Tag: Gavin Sawchuk

Where does Oklahoma land in ESPN’s preseason power rankings?

Where are the Oklahoma Sooners in ESPN’s preseason Power Rankings?

The Oklahoma Sooners are just over a week away from kicking off the 2024 season. Third-year coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and a talented roster, especially on defense, has generated a great deal of excitement for Year 1 in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

As the college football season draws closer, ESPN released its preseason power rankings, which factor in all of the changes that have taken place since January. While Oklahoma was ranked No. 16 by the US LBM Coaches Polls and the Associated Press Top 25, the staff at ESPN has the Sooners a bit lower.

OU checked in at No. 17 on ESPN’s list. Here’s what ESPN had to say about the Sooners:

On offense, pressure rests on the shoulders of first-year quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and an offensive line down four starters from a year ago. Around them, the Sooners carry optimism in running back depth that includes [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag], [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] and freshman [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag], and a deep wide receivers group headlined by Purdue transfer [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag]. Initial conference meetings with Tennessee (home), Auburn (away) and Texas (neutral) will provide early tests for Oklahoma, while trips to Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU, and a visit from Alabama await in a daunting back half of the season. – Eli Lederman, ESPN.

That grueling conference schedule has been quite the topic of conversation this offseason. Venables and his coaching staff will have to make sure the players take things one game at a time, not looking forward or backward.

Oklahoma was picked eighth in the SEC by the post-SEC media day poll and the two major polls. The home game with the Volunteers looms large as OU’s first conference game in its new league.

The Sooners will begin their season against Temple in Norman on Friday, Aug. 30. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN.

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Pro Football Focus comes in lower than polls in preseason power rankings

Oklahoma was ranked lower by Pro Football Focus than the US LBM Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25.

The Oklahoma Sooners were ranked No. 16 in the country in the initial Top 25 polls by both the Associated Press and the US LBM Coaches Poll to begin the 2024 season. Both polls had OU ranked eighth in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag], as did the SEC media poll. However, one site has Oklahoma ranked even lower nationally than the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.

Pro Football Focus revealed their preseason Top 25 rankings earlier this week. The Sooners checked in at No. 18, two spots lower than the two official polls. PFF did still have OU at eighth in the SEC, keeping consistent with most other lists. Here’s what PFF writers Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman had to say about [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ team in 2024.

Oklahoma might take some time to fully acclimate as it debuts in the SEC and with all of the new moving parts on its roster, but the Sooners can still compete for a playoff spot if they jell quickly. – Pro Football Focus

The Sooners will look to the defense to lead the way this season, a change from years past.

A talented, productive, and veteran defense breaks in new coordinator [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag], but has all of the pieces to dominate opposing offenses in 2024. Inside linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], safety [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], defensive end [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], cornerback [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag] and new TCU transfer defensive tackle [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] lead the way for a unit with high expectations.

Offensively, the Sooners are younger and have a few more concerns. They’re also breaking in new coordinators in [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag]. A much-discussed offensive line had to replace all five primary starters from last year’s team and is tasked with protecting new starting quarterback, sophomore [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag].

The former five-star prospect has plenty of weapons on offense, led by running back [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and wide receivers like Purdue transfer [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] and returning players [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag], [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] and [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag]. If the new offensive line can gel and the tight end position can give the Sooners better production than last year, OU could once again have a high-scoring offense.

Special teams analyst [autotag]Doug Deakin[/autotag] is also new this year, and he takes over a unit that must be better in 2024. [autotag]Luke Elzinga[/autotag] is entrenched as the starting punter, but all of the other major positions within special teams seem to be up for grabs. Most notably, the kicker spot is still yet to be decided.

Brent Venables enters Year 3 as the head coach at Oklahoma and has been diligent in the process of turning over the roster. Only nine players remain on the 2024 fall camp roster that were on the roster at the end of the 2021 regular season. Slowly but surely, the Sooners have been rebuilt to defend the standard that has been set in place in Norman.

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Oklahoma center Branson Hickman makes Rimington Trophy preseason watch list

Branson Hickman may prove to be one of the best transfer portal additions for Brent Venables and his staff in 2024.

Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] has made his second preseason award watch list for the 2024 season, all before playing a down for OU.

After Hickman made the Outland Trophy watch list last week, the transfer center was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list on Friday. The Rimington Trophy is given to the best center in college football. The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best interior lineman in the country, regardless of which side of the ball they play on.

Hickman was a big get the the portal’s post-spring window for head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and offensive line coach [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag]. The pair needed some major help at the center position as they rebuilt the offensive line, replacing all five primary starters from a year ago.

Hickman, formerly of SMU, has been the offensive lineman receiving the most national praise on OU’s roster since coming to Norman, and is likely in the driver’s seat to start at center. The offensive line has been a topic of conversation all offseason long as Oklahoma joins the [autotag]SEC[/autotag], and Hickman will be tasked with helping to protect quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and open up running lanes for [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and the rest of the running back room.

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What does CBS Sports think of Oklahoma’s offensive supporting cast?

New starting QB Jackson Arnold will have plenty of weapons to get the ball to in 2024.

Quarterback is one of the most important positions on any football team. It’s been called the hardest job in all of sports. Quarterbacks are often praised when their team wins and blamed when their team loses, regardless of how they played.

Most of the time, a great quarterback is only as good as the pieces around him. His head coach, offensive play-caller, offensive line, running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers can make or break his performances.

The Oklahoma Sooners are just three weeks away from beginning the 2024 season. OU has a new starting quarterback this season, as true sophomore phenom [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] takes the wheel after [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag]’s offseason transfer.

There’s no doubt that Oklahoma is Arnold’s team both in the present and the future and head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and the rest of the coaching staff have done their best to set the talented youngster up for success. After all, the duo of Venables and Arnold are the faces of the program more than anyone else. Their success or failure will be dependent upon each other and both are aware of that.

The other 133 FBS programs that are about to begin their seasons are also trying to set their QB(s) up for success heading into 2024. CBS Sports college football analyst Clint Brewster ranked the 12 programs that are doing the best job of it.

The Sooners landed at No. 10 on the list, sixth-best in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Oklahoma enters their new conference with a new face under center who is getting a good deal of support from the rest of his offense, according to Brewster.

Oklahoma let Dillon Gabriel walk to turn the offense over to five-star sophomore Jackson Arnold. The Sooners easily have one of the top receiver rooms with newcomer [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] from Purdue and returning pass catchers [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag], [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag], and [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] to name a few. There’s also speed merchant [autotag]Brenan Thompson[/autotag], who could have a breakout season. At running back there’s [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag], but don’t forget about incoming blue-chipper [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag]. On the offensive line, Oklahoma has some holes to fill (all five spots, actually) but picked up what could be one of the best centers in the country with [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] in the portal. – Brewster, CBS Sports

OU’s loaded wide receiver room will be nursing some injuries as the season gets underway, but Burks will be a go-to wideout for Arnold. The two displayed incredible chemistry in the spring. The running backs will need to be better early than they were in the first half of the season last year, but Sawchuk looks ready to carry the load after playing well over the season’s last five games in 2023.

The offensive line has been the concern since the winter, but Venables seems confident in that unit’s ability to get the job done and keep Arnold upright. The Sooners may go as Arnold goes in 2024. Helping him make the big plays and avoid mistakes will go a long way towards a successful season.

New co-offensive coordinators [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag] replace [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag], now the head coach at Mississippi State. Littrell is serving as the main play-caller. He’ll need to develop his young quarterback and support Arnold as best he can in his first season as a full-time starter in college.

Ohio State topped Brewster’s list with Gabriel’s Oregon Ducks coming in second. LSU was the best of the SEC’s 16 teams in this category.

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2024 class top running back set to make an impact for Oklahoma

Former top running back turning heads early in his Sooners career.

Early in fall camp, the Oklahoma Sooners running back group is in a much better spot, simply because it’s healthier. Last August, both [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] were dealing with nagging offseason injuries, which kept them limited into the season.

As the Sooners prepare for 2024, the two four-star backs from the 2022 recruiting class appear healthy and ready to lead the way. But the running back position has better depth as well, with the development of [autotag]Kalib Hicks[/autotag] and the additions of [autotag]Sam Franklin[/autotag], [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag] and [autotag]Xavier Robinson[/autotag]. Tatum was a summer arrival, but he has already stood out with his teammates.

