Tag: kennedy brooks

Where does OU’s Eric Gray rank among RB breakout candidates for 2021?

As the Sooners get set to start the 2021 season, where does Athlon Sports rank Eric Gray among breakout candidates at the running back position in 2021?

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The Oklahoma Sooners have had tremendous success in the transfer portal over the years. At the end of the Bob Stoops era and the beginning of Lincoln Riley’s tenure as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, the quarterback position was bolstered by the transfer portal. In 2021, the Sooners got additions at running back, wide receiver, and offensive line via the transfer portal that will pay huge dividends in 2021.

Most notably, Eric Gray is expected to play a key role in the rushing attack for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2021 despite the return of Kennedy Brooks to the running back depth chart.

Athlon Sport’s Steve Lassan put together the top 25 breakout candidates at running back, and the Sooners’ Eric Gray comes in at number three on the list.

Kennedy Brooks is back after opting out of the 2020 college football season, but Gray could be Oklahoma’s best option at running back. The Tennessee transfer accumulated 1,311 yards and eight rushing touchdowns during his two seasons with the Volunteers, along with 43 receptions for 369 yards and three more scores. Wasting no time, Gray has already made an impression on his new team, including a touchdown run in the spring game. – Lassan

Gray is a versatile back that brings experience and a dual-threat ability that could remind some of an Alvin Kamara-type for the Sooners. Like Joe Mixon before him, Gray’s expected to split out to the slot or wide receiver in certain formations, and he’ll be a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield as well.

And as exciting as his pass-catching prowess is, it’s his natural running ability that will create a nice 1-2 punch for the Oklahoma Sooners with Kennedy Brooks.

Gray has good vision and excellent change of direction. He’s not necessarily fast, but he’s quick and elusive. He can make players miss in the open field and has enough speed to score from every area of the field.

With Lincoln Riley’s desire to run the football at the forefront of the Oklahoma Sooners’ offense, having a running back like Eric Gray as your second starter will pay huge dividends throughout the season. It’s likely that he and Kennedy Brooks will split the vast majority of running back touches in the 2021 season and that timeshare will help keep both guys fresh and running at max performance.

Though Eric Gray is hardly an unknown, as he was productive for the Tennessee Volunteers, the 2021 season is the year he becomes a household name across the country. With his ability, it’s not out of the question that he leads the Sooners backfield in total yards and total touchdowns.

Kennedy Brooks more explosive in return to the Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma Football: Kennedy Brooks more explosive in return to Oklahoma

One of the more anticipated returns for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2021 is running back Kennedy Brooks to the Sooners lineup. Even with the addition of Eric Gray, the excitement of Brooks’ return is palpable as the Sooners prepare their journey for a seventh straight Big 12 title.

After a year away — he opted out due to COVID concerns — Brooks is ready to continue the work he started in 2019. Brooks returns to an offense that is more experienced and more explosive than it was a year ago. The unit has three returning starters along the offensive line, and Wanya Morris and Andrew Raym have received rave reviews in spring and fall practices. The offensive line Brooks will run behind has a chance to be an even better unit than what the Sooners rolled out last season.

During the year off, Brooks didn’t sit idly by. He went to work looking to improve aspects of his game ahead of his return in 2021. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Brooks was asked what part of his game he worked to improve in his time away from the team.

I’d probably say I’m more explosive than I was a year ago. Definitely worked on my strength and my first step. Also catching the ball. Honestly, I just worked on everything, strengths and my weaknesses. It’s all coming together, but I’m just gonna take it day by day and stay consistent. – Brooks

That’s a scary thought for Big 12 defenses if Brooks is more explosive than he was before. In 2019, Brooks led the Sooners with 16 runs of more than 15 yards. He was second in the Big 12 on runs of more than 10 yards behind only Chubba Hubbard.

The Sooners missed the 2019 rushing leader in the early part of the 2020 season with Rhamondre Stevenson out of action due to a suspension. They struggled to run the ball in losses to Iowa State and Kansas State.

That shouldn’t be a problem in 2020. The running back group is deep in 2021, even after several offseason departures. With Brooks leading the way, the Oklahoma Sooners’ running back group has a ton of experience and explosion.

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.

Sooners’ RB Kennedy Brooks on Tre Bradford: I see a bright future for him

Despite his standing on Oklahoma’s depth chart Tre Bradford’s size, speed, and explosiveness will allow him to make a big impact in his first year with the Oklahoma Sooners. 

