Tag: Jeffery Johnson

‘He’s a guy with a bright future’: Gracen Halton disruptive at Sooners spring game

In his second year with the Oklahoma Sooners, Gracen Halton had a disruptive effort at this year’s spring game.

The Oklahoma Sooners spring game provided a glimpse at the players that will be asked to take on significant roles in 2023.

One player that took advantage of his opportunity was second-year defensive tackle, Gracen Halton. In the game, Halton had five total tackles and a pair of sacks. He was disruptive, showing off the ability that made him a four-star interior defensive line prospect coveted by schools like Oregon, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, USC, and a number of other Power Five schools.

[autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag] and [autotag]Jeffery Johnson[/autotag] are off to the NFL, and the Sooners are looking for a group of interior defensive linemen that can be disruptive at the point of attack. Halton just provided a glimpse of what he has to offer the Oklahoma Sooners from the interior.

“The thing about Gracen is he’s got a ton of ability,” defensive coordinator Ted Roof shared after the game. “He can show out like that. From a consistency standpoint, he’s just got to continue to be consistent. He’s a young guy, but he’s a guy with a bright future ahead of him too.”

Consistency is key at the collegiate level and for coaches like Brent Venables and Ted Roof. They have to trust that these guys are going to be in the right spot, do their job, and win their reps more often than not to earn a role on the depth chart.

After playing sparingly in 2022, it looks like [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag] has put together a strong winter and spring this offseason. Only three players had more tackles in the game than Halton, and nobody had more sacks.

Halton plays with quickness and burst at 6-foot-2 and 271 pounds. As a pass rusher, he’s going to have a chance to make plays for the Oklahoma Sooners this fall. And if the spring game is any indication, as Coach Roof said, the future is very bright for Gracen Halton.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1366]

[mm-video type=video id=01gyg3hk31v502x8ymc0 playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gyg3hk31v502x8ymc0/01gyg3hk31v502x8ymc0-37e2f7e3a56f64a7df9e1559fadf5b93.jpg]

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

How do Oklahoma and the Big 12 stack up in ESPN’s returning production for 2023?

Taking a look at how the Big 12 stacks up in ESPN’s returning production for the 2023 season.

Winter workouts are underway, and spring ball is right around the corner. It’s that time of the football schedule when teams are figuring out how to deal with the turnover they endured with NFL draft declarations and transfer portal departures.

Turnover is the name of the game in college football. The teams that consistently win are the teams that have had the best recruiting classes, which has allowed them to withstand that turnover.

Each offseason, ESPN’s Bill Connelly takes a look at the roster overhauls to determine which teams have the greatest amount of returning production (ESPN+). Returning production has had an impact in his SP+ ratings.

On average, teams returning at least 80% of production improve by about 5.8 adjusted points per game in the following season’s SP+ ratings. That’s a pretty significant bump! For a team ranked 25th in SP+ last year, adding 5.8 points to its rating would have bumped it to 10th. And in the past two seasons that weren’t majorly impacted by a pandemic (2019 and 2022), the average improvement for teams at 80% or higher is 6.8 points. – Connelly, ESPN

Not all programs are alike, however. Alabama, which ranked 125 in returning production, will be able to withstand losses a bit easier because they’ve recruited better than other teams in the bottom 33. We’ll have to wait and see if teams like TCU and Cincinnati are able to overcome their lack of returning production. Interestingly, those two schools each appeared in the College Football Playoff in the last two seasons.

Here’s how Connelly weighs the offense:

Broken out by position/player, you’re looking at roughly 29% for the quarterback, 6% for the running back and each of four wide receivers and/or tight ends and 9% for each offensive lineman. With each year of data, offensive line snaps become a heavier piece of the equation, which I find interesting. – Connelly, ESPN

So based on his equation, the Sooners lost 27% along the offensive line with the departures of [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag], and [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag]. Toss in another 18% for the losses of [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], and [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag], and the Sooners have lost roughly 45% of their offensive production from a year ago.

Now the Sooners did welcome transfer additions [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag] and [autotag]Caleb Shaffer[/autotag] to replace two of their three departing offensive line starters, but given that Shaffer is coming from the Group of Five, his snaps don’t count as much as [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag]’s.

