Tag: Kaden Helms

Oklahoma Sooners 2025 four-star TE target Nate Roberts decommits from Notre Dame

Oklahoma four-star TE target Nate Roberts decommits from Notre Dame followed by a flurry of predictions favoring the Sooners.

The Oklahoma Sooners haven’t been shy about the need to improve their tight end depth. Injuries to 2022 signees [autotag]Kaden Helms[/autotag] and [autotag]Jason Llewellyn[/autotag] have put a dent in the tight end depth chart of the future.

Position coach Joe Jon Finley and the group gained a boost in the 2024 recruiting cycle when [autotag]Davon Mitchell[/autotag] committed and reclassified. He’ll joining the Sooners next year and could be a five-star prospect by national signing day.

But the position needs more talent. Oklahoma received some encouraging news on that front. 2025 four-star tight end target [autotag]Nate Roberts[/autotag] decommitted from Notre Dame Tuesday morning.

“I have made the decision to decommit from the University of Notre Dame,” Roberts posted on his social media profile. “I want to thank coach Freeman, coach Parker and Chad Bowden for the opportunity and wish them and the Fighting Irish the best going forward.

Roberts is a top five player in the state of Oklahoma, the No. 61 player overall in the 247Sports 2025 rankings and a top five player at the position.

Last week SoonerScoop’s Josh McCuistion issued a prediction flip favoring the Oklahoma Sooners in Roberts’ recruitment. That felt like a foreshadowing of what happened today in Roberts pulling his pledge to the Fighting Irish.

The talented in-state prospect had only been committed to Notre Dame since June. Now it looks like the Sooners are homing in on adding another blue chip prospect to their rapidly growing [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

Roberts holds 31 offers, including 27 from Power Five programs. Ten are from SEC schools, including Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

Nate Roberts’ Recruiting Profile

Projections

Soon after the Notre Dame decommitment a flurry of predictions dropped favoring the Sooners. On3’s Sam Spiegelman, Rivals Clint Cosgrove and OUInsider at Rivals Parker Thune each put in picks for the Sooners.

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Offseason Stock Up, Stock Down for the Oklahoma Sooners

Taking stock of certain aspects of Oklahoma’s football team after a long offseason. Who is trending up and down?

The offseason is coming to a close, and the 2023 football season is right around the corner. When the pads go on, teams take the intensity up a notch as they dig deeper to prepare for the season.

Oklahoma’s offseason has been pretty quiet, all things considered. Conference realignment isn’t dominating headlines for Oklahoma. Its focus is on being the best Oklahoma team it can be in its final Big 12 season.

Each week during the season, we take stock of where the Sooners are as a team and which way individuals within the program are trending. Here’s an offseason look at the stock report.

Oklahoma needs a breakout season from Austin Stogner at tight end in 2023

The Sooners return Austin Stogner at tight end, and Oklahoma needs him to experience a Brayden Willis-like breakout in 2023.

The tight end position at Oklahoma has just as many, if not more, question marks than the wide receiver position. It’s been a productive position over the years, but there’s not a lot of production to bank on heading into 2023.

The Sooners lose [autotag]Brayden Willi[/autotag]s, who was the second-leading receiver on the team and one of the best players in 2022. He was selected in the seventh round by the San Francisco 49ers.

His leadership made him an invaluable player for the Oklahoma Sooners. Willis has a career year last season. He hadn’t previously eclipsed 200 yards receiving before going for over 500 in 2022.

It was his performance in 2022 that earned him a draftable grade. In addition to what he brings on the field, his leadership on and off will be missed.

On a positive note, Oklahoma sees a familiar face return in [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag]. Without Stogner, tight end would be in a load of trouble.

Stogner brings experience, but his production hasn’t matched his talent yet. His best season was his sophomore year at Oklahoma when he had 422 yards and three touchdowns. Since then, he hasn’t reached 215 yards in a season.

The hope is Stogner will have a similar type of breakout that Willis experienced. The Sooners also return [autotag]Jason Llewellyn[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaden Helms[/autotag].

They don’t have a lot of experience. Neither played more than 40 snaps on offense for the Sooners in 2022. What’s going to limit their ability to take a step is that neither Llewellyn nor Helms participated in spring ball due to injury.

This room is going to really rely on Stogner to take a massive step like Willis did and hope missing spring ball didn’t hurt the growth of Helms or Llewellyn.

The Sooners did add someone to be Gabriel’s go-to guy on third downs and in the red zone, areas where Oklahoma struggled in 2022. Stogner has the talent to be a big-time receiving threat for the Oklahoma Sooners, but time is running out in his career to show it.

