Tag: Geirean Hatchett

Sooners center Troy Everett to have surgery, miss significant time

Brent Venables confirmed Tuesday night that projected starting center Troy Everett suffered an injury that would require hime to miss significant time.

The Oklahoma Sooners offensive line has been under the microscope this offseason. They’re working to replace all five starters up front, including a projected first-rounder at tackle, [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag].

The Sooners have a good amount of competitive depth to work within their position battles this spring, but that depth took a hit at practice last week. It was reported by several outlets that center [autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag] went down in practice and didn’t return. At the time it was speculated to be a knee injury, though the severity was unknown.

At last night’s media availability, Oklahoma head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] revealed that the injury would require surgery. Venables shared that Everett would have surgery on Wednesday and miss significant time this offseason.

“We got some bad news with Troy Everett. He’s going to have a surgery,” Venables said. “But we’re hoping to see him back by the end of fall camp or so. And if anybody can do it, he will. We’ve got great doctors and a great plan for him.”

According to reports, Everett had been working with the first-team offense, but now the Sooners will turn to their depth to prepare for 2024.

[autotag]Josh Bates[/autotag] is expected to get the first crack at taking over for Everett. He hasn’t played much for the Sooners to this point, but the coaching staff are high on his potential.

“And we got a tougher guy out here than Josh Bates, man,” Venables said. “He’s just a football player.”

Edmond Santa Fe 2024 signee [autotag]Josh Aisosa[/autotag] and Washington transfer [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag] will also get some opportunities as well.

Oklahoma expects Everett to be back by the end of fall camp, but competition this spring could provide another answer at center for the fall if Everett isn’t ready to go for week one of the season.

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Bill Bedenbaugh’s offensive line getting acclimated

Sooners offensive line getting closer as spring football is here.

The 2024 season for the Oklahoma Sooners will be defined by how well the offensive line plays. Oklahoma has a five-star quarterback taking the reigns in [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], a deep wide receiver room, and a running back in [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag], who closed the season with five straight 100-yard games.

But along the offensive line, Sooners are replacing five starters from last season.

They do return [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag], who started the last few games, and [autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag], who started a couple of games in the middle of the season. Even though they’ve added transfer players with starting experience like [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag], [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag], [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] and [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag], there are still jobs up for grabs.

Bill Bedenbaugh has made it clear in his career he will start the best five. So, what these guys did previously doesn’t matter. That means even some of the young guys like [autotag]Daniel Akinkunmi[/autotag] will get a look.

Akinkunmi shared what it’s been like being around the other offensive linemen so far. “Getting to know those guys is amazing,” Akinkunmi said. “I absolutely love every single one of them. I feel like we are just getting closer and closer as the weeks go by. I feel like we are all close because we are all different and have different backgrounds.”

Akinkunmi said that hasn’t stopped the competition because having a strong offensive line group is important. As for the thing he was looking for most, as spring ball started on Monday? To show people what he can do and prove the doubters wrong.

Akinkunmi has quickly become one of my favorite recruits. I’m not sure he will see much playing time this season. He may need a year or two to develop. But with his mindset, I wouldn’t put anything past him.

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Sooners land commitment from Washington transfer OL Geirean Hatchett

The Oklahoma Sooners added more offensive line depth through the transfer portal with the commitment of Washington OL Geirean Hatchett.

Oklahoma’s approach to the transfer portal has been to address needs and bolster depth under [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. But they have never looked at and tried to build their entire roster via the transfer portal. This is why Venables is adamant about his recruiting efforts through the prep ranks.

However, after seeing the five guys who started along the offensive line and few depth options depart this offseason, Venables and his offensive line coach, [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag], knew they had work to do. That’s why the Sooners have brought in three transfer offensive line options this offseason. [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag] came from Michigan State, [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag] transferred from North Texas, and [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] transferred in from USC.

That list just grew as the Sooners landed a talented interior offensive line transfer in Geirean Hatchett. Geirean is a junior offensive lineman transfer from the Sugar Bowl-winning and national champion runner-up, Washington Huskies. 

Geirean Hatchett has played over 25 games, including eight in 2023. In his fifth year, he still has room to add more strength and continue to develop. It’s likely that will be a point of emphasis this winter with head strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt. Geirean played well before an injury limited him in the second half of the season, posting some solid pass-blocking grades via Pro Football Focus. With time to heal, a return to his productive days before the mid-season injury seems likely.

Here’s what Roman Tomashoff, site editor for UWHuskies Wire, had to say about Geirean.

He’s a good run blocker but needs to continue to work in pass protection. He has all the tools to be a really good offensive lineman, but needs to get stronger as he gets beaten too often with power. He’s worked a lot at multiple positions but is best at guard. – Tomashoff, UWHuskies Wire

The Sooners are getting a talented football player who offers valuable snaps and experience to an offensive line room that lost the five guys who started for the majority of the year.

With another portal addition, the offensive line is retooled. The stage is now set for Bill Bedenbaugh to do what he does best: develop and get the most out of his offensive linemen.

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