Tag: gentry williams

Cornerback competition heating up for the Sooners

Jasiah Wagoner making strong push for the cornerback position opposite Woodi Washington.

During fall camp there are several position battles for fans to keep their eyes on. One that might be the most competitive but is flying under the radar is the cornerback position opposite [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag].

While many, including myself, think [autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag] will ultimately come out on top, true freshman [autotag]Jasiah Wagoner[/autotag] is turning heads. The Washington native stands at 5 feet, 11 inches and 177 pounds.

Anytime you read notes from camp, you continue to read positive things about Wagoner. Coming out of high school, Wagoner was someone people believed had some of the best pure ball skills. That his instincts and ability to disrupt in the passing game were second to none. He has proved those statements right with the plays he’s made in camp.

Wagoner said he believes his best attribute is his aggression.

“Teams might think just because I’m a corner, I can’t tackle,” Wagoner said. “Just being an all-around football player that’s what’s most important and being physical is the most important thing.”

Wagoner said he looks up to Washington for advice.

“Just his experience and the fact that when all of the corners came on the team, he didn’t really look at us as competition, he knew that he was going to start and play because he’s the guy that’s been here for a while,” Wagoner said. “But he’s just worried about helping us out, so I appreciate that.”

Whoever comes out on top whether it’s Wagoner, Williams or someone such as [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag], who doesn’t get mentioned enough, you know it was quite a battle and the best man came out on top.

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Offseason Stock Up, Stock Down for the Oklahoma Sooners

Taking stock of certain aspects of Oklahoma’s football team after a long offseason. Who is trending up and down?

The offseason is coming to a close, and the 2023 football season is right around the corner. When the pads go on, teams take the intensity up a notch as they dig deeper to prepare for the season.

Oklahoma’s offseason has been pretty quiet, all things considered. Conference realignment isn’t dominating headlines for Oklahoma. Its focus is on being the best Oklahoma team it can be in its final Big 12 season.

Each week during the season, we take stock of where the Sooners are as a team and which way individuals within the program are trending. Here’s an offseason look at the stock report.

‘He’s been on a mission’: Sooners CB Gentry Williams pushing for big role in 2023

Brent Venables and Jay Valai spoke glowingly of Gentry Williams and the work he’s put in this offseason.

When the Oklahoma Sooners open the season on September 2 against Arkansas State, [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag] will get the start at one of the cornerback spots. Who occupies the starting cornerback position on the other side of the field is still in question.

Since getting a few snaps in his true freshman season, there’s been buzz about the potential of Tulsa native [autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag].

Williams was the top prospect in the Sooners’ 2022 recruiting class, Brent Venables’ first as head coach.

With an opportunity to start for the Oklahoma Sooners right in front of him, Venables believes Gentry Williams has put his best foot forward this offseason.

“He’s been on a mission,” [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] said at Oklahoma Football’s media day Tuesday. “That’s the best way I can describe it. He’s locked and focused. And it’s not that he wasn’t as a as a freshman, but maybe it’s given him an appreciation.”

That appreciation may come from a health scare Williams experienced during spring ball.

Back on March 8, the talented cornerback from Booker T. Washington suffered what was called an exertional collapse.

Since then, it’s been all work for Williams.

“Mission type of mindset,” Venables shared. “Incredible work ethic, teammates love him. He’s got a great ceiling. All of his best football is still in front of him. He’s long, and he’s athletic. He’s tough as all get out. Really talented, young player. You know, players really respect him.”

Williams saw 60 snaps in 2022, but never more than 11 in a game. But he flashed in the time he earned, finishing with an interception, four tackles, and two stops per Pro Football Focus.

Now it’s about taking the offseason work and building off of last season’s first foray into college football.

But to hear co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach [autotag]Jay Valai[/autotag] tell it, the sky is the limit for Williams because of his work ethic, speed, and athleticism.

“He’s biting every single day,” Valai said of Williams at OU media day. “Work ethic, leading the group. He’s leading all the sprints in the summer, 23 miles per hour running, which is insane. And you know he’s Gentry. He’s working his tail off on a daily basis.”

