Tag: Jeffery Johnson

Eric Gray leading the way of highest-graded Oklahoma Sooners per Pro Football Focus

Eric Gray leading the way for the Oklahoma Sooners as the highest-graded player from Pro Football Focus.

At the midway point of the season for the Oklahoma Sooners, we’ve seen enough that we should have a good feel for who some of the best players are on this squad.

Dillon Gabriel may be the most valuable player on this team. We witnessed the difference in the offense when he wasn’t available. His and the Sooners’ performance against the Kansas Jayhawks a week ago put his value to this team on full display, throwing for 403 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

But there’s another player that should be in the discussion of best player on the squad and that’s Eric Gray. He’s been invaluable this season, rushing for 695 yards and averaging 7.2 yards per carry. Even after the bye week, he’s still inside the top 10 in runs of 10 yards or more.

Gray’s elusiveness has led to a breakaway percentage of 43.7%, which is top 20 in the nation among running backs with at least 96 carries on the season. Breakaway percentage reflects the percentage of carries that have gone for more than 15 yards. Eric Gray’s 12 runs of 15 yards or more is tied for 15th in the nation.

And it’s that ability to break big plays that has the Eric Gray as the highest-graded Sooner through the first half of the season.

Here’s how the Oklahoma Sooners rank and were graded by Pro Football Focus among players with at least 100 snaps.

5 defensive players to watch for Oklahoma as they take on No. 20 Kansas

Oklahoma takes on No. 20 Kansas on Saturday and we are looking at 5 defenders to watch.

Oklahoma is desperate for a win to regain any semblance of confidence that they’ve lost over the three-game losing streak.

A tough loss to Kansas State turned into a lopsided shellacking at the hands of TCU in Fort Worth, which ultimately culminated in last week’s 49-0 drubbing thanks to the Texas Longhorns.

In every one of those losses, the Sooners gave up 40 or more points.

On Saturday, the No. 20 Kansas Jayhawks team will stroll into the Palace on the Prairie fresh off their first loss of the season to No. 13 TCU. Kansas comes in with a dynamic offensive team averaging just a touch under 40 points per game.

They are a balanced offensive club averaging 226.3 passing yards per game and 215.2 rushing yards per game. For the majority of the season, the Jayhawks have been led by junior quarterback Jalon Daniels but after suffering an injury against TCU, Daniels looks doubtful for the game on Saturday according to ESPN.

Regardless, Oklahoma will have their hands full Saturday with backup QB Jason Bean, whom they faced last year. Their defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed of late so Daniels or not, this game should pose a significant threat to Oklahoma.

How do they go home Saturday night in their new UNITY uniforms winners? They’ll need better performances from these five defenders.

5 Sooners to watch on defense against Kansas State

Oklahoma will need a solid performance from these five defensive players when they take on Kansas State.

Oklahoma’s Big 12 campaign gets underway under the lights Saturday night in what should be a competitive matchup. Oklahoma and Kansas State two have played each other fairly close over the last few years. Kansas State comes into the game on the heels of a loss while Oklahoma straps their pads up following a dismantling of their longtime rivals, the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

In recent years, Kansas State felt like a lock to push the Sooners to the brink. While that remains a possibility, if Oklahoma can take care of things on the defensive side of the ball, they’ll put themselves in a much better position to win on Saturday.

There are a handful of Oklahoma players that could play a significant role in propelling this defense to victory. Take a look at our five defensive players to watch heading into the matchup with the Wildcats.

Oklahoma Sooners name captains for Big 12 opener vs. Kansas State Wildcats

Oklahoma names captains ahead of their week four matchup with the Kansas State Wildcats.

The Oklahoma Sooners have turned their attention to the Kansas State Wildcats after their week three decimation of Nebraska in Lincoln. Welcoming the Wildcats to Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Saturday night will be the newly elected captains for this week’s Big 12 opener.

As has become custom, the Oklahoma Sooners elect captains for each week’s matchup. This week, it will be center Andrew Raym, cornerback Jaden Davis, wide receiver Marvin Mims, defensive tackle Jeffery Johnson, and defensive end Ethan Downs.

Marvin Mims leads the Oklahoma Sooners in receiving with 14 receptions for 310 yards and two touchdowns. Ethan Downs is second on the team in sacks with 2.5 through three games. Jeffery Johnson has the highest run defense grade from Pro Football Focus in 2022. Jaden Davis earned rave reviews for his work in the offseason, and it’s showing on the field, while Andrew Raym has become a stabilizing force in the middle of the Sooners’ offensive line.

Each of these players is off to a strong start to the season for the Oklahoma Sooners and will play big roles as Oklahoma enters Big 12 play.

Here’s a look at some of the best photos of this week’s captains.

Danny Stutsman among 3 defensive players to watch against Nebraska

Oklahoma heads north to take on old rival Nebraska. Defensively, they’ll be challenged. If these players show up, Oklahoma can win.