The running back position has seen a ton of turnover this spring. The Sooners lost Rhamondre Stevenson to the NFL draft. Seth McGowan and Mikey Henderson were dismissed due to legal issues. Despite those three departures, there’s a lot of excitement about what the Oklahoma Sooners are bringing into the 2021 college football season.

In a tumultuous offseason that also saw the return of Kennedy Brooks and the addition of Eric Gray in the transfer portal, Tre Bradford came in with much less fanfare at the running back spot.

Coming over from LSU, Bradford has just 19 career snaps to his ledger and 10 career rushing attempts. Most of his work came at the end of the 2020 season against Ole Miss.

Bradford carried the ball nine times for 53 yards in that matchup, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. He picked up four first downs in the Tigers 53-48 shootout win over the Rebels.

Since joining the Sooners, he’s earned the praise of the veteran running backs on the depth chart. Last week, speaking to the media, Eric Gray had this to say:

Tre has done a great job acclimating. I’ve kind of been in charge of Tre. He’s been in my workout group. Getting him acclimated to the system. Getting him learning the system, the schemes, the protections. You should definitely expect a strong, elusive runner, who’s also fast, who can also breakaway and really show off some speed.

Yesterday, Kennedy Brooks added, “He’s a very explosive dude. When the ball’s in his hands, he does great things. He’s fast, strong. I see a bright future for him.”

Though he likely comes in behind Brooks and Gray on the depth chart, Bradford will mix in with Marcus Major for those third running back repetitions. Despite his standing on the depth chart, Bradford’s size, speed, and explosiveness will allow him to make a big impact in his first year with the Oklahoma Sooners.

Which Oklahoma Sooners were among the top 50 newcomers for 2021?

A total of five Oklahoma Sooners make the list for impactful newcomers in college football for the 2021 season.

The Oklahoma Sooners raided the transfer portal prior to the 2021 season, more specifically the Tennessee Vols. On top of the new transfers, OU had a top 10 class in recruiting led by quarterback signee Caleb Williams.

A lot has been made about the moves from head coach Lincoln Riley and company. This team appears so close to challenging for the national championship with arguably their best team under the fifth-year head coach. Spencer Rattler and Nik Bonitto lead their loaded units in 2021.

By season’s end, the Sooners very well could be heading back to the College Football Playoffs for the fourth time under Riley. To do so they will likely need huge contributions from their newcomers. ESPN broke down the top 50 newcomers in college football (subscription required), Oklahoma contributed with five of the selections.

One of which, was an odd name to add.

Oklahoma Sooners land Two on Earl Campbell Tyler Rose watch list

Two Sooners with Texas ties land on the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list.

The Oklahoma Sooners have announced wide receiver Marvin Mims and running back Kennedy Brooks have been named to the 2021 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list.

Despite the Sooners’ deep-seated rivalry with the Lone Star State, over 40 members of the Crimson and Cream have ties to Texas – an important qualification for Earl Campbell Tyler Rose consideration. Both Brooks and Mims rise above the rest, as they’re expected to build upon their already impressive resumes.

Mims led OU with 610 yards off 37 receptions in 2020. The 5-foot-11 receiver also made Big XII history as the first-ever freshman with nine touchdown receptions. A product of Frisco High School, Mims is forecasted to terrorize defenses from the slot in 2021.

Kennedy Brooks, who opted out of the 2020 campaign, will look to pick up where he left off in 2019 when he averaged 77 yards per game. In total, the Mansfield native has stockpiled 18 touchdowns and 2,067 rushing yards in his two seasons for the Sooners. Now, in a tandem with Eric Gray, Oklahoma expects to have as dynamic a backfield as anyone in the country.

The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award is presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding Division I offensive player who meets one or more of the following criteria: 1. Is born in Texas; 2. Graduated from a Texas high school; or 3. Played at a Texas-based junior college or four-year college.

Riley at Big 12 Media Day: Oklahoma has two starting running backs

In Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray, the Oklahoma Sooners have a running back duo with a lot of experience leading the way in 2021.

The Oklahoma Sooners enter the 2021 season in much better shape at the running back position than in 2020. Heading into 2020, the running back depth chart was topped by T.J. Pledger and featured freshmen Seth McGowan and Marcus Major. Pledger was the only one who had carried the football at the college level, and he only had 40 carries to his collegiate career.

Pledger was solid while awaiting the return of Rhamondre Stevenson from suspension. However, the duo of Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray put the Oklahoma Sooners ahead of the curve at running back heading into 2021.

