Tag: Jeremiah Hall

3 Keys for the Sooners offense vs West Virginia

As the Oklahoma Sooners get set to kick off Big 12 plays, here are 3 keys for the Sooners offense against West Virginia.

Another week of football time in Norman, Oklahoma!

Things will look and feel a little different as the Oklahoma Sooners will be hosting the West Virginia Mountaineers to kick off their Big 12 campaign. As the weather cools down a bit and the sun sets a lot faster, Oklahoma’s competition level will get hotter.

The Mountaineers come into this game as a decent opponent very capable of pushing Oklahoma. Defensively, they are led by defensive tackle Darius Stills who has had a heck of a college career. His disruption in the interior could play a major factor in this game.

Jared Bartlett presents another player the Sooners will have to account for. Bartlett plays a hybrid role called “bandit” which is basically a part time defensive end and a part time weak side linebacker. The ability to rush and cover could make for some chaotic moments if the Sooners can’t get a feel for what he will do.

Offensively, the Sooners have been pedestrian at best. Aside from their first half against their weakest opponent thus far, they have not looked like usual Sooners offenses. Here are some keys to get the offense going against a fairly solid and sound Mountaineers defense.

Up Next: “Open the Valve!”

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Handing Out Grades: Report Card for the Oklahoma Sooners win vs. Nebraska

How did the Sooners position groups perform in their 23-16 win over Nebraska?

It’s always easier to talk about a team’s performance when they’ve won a game. At the end of the day, all that matters is who has more points than the other. Oklahoma didn’t play their best football in the game versus Nebraska. They would tell you that and the world knows that. However, they won the game and that’s what’s most important and in the process, we saw some things that make us feel a bit better about how these first three weeks have gone.

Let’s hand out some grades.

Quarterbacks: B-

Spencer rattler definitely did not play his best game. Most of that was largely due to him and at times his coach Lincoln Riley being stumped by the soft zone and zone blitz Nebraska was sending their way. At numerous points, Rattler looked notably hesitant in the pocket and it led to errant throws and him holding on to the ball just entirely too long. They would eventually find a few chinks in it and string together enough completions and run the ball more than effective enough to win the game.

He started the game on fire going 6 of 7 on his first drive. He made some great throws on third down but made some questionable decisions trying to get the ball to freshman Mario Williams. When the team needed him to make plays, he delivered. He finished 24/34 for 214 yards and a TD pass to Jeremiah Hall to go along with a QB sneak for a touchdown.

Up Next: Grading the Running Backs and Offensive Line

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Oklahoma Sooners add Defensive End Isaiah Thomas to group of captains

The Oklahoma Sooners announced that they’ve added Isaiah Thomas to their Royo of captains for the 2021 college football season.

One week into the 2021 college football season and the Oklahoma Sooners have made an addition to their leadership group. After Spencer Rattler, Jeremiah Hall, Caleb Kelly, and Pat Fields were named captains ahead of their week one matchup with Tulane, the Sooners added Isaiah Thomas to their group of captains for the 2021 season.

Since bursting into the scene with a breakout 2020 season, Isaiah Thomas has been one of the Oklahoma Sooners best players. His ability to play on the edge and inside provided Alex Grinch the opportunity to get his three best defensive players on the field at the same time last season in Thomas, and fellow edge rushers, Nik Bonitto and Ronnie Perkins.

After logging just 148 snaps and one sack over his first two seasons, Thomas played 451 snaps, led the Sooners in tackles for loss and was second on the team with 7.5 sacks.

Thomas has shown leadership during the last couple of years with the team. This week when asked how Spencer Rattler has grown into his role as a leader, Thomas said, “Spencer just needs to be Spencer.”

Thomas gave a fantastic and thoughtful answer about the expectations that come with being the Sooners quarterback.

Thomas is already one of the leaders on the defense. As one of the veterans, and one of the best players on the defense, he carries a lot of weight with that unit. Now in an official capacity, Thomas has the clout to lead this team on Saturdays.

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Oklahoma Sooners name captains for 2021 college football season

Ahead of the Sooners week one matchup with the Tulane Green Wave, OU released their team captains for the 2021 season.

As the Oklahoma Sooners get set to take on the Tulane Green Wave in week one of the 2021 college football season, several items on the agenda must be taken care of. Soon Oklahoma will release its first official depth chart of the season, but tonight they let us know the players representing the 2021 squad as captains.

Two offensive and two defensive players were selected as the Sooners’ captains for the 2021 season — Spencer Rattler and Jeremiah Hall from the offense and Caleb Kelly and Pat Fields from the defense.

While Spencer Rattler represents the most important player on the roster because of his position, he’s arguably the best player as well. The Heisman Trophy frontrunner is coming off a redshirt freshman season where he threw for 3,031 yards, 28 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He averaged 9.7 yards per attempt and recorded a passer rating (NFL version) of 118.4. As important as the stats, the way Spencer Rattler rebounded from his benching during the Texas game spoke volumes. He learned from his mistakes and went on to play really good football down the stretch.