Oklahoma and Nebraska used to look each other eye to eye and have epic battles. That time has passed, and now the two programs couldn’t be in more different places.

Oklahoma is still a national name and, in some eyes, ascending under first-year head coach Brent Venables.

The Cornhuskers returned to Norman last year in the first matchup between the two teams since Nebraska left for the Big Ten. The Sooners went on to win that game 23-16. A year later, things look different on both sides.

Neither head coach from that game remains, as Scott Frost was fired this past weekend after underwhelming during his tenure at his alma mater. Lincoln Riley dipped out on Oklahoma for Southern California.

This will be their first road test under rookie head coach Brent Venables. While Venables is no newcomer to this rivalry and coaching against Nebraska, the Cornhuskers won’t let the Sooners come and get a win without some resistance. They have an opportunity to rally around interim head coach Mickey Joseph.

As the Sooners get set for their first trip to Lincoln since the Cornhuskers 10-3 win in 2009, let’s take a look at three key players for the Oklahoma defense.

Up Next: A new defensive leader emerges

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5 Oklahoma Sooners to watch on defense vs. UTEP

Oklahoma suits up for the first time in 2022 against UTEP. Here are five defensive players we’ll be watching:

Oklahoma’s defense was far from bad last year. Make no mistake though, it wasn’t great either. According to Sports Reference, they were 60th in team defense. Pair that with inconsistent offensive outputs, and it makes up a team that missed out on a chance to win their seventh straight Big 12 title.

Alex Grinch is now at USC preparing his new team for their 2022 campaign. Oklahoma replaced Grinch with a guy whose Clemson team hadn’t finished outside the top 20 in team defense since 2015. Oh, and that year? They finished No. 25 out of 128 teams.

There’s a chance that if Oklahoma had any of that caliber of defense, they would’ve won a national title considering the offensive play they put on the field.

Brent Venables won’t be the defensive coordinator in Oklahoma, but you can bet the defense that you’ll see while he’s the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners is his defense. Ted Roof will run the defense, but Venables will undoubtedly have his hands in the pot. It’s fast, violent, suffocating, and multiple, and it helped Clemson win national titles in 2016 and 2018.

The Sooners are replacing six defensive starters from a year ago. Nik Bonitto and Isaiah Thomas will be hard to replace, but someone has to. Similarly, for the back end of the defense, where the starting safety duo of Delarrin Turner-Yell and Pat Fields is no more, the Sooners will need to find some answers.

With UTEP coming to town, the Sooners will get to showcase in full just how hard they’ve worked to understand and learn this new defensive scheme. We’ve rounded up some defensive players to watch when the Sooners take on the Miners.

5 observations from the Oklahoma Sooners first official depth chart

Observations from the first official depth chart released by Oklahoma as the Sooners prepare for their week one matchup with UTEP.

Folks, we have arrived at the first game week of the season for the Oklahoma Sooners. The wait is nearly over and we are merely days away from meaningful football being played in Norman, Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Sooners have been at it since the winter months getting in shape, lifting in the weight room before transitioning to spring ball, which culminated in one of the best spring game atmospheres the sport has ever seen.

All of that has led us to this week, which is the first game week for Brent Venables as head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners.

Venables will don the headset and will see his first team as the head coach take the field against a UTEP team that lost its first game against North Texas 31-13 during week zero.

While UTEP has game tape already out there for the Sooners to watch, the Miners will only be able to piece together information from watching last year and game plan based on the Sooners’ depth chart, which was released Monday morning.

We took a look at the depth chart and offered five observations below.

8 Oklahoma Sooners included to the Reeseโ€™s Senior Bowl watch list

Oklahoma lands eight on Senior Bowl watch list.

The Senior Bowl has become the best all-star game for NFL draft prospects to raise their profile during the draft process. Baker Mayfield attended the game, allowing NFL GMs, in particular the Cleveland Browns, the opportunity to see Mayfield over the course of the week.

The time spent in Mobile, Ala. helped Mayfield secure the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

More recently, Perrion Winfrey took advantage of the opportunity to meet with teams and help them get a better handle on who he was as a player and person. Winfrey was so dominant that he earned game MVP honors.

With the 2022 season about to kickoff, the Senior Bowl released its watch list for the 2022 season and eight Oklahoma Sooners were included.

Dillon Gabriel ranked No. 4 in ESPN’s top 50 newcomers for 2022

Taking the helm for the Oklahoma Sooners, UCF transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel was ranked No.4 among ESPN’s top 50 newcomers for 2022.

The transfer portal has created aย  whole different dynamic in college football that allows teams to rebuild their rosters on the fly. That’s how the Oklahoma Sooners mitigated losses to the NFL and the transfer portal themselves.

The most significant addition they made that will have the biggest impact is quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who came over from UCF.

