’ track record.

Offensively, the Sooners head into spring looking to pick up offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby’s offense.

Lebby takes over a Sooners offense that has plenty of talent in all the right places but is trying to bounce back from a bumpy 2021 season. The offense navigated two different quarterbacks (neither of which is with the team anymore); offensive line struggles throughout the season; and their play-caller did them no favors either.

Lebby’s offense differs from Riley’s in a few ways, but, most notably, it differs in its usage of running backs and the run game when married with tempo. Riley slowed the pace considerably. With Lebby in charge, look for a lightning-fast offense, reminiscent of Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford-led offenses.

Lebby goes fast, but his veer-n-shoot offense is a power running game with zone elements mixed in with the air raid as its foundation. For this offense to be at its best, running backs coach DeMarco Murray will have to have his room full of talented running backs ready to go.

Let’s look at what the Sooners will have in their running back room as we start spring ball.

Oklahoma among top-8 schools for 2023 4-star running back Tre Wisner

Trimming his list of schools, 2023 four-star running back Tre Wisner included Oklahoma in his top 8.

The Oklahoma Sooners have done a great job on the recruiting trail in the 2023 cycle. The impression they’ve left has resonated with recruits and their families during the recruiting weekends they’ve held. Following last weekend’s even in Norman, the Sooners began to trend in the right direction for several players, receiving projections from 247Sports and On3 recruiting analysts for some of the nation’s best athletes.

Earlier this week, On3 Texas recruiting analyst Hudson Standish predicted Wisner would land with the Oklahoma Sooners. The good news kept rolling in yesterday as four-star running back Tre Wisner included Oklahoma in his top-8 schools.

With predictions trending the Oklahoma Sooners way, they look to be closing in on a commitment from Wisner. After hosting the talented running back, Oklahoma makes the cut along with Oklahoma State, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Florida State, and USC.

Wisner is a four-star player in the 247Sports Composite rankings and On3’s Consensus rankings.

Wisner is a shifty player who uses feints to set up his blocks in the running game. He does a great job of getting defenders to commit to a hole before bouncing it where the play was designed to go. Wisner can make people miss at every level and has the breakaway speed to make every touch a potential touchdown.

Wisner displays natural hands as a pass-catcher and does an excellent job of turning the ball upfield after the catch. His speed creates opportunities for him down the field, and he has the potential to be a big-play threat in the passing game.

With Jovante Barnes and Gavin Sawchuk in the fold, Wisner’s versatility will allow him to make an impact in a variety of ways, even if he isn’t the primary back early on. He’ll be able to help the Sooners on special teams and as a third-down running back with his pass-catching prowess.

Tre Wisner’s Recruiting Profile

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
ESPN 4 161 28 11
Rivals 4 111 21 5
247Sports 3 N/A 48 17
247 Composite 4 177 32 10
On3 Recruiting 4 N/A 55 21
On3 Composite 4 176 30 7

Vitals

Hometown Waco, Texas
Projected Position RB
Height 5’11”
Weight 180

Recruitment

  • Offered on Feb. 17, 2021

Offers

  • Arkansas
  • Florida State
  • Oklahoma
  • Oklahoma State
  • Oregon
  • Texas
  • Texas A&M
  • USC

Film

Here’s a look at Wisner’s Hudl tape from this past season at Connally High School.

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Oklahoma receives second On3 prediction for 2023 RB Tre Wisner

Oklahoma recently received its second On 3 prediction for class of 2023 running back Tre Wisner.

Oklahoma running backs coach DeMarco Murray restocked his position group with a pair of talented four-star running backs in Jovantae Barnes and Gavin Sawchuk in the 2022 class. The Sooners’ leading returning rusher is Eric Gray after he ran for 412 yards on 78 carries during the 2021 season. OU also brings back scholarship running back Marcus Major who has certainly shown glimpses of potential to take over a leading role.

Murray and Oklahoma are constantly looking to the future, though, and intent on ensuring that elite talent always resides in the Crimson and Cream’s backfield. That’s why Murray and the Sooners have been in on Tre Wisner since last February.

OU originally offered the 5-foot-11, 180 pound running back from Connally High School in Waco, Texas, on Feb. 17 of last year. On3 national recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman submitted an On3 prediction for Wisner to Oklahoma on Jan. 30. Now, On3’s Hudson Standish of Inside Texas is projecting Wisner to the Sooners as well.

