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.

Best photos from the first few days of Oklahoma’s fall camp

Fall camp is underway! Check out some of the best photos from the first few practices as the Sooners get ready for 2022.

Fall camp is underway for the Oklahoma Sooners. They’ll kick off the 2022 college football season in 23 days against the UTEP Miners.

With everything that’s happened over the last nine months since Oklahoma lost to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Bedlam, everything has pointed to fall camp as the Sooners get set for September 3 and UTEP.

Oklahoma’s looking to reclaim their seat on the Big 12 throne but has several things they need to work through in fall camp to be ready for the season opener. The Sooners are one of the favorites to contend in the Big 12 and as they continue their preparations for 2022, let’s take a look at some of the best photos from the first few days of fall camp.

Oklahoma DB Justin Harrington rejoins the Sooners per report

After entering the transfer portal last fall, Justin Harrington has returned to the Oklahoma Sooners according to OUInsider’s Parker Thune.

The Oklahoma Sooners got a boost today as it became official that Justin Harrington, who’d entered the transfer portal in the fall will be returning to the team, according to Parker Thune of OUInsider at 247Sports.

The North Carolina native was the No. 10 player among junior college prospects in 2020 before joining the Oklahoma Sooners. Buried on a depth chart that featured veteran defensive backs [autotag]Pat Fields[/autotag], [autotag]Delarrin Turner-Yell[/autotag],[autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag], [autotag]D.J. Graham[/autotag], and [autotag]Justin Broiles[/autotag], Harrington struggled to see the field in 2021.

Harrington saw 22 snaps at cornerback against Western Carolina in week two of the 2021 season. Other than those snaps against the Catamounts, Harrington was primarily used on special teams and only in minimal amounts.

Harrington will still have some work to do to move up a depth crowded depth chart, but at 6-3 and 214 lbs, the new coaching staff might envision playing Harrington at safety. New staff, new opportunity.

With Fields off to Stanford and Turner-Yell the NFL, the Oklahoma Sooners have a void at safety. It’s presumed that [autotag]Key Lawrence[/autotag] will start at one of the safety spots and [autotag]Justin Broiles[/autotag] or [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] could figure in at the other spot.

However, if Harrington can get up to speed, he might be able to break into the rotation at safety to help the Sooners answer the question on the back end.

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Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman Brey Walker enters transfer portal

OU offensive lineman Brey Walker entered the transfer portal on Friday. He joins several other Sooners as recent transfer portal defections.

Oklahoma offensive tackle Brey Walker entered the transfer portal on Friday. Walker joined Oklahoma as a five-star recruit in the Sooners’ 2018 class.

The Moore, Okla., native was rated as the nation’s No. 29 overall prospect and No. 4 offensive tackle in the 2018 class according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

According to 247Sports’ Chris Hummer, Walker saw a total of 308 career snaps over the course of his Oklahoma career and just 40 this season.

Walker was listed on Oklahoma’s depth chart as the backup right guard behind starter Chris Murray ahead of the Oklahoma State game.

Sports Illustrated’s John Hoover touched on what a big offseason it was for Walker on All Sooners back in June.

“Brey Walker, shoot, he’s really come on. Been really impressed with him. We’ve got a lot of competition. If everybody’s there, if everybody’s healthy, we’ve got 6-8 guys that could play guard that I feel really, really good about. I don’t know that I’ve had that anywhere. So he’s had to really step it up, and he’s done a hell of a job, especially these last 4-5 days. Him doing a good job allowed me to move somebody else to left guard, he was playing so well at right guard,” Oklahoma offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh said of Walker back in the spring.

It just never fully materialized at Oklahoma for Walker.

Walker joins the list alongside quarterback Spencer Rattler, wide receivers Jadon Haselwood and Theo Wease, and tight end/H-back Austin Stogner as recent Oklahoma players to enter the transfer portal.

OU also saw defensive back Justin Harrington and offensive tackle Noah Nelson enter the transfer portal back in October.

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4 defensive players to watch as Oklahoma takes on TCU

Oklahoma is in need of a bounce back defensive performance and to get it, these four Sooners are vital against TCU.

While the offense continues to find itself and find its quarterback, the Oklahoma Sooners defense will have to continue to show up. After a very poor performance in the first half of the Sooners win against the Texas Longhorns, Speed D found its footing and was absolutely lights out in the second half to hold up their end of the bargain in the team’s improbable comeback effort.

Timely stops, better coverage, and better tackling all led to better results in the second half of the Sooners’ win.

Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch will be hoping they can carry that second-half finish with them as they return home.

They now turn their attention to TCU, who’s offense has been pretty good in 2021.

They are led by Max Duggan and lining up in the backfield with him is former five-star running back Zach Evans and another solid running back in Kendre Miller. Out wide Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis, and Taye Barber are their main threats.

Who are the key Oklahoma defenders in this match-up? Here are four Sooners that are vital to Oklahoma’s chances of slowing down the Horned Frogs offense on Saturday night.

Up Next: It all Starts Upfront

REPORT: Delarrin Turner-Yell unavailable for game vs. Kansas State

As the Oklahoma Sooners attempt to remain undefeated in 2021 they’ll have to face Kansas State without safety Delarrin Turner-Yell.

All of the injury intrigue this week has been on the Kansas State side of things with the mystery surrounding quarterback Skylar Thompson. However, the Oklahoma Sooners are dealing with injuries as well and were dealt a blow with pregame news that Delarrin Turner-Yell didn’t make the trip to Manhattan.

Per former Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman-turned Sirius XM host Gabe Ikard, Turner-Yell won’t be available this week after he suffered an injury last week in the Sooners win over West Virginia.

Turner-Yell suffered a lower-leg injury in the second half of last week’s game, a game where he had an impressive interception in the first quarter.