Jeremiah Hall is one of the key cogs in Lincoln Riley’s offense. He won’t get the touches that Marvin Mims or Kennedy Brooks will get, but Hall will be an impact player in the passing game nonetheless. In 2020, Hall had five touchdowns on just 21 targets. Not only has he been an impact player on offense, but he also provides veteran leadership on special teams.

Senior Caleb Kelly is making his return to the lineup after sitting out the 2020 season. Kelly is the elder statesman of the Sooners defense. He’s played in 35 games for Oklahoma and will be a key piece of Brian Odom’s linebacker rotation.

Like Kelly, Senior Pat Fields has played in a lot of games for the Oklahoma Sooners. He had a fantastic 2019 season with two sacks and six tackles for loss. In 2020, he recorded one interception. He’s been a steady hand in the secondary, helping oversee the Sooners’ defensive transformation under Alex Grinch.

As the Sooners embark on what many analysts believe could be a national championship season, the 2021 team captains will play significant roles in Oklahoma’s success.

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Non-conference schedule presents opportunity to discover running back depth for Oklahoma

With questions at running back, the Oklahoma Sooners’ top priority in non-conference play will be to figure out their running back depth.

It’s been a tumultuous 10 months for the Oklahoma Sooners running back position. A roller coaster ride that would scare off even the biggest thrill-seeker.

First, last year’s starter at running back, T.J. Pledger, left for Utah via the transfer portal. Kennedy Brooks returned from his COVID opt-out season. Rhamondre Stevenson declared for the NFL draft. Eric Gray arrived in Norman from Tennessee. Seth McGowan and Mikey Henderson were dismissed from the team. Then Tre Bradford arrived to provide depth for a Sooners backfield that saw a ton of turnover this spring.

But apparently, the turnover wasn’t finished. With just eight days until the Oklahoma Sooners open the 2021 season against the Tulane Green Wave, the Sooners were dealt another blow at the running back position with the loss of Marcus Major, who was deemed academically ineligible for the fall of 2022. A day later, the Sooners lost Tre Bradford, who presumably is heading back to LSU, returning to a team he departed just months prior.

The Oklahoma Sooners have options at running back in redshirt junior Jaden Knowles and redshirt sophomore Todd Hudson. However, they’re largely unproven players who haven’t touched the ball much for the Sooners in a game.

Though most of the significant workload will go to Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray, the Sooners have to find a reliable player to take those third running back snaps. The non-conference schedule will be a huge opportunity for the Sooners to find out who will take those third running back snaps.

Oklahoma has options in H-Back Jeremiah Hall, as well as Knowles and Hudson. Hall hasn’t carried the ball much in his career with the Sooners, but he’s an option that can be used as a running back in the passing game. He’s a good pass protector and has excellent hands.

If they’re able to get up big in games against Tulane, Western Carolina, and Nebraska as is being projected, Lincoln Riley and DeMarco Murray will have a fantastic opportunity to figure out their running back depth chart as they enter Big 12 play.

Brooks and Gray will lead the way, but in the event of an injury, the Sooners need to find a reliable option to run behind their top two runners. That answer may not be apparent at this point, but the Sooners coaching staff will need to work something out in quick order.

What Marcus Major’s ineligibility means for OU’s backfield

Sooners running back Marcus Major was expected to take the next step in 2021. What does his sudden ineligibility mean for the Oklahoma backfield?

Sooner Scoop reported Tuesday afternoon that redshirt sophomore Marcus Major had been ruled academically ineligible for the 2021 season.

The running back’s sudden removal from the offense comes as a shock to many. Major has been practicing in front of the media throughout fall camp and received high praise from running backs coach DeMarco Murray as recently as last week.

He made huge leaps individually last year just throughout practice. You could probably see it the last six or seven weeks of the season. Was probably practicing better than anyone. He’s a young guy. Obviously, he didn’t get a ton of reps last year, but he’s a guy that’s been around awhile, knows the system. His development… since I’ve been here has only been increasing. So, he’s done a good job for us.

With the season opener versus Tulane 10 days away, an unexpected opportunity has appeared for LSU transfer Tre Bradford.

Both Murray and Lincoln Riley love the versatility Bradford brings to Norman. While he has only been a Sooner since the middle of June, he possesses the speed and work ethic needed to bulldoze his way into the regular-season rotation.

Major’s ineligibility could also lead the Sooners to use Jeremiah Hall as more of a halfback (or at least pretend to). Hall had one rushing attempt in 2020 and has never had more than four in a single season. Though he may not have carried the ball much, his receiving prowess makes him a weapon in the passing game. The suddenly-depleted backfield could allow Hall to showcase his versatility in 2021 with increased work as a running back.

While starting running backs Eric Gray and Kennedy Brooks were going to receive a ton of snaps regardless of Major’s eligibility, Hall and Bradford could suddenly be looking at a much different 2021 season.