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Projecting Oklahoma’s offensive depth chart before summer practice

Summer offensive depth chart projection for the 2023 Oklahoma Sooners.

Oklahoma has started summer preparation for the upcoming season. Currently, the players are getting in their strength and conditioning work. There have been no padded practices, and there will not be any for a while, but that will not stop us from trying to figure out what Oklahoma’s starting offense and defense will look like when the Sooners take the field on Sept. 2 against the Arkansas State Red Wolves.

Offensively, the Sooners starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel returned to help quarterback an offense that was 13th nationally in total offense last season. Much was made about Gabriel’s performance but a team finishing in the top 20 in total offense is probably doing many things right. Blaming the quarterback for a 6-7 season seems a bit excessive. In the one game Gabriel didn’t play, Oklahoma scored zero points in its biggest game of the season versus Texas.

Outside of that, Oklahoma underwent departures to the NFL by their starting right and left tackles, Wanya Morris and Anton Harrison, respectively. The latter was selected in the first round by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Marvin Mims went in the second round to the Denver Broncos. Starting running back Eric Gray was drafted in the fourth round by the New York Giants. Starting tight end Brayden Willis is a San Francisco 49er after being drafted in the seventh round.

Oklahoma will have holes to fill. We took our best shot at projecting an offensive depth chart while considering transfer portal acquisitions, recruiting, general roster maturation and turnover from last year’s team.

A look at 2025 TE Chase Loftin, who picked up a recent Oklahoma offer

Oklahoma becomes the first college to offer 6-foot-5 2025 TE prospect Chase Loftin out of Nebraska.

2025 tight end Chase Loftin has knocked down a significant hurdle in becoming a collegiate athlete. He has finally secured his first scholarship offer, and it came thanks to the Oklahoma Sooners.

Loftin hails from Omaha, Nebraska. He played for Elkhorn North High School, where he grabbed 39 catches for 577 yards and five touchdowns. He also had duties as a punter, averaging almost 41 yards per punt.

Loftin showed up in Norman looking to compete at Brent Venables OU Camp, and Loftin did just that. At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, he has the requisite frame to grow into a collegiate tight end. Loftin has football in his DNA and a brother who is a redshirt freshman tight end at Oklahoma’s Big 12 foe, the Kansas State Wildcats.

As it stands, Oklahoma doesn’t have a tight end committed for 2025. Their top target has been five-star Davon Mitchell. Mitchell is a prospect that Oklahoma is the perceived leader for, but no commitment has happened just yet. Oklahoma could take Mitchell and a second commitment from another tight end like Loftin based on numbers. Mitchell is the caliber of player that is a take no matter the numbers, and you figure out the logistics along the way. Mitchell has been rumored to reclassify to the 2024 cycle, opening the door for Loftin to be the target in 2025.

Loftin will have a bit more of a magnifying glass on himself in the future. Now that he has an Oklahoma offer, his recruitment should see an uptick.

“It was awesome,” Loftin shared with Sooners Illustrated’s James D. Jackson about receiving the Sooners offer. “Probably the best moment of my life so far. When they brought me up, I wasn’t expecting it. It took me by surprise, for sure. It’s one I’ve wanted my whole life, so it’s a dream come true. It’s a dream school, for sure.”

Oklahoma is fresh off back-to-back years in landing a tight end from the state of Nebraska. [autotag]Kaden Helms[/autotag] in 2022 and [autotag]Kade McInytre[/autotag] from the 2023 class hailed from Nebraska.

Can Oklahoma’s budding relationship with Chase Loftin help them go 3/3 in the Cornhusker State recruiting tight ends? We’ll find out over the next 18 months.

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Oklahoma Sooners No. 7 in ESPN’s future offense rankings

Despite the turnover on offense, ESPN likes where the Sooners are heading, slotting them No. 7 in their future offense power rankings.

The Oklahoma Sooners are working to replace several starters off of an offense that was pretty good in 2022.

Marvin Mims, Eric Gray, Anton Harrison, Wanya Morris, Chris Murray, and Brayden Willis were each selected in the 2023 NFL draft. If you’re keeping track at home, that’s the top two receivers, leading rusher, and three starting offensive linemen.