For a team that needs to see improvement on the defensive side of the ball to reach the level of success that’s expected at the University of Oklahoma, Williams has a chance to be a big part of that improvement.

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5 storylines to follow as the Oklahoma Sooners get set to open fall camp

As the Oklahoma Sooners get set to open fall camp, here are five storylines to follow ahead of the 2023 season.

You can taste it. We are so close to the start of the 2023 college football season.

Some teams that will play in Week 0 have already started fall practice. For everyone else, such as the Oklahoma Sooners, they start this week. The first event on the horizon is OU football media days on Tuesday.

The summer is filled with official visits and major recruiting events. The Sooners just concluded their summer recruiting efforts with “Sooners under the Stars” and “Party at the Palace.” They’ve put a good foot forward and have already reaped the rewards of their efforts.

But the dead period starts Tuesday, so it’s time for these teams to lock in and get ready for the season.

Oklahoma kicks off fall camp on Thursday and there are a number of storylines to look for. Whether that’s position battles or progress from players from a year ago, we’ll have you covered throughout camp here on Sooners Wire.

So, without further adieu, let’s take a look at the five storylines I’m looking for this fall camp.

5 Sooners who will be new starters for Oklahoma in 2023

When you have a below .500 season, there’s going to typically be quite a bit of turnover the following season.

When you have a below .500 season, there’s going to typically be quite a bit of turnover the following season. That’s exactly what people should expect for the 2023 season in Norman, Oklahoma.

There are going to be several positions with new starters, some familiar faces and some unfamiliar faces the fan base should get to know.

The defensive line might be the position that sees the most turnover. The position that could have a star step into a starting role is most likely in the secondary.

It might not be who you think, either. The offense also is bringing in some new starters this season after leading receiver Marvin Mims and starting tight end Brayden Willis were selected in the 2023 NFL draft.

Here are five players I expect to start this season for the Sooners that didn’t a year ago.

Oklahoma Sooners’ cornerbacks balance experience with youth

It’s been a while since the cornerbacks have had this much depth. While some of it is unproven there’s still a lot of talent that remains.

The next position we look at in this summer’s position breakdown is cornerback.

It has been a while since the Sooners have had this much depth at cornerback. While much of it is unproven in the wake of the departure of Jaden Davis, a great deal of talent remains.

Woodi Washington, who has been a mainstay since the 2020 season, returns hoping for his best season yet. He is one of Pro Football Focus’ best-returning cornerbacks in the Big 12.

The key is who will step up to replace C.J. Coldon, who was a pleasant surprise toward the end of last season.

Three names are vying for that position and that’s [autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag] and [autotag]Jasiah Wagoner[/autotag].

Dolby was an elite junior college player last season. He was ranked as the top corner and the fifth overall player.

Williams is in Year 2 in the scheme. He has great speed and athleticism, and he is an aggressive player who challenges the ball in the air. He has substantial ability.

Wagoner is a true freshman who impressed during spring ball.

All three would be a good option, but all figure to be a factor this season, rotating in and out of both corner positions. Wagoner, in particular, looks to be a great option to work in the slot as a true freshman.

Kani Walker is another player to watch. There was a great deal of hype for him last offseason, but he couldn’t put it all together. Now a sophomore and not dealing with the transition from Louisville, Walker could be a factor. He has the size and the tools to be an impact player on the outside.

This position, combined with the safeties, is probably the best position group on the defense. They have more depth than the other positions, and we’ll see how it translates to the field.

As long as there can be somewhat of a pass rush, these guys should do a good job in coverage. It’s been a while since the Sooners have had a good secondary, but they have a chance to be just that and then some.

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5 Oklahoma Sooners primed for a breakout season in 2023

The Oklahoma Sooners are hoping to take a big step forward in 2023, and these five Sooners will be a big part of their improvement.

The Oklahoma Sooners may have lost some important pieces to the NFL this offseason, but they’re a program with an intriguing group of underclassmen ready to experience a breakout season.