Conversely, here’s how he evaluates the defensive side of the ball.

Perhaps surprisingly, turnover in the back of the defense causes far more of a shift in a team’s SP+ rating from year to year than turnover up front. By position, defensive backs make up about 46% of the defensive formula, while linebackers are at 40% and the defensive line is at 14%. – Connelly, ESPN

The Sooners’ biggest departures were at the linebacker level with [autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag] (transfer portal) and [autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag] (NFL) moving on. They also lost [autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag] and [autotag]Jeffery Johnson[/autotag], but according to Connelly’s metrics, those snaps don’t weigh as heavily.

Oklahoma added some pieces along the defensive front to help bolster its pass rush and mitigate the losses. However, they are hoping for their young linebacker corp to take a step forward in 2023 to replace their veteran backers.

Here’s a look at how the Big 12 stacks up in terms of ESPN’s

Oklahoma Sooners add transfer defensive lineman Davon Sears

Looking to fortify their defensive interior, the Oklahoma Sooners added Texas State transfer Davon Sears.

The Oklahoma Sooners continue to fortify their defensive front through the transfer portal. One day after adding Wake Forest defensive lineman Rondell Bothroyd, the Sooners earned a commitment from Texas State defensive lineman [autotag]Davon Sears[/autotag]. He chose the Oklahoma Sooners over Penn State and Tennessee.

Sears played one season with the Bobcats after spending time at Ellsworth Community College in the junior college ranks. Texas State in 2022, Sears recorded 15 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. He was the eighth-highest-graded player for Texas state in 2022 despite receiving just 355 snaps last season.

With the departures of [autotag]Jeffery Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag] and with [autotag]Josh Ellison[/autotag] in the transfer portal, Oklahoma needed to fortify its defensive interior. Sears is the second defensive tackle they’ve added in the [autotag]2022-2023 transfer portal[/autotag] after bringing in Notre Dame transfer Jacob Lacey.

According to Pro Football Focus, Sears was fourth in total pressures for the Bobcats last season with 15. He played at least 20 snaps in every game in 2022 and looks to earn an expanded role with the Oklahoma Sooners in 2023.

The Sooners got good news with the return of[autotag] Isaiah Coe[/autotag] and are awaiting news on [autotag]Jordan Kelley[/autotag]. But with the additions of Lacey, Sears, and 2023 signee [autotag]Derrick LeBlanc[/autotag], Oklahoma’s defensive interior looks retooled for next season.

[listicle id=76629]

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

Sooners land Wake Forest transfer DL Rondell Bothroyd

The Sooners fortified their defensive front picking up commitment from Wake Forest transfer Rondell Bothroyd.

Oklahoma added to its transfer portal haul on Sunday evening as Wake Forest transfer defensive lineman Rondell Bothroyd. Bothroyd celebrated his birthday by announcing his commitment to the Sooners.

The Wake Forest transfer has one year of eligibility remaining and will join a Sooners defensive front that struggled to rush the passer consistently in 2022. Bothroyd played primarily on the edge and displays versatility in his ability to rush from both sides of the defense.

Head coach Brent Venables’ time at Clemson allowed him and some of the rest of the Oklahoma staff to see Bothroyd up close and personal so they have a great idea of the caliber player he is.

At Wake Forest, Bothroyd had 30 tackles, six sacks, eight tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles in 2022. That was after a 2021 season in which he totaled  63 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks.

Over his five-year career at Wake Forest, Bothroyd recorded 136 tackles, 16.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He’s been a big-time contributor for a resurgent Wake Forest team.

On3 sports had him as their 27th overall transfer prospect. Look for Bothroyd to compete for meaningful snaps from the moment he steps on campus.

This commitment also likely wraps up Oklahoma’s pursuits of any other defensive line targets via the transfer portal. Offensive line and wide receiver look like the groups in need of veteran assistance most going forward. Walter Rouse is the name to watch as the Sooners retool for the 2023 season.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz7cqqgxy50qwt player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

Sooners DT Jeffery Johnson declares for the 2023 NFL Draft

Another interior defensive lineman heading to the league, Jeffery Johnson, declares for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Defensive tackle is a position the Sooners have already addressed through the transfer portal with the addition of [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag]. They’re looking to add Texas State transfer [autotag]Davon Sears[/autotag] as well. They’ll need the defensive tackle depth after [autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag] declared for the 2023 NFL draft. Now the Sooners are losing another one to the NFL.