Though there is a lot of turnover that they’re working through, they still have a group of talented players on offense to fill those holes. That’s why the Sooners were ranked No. 7 by Adam Rittenberg in ESPN’s future offense rankings

Scouting the Sooners: Despite Oklahoma’s first losing season since 1998, the offense produced at a decent clip, finishing 10th nationally in rushing (219.4 yards per game). The SEC transition looms for the Sooners, but the unit projects well with depth at quarterback, wide receiver and other positions. Quarterback play will remain a strength as [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] returns for a second season in coordinator Jeff Lebby’s offense, and incoming freshman [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], ESPN’s No. 3 overall recruit, should carry the unit through the 2025 season. Oklahoma loses top rusher [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], a fifth-round NFL draft pick who gained 1,366 yards last season, and will turn to sophomore [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag], redshirt freshman [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and others. Barnes averaged 4.5 yards per carry as Gray’s backup last fall. The Sooners regain tight end [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag], who played his first three seasons at OU before transferring to South Carolina for 2022. He leads a group that includes junior [autotag]Blake Smith[/autotag], second-year [autotag]Kaden Helms[/autotag] and others. – Rittenberg, ESPN

Jovantae Barnes and Gavin Sawchuk are going to be dynamic players. Barnes ran for more than 500 yards last season. In Sawchuk’s first extended run with the Sooners, he ran for 100 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. With as much as Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby wants to run the ball, being able to hand it to a pair of dynamic runners 25-30 times a game will create big plays and set the tone for the Sooners offense.

OU lost top wide receiver [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] Jr. to the NFL, and will lean on junior [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], senior [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag], freshman [autotag]Gavin Freeman[/autotag] and others to fill the production void. The Sooners added Michigan transfer [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag], and signed [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag], ESPN’s No. 45 overall recruit in the 2023 class. Younger receivers [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] and [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] also will be part of the mix. The offensive line should remain a strength, especially at center with senior [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag] and at guard with [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag]. Junior [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] started five games at tackle in 2022, and Oklahoma did well in the portal with [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag] (Stanford) and [autotag]Caleb Shaffer[/autotag] (Miami Ohio), both multiyear starters. Depth appears solid with sophomores [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag] and [autotag]Savion Byrd[/autotag], and others. OU added [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag], ESPN’s No. 2 guard and No. 55 overall recruit for 2022. – Rittenberg, ESPN

If there are questions, it’s at wide receiver beyond Jalil Farooq and Drake Stoops and along the offensive line where they’re hoping transfer additions can help solidify the unit.

If Walter Rouse and his 38 starts can be the answer at left tackle, the Sooners have options at guard with Caleb Shaffer and Cayden Green. Green got a lot of opportunities during the spring with injury issues plaguing the Sooners offensive line.

Even with questions on offense, the future is bright with an experienced signal caller in Dillon Gabriel and impressive skill talent. If they can find more efficiency on third down and in the red zone, the Oklahoma Sooners will take their offense to another level in 2023.

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247Sports insider projects three star WR Isaiah McMorris lands with Oklahoma

Oklahoma just earned its first crystal ball prediction in favor of them landing explosive three-star WR Isaiah McMorris out of Nebraska.

Oklahoma seems razor-focused on stocking up at receiver in the [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag]. It’s looking possible they’ll take three receivers this cycle as opposed to the two wide receivers they took in 2022 and 2023.

One of their targets, Isaiah McMorris, just received a crystal ball prediction to land with the Sooners. 247Sports and OUInsider’s Parker Thune submitted a crystal ball favoring the Sooners on Friday.

McMorris, a three-star wide receiver from Bellevue, Nebraska, had 90 receptions for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior. He was an all-state selection and was named Nebraska’s Receiver of the Year in 2022. McMorris is a multi-sport athlete who plays basketball and competes in track and field.

On the football field, he’s a dominant presence winning from the slot and on the outside. McMorris showcased the ability to win vertically or take screens to the house while exhibiting some elite lateral agility to break defenders down.

He hails from the same high school as current Sooners’ tight end Kaden Helms. McMorris’ offer sheet includes Texas Tech, USC, Nebraska, and Penn State.

The three wide receivers in the 2024 class with projections favoring the Oklahoma Sooners are five-star [autotag]Bryant Wesco[/autotag], four-star [autotag]Zion Kearney[/autotag], and now three-star [autotag]Isaiah McMorris[/autotag].

McMorris just visited campus this week and left very satisfied with his time spent with wide receivers coach [autotag]Emmett Jones[/autotag] and head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag].

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2023 Player Profile: Dillon Gabriel looking to lead OU to one final Big 12 title

A look at Dillon Gabriel as the Oklahoma Sooners prepare for their final season in the Big 12.

Evaluating the current roster, Sooners Wire profiles the current players, with quarterback [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] up next.

