Tag: Jeff Lebby

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.

Dillon Gabriel’s return a ‘boost’ for Oklahoma Sooners

Dillon Gabriel’s return provides a “boost” to the Oklahoma Sooners and their QB room.

Dillon Gabriel’s return for the 2023 season guarantees that the Oklahoma Sooners will have a better quarterback room next season than they did in 2023. Dillon Gabriel and Jackson Arnold give the Sooners two really good quarterback options for next season.

Arnold’s promise is apparent, but Gabriel is the more stable and safer option for OU in 2023. 2024 will be the year of Arnold.

Gabriel’s return brings stability to a QB room desperately needing it. When Gabriel missed time, Jeff Lebby’s offense simply couldn’t function. David Cobb of CBS Sports shared his thoughts on Dillon Gabriel’s final ride with the crimson and cream.

Ultimately, the offense could only do so much when juxtaposed with a defense that gave up 30 points per game and ranked No. 123 nationally in yards allowed. Gabriel also faced the unenviable task of following in a legacy of heralded quarterbacks at OU that included 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, who starred as a true freshman at Oklahoma in 2021 before following coach Lincoln Riley to Oklahoma. – Cobb, CBS Sports

Scoring every time is the goal, but having to score every time out puts way too much pressure on an offense. It’s unreasonable to expect a team to score touchdowns on 100% of their drives. The offense was far from the Sooners’ biggest issue in 2022, but it has some work to do. Figuring out how to be more efficient on third downs and in the red zone is a start.

Oklahoma was 50th in the nation in third down conversion percentage at 40.9%. In the red zone, the Sooners scored touchdowns on just 84% of their trips inside the 20-yard line. That was 66th at the FBS level.

That said, retaining Gabriel was the best way forward for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2023. Continuity on the offense between the offensive coordinator, the quarterback, and the remaining players on that side of the ball is huge. It’s enough to withstand departures at wide receiver and on the offensive line. Though there will be question marks that follow the Sooners from spring ball to the start of the regular season, knowing what you have at quarterback helps alleviate any of the stress those other questions might create.

Though Jackson Arnold’s arrival to Norman is one that’s highly anticipated, QB1 is Gabriel’s job, as it should be. Another season in Jeff Lebby’s system and with extensive experience at the Power Five level, Gabriel has a chance to have a much better season for the Sooners in 2023.

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How does Oklahoma replace lost receiving production from 2022?

Oklahoma is losing 66 percent of its receiving production heading into 2023. Who helps fill that void for the Sooners?

Oklahoma’s roster construction for team 129 isn’t finished yet, and that’s fine. It’s only January. However, as Oklahoma looks to retool its roster and improve next season, it’ll have to do it without one of its best players. Marvin Mims announced his decision to forego one more year of eligibility and declared for the 2023 NFL draft.

It’s hard to blame him as he’s led the Sooners in receiving every year of his collegiate career and can’t prove too much else to draft pundits and scouts. His absence gives Oklahoma another problem that this offensive staff will have to figure out in the months ahead of the 2023 season opener. 

With Mims out of the door, the Sooners have lost 66% of their receiving yards from this 2022 season. Mims, [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag], [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], and Theo Wease are gone. Jalil Farooq and Drake Stoops are Oklahoma’s top two options as things stand.

Farooq totaled 466 receiving yards, while Stoops had 393 yards in 2022. They will need better performances from both, plus help from someone new to make up the 2,000 yards they’ve lost this winter. Who will help fill the void and make up the difference? 

Expect Jalil Farooq to get a bump in targets and touches in 2023.

The third year Sooner was solid in 2022. He didn’t have a 100-yard game and finished fourth in receptions,  but only Marvin Mims had more games of four receptions or more this season than Farooq. Toss in his 15 carries for 140 yards, and only Eric Gray and Mims had more yards from scrimmage than Farooq. Farooq did have 100 total yards against Iowa State when he caught 4 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown and ran the ball twice for 26 yards.

He’s a dynamic player with the ball in his hands and can win at every level of the defense.

2022 freshmen Gavin Freeman,  Nic Anderson, and Jaylen Gibson could also have an impact in 2023.

Freeman was on the field for 77 snaps according to Pro Football Focus. He finished with 7 receptions for 71 yards, along with three carries for 46 yards and a touchdown. His speed and big-play ability were an asset for the Sooners and another offseason in Norman should help him get some more opportunities. Freeman is the most likely candidate to see a bump up based on his play in 2022. 