Starting in his place will be redshirt senior Justin Broiles.

The loss of Delarrin Turner-Yell will be felt by an Oklahoma Sooners defense that has been playing well this season. Turner-Yell has played more than anyone other than Pat Fields for the Sooners defense and he leads Oklahoma in tackles.

While Broiles will start expect to see Key Lawrence get a lot of work this week as Alex Grinch likes to play a lot of players on his defense and will try to find the best fit.

Though it’s unknown why Justin Harrington entered into the transfer portal, the timing is certainly curious with the injury to Turner-Yell keeping him in Norman for today’s game.

The Oklahoma Sooners are looking to vanquish a foe they haven’t beaten in two seasons and remain undefeated. In order to do so, they’ll do it without one of their leaders on the defense.

Sooners’ Cornerback Justin Harrington to enter transfer portal

Oklahoma Sooners cornerback Justin Harrington enters the transfer portal.

As they get ready to take on Big 12 foe Kansas Ste, the Oklahoma Sooners will be down one less defensive back as cornerback Justin Harrington has decided to enter the transfer portal, according to 247Sports.

Harrington committed to the Sooners in 2020. He was a four-star recruit and was considered by some the number one JUCO safety available at the time per 247. He was recruited as a safety out of junior college but has since bounced around to nickel back, and from there, made the switch full time to cornerback.

Harrington brought elite size to the Sooners secondary, standing at 6-foot-3 but failed to play in any game in 2020 and has failed to see the field this year as well. The Sooners’ depth is being challenged at the moment as Woodi Washington and Jeremiah Criddell are dealing with injuries. That may raise some eyebrows as the Sooners look to navigate the injury situation at the position.

According to OU Daily, true freshman Jordan Mukes was moved to cornerback on Thursday in this week’s updated depth chart. That move now makes a lot more sense, considering the confirmation that Harrington has since entered the transfer portal.

DJ Graham and Jaden Davis will likely continue to hold down the starting spots, with Latrell McCutchin and Joshua Eaton backing them up as the Sooners suit up tomorrow vs. Kansas State.

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Sooners’ DB coach says Justin Harrington “practicing exclusively” at cornerback

Sooners’ DB coach Roy Manning says Justin Harrington is “practicing exclusively” at cornerback.

Last fall, the Oklahoma Sooners entered camp with defensive backs Tre Brown and Tre Norwood penciled in as starters in the defensive backfield.

This fall, Brown is a Seattle Seahawk, and Norwood is a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their departure leaves a pile of snaps and new opportunities for returning Sooners in Alex Grinch’s defense.

While converted receiver D.J. Graham is one name to watch, redshirt junior Justin Harrington could be another. The Bakersfield Community College transfer makes his return to the practice fields after rehabbing a knee injury that ended his 2020 season before it began.

Because Harrington’s injury occurred just one week into training camp, there has been little clarity on his role within the secondary.

Defensive backs coach Roy Manning shed some light on Harrington’s place in the Sooners’ defense, informing Bob Pryzbylo that the junior has been practicing “exclusively” at corner.

At 6-2, 212 pounds, Harrington is the largest defensive back on the Sooners roster. He could become a real problem for opposing offenses if he possesses the hip flexibility and multi-directional quickness needed to play cornerback. In addition, his large frame allows him to battle receivers at the football’s highest point.

The second-year Sooner also brings physicality to the corner position. His hard-hitting ability on the sideline, coupled with Delarrin Turner-Yell’s physical presence from the safety spot, could give Oklahoma a physical identity from the defensive front through the secondary.

Whether he gets to start or rotates with D.J. Graham and Woodi Washington on the outside, his presence could help bolster the Sooners’ defense on its quest for its eighth national title.

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As the season approaches, where do the Sooners stand at safety?

Strong play in the secondary could be the tipping point in OU’s title hunt. Here’s how the Sooners stand at safety.

Defensive backs with position flexibility are a hot commodity with the roof of what is possible on offense repeatedly blown off in today’s college football. Modern offenses eagerly await opportunities to go up-tempo, dictating when and how defenses can make substitutions.

Coaches covet defenders who feel comfortable backpedaling from either side of the field. But the truth is most defenders have a preference. Rarer still is the DB with the body of a linebacker and the fluidity of a receiver.

Most of the “do it all” defensive backs are specialized when they land on an NFL roster. That’s why the difference between a safety and a corner is still relevant in today’s game.

With that said, let’s zoom in on the Sooners’ secondary and focus specifically on the safeties.

Lincoln Riley announces 4 players who will miss a ‘substantial part of the season’

The injury bug had reportedly hit Oklahoma hard during fall camp, and those reports came to fruition. Lincoln Riley confirmed on Saturday.

The injury bug had reportedly hit Oklahoma hard during fall camp, and those reports came to fruition.

Caleb Kelly (ACL), Justin Harrington (ACL) and Marcus Hicks (Achilles) had all been injured according to multiple reports in the early stages of fall camp. Head coach Lincoln Riley hadn’t met with the media yet, and then ended the hiatus on Saturday.

He confirmed that Kelly, Harrington, Hicks and walk-on Cason Grant.

“All had some lower extremity injuries that required medical attention,” Riley said. “Those guys will all miss a substantial part of the season … but all those guys will be limited for an extended period.”

According to Riley, Harrington had suffered the injury before arriving on campus.

These aren’t four major impactful injuries, but losing Kelly with thin depth at linebacker could weigh heavily. Only DaShaun White and Brian Asamoah have meaningful experience playing at inside linebacker with former walk-on Brian Mead leading a group of players behind them that have not played a down at linebacker for Oklahoma.

The Sooners are scheduled to begin the 2020 season on Sept. 12 against Missouri State at home.

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