Gabriel’s college experience and production made him a priority target for the Sooners once Caleb Williams entered the transfer portal and appeared destined to leave. Heading into the 2022 season, Dillon Gabriel was ranked No. 4 in ESPN’s top 50 newcomers (ESPN+). Bill Connelly included transfers who are new to their squad or incoming freshman.

Gabriel played for offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby at UCF, and now Lebby is the coordinator at Oklahoma. The two are reuniting at a perfect time after the Sooners lost quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler. In 2019 and 2020, Gabriel threw for a combined 7,223 yards and 61 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He suffered an injury that cut his 2021 season short and now he has an opportunity to lead Oklahoma. – Connelly, ESPN

Gabriel is reconnecting with Lebby for the first time since his freshman year in 2019. That season, Gabriel threw for 3,653 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while completing 60% of his passes.

โ€œYeah, I think the thing that he’s done has been exactly who he is,” offensive coordinator [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag] said. “Heโ€™s been very intentional on creating relationships and making sure that everybody in the locker room knows who he is as a person. And so he’s done a great job of that. The thing that we’re looking for coming into fall camp is taking care of the football, operating at a really high level. Those are the two things to me that are the most important. The ball is the only thing that matters, so take care of the rock and we’re gonna be in good shape.โ€

Former Sooners quarterback [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag] came in at No. 1, [autotag]Spencer Rattler[/autotag] at No. 10, and [autotag]Mario Williams[/autotag] at No. 11.

Several Oklahoma targets in the 2022 recruiting cycle also made the top 50 newcomers like OL Devon Campbell, who signed with Texas, Luther Burden of Missouri, Raleek Brown of USC, Talyn Shetron of Oklahoma State, and Jordan Hudson of TCU. Connelly believes each of these players has an opportunity to contribute right away to their respective teams.

In Oklahoma’s 2022 recruiting class, guys like [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] showed in the spring game that they’re ready to be involved in the offense early in their Sooners’ careers.

Another newcomer who has a chance to be one of the most impactful newcomers in college football is defensive tackle, [autotag]Jeffery Johnson[/autotag]. His presence on the interior will set the tone for the Sooners’ defensive front, especially against the running game.

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Oklahoma’s Jeffery Johnson projected to be the No. 2 defensive line transfer for 2022 by On3 Sports

Projecting which defensive line transfers will be the most impactful for 2022, On3 Sports ranked Jeffery Johnson second.

In recent history, the Oklahoma Sooners have done fantastic work acquiring players via the transfer portal to play significant roles on the team. The quarterback additions of Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts, and now Dillon Gabriel have helped the Sooners maintain their status as one of the top programs in college football.

And while Dillon Gabriel has to take a snap for the Sooners, his move to Norman is part of what provides the optimism that the Sooners can contend in 2022. But he’s not all. The Sooners made several additions on both sides of the football that will have a significant impact in 2022.

Look no further than defensive tackle Jeffery Johnson, the transfer from Tulane.

Johnson isn’t the same type of defensive tackle that we’ve seen in recent years with Neville Gallimore, Perrion Winfrey, and even Jalen Redmond. Johnson is a space-eater and people mover who will be disruptive on the interior, making life difficult for opposing guards and centers. His presence will make life easier on the linebacker corp as they look to fill from the second level in the running game and Jalen Redmond as teams have to send two blockers Johnson’s way.

Projecting who will be the most impactful transfers at each position in the 2022 season, Jeffery Johnson was ranked No. 2 among defensive linemen by On3 Sports’ Mike Huguenin.

The skinny:ย Jeffery Johnsonย was a four-year starter at nose tackle for Tulane, including as a true freshman in 2018, before entering the transfer portal. Johnson (6-2, 313) had 44 tackles last season, along with five tackles for loss, and had 33 tackles and six TFL in 2020. OU is looking to rebuild its defensive line under new coach Brent Venables, and Johnson gives Venables and new DC Ted Roof an experienced plug-and-play guy. Johnson had a good spring for the Sooners and could end up starting next to holdoverย Jalen Redmond; if he doesnโ€™t start, heโ€™ll still be an important part of the rotation. – Huguenin, On3 Sports

In 42 games over four seasons with the Green Wave, Johnson accumulated 135 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. Against the Sooners in 2021, Johnson had six total tackles and a tackle for loss, providing a challenge for the Oklahoma offensive line.

And while he’ll make his presence known mostly as a run defender, Johnson has the ability to get after the quarterback as well. In 2021, he was tied for fourth in total pressures for Tulane, according to Pro Football Focus.

Playing with improved talent along the defensive line, Johnson should be able to make a far greater impact. Simply his presence will make things difficult on opposing rushing attacks as his 330-pound frame won’t be easily moved. That size and strength on the interior will be a welcomed addition for the Oklahoma Sooners to kick off the Brent Venables era in Norman.

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