Though several players still have roles they have to earn in fall camp, they’ve displayed the abilities that made them intriguing prospects on the recruiting scene or in the transfer portal.

As the Oklahoma Sooners look to improve from their 6-7 season, they’ll need a number of players to take significant jumps in play and production in 2023. The defense, in particular, needs to be much better.

So here are five players that will have a breakout season in 2023.

Oklahoma cornerback Jaden Davis enters the transfer portal

Oklahoma Sooners cornerback Jaden Davis enters the transfer portal.

The second transfer window is underway, and Oklahoma has lost another player to the portal. Senior cornerback [autotag]Jaden Davis[/autotag] announced via social media that he’s entering the transfer portal.

In his announcement, Davis said, “Thank you Sooner Nation for everything. I’ll be entering the transfer portal as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining.”

Davis started 21 games in his Oklahoma career, according to Pro Football Focus, including nine games in 2022. He fell out of favor late in the season with the emergence of [autotag]C.J. Coldon[/autotag].

The Oklahoma Sooners have added a lot of cornerback talent in an attempt to rebuild their secondary in [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ second year in Norman. With the additions of [autotag]Jayden Rowe[/autotag] and [autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag] in 2022 and [autotag]Makari Vickers[/autotag], [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag] and Jasiah Wagoner in 2023, the Sooners brought in a number of players that were signed by this coaching staff.

This transfer portal season has been one of attrition to the Grinch defense. A number of players have departed that weren’t really factoring into the defensive rotation.

Though Davis had become a veteran member of the secondary, practice reports were high on Wagoner, Dolby and Vickers in their first offseason with the Sooners.

‘We’ll be an improved group’: Sooners defensive backfield improved from a year ago

Head Coach Brent Venables believes his defensive backs will be better than they were a year ago.

Brent Venables and his staff committed to ensuring the results of the 2022 season would not be replicated in 2023.

He and the Sooners’ staff were hyperactive in the transfer portal, and they closed their 2023 recruiting class on a significant high note by securing the services of five-star safety Peyton Bowen.

As the Sooners look ahead to spring practice, the time for evaluation and understanding just what type of roster the Sooners will have is here. When speaking with the media last week, Venables made it clear one specific group is primed for a better year.

The defensive backfield.

“So I think we’ll be an improved group,” Venables said about the defensive backfield. “And we lost a bunch of guys. I think we know that … I’m not sure we didn’t lose a lot of production in the secondary, but we, we lost a bunch of bodies.”

Brent Venables believes between the players returning and those that joined the team as midyear enrollees, the Oklahoma Sooners have a better group of defensive backs than they did a year ago.

[autotag]Kendall Dennis[/autotag] (USF), [autotag]Bryson Washington[/autotag] (New Mexico) and [autotag]Joshua Eaton[/autotag] (Texas State) transferred out after the 2022 season. It’s notable none landed with a Power Five squad.

[autotag]CJ Coldon[/autotag] is the biggest loss the Sooners suffered in the secondary after a strong second half of the season. [autotag]Justin Broiles[/autotag] hopes to continue his playing career at the NFL level.

Dennis, Washington and Eaton didn’t play enough for their departures to matter much. Their transfers allow Oklahoma to examine what they have in the players brought in over the past two cycles.

Gentry Williams snagged an interception in his first collegiate game. He didn’t see the field much as a true freshman, but the Sooners love his size, athletic ability, and his competitiveness.

Robert Spears-Jennings is another 2022 signee that could make an impact this season. His play speed and physicality were on display last season despite limited snaps.

Kani Walker was brought in before the season from Louisville. Like Williams, Walker has the physical tools the Sooners are looking for in their outside corners.

[autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag], a transfer from Texas Tech, is a heavy hitter with plenty of collegiate experience. That physicality and experience will help bring an edge to the Sooners defensive backfield.

Most notably, [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] also joins the defensive back room. The most highly coveted secondary recruit for Oklahoma in quite a while, Bowen is expected to be a great one.

[autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag], [autotag]Damond Harmon[/autotag], [autotag]Jaden Davis[/autotag], [autotag]Justin Harrington[/autotag] and [autotag]Key Lawrence[/autotag] return after playing meaningful snaps for the Sooners last season. They’ll get another offseason in the Sooners’ defensive system, and should have a better understanding of the expectations in the defense.

The hope is because of the improved talent, there will be better production and depth on the secondary depth chart when it drops just before the season.

It remains to be seen how this will actually play out over the course of the season. However, it’s hard to argue with Venables’ assessment. The players who played the most last year are back and should understand the scheme better, which will lead to better performances on the field.

All that’s left is for those returning players to prove their head coach right.

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Oklahoma Sooners going all-in to improve defense for 2023

The Oklahoma Sooners are going all-in via the transfer portal to fix a defense that was one of the worst in the country in 2022.

The transfer portal has created a bit of a chaotic element in the world of college football. Players that coaches expect to be around for three to five years may depart after just one season with the immediate eligibility transfer rule.

At the same time, there’s beauty in the transfer portal as well. A team like the Oklahoma Sooners, coming off its worst season since 1998, isn’t forced to stand pat and wait on its players to develop.

After the 2022 season, in which the defense ranked in the bottom 30 of college football and allowed 30 points per game, the Sooners are aggressively improving the talent on the defensive roster for 2023.

[autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and the Oklahoma Sooners have added six players on the defensive side through the transfer portal. And that doesn’t include [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag], who they brought in as a junior college addition through the 2023 recruiting class. So far, they’ve earned transfer commitments from:

  • [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag], DT from Notre Dame
  • [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag], Edge/LB from Indiana
  • [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag], S from Texas Tech
  • [autotag]Trace Ford[/autotag], DE from Oklahoma State
  • [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag], DL from Wake Forest
  • [autotag]Davon Sears[/autotag], DT from Texas State

That’s a lot of experience and a lot of production at the collegiate level to add to the defensive depth chart for 2023.

Rondell Bothroyd brings 14 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons to Norman. Dasan McCullough had a standout season as a true freshman for the Hoosiers and was an ESPN true freshman All-American. We were witnesses to the thunderous tackling ability that Reggie Pearson brings to the Sooners’ secondary in Oklahoma’s loss to Texas Tech in 2022. Jacob Lacey didn’t play much for Notre Dame in 2022, but he was effective in the three games played.

Trace Ford has battled injuries in Stillwater but has been productive when he played. In his first two seasons at Oklahoma State, Ford procured 7.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss as a true freshman and sophomore. Davon Sears has taken the winding road to the Power Five after spending time at Ellsworth Community College and Texas State. He was an effective interior defensive line presence for the Bobcats, even if the numbers aren’t eye-popping.

The Sooners have some defensive building blocks to work with, including [autotag]Ethan Downs,[/autotag] [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag], [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], [autotag]Isaiah Coe[/autotag] and [autotag]Jordan Kelley[/autotag].

They have some young guys from the 2022 recruiting class that will have a chance to be impact players in 2023, such as [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag], [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag], [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag], [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag], [autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Robert Spears-Jennings[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Rowe[/autotag]. The Sooners have signed arguably the best defensive recruiting class they’ve had in years.

However, Venables and his coaching staff aren’t waiting around. After a 6-7 season, they felt the mandate to make significant additions to the roster to improve the talent, and they’ve done that. It doesn’t mean Oklahoma will contend for the Big 12 title and the College Football Playoff, but they’re not sitting back to see if the young talent will take the steps this offseason to be the difference makers the Sooners’ defense needs to make significant strides in 2023.

They’ll have a lot to prove when they get into the Big 12 part of their schedule next season. Nonconference play will not give us much of an indication of where this defense is next season. However, with what they’ve done in the transfer portal, the defense should be on an upward trajectory.

[autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and his staff are doing everything they can to fix the defense, and their work in the transfer portal is indicative of those efforts.

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