Gibson had a big-time TD in the spring game but didn’t see many opportunities in the passing game in 2022. He played 96 snaps but only saw five targets. He turned that into one reception for 12 yards. More weight room progress and a big off-season could help give him a shot to see more playing time and potentially replace Marvin Mims.

Nic Anderson played sparingly and didn’t see a target in the passing game. His freshman season was limited due to offseason injuries. 

LV Bunkley-Shelton and JJ Hester both transferred in before the season last year. Later arrivals, they struggled to crack the rotation during the 2022 season. Shelton saw the field a bit more at the end of the season and even made a catch in the Cheez-It Bowl. Shelton could fit best in the slot, while Hester is an outside guy.

Both played Power Five football before coming to OU. That experience and a full offseason in the program could help them earn more opportunities in 2023. That time in the program should equip them to have a better understanding of the offense.

Oklahoma’s tight-end room will need to grow in a big way in 2023. Austin Stogner comes in to replace Brayden Willis as the leader in the room and the starting tight end. But the Sooners used a lot of 12 personnel, with one running back, two wide receivers, and two tight ends. So, Oklahoma will need Kaden Helms and Jason Llewelyn to take a significant step forward to improve the tight end depth in 2023.

The remaining possibilities come from players not on campus yet. A freshman that looks likely to break out, four-star wide receiver Jaquaize Pettaway. He’s a blur and instantly one of the fastest on the team upon his arrival. You can’t coach that type of speed. It’ll be hard to envision a world where Lebby doesn’t at least have him out there catching screens, running jet sweeps, and letting him run go and backside post routes.

Altogether this is what Oklahoma has in its receiving cupboard for 2023. Increased opportunities for Jalil Farooq and Drake Stoops seem inevitable. In fact, if they don’t take steps forward, none of this discussion matters. They’ll need assistance from their 2023 recruiting class, a transfer, or a surprise from their depth chart to make up the remainder of the receiving production lost this offseason.

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Oklahoma QB signee Jackson Arnold wins Texas Gatorade Player of the Year Award

Oklahoma Sooners QB Jackson Arnold named Texas Gatorade Player of the Year and is a finalist for Gatorade National Player of the Year.

Former Denton Guyer Wildcat and future Oklahoma Sooner quarterback Jackson Arnold’s efforts in his final high school season have been rewarded. Arnold has been named the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year.

During this regular season, Arnold completed 69% of his passes and totaled 4,400 yards and 57 total touchdowns during his senior year. He also added Arnold also took very good care of the football, with only three interceptions on the season.

While being named the best football player in the state of Texas is a phenomenal accomplishment for the young QB, Arnold is still on the shortlist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award as one of three finalists.

Former winners are a who’s who of college and NFL players. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik won it in 2021, and Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba won it in 2019. Other notable winners of the award include Spencer Sanders, [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] (twice), Matthew Stafford, and Cedric Benson.

While being named the best football player in the state of Texas is a phenomenal accomplishment for the young QB, Arnold is still on the shortlist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award as one of three finalists.

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The other two are very familiar faces: Texas signee [autotag]Arch Manning[/autotag] and USC signee and former OU commit [autotag]Malachi Nelson[/autotag].

Arnold’s Denton Guyer did fall in the state semifinals, but the numbers he had against the competition he played against is hard to argue with. Being a finalist alongside future Red River rival Arch Manning and USC’s Malachi Nelson just feels like how it was meant to be.

Even if Arnold doesn’t win the national award, being selected as the best player in the state of Texas across multiple publications is quite an accomplishment. Arnold’s time at the helm may not come until 2024, but he’s already got excitement building for his debut.

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‘Forever Home’: Dillon Gabriel to return to Oklahoma Sooners for 2023

Dillon Gabriel returning to the Oklahoma Sooners for the 2023 season.

Dillon Gabriel isn’t done wearing crimson and cream just yet. The veteran signalcaller announced that he will return to the Oklahoma Sooners for his fifth college season.

No player was as vital to the OU offense as Gabriel. The 49-0 loss to Texas is proof enough of that. With Nick Evers’ transfer to Wisconsin, the Sooners needed a proven commodity at quarterback. While Jackson Arnold looks incredibly promising, betting on a true freshman to be able to start from day one is not a good idea, especially after a 6-7 season.

Gabriel will almost certainly be the week one starter, and if he stays healthy, will hold on to the job throughout the season. Gabriel played solid football in 2022, throwing 25 touchdowns to six interceptions and just over 3,000 yards in 12 starts. He also ran for 386 yards and six touchdowns in his first season in Norman.

Gabriel is far more valuable in the Sooners QB room than outside of it. No one knows Jeff Lebby’s offense better than he does. His presence will pay dividends both when he is on the field and when he passes the torch.