Rivals rates Wisner as a four-star running back and the nation’s No. 111 player in the 2023 class. According to Rivals, he’s the fifth-best running back in the class and the No. 21 player from the state of Texas. ESPN ranks Wisner as the No. 161 player overall, the No. 11 running back and the 28th highest-rated player from Texas.

In the On3 consensus rankings, Wisner is the country’s No. 176 prospect, No. 7 running back and No. 30 player from Texas. According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Wisner checks in as the No. 177 player nationally, the 10th-best running back and the No. 32 player from Texas.

OU currently has four players committed in the 2023 class: quarterback Jackson Arnold, wide receiver Ashton Cozart, offensive lineman Joshua Bates and athlete Erik McCarty.

Tre Wisner’s Recruiting Profile

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
ESPN 4 161 28 11
Rivals 4 111 21 5
247Sports 3 N/A 48 17
247 Composite 4 177 32 10
On3 Recruiting 4 N/A 55 21
On3 Composite 4 176 30 7

Vitals

Hometown Waco, Texas
Projected Position RB
Height 5’11”
Weight 180

Recruitment

  • Offered on Feb. 17, 2021

Offers

  • Oklahoma
  • Arkansas
  • Auburn
  • Baylor
  • Florida State
  • Houston
  • LSU
  • Ohio State
  • Ole Miss
  • Oregon
  • SMU
  • TCU
  • Texas
  • Texas A&M
  • USC
  • Utah
  • UTSA
  • Washington
  • North Texas

Film

Here’s a look at Wisner’s Hudl tape from this past season at Connally High School.

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DeMarco Murray evaluates OU’s running backs ahead of 2022 spring

Oklahoma running backs coach DeMarco Murray took stock of where the Sooners stand at running back entering the 2022 spring slate.

OU must replace its leading rusher entering the 2022 college football season. Kennedy Brooks registered his third career 1,000-yard rushing season in 2021, finishing with 1,253 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns on 198 carries. But he has taken that production to the NFL.

The Sooners return running back Eric Gray, who rushed for 412 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 78 carries. Gray also caught 23 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns.

“I’m excited. I’m excited. Obviously, being led by Eric Gray and Marcus Major, and then adding a young guy like Jovantae Barnes, who brings a different kind of dimension to our room. And we’re extremely excited. Obviously, Gavin (Sawchuk) will be here later on. And then you’ve got Jaden Knowles, Todd Hudson. I’m excited just to get a full spring, full summer under my belt with these guys. And obviously the new offense, and those guys have picked it up very well, kind of holding their own meetings and being led by Eric Gray. So, it’s been awesome, and just to see their faces obviously after the Alamo Bowl and then getting back here and just having a fresh start on things. But it’s an exciting new time,” Oklahoma running backs coach DeMarco Murray said of his group ahead of the spring slate.

Gray was lauded ahead of last season for his ability to familiarize himself quickly to Oklahoma’s offense. Murray said the leadership of both Gray and Major has been pivotal to the transition to new offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby’s offense OU is undergoing.

“It is. He’s done a terrific job, even last year coming to this new system. He picked it up within a week or two. And this offense now; we’re all learning it together, and he may know it better than I do right now. So, he’s a pro. He’s extremely sharp in what he does on and off the field, and he’s handling it the right way. Even Marcus. Marcus is doing a really good job at picking the offense right up. So, those two guys are doing it the right way on and off the field, and happy to have those guys back,” Murray said.

Major has rushed for 298 yards on 60 carries over the course of his career, but he has demonstrated plenty of promise with his bruising, downhill running style in his limited action. Admittedly, he’s also a player Murray finds himself pulling for.

“Yeah, Marcus, he’s a great kid. He really is. And I guess I’ve been doing this going on my fourth year, but he’s probably one of the kids that I probably root for more than anyone just because of the kind of kid that he is and just knowing that what type of player he can be and what type of player he should be. But he’s had a really good offseason. Just continue to try to push him and really just make sure that he’s always giving his full effort and maximizing his opportunities. And he’s done that thus far, but he’s got to continue to obviously do that, build on that and compete,” Murray said.