Continue reading “2023 Player Profile: Dillon Gabriel looking to lead OU to one final Big 12 title”

5-Star TE Davon Mitchell includes Oklahoma Sooners in top 11

The Oklahoma Sooners made the cut for five-star tight end Davon Mitchell on Friday.

The Oklahoma Sooners brought in a pair of four-star tight end prospects in the 2022 recruiting cycle with [autotag]Jason Llewellyn[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaden Helms[/autotag]. Oklahoma was able to bring back [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag] to help provide a veteran option at the position for Joe Jon Finley.

But perhaps there’s more talent on the way.

Five-star tight end prospect [autotag]Davon Mitchell[/autotag] is expected to reclassify for the 2024 recruiting cycle, according to Parker Thune of OUInsider at 247Sports. If he does reclassify, Mitchell will be joining former Allen teammate Michael Hawkins in the 2024 recruiting class.

Davon Mitchell trimmed his list of possible destinations to 11 on Friday, and the Oklahoma Sooners made the cut. The Sooners are joined by Tennessee, Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, Penn State, Oregon, Texas A&M, USC, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Mitchell, who is a top 30 prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, has everything you could want in a tight end prospect. He wins vertically, can make contested catches, and is a chore to bring down in the open field. He’s an impact blocker in the run and screen game and can line up all over the field, creating mismatch nightmares.

Davon Mitchell’s Recruiting Profile

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Oklahoma landed one of USA TODAY Sports best transfer classes

USA TODAY Sports Paul Myerburg identified Oklahoma’s transfer classes as one of the best in the country this offseason.

The Oklahoma Sooners made a concerted effort to add talent and experience on both sides of the football in the 2023 transfer portal. The Sooners lost a lot of talent to the NFL in [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag], [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag], [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], and [autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag]. [autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag] is headed to Houston, so the Sooners have a lot of vacated snaps to fill.

According to USA TODAY’s Paul Myerburg, the Oklahoma Sooners brought in one of the best transfer portal classes in the country this cycle. [autotag]Dasasn McCullough[/autotag] was named as the Sooners’ best transfer addition.

This is another solid transfer class for [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag], this time joining one of the top-ranked traditional recruiting classes in the FBS. Stanford transfer [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag] pencils into one of the open spots at left or right tackle after spending four season as the Cardinal’s starter on the blind side. After one season at South Carolina, tight end [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag] has rejoined the program and figures to be the Sooners’ top option at the position. Former Michigan wide receiver [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] had moments of brilliance with the Wolverines and will have the chance to play a major role as OU tries to replace roughly two-thirds of last year’s receiving yardage. Lastly, (Dasan) McCullough was one of the top freshmen defenders in the Power Five in 2022. – Myerburg, USA TODAY Sports

The Sooners added several impact players on both sides of the ball. Including McCullough, the Sooners landed several defensive front players that can effect opposing passing games and help solidify their run defense. McCullough is rumored to be slotted in at Cheetah for the Sooners, but Oklahoma will utilize his pass rush ability in their blitz packages.

[autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag] comes to Oklahoma with 13 sacks and 24.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons at Wake Forest. [autotag]Trace Ford[/autotag] had a productive first two years in Stillwater before being limited by injuries. Oklahoma also added [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag] and [autotag]Davon Sears[/autotag] to help bolster the interior. Lacey comes from Notre Dame, and Sears was being pursued by Tennessee and Penn State before choosing Oklahoma.

Safety [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag] rounds out the defensive additions for the Sooners. He brings a lot of experience and big-hitting ability that can add some extra physicality to the Sooners’ defense.

On offense, Oklahoma made important additions along the offensive line with Rouse and guard [autotag]Caleb Shaffer[/autotag]. Both players could slide into the starting lineup and bring a ton of experience to the offensive line room. Both were four-year starters at their previous stops and join an experienced group that brings back [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag] and [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag] along the offensive front as well. [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] projects to start at right tackle after playing the swing tackle role for Oklahoma in 2022.

[autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] adds another talented wide receiver to their wide receiver competition opposite [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag]. Anthony has some deep-threat ability that will give him the opportunity to be an option to replace Marvin Mims.

Then there’s [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag]. The returning Oklahoma Sooners tight end will have an opportunity for a [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag]-type breakout season in 2023. Though the Sooners are a little deeper now that [autotag]Jason Llewellyn[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaden Helms[/autotag] are in their second years in Norman, Stogner will get a vast majority of the opportunities this season.

Time will tell just how impactful this transfer portal class will be, but on paper, the Sooners landed a strong group of players that will be key to the Sooners 2023 season.

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