Jackson Arnold will be the heir apparent, but until his time comes, he’s looking forward to learning from Dillon Gabriel. With Gabriel returning, the Sooners have stability at the position for the first time in a few years.

After leading one of the nation’s best offenses in 2022, Gabriel and the Oklahoma offense are looking for an encore performance in 2023.

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‘He’s made up of all the right stuff’: Gavin Sawchuk electric in first extended action for Sooners

Getting his first extended opportunity of the season, true freshman running back Gavin Sawchuk impressed for the Oklahoma Sooners.

One of the more intriguing storylines in the buildup to the Oklahoma Sooners [autotag]Cheez-It Bowl[/autotag] matchup with the Florida State Seminoles was how the Sooners would handle their running back rotation without [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag].

Gray opted out, choosing to prepare for the 2023 NFL draft, and [autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag] was out, still nursing a leg injury that kept him out of action late in the regular season. That left [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] as the only runner with significant experience on the depth chart.

But that also created an opportunity to see what fellow true freshman running back [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] brought to the table. The Oklahoma Sooners coaching staff took advantage of the Cheez-It Bowl stage to give the former two-time Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year action. And Sawchuk was a star.

Sawchuk carried the ball 15 times for 100 yards and caught one pass for eight yards, displaying great quickness, agility and speed. He didn’t look like a player with only two collegiate carries on his ledger coming into the game. He was physical and patient. His 15-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter helped Oklahoma take a 25-18 lead.

“He has a tremendous future,” head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] said after the loss. “He’s made up of the right stuff. Tremendous character, great work ethic, incredibly humble, intelligent, tough. It (would have) been easy for a guy like him to kind of check it in and not get better, but he showed up every day and got better all season long. (Dillon Gabriel and DaShaun White) would attest to that. He’s been a great teammate and he was ready for his opportunity when it presented itself. Really excited for him. Some of his production tonight, outstanding. He’s going to be a lot better going into next year because of it. Kind of like Jaleel (Farooq) in our bowl game a year ago.”

According to Pro Football Focus, Sawchuk averaged four yards per carry after contact in the game. He forced three missed tackles and had two runs of 15 yards or more in the contest, including the touchdown run.

Sawchuk and Barnes combined for 42 carries and 208 yards rushing. Barnes continued to show why he became the backup behind Eric Gray during the season with another strong performance. In his first extended action, Sawchuk was equally impressive. With the two-headed monster at running back, the Sooners have a fantastic 1-2 punch heading into 2023.

The speed that Sawchuk put on display in the Cheez-It Bowl will be a huge weapon for the Sooners in 2023. [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag]’s going to have a great time imagining all the ways he can use his star running backs in the future.

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5 takeaways from Oklahoma’s Cheez-It Bowl depth chart

5 takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners Cheez-It Bowl depth chart.

Oklahoma will look different when it takes the field against the 13th-ranked Florida State Seminoles on Thursday evening in the Cheez-It Bowl. The Sooners will have some fresh faces in new spots as they look to avoid finishing below .500 for the first time since 1998.

Starters [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag] have opted out of the bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft. That leaves voids on both sides of the ball the Sooners have had three weeks to plan for. What were the results of that planning? Well, we have the answers, as Oklahoma released its depth chart for the game.

With that info out, here are five takeaways from the depth chart below.

Where did the top quarterbacks sign in the 2023 recruiting class?

Jackson Arnold to Oklahoma and Arch Manning to Texas, but where did the rest of the top quarterback sign to play college ball in 2023?

From the high school level to the NFL, quarterback play has become the greatest contributor to winning in the game of football. Teams can certainly win without great quarterback play, but they must have an elite defense and running game to do so.

So when a team lands one of the top quarterbacks in a recruiting class, it’s a big deal.

The Oklahoma Sooners have had their fair share of great quarterbacks over the last 20 years. Sooner quarterbacks have won four Heisman trophies and earned more trips to New York as a finalist as well.

In the 2023 cycle, the Sooners signed [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag]. A four-star player at the time of his commitment last January, he has skyrocketed over the last 11 months. From earning Elite 11 MVP honors in the summer to becoming a consensus five-star player, Arnold’s stock has seen incredible growth. He backed that up with an incredible senior season, during which he accounted for 4,400 total yards and 57 touchdowns to help Denton Guyer reach the Texas 6A state semifinals.