It has been huge getting in Barnes as an early enrollee for the spring, too.

“It’s been ongoing for about three years. I was recruiting him at Arizona. I knew I didn’t have a chance there, but I tried. But he’s been an unbelievable kid, very smart. And just to have him here as a midyear has been extremely good just for him to obviously get stronger, bigger, faster. Get acclimated to the offense, to school, time management. A lot of things that young guys struggle with. But he’s done an unbelievable job, and just hearing from different coaches, different players just every single day, every single week, he’s improving. But I’m excited to have Jovantae here, really, really excited. I obviously can’t wait to start spring ball with him to kind of move to that phase, on the football field phase. But we’re excited to have him,” Murray said.

There’s a lot of time between now and when carries start getting divvied up for real, but Murray likes where his group stands entering the spring.

“I think the biggest thing in our room that I want to have is competition. And those guys know nothing’s going to be given to them. No matter if you’re the starter here today, there’s no guarantees for tomorrow. Every single day—that’s the best thing about this place in our room ever since I’ve been here—no matter who you are, you’ve got to prove it and earn it every single day. So, I think those guys have a clear understanding of that. But as we all do, we all have to get better in every area of our game, and the best guy is going to play,” Murray said.

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Beauty of the unknown is Oklahoma’s biggest 2022 storyline

What we don’t know about Oklahoma football entering the 2022 season is the storyline that’s brimming with excitement.

When you get right down to it, there’s just so much about what Oklahoma will look like in 2022 that we simply don’t know yet.

In short, the biggest storyline for the Sooners is just how the heck all of this will come together. And that’s really the most exciting part about this offseason. Nobody truly knows. That’s precisely what ESPN’s Dave Wilson wrote for his biggest spring narrative surrounding the Sooners entering 2022. Everything.

It’s a new/old era in Norman, with former Bob Stoops lieutenant Brent Venables taking over after former Stoops coordinator Lincoln Riley up and left for USC. So what is there to watch? How about everything. Is Dillon Gabriel the answer at quarterback after star freshman Caleb Williams joined Riley in L.A.? Can the offensive line come together to buy Gabriel time after Spencer Rattler and Williams both bought time last year? Under Venables’ watch, will the defense add back some bite that was lacking? – Wilson, ESPN.

It’s Brent Venables’ first year as a head coach. OU will have a new starting quarterback in Dillon Gabriel with a new offensive coordinator in Jeff Lebby. Marvin Mims is one of college football’s biggest stars at wide receiver and he returns, but, outside of that, there’s more questions than answers offensively.

Theo Wease returns from injury and he came to Oklahoma as a five-star talent. Fellow wide receiver Jalil Farooq showed signs in the Valero Alamo Bowl against Oregon that he’s ready for a starring role after leading the Sooners in receiving against the Ducks with three receptions for 64 yards. Four-star signees Nic Anderson and Jayden Gibson could factor in straightaway among the wide receiver group simply because of defections from the program.

Along its offensive line, OU will be replacing a pair of longtime starters in left guard Marquis Hayes and right tackle Tyrese Robinson. Assuming the offensive line gels together with the addition of Cal transfer guard McKade Mettauer, who is going to step up and be the Sooners’ leading rusher to replace Kennedy Brooks?

Eric Gray is the most seasoned, but OU fans have been pining for Marcus Major to get more carries. Major has just 60 career carries for 298 rushing yards, though. The door seems wide open for either true freshmen running backs in Jovantae Barnes or Gavin Sawchuk to step right in and get serious carries.

The Sooners are replacing six of 11 starters defensively and it remains to be seen if transfer portal additions like Jeffery Johnson, Jonah Laulu, C.J. Coldon, Trey Morrison, Kani Walker, and T.D. Roof will impact OU immediately. Defensive lineman Jalen Redmond is the leader in the clubhouse to finish as Oklahoma’s leading sacks and tackles for loss producer, but his career has been defined in part by absences and this will be his first season playing without Nik Bonitto, Ronnie Perkins or Isaiah Thomas to help shoulder the load.

Marcus Stripling was another star in OU’s 47-32 Alamo Bowl triumph over Oregon. Stripling had a pair of tackles for loss and a sack against the Ducks. How he, Ethan Downs and Clayton Smith come along will be another deciding factor in Oklahoma’s success or failure in 2022.