“I mean, he came in here day one ready to work,” Barnes said after practice via OU Insider. “You know, just sits in the meeting room. Make sure we don’t skip past anything … just making sure he understands everything. You can tell he’s a guy that’s ready to compete and ready to play.”

Every meeting and practice rep is critical for Tatum to get up to speed after spending the spring on the diamond. The former five-star running back and No. 1 player at his position also stars in baseball. That he’s been able to make coaches and teammates take notice of his ability in just a few months speaks volumes to his talent.

“I thought he’s been really good,” Jackson Arnold said after Monday’s practice. “And I think Taylor adds a unique passing element to our game. Whether you can line up in empty or do whatever put him in the passing game. He’s very versatile. He’s definitely gonna be a good option for us this year, sort of along those lines.”

Though there may be a couple of veteran players in front of him on the depth chart, Tatum has the speed and athleticism to be a dynamic .weapon in the Sooners offense. Even if he’s not a featured back, [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] and [autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag] will find ways to get him on the field whether on offense or on special teams.

The sky’s the limit for Tatum, and his Oklahoma career is on the runway, ready to take off.

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Oklahoma Sooners running back named to Wuerffel Trophy watch list

Oklahoma Sooners running back Gavin Sawchuk named to Wuerffel Trophy watch list.

[autotag]Watch list[/autotag] season has begun in college football, and another offensive star is on award watch.

On Friday, Oklahoma Sooners running back [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list. The Wuerffel Trophy is awarded to the player who best combines community service with academic and on-field success.

Sawchuk, who took over midseason for the Oklahoma Sooners, closed 2023 with five straight 100-yard games. On the season, he carried the ball 120 times for 744 yards and nine touchdowns. He also caught 14 passes for 94 yards.

Two Oklahoma Sooners have won the award since its inception in 2005. Former Oklahoma offensive linemen Gabe Ikard (2013) and Ty Darlington (2015).

Sawchuk is looking get off to a faster start in 2024 and with a healthy offseason, has a chance to have a big season for the Sooners.

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Gavin Sawchuk ready to carry the load for the Oklahoma Sooners

The Oklahoma Sooners running game got off to a rocky start in 2023. Much of it due to injuries sustained by second-year running backs Jovantae Barnes and Gavin Sawchuk. Barnes played early, but wasn’t quite himself as he battled through injuries in …

The Oklahoma Sooners running game got off to a rocky start in 2023. Much of it due to injuries sustained by second-year running backs [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] and [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag].

Barnes played early, but wasn’t quite himself as he battled through injuries in the early part of the season. Sawchuk wasn’t fully available till midseason, but once he was, it didn’t take long for the former four-star running back to establish himself as the lead back.

He didn’t see more than 10 snaps in a game until Oklahoma’s win over UCF, where Sawchuk earned 10 carries and ran for 63 yards and a touchdown. The following week against Kansas, [autotag]Tawee Walker[/autotag] ran wild and Sawchuk was limited to just six carries and 19 yards. But that was the last time he averaged less than five yards per carry over the remainder of the season.

Over the final five weeks, Sawchuk ran for 617 yards and six touchdowns. Extrapolate that over a 12-game season, and that looks more like 1,480 yards and 14 touchdowns over the course of a season. Heading into his third year in Norman, the redshirt sophomore has had a healthy offseason and another year in the strength and conditioning program.

Sawchuk has an opportunity to have a huge season leading the way for Oklahoma’s running game. Though there’s turnover along the offensive line, the Sooners have an athletic, physical, talented, and experienced group that will pave the way for Sawchuk and the Sooners running backs to have a strong season despite the move to the SEC.

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Branson Hickman named to Outland Trophy Watch List

Oklahoma Sooners center Branson Hickman named to the Outland Trophy watch list.

Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] has been named to the Outland Trophy watch list. The SMU transfer arrived in Norman in the spring [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] window, but is already gaining some buzz in the hours before fall camp officially begins.

The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced the preseason watch list, recognizing 75 returning standout interior linemen representing all 10 Division I FBS conferences and independents.