He’s the highest-ranked player in the Oklahoma Sooners recruiting class, according to 247Sports. Arnold was the second-longest tenured commitment in the class before signing with Oklahoma on the first day of the early signing period. Pulling the No. 1 player in the state of Texas and the No. 7 player in the class is a huge win for [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag].

Arnold’s addition helped ease the loss of Malachi Nelson, who flipped to USC to follow Lincoln Riley last December. Signing Arnold also helped the Sooners answer the Arch Manning signing by Texas.

There are a lot of good quarterbacks out there going to a lot of different places. Let’s take a look at where the top signal-callers landed.

2024 4-star QB prospect Michael Hawkins sets commitment date

2024 four-star quarterback and Oklahoma Sooners target Michael Hawkins sets commitment date.

As we inch ever closer to 2023, Oklahoma is getting closer to finalizing its 2023 recruiting class. Only national signing day remains. As the calendar turns to the new year, the Sooners begin to finalize their 2024 big board.

The headliner for the 2023 class was consensus five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold. He’s the presumptive future of the program. However, the protocol under Venables and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby is the Sooners will take a QB every class regardless of who QB1 is.

Enter Michael Hawkins. Hawkins, a four-star QB out of Allen High School, is one of the quarterbacks Oklahoma has been recruiting the heaviest for the class of 2024.

Hawkins is an Oklahoma legacy. His father played defensive back for the Sooners in 2002 before going on to the NFL. His defensive coordinator? Brent Venables.

Oklahoma is in a good spot for Hawkins’ services and has already received multiple projections in Oklahoma’s favor. Parker Thune of 247Sports dropped a crystal ball prediction in favor of the Sooners only minutes after the offer was announced. Their biggest competition right now is the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Michael Hawkins shared that he plans to commit on Jan. 31.

 

It firmly looks like a two-horse race between the Hogs and Sooners. Oklahoma probably feels most in control to land its first commit of the 2024 cycle.

Hawkins fits the mold of dual-threat quarterbacks that Lebby prefers in his up-tempo, no-huddle offense. He’s not a collegiate-ready QB yet, but Hawkins’ natural gifts and arm talent stand out on film, making him a great QB for the Sooners.

Though Allen’s season didn’t finish the way he would have liked, Hawkins’ leadership and determination stood out to Kyle Youmans of DallasCowboys.com, who was on the call for Allen High School’s playoff matchup with Duncanville. Youmans shared his thoughts with Sooners Wire managing editor John Williams on the “Locked On Sooners” podcast in December.

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Jackson Arnold looking forward to learning from Dillon Gabriel

New Oklahoma Sooners signee Jackson Arnold is looking forward to learning all he can from Dillon Gabriel.

The incumbant starting quarterback has become a bit of a lightning rod for Oklahoma Sooners fans, but nonetheless, Dillon Gabriel is still in Norman. After playing in the Cheez-it Bowl, the veteran will likely stay for one more year in Norman before declaring for the NFL Draft.

Gabriel will have some company in the QB room with five-star signee Jackson Arnold set to enroll at OU in January. Gabriel will have real competition for his starting job come next season.

The two QBs had very different recruiting experiences. Arnold came from what many consider to be the high school football capital of the world in Texas. Gabriel was an unheralded prospect from Hawaii, with only three stars to his name.

However, Arnold is looking forward to learning all he can from his teammate according to a recent article from Eli Lederman of the Tulsa World.

“I think it’s big,” Arnold shared with Eli Ledderman of the Tulsa World. “He’s gonna hopefully stay another year and I can just learn under him and pick up tendencies that he does and stuff like that to help me out and win the starting job the next year.”

“If my number gets called upon to play I’m going to be ready to play,” he continued. “But expecting to learn under Dillon and learn from him. I’m ready to play. But I’m also just ready to learn under him and soak up everything I can for him.”

While many people’s memories of the uber-talented Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts and Caleb Williams have perhaps soured their opinions on Gabriel, the Sooners are a much better team with both Dillon Gabriel and Jackson Arnold in the QB room.

Dillon Gabriel is a very smart football player, and he knows that when he’s done at OU, Arnold will his successor, be it this season or next. Gabriel has many traits that would behoove Arnold to learn from and perhaps pick up for himself.

Ideally, Arnold will not see the field in 2023 aside from mop up duty or short-yardage situations. If he remains the backup through 2023, it means Gabriel is playing good football and the Sooners are winning games. While Gabriel doesn’t really need to improve that much from his 2022 performance, perhaps Arnold’s arrival will give him a bit of a spark as he goes into spring ball.

The Oklahoma Sooners are better off with a healthy and motivated Dillon Gabriel starting at QB in 2023.

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