Thanks to the return of DaShaun White and a talented 2022 signing class, linebacker suddenly might be OU’s most talented position group on the entire roster. Is Danny Stutsman primed for a breakout season? Portions of 2021 certainly hinted at that.

On the back end of OU’s defense, the Sooners return their starting cornerbacks in D.J. Graham and Woodi Washington to go along with starting nickel back Justin Broiles and Key Lawrence who played at both corner and safety last year.

It’s new, it’s unknown and that’s exciting.

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ESPN’s Chris Low picks OU offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby as most sought after assistant coach in next coaching cycle

ESPN’s Chris Low selected Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby as his assistant coach to watch in next year’s coaching carousel.

If ESPN reporter Chris Low’s prediction comes to fruition, then Oklahoma fans just might be popping champagne when it’s all said and done. Slight exaggeration maybe, but it would no doubt be a great sign for how the 2022 season played out for the Sooners.

Low selected Oklahoma offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jeff Lebby as the most sought after assistant coach for the next coaching carousel.

Baseball fans love the long ball, and football fans love offenses that are entertaining and can light up scoreboards. Jeff Lebby, who will be in his first season as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator, has shown at both Ole Miss and UCF that his offenses can be balanced, creative and innovative. And with the game being as quarterback-centric as it’s ever been, Lebby’s ability to develop quarterbacks will also make him a hot commodity.

Matt Corral blossomed last season at Ole Miss under Lebby and Lane Kiffin, and while it was Kiffin’s offense, Lebby is the one who actually called the plays during the games and has a knack for calling plays at lightning speed based on formations. If UCF transfer Dillon Gabriel comes in and keeps OU’s offense rolling, Lebby will find his way on several coaching short lists following the 2022 season. – Low, ESPN.

It’s not at all difficult to envision Lebby being one of the top head coaching candidates nationally if he turns Gabriel into a Heisman Trophy candidate and Oklahoma’s offense resembles Lebby’s last three. In 2019 with Gabriel as his starting quarterback, Lebby’s UCF offense ranked second nationally in total offense averaging 540.5 yards per game and fifth nationally in scoring offense with at 43.4 points per game.

Then, at Ole Miss in 2020, Lebby and quarterback Matt Corral ranked third nationally in total offense averaging 555.5 yards per game. Corral led led the nation with his 384.9 yards of total offense per game and ranked fifth in the country with his 333.7 passing yards per contest in 2020. Ole Miss also broke the SEC record for total offense in league play during the 2020 campaign, averaging 562.4 yards per game.

Ole Miss finished No. 6 in the nation in total offense in 2021 after averaging 492.5 yards per game. Corral passed for 3,349 yards and 20 touchdowns against five interceptions in 2021.

All of that is to say that Lebby arrives at Oklahoma with quite the reputation. It will be regarded as highly impressive if Lebby can turn the Sooners’ 2022 offense into one of the nation’s best after replacing the starting quarterback, losing its leading rusher, four of its top five receiving yardage leaders and a pair of starting offensive linemen from last season.

At the quarterback position, Gabriel is a proven starter that has thrown over 8,000 yards and 70 touchdowns in his college career. OU is searching for depth at wide receiver and doesn’t have a bonafide No. 1 running back entering 2022, though.

Running backs Eric Gray and Marcus Major return and will be granted every opportunity for starring roles. OU also signed a pair of four-star running backs in Jovantae Barnes and Gavin Sawchuk that will have the chance to see the field from day one if it doesn’t click with the aforementioned two running backs.

At wide receiver, Oklahoma is bolstered by the return to good health of five-star signee Theo Wease. The Sooners bring back one of the country’s best in Marvin Mims. Jalil Farooq showcased in the Alamo Bowl that he is perhaps ready for an increased role within OU’s offense. Drake Stoops, Brian Darby and Trevon West return as well. All of those receivers will be joined by four-star signees Nic Anderson and Jayden Gibson.

On its offensive line, Oklahoma brings in Cal transfer offensive lineman McKade Mettauer who made 28 starts at right guard over the last three seasons. His presence will be a key addition along with OU’s returning starters up front in left tackle Anton Harrison, center Andrew Raym and right guard Chris Murray.