After graduating, defensive tackle [autotag]Jeffery Johnson[/autotag] declared for the NFL draft.

Arriving from Tulane in the 2022 transfer portal, Johnson was integral to the Oklahoma Sooners’ defensive tackle rotation. He was third among interior defensive linemen in snaps for the Sooners and recorded 23 tackles and four tackles for loss in 13 games.

From a statistical standpoint, he had his best game of the season against Florida State in the Cheez-It Bowl, recording five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Playing nose tackle for Brent Venables and Ted Roof, racking up big statistical numbers wasn’t going to be easy, but Johnson was an effective interior player taking up space.

After four seasons with the Green Wave and a fifth in Norman, Johnson is taking his talents to the NFL.

Following Redmond, Johnson is the second defensive tackle to declare for the draft. Josh Ellison opted to enter the transfer portal but played in the Cheez-It Bowl with the Sooners. It’s possible he returns.

With another interior player out the door, the Sooners will have [autotag]Isaiah Coe[/autotag], [autotag]Kelvin Gilliam[/autotag], [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag], and Notre Dame transfer Jacob Lacey as the next men up on the defensive tackle depth chart. The Sooners await word on [autotag]Jordan Kelley[/autotag], who could return for one more season and are in the running for Texas State transfer Davon Sears.

Because of the position he plays, Johnson may not hear his name called early in the draft. Nose tackles aren’t as highly-valued as some in the league, but he will catch on with someone at the next level.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz7cqqgxy50qwt player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

Sooners DT Isaiah Coe returning to Oklahoma for 2023

Oklahoma Sooners defensive tackle Isaiah Coe to return for 2023.

With the season over, there are a lot of decisions to be made for many of Oklahoma’s players. It’s a period of self-reflection which lines up perfectly with the start of the new calendar year. As they consider their future, several players have decisions to make.

Oklahoma’s seen plenty of defections to the transfer portal, with a number of them coming before the Sooners departed for Orlando to play in the Cheez-It Bowl. On top of the additions to the portal, the Sooners also lost five (and counting) starters to the NFL Draft.

Needless to say, some gaps need to be filled for Oklahoma if they truly hope to improve on their 2022 record of 6-7.

Receiving confirmation that one of their more impactful interior defensive linemen is returning is huge news for the Sooners.

Isaiah Coe announced via social media that he is returning for the 2023 season. With the departure of [autotag]Jeffery Johnson[/autotag] to graduation and [autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag] early to the NFL draft, Coe’s return gives Oklahoma some veteran stability in the interior.

Coe and [autotag]Jordan Kelley[/autotag] become the elder statesman of the defensive tackle room. They look to be front runners to start at defensive tackle in 2023.

In 2022, Coe only recorded two sacks 2022. Still, his ability to take on double teams, get penetration and disrupt plays, especially in the run game, was especially evident in the latter parts of the season. He finished fourth on the team in tackles for loss with eight behind Ethan Downs, Danny Stutsman, and Jalen Redmond. All while playing 80 fewer snaps on the season than Redmond and finishing tied for third among interior defensive linemen in snaps.

With Jeffery Johnson and Jalen Redmond moving on, look for Coe to be a crucial part of the defense and a leader in the defensive tackle rotation in 2023.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

Report Card: Young linemen, running backs stood out for the Sooners

With the final report card of the year, the Sooners’ young offensive linemen and running backs offer hope for the future.

Just like that, season 128 of Oklahoma football is done. By record, they were the worst Oklahoma team since 1998, finishing under .500 (6-7) on the season. However, after the Sooners’ performance against the No. 13 Seminoles, it’s hard to suggest they were as bad as that 1998 team.

Their performance against a good Florida State team offered hope. It provided encouraging signs as we head into the offseason.

Before doing so, we take a look at each position group and grade Oklahoma’s performance from the 35-32 loss to the Seminoles in the Cheez-It Bowl.