Hickman’s arrival bolsters a unit that has some fans and national analysts concerned about the Sooners in 2024. He looks to be a plug-and-play solution at the center position for offensive line coach [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag], as the offensive line coach tries to figure out the combination at the guard and tackle spots.

 

The offensive line will be crucial in OU’s move from the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] to the [autotag]SEC[/autotag] in Year 3 of the [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] era. The SEC is a trenches conference, and protecting quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] will be pivotal this season, as will opening up running lanes for [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and the rest of the running back room.

Hickman should provide some stability, after having an excellent career with the SMU Mustangs. He will likely be the offensive lineman that Bedenbaugh relies upon the most.

Hickman will look to become the sixth Sooner to win the award, and the first since [autotag]Jammal Brown[/autotag] won in 2004. Greg Roberts, [autotag]Lee Roy Selmon[/autotag], J.D. Roberts, and Jim Weatherall are Oklahoma’s other winners.

The recipient of the 2024 Outland Trophy will be announced on “The Home Depot College Football Awards”, live on ESPN on December 12th, 2024.

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On3 expert thinks this unit will be the reason Oklahoma sinks or swims

Does Bill Bedenbaugh’s offensive line have enough to get the job done in the SEC?

You’ve heard about it all offseason if you’re an Oklahoma Sooners football fan. Can the offensive line mesh together well enough to get by in Year 1 in the brutal [autotag]SEC[/autotag]? Will the young players and [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] additions help or hurt OU in their pursuit of making the inaugural 12-team [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag]?

Elsewhere on the roster, Oklahoma looks pretty good on paper. [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] takes the reins at quarterback, a moment OU fans have been eagerly anticipating for a long time. Arnold is inexperienced, yes, but his talent and upside are evident to anyone who has watched him play.

The Sooners have an embarrassment of riches at wide receiver, with no less than five players who fans would trust to be on the field in pressure-cooker moments.

Running back is solid, with leading rusher [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] returning. Health will be key in the backfield, but that position group should have the horses to get the job done.

The secondary is another position that must stay healthy, but there’s plenty of experience at most of the starting spots and plenty of young talent behind the starters. Safety [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag]’s return makes the defensive backfield a strength.

Another strength comes in the form of [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and the linebacker group. Almost all of the key contributors from a year ago return and they complete a back seven that is seen by some as being among the best in the conference.

The defensive line is a bit more of a concern, but [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] is back to lead the defense in the trenches. Oklahoma lost a lot of experience, talent and depth to graduation, the NFL and the portal, but they’ve worked hard to replace those exits. A major win in the spring portal window was the commitment of TCU transfer [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag]. He helps fortify one of the most important positions on the roster under Brent Venables’ vision and identity for the program.

The Sooners have other areas of concern. Tight end still needs to be sorted out. The same goes for the special teams. [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] is entering just his third season as the head coach in Norman and is breaking in brand-new coordinators on both sides of the ball. [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] comes over from Jacksonville State to lead the defense, while [autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag] and [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] were internal promotions who are now in charge of the offense.

But the biggest talking point this offseason, aside from OU’s brutal schedule in 2024’s journey to the SEC, has been that offensive line. Oklahoma had to replace the entire unit after last year and it’s one of the most valuable position groups on any football team. The performance of the o-line could literally make or break 2024 for the Sooners.

On his show, “The Hard Count with J.D. PicKell” On3’s college football expert J.D. PicKell gave his thoughts on Venables and the Sooners following [autotag]SEC media days[/autotag]. He laid out just how important one position group can be for the offense, and the entire Oklahoma team:

“I think the number one question we’ve all got to ask right now is can they protect Jackson Arnold because you bring in pretty much a whole new offensive line,” PicKell said. “Now I love (offensive line coach) [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag]. I think he’s going to be able to get the most out of whatever unit they have out there; I trust him. But at the same time if you can’t protect Jackson Arnold, in the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] that’s one thing, in the SEC that’s a completely other beast.”

PicKell also stated that it’s not all Arnold’s fault if the young quarterback struggles in the season’s early stages, while also laying out a path to early success.