There’s some questions to be answered with this offense, but OU has good options to step in and take over leading roles.

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Oklahoma Sooners the best at recruiting running backs in 2022 according to ESPN

The Oklahoma Sooners running back additions in the 2022 recruiting cycle make OU the best at recruiting the position in 2022 per ESPN.

One of the brightest spots on the recruiting trail over the last few years has been the emergence of running backs coach DeMarco Murray as one of the best recruiters in college football. In the wake of the coaching change at OU, several players made it clear they were planning on staying with Oklahoma as long as DeMarco Murray was with OU.

Two of those players are 2022 signees Gavin Sawchuk and Jovantae Barnes, two highly-ranked running backs and players that could have an immediate impact as freshmen. Recruits weren’t the only ones to take notice, though.

ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren put out a list of the best schools at recruiting each position on offense (ESPN+). The Sooners made his list as the best at recruiting running backs, according to VanHaaren.

Gavin Sawchuk is the No. 60 recruit overall and the fourth-best running back in the class out of Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He’s joined by Jovantae Barnes, who is ranked No. 93 overall and as the No. 7 running back. He’s a 5-11, 185-pound back out of Las Vegas, and both should be able to provide some impact in 2022. – VanHaaren, ESPN

Due to Murray’s success in the NFL and his abilities as a college coach and recruiter, he’s opened access to the western half of the United States, particularly Las Vegas, for the Sooners.

Barnes and fellow 2022 signee Jake Taylor hail from Murray’s hometown in Nevada. 2023 four-star wide receiver DeAndre Moore, who recently withdrew his commitment, was originally from Vegas before moving to Los Alamitos to play with Malachi Nelson and Makai Lemon.

The Sooners lost Moore’s commitment through no fault of Murray’s as Moore relayed a lack of communication from the new coaching staff as part of why he reopened his commitment.

With Barnes and Sawchuk, the Sooners landed two of the top 10 running backs in the country, setting them up for the next several years at the position. But as long as DeMarco Murray is in Norman, Oklahoma will remain at the top of the sport recruiting the running back position for a very long time.

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5 Oklahoma freshmen that could see immediate playing time this season

Who are several freshmen that have a realistic chance to make an impact on next season for Oklahoma?

Oklahoma revamped its roster through the transfer portal. Ten players are joining the Sooners from the transfer portal.

That list includes offensive linemen Tyler Guyton and McKade Mettauer, tight end Daniel Parker Jr., defensive linemen Jeffery Johnson and Jonah Laulu, linebacker T.D. Roof and defensive backs CJ Coldon, Trey Morrison and Kani Walker. All could make significant contributions to the 2022 season.

Then, of course, there’s starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel that transferred to Oklahoma from UCF. How Gabriel performs will be one of the biggest factors on the Sooners’ 2022 chances.

What about Oklahoma’s 2022 signing class that ranks No. 8 across the team rankings on 247Sports, Rivals and On3? Here’s five players that could see immediate playing time in 2022.

ESPN: ‘Turnover on offense’ is Oklahoma’s biggest question mark entering 2022

ESPN’s Chris Low writes that “turnover on offense” is Oklahoma’s biggest question mark entering the 2022 college football season.

ESPN ranked Oklahoma No. 17 in its 2022 Way-Too-Early top 25 rankings. Now, ESPN is digging into the biggest question marks for each of the teams listed within that top 25.

For Oklahoma, ESPN’s Chris Low identified “turnover on offense” as the Sooners’ biggest potential pitfall entering 2022.

The combination of the coaching staff overhaul and exodus of talented players on offense could make for a challenging transition for new offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and his staff. With quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler both gone via the transfer portal, Lebby will reunite with UCF transfer Dillon Gabriel. Lebby coached Gabriel in 2019, when he passed for 3,653 yards and 29 touchdowns. Some of the biggest question marks for the Sooners will center around the players trying to make plays for Gabriel. Running back Kennedy Brooks is off to the NFL after rushing for 1,000 yards in three different seasons for OU. This is a big opportunity for Tennessee transfer Eric Gray to step up as the go-to running back. Leading receiver Marvin Mims returns, but Jadon Haselwood (Arkansas) and Mario Williams (USC) both transferred. Theo Wease is coming off a 2021 season in which he barely played after being injured in the preseason, and tight ends Jeremiah Hall (NFL draft) and Austin Stogner (transfer to South Carolina) have both moved on. – Low, ESPN.