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Top 21 players for the Oklahoma Sooners entering 2021

As the Oklahoma Sooners get set to continue their reign atop the Big 12 and contend for a national title, here are the top 21 players for 2021.

Heading into the 2021 season, the Oklahoma Sooners have one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the country. On both sides of the ball, the Sooners have great players throughout the lineup that will make big impacts on Saturdays this fall.

On offense, the Sooners are led by Heisman Trophy front-runner Spencer Rattler and a high-powered passing attack. On defense, the Sooners have four guys that can create havoc in both the running game and rushing the passer.

This is a team that should be one of the more exciting teams to watch with their blend of big-play offense and suffocating defense. With just 15 days until kickoff, let’s take a look at the top 21 Oklahoma Sooners heading into 2021.

8 Oklahoma Sooners named to the 2022 Senior Bowl watch list

Ahead of the 2021 season, eight Oklahoma Sooners make the 2022 Senior Bowl watch list.

The Oklahoma Sooners come into 2021 with a veteran group on both sides of the football. That’s part of the reason experts are so high on the Sooners’ chances at a seventh-straight Big 12 Championship and contention for the national championship.

Many in that group of veterans will likely be off to the NFL next season, though some will be more highly sought after than others. The NFL draft process can often put more weight on younger players, often leaving seniors to scrap for their spot among a draft class elite.

Whether it’s a late breakout or competition at the top of the depth chart that prevented them from seeing the field, senior draft prospects can sometimes get dinged depending on the situation.

For those seniors, however, there’s one extra opportunity to make an impression for NFL coaches and front office personnel, and that’s at the Reese’s Mobile Senior Bowl.

At the Senior Bowl, players get put through a week of practice with NFL coaching staffs with scouts, coaches, and general managers in attendance. They go through individual and team drills in the lead-up to the Senior Bowl on the weekend. Though the Senior Bowl isn’t the only thing NFL teams take into account, it can often confirm how they feel about certain players for front offices.

It’s an opportunity for an under-the-radar player or a player with questionable technique or character to get in front of teams and allay any concerns.

In 2021, Tre Brown, Rhamondre Stevenson, Creed Humphrey, Tre Norwood, and Adrian Ealy were in attendance at the Senior Bowl. In 2020, Neville Gallimore and Jalen Hurts took part. In 2018, Baker Mayfield surprised everyone when he participated in the evaluation process.

For 2022, the Oklahoma Sooners have eight players named to the Senior Bowl’s watch list. Not every player will make the final rosters for the week in Mobile, but several will and they’ll benefit greatly from the process.

Let’s take a look at the eight players that could represent the Oklahoma Sooners at the 2022 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Hall is the top rated fullback for the 2022 Senior Bowl

Reese’s Senior Bowl views Oklahoma Sooners’ Jeremiah Hall as the top-rated fullback.

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Each year the top prospects for the NFL draft head to Mobile, Alabama. The site for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Players such as Baker Mayfield have participated in the weeklong event to prepare for the upcoming draft process. The prospects work with NFL coaching staffs and meet with teams in hope of impressing them enough to earn a draft slot.

This past year Creed Humphrey, Adrian Ealy, Tre Brown, Tre Norwood and Rhamondre Stevenson were among the players to participate. According to executive director Jim Nagy, another Oklahoma Sooner is one of the top players to watch for the upcoming college football season, current H-back/tight end Jeremiah Hall.

Hall is among a trio of non-wide receivers who can make an impact in the passing game along with Austin Stogner and Brayden Willis. Last season he finished with 18 receptions for 218 yards and five touchdowns. Not a premier focal point of the offense but someone that must be accounted for when No. 27 is on the field. He has also been a top blocker for the Oklahoma running game.

Pro Football Focus gave Hall a pass-blocking grade of 65.4 and a run-blocking grade of 63.9. He is very steady in that regard but another season and work at the Senior Bowl could help improve that skill immensely. Jeremiah Hall is another Oklahoma Sooner to watch as the draft process moves on, but he is already on the radar for the Reese’s Senior Bowl staff.

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What Alex Grinch, Oklahoma players had to say about Florida ahead of Cotton Bowl

What defensive coordinator Alex Grinch and Oklahoma players had to say about Florida ahead of their matchup in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on Wednesday night.

No. 6 Oklahoma is set to conclude the wild 2020 season with a battle against No. 7 Florida in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on Wednesday night.

The Sooners come in fresh off capturing a sixth consecutive Big 12 title a week and a half ago in a win over Iowa State. The victory was their seventh straight after falling into an early 1-2 hole to start the season.

Oklahoma has been led by their defense in the second half of the season, with a front seven that is among the best in the entire country. They’ll have their hands full with a potent Florida offense in this game, although the Gators will be missing multiple key contributors.

Last week at the Cotton Bowl virtual media day, defense coordinator Alex Grinch and Sooners players had the opportunity to give some thoughts on Florida ahead of their collision at AT&T Stadium. Here is what they had to say.

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