“So if Jackson Arnold struggles early on in the year, make sure we evaluate the context for him,” PicKell said. “Make sure we’re assessing what he’s getting on that offensive line and how much time he has to deliver the football. Because if they can protect Jackson Arnold, if they do give him a chance to read the defense and feel comfortable confident back there in the pocket, they have, I believe, one of the most slept on wide receiver rooms in not just the SEC, in all of America. I’ll say it again. [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] … I love [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] I love [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] when he’s healthy, so all of those pieces I think make it very difficult as a defense to give the proper attention to all those weapons.”

PicKell went on to say that the offensive line’s success opening up running lanes will help take the pressure off Arnold and make OU’s offense more multi-faceted. He also highlighted the returning experience on Oklahoma’s defense and hypothesized that the Sooners could be in a few more low-scoring battles that fans are used to in Norman.

Simply put, the offensive line could be the reason that Oklahoma sinks or the reason the Sooners swim in 2024. The season is approaching quickly and Bedenbaugh will have fall camp to get his unit ready to gel together and compete in the SEC. The true mark of OU being an “SEC-ready” program would if the Sooners are able to overcome a weaker part of their roster by over-excelling at, perhaps, wide receiver or the defensive back seven.

The 2024 Oklahoma Sooners begin their season in less than six weeks. They’ll host the Temple Owls on Friday, August 30 at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN.

ESPN thinks this is Oklahoma’s biggest question mark

The 2024 season for the Oklahoma Sooners could hinge on one position group, says ESPN.

Every year, college football teams have strengths and weaknesses on paper before the season begins. During the season, we see what the actual problem areas are and if they get fixed during the season or doom that year’s squad.

The Oklahoma Sooners have plenty of strengths on paper. They’re loaded at wide receiver. The linebacker room is filled with talent. The secondary is strong throughout. But, there are some weaker spots on [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ third team at OU.

ESPN asked its reporters to identify the question marks for each of their Top 25 teams before fall camps begin. The staff has OU ranked No. 18 in the nation heading into the season and eighth in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

It is no surprise that Oklahoma’s offensive line that was named the biggest question mark exiting [autotag]SEC media days[/autotag]. Here’s what ESPN’s Dave Wilson had to say regarding the often-talked-about unit:

The Sooners lost their entire starting offensive line, including first-round pick [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] and nine O-lineman in total. They added [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag] from Michigan State, [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag] from Washington,  [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag] from North Texas and [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag]  from USC along with four incoming freshmen, then added a big piece in SMU center [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] after the spring portal. Brent Venables said they will need contributions from all of them, but added that he has complete confidence in line coach [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag], who has helped produce 13 NFL draft picks in the past 10 years. But with a grueling schedule in Year 1 in the SEC, it’s not an ideal time for an offensive line rebuild. – Wilson, ESPN

Bill Bedenbaugh’s presence is key for the Sooners. He’s one of the best offensive line coaches in college football. If he can find a unit of five that will jell as a group, then Oklahoma could turn a weakness into a strength. The [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] additions were key for Bedenbuagh, especially Hickman at center. Some combination of four players around him will need to step up in preseason camp and separate themselves from the pack.

Oklahoma’s performance along the offensive line could make or break its  season. If they’re better than expected early, quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and the many weapons in the passing game will be given a chance to shine. [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and the running backs will be given room to run wild. The defense will not have as much pressure placed on it to control games early, especially with a bit of reshuffling on the defensive line. The special teams will not have such a spotlight placed on every move it makes if the offense is dominant. Venables and the coaching staff will not have as many high-pressure decisions to make.

If the offensive line struggles or is a liability, Arnold’s youth could show with added heat on him. Mistakes could be made, despite having plenty of receivers to throw to. He will not get any help from the running game. The defense will have to win games by themselves, which will not hold up all year. The special teams will face more pressure to put points on the board or flip the field when the offense stalls out. The coaches will find themselves in more close games, where the stakes rise with every passing snap.

A good offensive line will be paramount if the Sooners want to have success moving from the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] to the SEC. Venables trusts Bedenbaugh, as he should, and Bedenbaugh will rely on his young returning players and transfer additions to pave the way for Oklahoma in 2024.

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