There’s no arguing that Oklahoma will have a different signal-caller in 2022. The great news for the Sooners is it happens to be Gabriel who has thrown for over 8,000 passing yards and 70 touchdowns during his college career.

He’s also familiar with Lebby, which should help jumpstart Oklahoma’s transition into Lebby’s offensive system.

“I think that the great thing about him walking in the door right now…there’s a couple of things, but, one is the production. The guy’s averaging over 300 yards a game, three touchdowns a game in 26 starts, so you can’t argue that piece of it, but I think probably the thing that I’m most excited about is this guy knows how to operate. He knows how to walk in the building every single day have great ownership in how he’s going to operate, how he’s going to take command of the offense and what it means to be a quarterback. To me, that is huge and that is critical as we set the tone and the standard of how we’re going to do things,” Lebby said.

Oklahoma will be replacing a pair of starters on its offensive line as left guard Marquis Hayes and right tackle Tyrese Robinson both declared for the 2022 NFL Draft. OU added TCU transfer Tyler Guyton and Cal transfer McKade Mettauer to go along with four-star signees Jake Taylor and Jacob Sexton on its offensive line to help withstand those departures.

“I feel good about it. Those guys have really done a nice job as well. We’ve got two in, obviously midyear. Both those guys have been working their butt off, but when you look at it, we’ve got a talented group. We’ve got some guys that are young, that can’t be young anymore. Again, offensively, being a little new, being different than what they’ve been, looking for great maturity from the old guys, guys that have played a bunch of ball that continue to push that group, lead that group,” Lebby said.

At running back, it is a big opportunity year for Gray. Gray finished the 2021 season with 412 rushing yards on 78 carries and had 229 receiving yards on 23 receptions. Marcus Major will factor in at running back, too. Then, there’s the two four-star freshmen: Jovantae Barnes out of Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas and Gavin Sawchuk from Valor Christian High School in Littleton, Colo.

“I think the first thing that sticks out with both of those guys, Jovantae and Gavin, is they can flat run. Those guys have great top end speed. They’re guys that can figure out how to take it distance from anywhere they’re getting it on the field, so that’s exciting for us. Jovantae’s done a really nice job getting going here in the first two and a half, three weeks and then, obviously, really excited about Gavin’s spring track season that he’s having and then as he gets here in June to get him going. Those guys are going to get counted on. We’ve got two guys back, but we’ve only got two other guys on scholarship that are going to be with us. I do think both are incredibly capable and are going to have great careers for us,” Lebby said.

As for the pass-catching departures, OU has its No. 1 wide receiver back in Marvin Mims, returns Theo Wease from injury and saw the emergence of Jalil Farooq in its bowl game win over Oregon. Plus, Oklahoma signed two talented wide receivers in Jayden Gibson and Nicholas Anderson.

The loss of Jeremiah Hall might be what the Sooners feel the most. OU did get good news in the form of tight end Brayden Willis announcing his return and the Sooners added transfer tight end Daniel Parker Jr. from Missouri as well.

There’s no doubt that OU will look vastly different offensively, and, if you’re looking for a question mark, then offensive turnover is a fair question mark to have. Skill positions isn’t where the concerns should be, though.

If Oklahoma’s offensive line comes together, then it’s hard to envision offensive struggles being what holds the Sooners back in 2022.

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Positional breakdown of additions made by the Oklahoma Sooners in 2022

A positional breakdown of the players the Oklahoma Sooners added through the transfer portal and the 2022 recruiting class.

The Oklahoma Sooners suffered losses to the NFL draft and the transfer portal. The talent that walked out the door is difficult to replace. However, holes in the lineup mean new opportunities for younger players to step up and the depth chart to do its job.

Brent Venables and his staff did a tremendous job addressing needs through the transfer portal, and they attacked the 2022 recruiting cycle looking to the future of the program.

Through it all, they’ve added some nice pieces that can contribute right away and a bright future that might be able to make an impact in year one with the Sooners.

Here’s a positional breakdown of each player the Oklahoma Sooners added this offseason.