Oklahoma receives multiple crystal ball predictions for Notre Dame transfer DL Jacob Lacey

The Oklahoma Sooners projected to land former four-star defensive tackle and Notre Dame transfer Jacob Lacey. From @john9williams

It’s expected that the Oklahoma Sooners will be active in the transfer portal this offseason, and before the season’s even over, they look to be trending toward adding talent along the defensive line.

The Sooners look like the favorite to add Notre Dame defensive tackle Jacob Lacey via the transfer portal. Lacey, a former four-star player out of Kentucky, entered the portal back on October 6 after appearing in 25 games over four years for the Fighting Irish. Lacey was the No. 15 defensive tackle in the 2019 class according to 247Sports.

In four games in 2022, Lacey recorded five tackles, two tackles for loss, and two sacks. Snaps had been difficult to come by for the senior defensive tackle, seeing just nine snaps against North Carolina.  Against Cal, Lacey recorded both sacks and both tackles for loss in Notre Dame’s win.

Lacey visited with the Oklahoma Sooners back on Nov. 4, and Oklahoma’s now received a pair of crystal ball predictions from OUInsider’s Parker Thune and Brandon Drumm.

The Sooners will need veteran defensive tackle help with the possibility of losing [autotag]Jeffery Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag], [autotag]Isaiah Coe[/autotag], and [autotag]Jordan Kelley[/autotag] to graduation or the NFL. Oklahoma has young guys like [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag], [autotag]Kelvin Gilliam[/autotag], [autotag]Cedric Roberts[/autotag], and [autotag]Alton Tarber[/autotag] in their first or second year with the program. So, having a guy that’s played more than 600 snaps for Notre Dame will help mitigate the potential losses of experienced depth on the roster.

The transfer portal may not be as active for the Oklahoma Sooners as it was a year ago in the wake of [autotag]Lincoln Riley[/autotag]’s departure to USC. However, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and his staff will look to add players that make sense as they continue to rebuild the roster.

[listicle id=76119]

[listicle id=76087]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz7cqqgxy50qwt player_id=none image=https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

Report Card: Front seven failures, turnovers doom Oklahoma vs. Baylor

Oklahoma was inconsistent in their performance against the Baylor Bears. How did we grade each position group? From @thatmanbryant

Saturday’s effort for the Oklahoma Sooners followed an almost identical script to the game they played against the Kansas State Wildcats. An inability to stop the run, untimely errors on offense, and a chance late to flip the script. However, a crucial fourth-quarter fourth-down stop was too much to ask for. That same scenario played out in the Sooners 38-35 loss to Baylor.

Things weren’t all bad as a collective, but it wasn’t good enough, and that has become an all too familiar feeling after Oklahoma Sooners games this season.

How did Oklahoma perform in this week’s positional report card?

Sooners gaining momentum in race for California defensive lineman Ashton Sanders

Oklahoma continues to be the school with the most momentum to land three-star defensive tackle Ashton Sanders. From @thatmanbryant

Oklahoma has spent the last week and a half issuing offers for the 2023 and 2024 recruiting classes. One of the late 2023 offers went out to California defensive lineman Ashton Sanders. Sanders, a three-star defensive tackle who was once committed to California. He backed off that commitment in August and re-opened his recruitment.

He received his offer on Halloween and, in short order, received a prediction from Sooner Scoop’s Josh McCuistion.

If that wasn’t curious, more recruiting insiders have also logged predictions for Oklahoma to land the disruptive interior defender. Memphis Publisher’s Bryan Moss and Badger Blitz’s Jon McNamara have each flipped their predictions from Cal-Berkeley to Oklahoma in the last two days.

Oklahoma has seemingly positioned itself in a great spot for Ashton Sanders’ commitment. Todd Bates has locked in on another player as they continue to makeover the defensive line.

He looks more like a straightforward nose tackle in a four-man front akin to current Sooner Jeffery Johnson. In that scenario, he’d line up right over the center and try to collapse the interior from there. He’s got the size and strength to play in multiple defensive schemes.

With Early Signing Day in December, Oklahoma could have an answer soon on Sanders. Sanders told 247Sports’ Greg Biggins he plans to sign at Early Signing Day and graduate high school early.

[listicle id=74817]

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.