Speaking at Big 12 Media Day yesterday, Lincoln Riley was asked about the usage of the running backs, and to no one’s surprise, he plans on playing both Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray a lot.

Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray come into the 2021 season with nearly 600 combined touches in their respective collegiate careers. That’s a ton of experience heading to the field for the Sooners in 2021.

We’ve seen Lincoln Riley and the offensive staff show an ability to feature two running backs in the offense. Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine both thrived in Riley’s offense in 2015 and 2016.

With Gray and Brooks’ versatile skillsets, the Sooners will rotate them in based on game situation. Gray will likely play more in two-minute drill situations or if the Sooners are forced to play from behind because of his receiving prowess. Brooks will play more in neutral situations or late in games when the Sooners are leading, where Riley and company will look to run the football.

Because both can catch the football out of the backfield, there’s a strong possibility that the Sooners will install packages into the playbook that have both Gray and Brooks on the field at the same time. Putting stress on the opposing defense is the name of the game, and with their ability to create big plays in the run and pass game, Lincoln Riley and DeMarco Murray will get creative to get them on the field together.

In Lincoln Riley’s offense, the starter designation isn’t as important as one might think. He likes to get a lot of players involved in the offense. Even a guy like Marcus Major will get some touches in 2021 though he sits third or fourth on the Sooners depth chart.

Behind what should be another really good offensive line for the Oklahoma Sooners, OU’s starting running backs Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray are set for a productive 2021.

Building the ultimate college team starts with the Oklahoma quarterbacks

If you build the ultimate college football team, you must start with the Oklahoma Sooners quarterbacks.

At one point or another, we have all had discussions about building the ultimate team. Maybe you did this on the EA Sports’ Madden franchise. If you can take one position group from certain teams, how would you build the ultimate team?

Chris Hummer of 247Sports decided to take a stab at building the ultimate team, so which Oklahoma position groups were under consideration? For this team, how can you start anywhere but the Oklahoma Sooners quarterback room.

Quarterbacks

(Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Hummer Says…

Would you really pick another quarterback or quarterback room? Think about Oklahoma’s recent run of production spanning from Baker Mayfield to Kyler Murray to Jalen Hurts. Now it’s redshirt sophomore Spencer Rattler, who is coming off a season that saw him throw for 3,031 yards and 28 touchdowns while completing 67.5% on 9.6 yards per attempt of his passes as a first-year starter. I’d expect those numbers to only improve in Year 2. Rattler will have a better stable of skill talent around him – both at running back and wide receiver – and should take a step in his second year of Riley’s system.

Given the history of Lincoln Riley producing NFL-caliber quarterbacks, that is the best way to go. From Mayfield to Rattler, they are always the talk of college football. The Sooners could soon be added another five-star gunslinger to the fold: Malachi Nelson’s commitment is scheduled to be announced on July 18.

Next, the running backs

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Oklahoma Sooners 2021 offensive depth chart projection 3.0

With the departures of three skill position players and an offensive lineman, the Oklahoma Sooners depth chart has seen some turnover in recent months.

Over the last couple of months, the Oklahoma Sooners offensive depth chart has been hit by players getting dismissed from the program. Back in May, it was Trejan Bridges and Seth McGowan on the way out. Yesterday, the University of Oklahoma dismissed Mikey Henderson from the program after an alleged incident involving all three.

Stacey Wilkins entered the transfer portal, and while it doesn’t appear that he’s found a new home yet, it’s likely he’s playing elsewhere in 2021.

While it’s a loss for the program on the depth chart, it creates new opportunities. In particular, a guy like Marcus Major benefits greatly from sliding up the depth chart. Overlooked a bit because of Seth McGowan in 2020 and still a bit because of LSU transfer Tre Bradford, Major has an opportunity to find a role as the team’s third running back.

Much of the depth chart remains unchanged, though the Spring Game gave us more insight into how the center competition is unfolding. Andrew Raym looks to be leading the pack at this point, but with Summer workouts ongoing and camp around the corner, the competition is still up for grabs. Don’t count Robert Congel or Chris Murray out just yet.

Even with the departure of Trejan Bridges, the Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver group looks incredibly deep. They return their leading receivers from 2020 in Marvin Mims and Theo Wease on the outside. Jadon Haselwood, who figures to get time at all three wide receiver spots, could be a big slot for Lincoln Riley and the Sooners’ offense. His size and athleticism would be a huge mismatch for slot corners or safeties.

The Sooners will likely rotate each of their starters through the slot to keep defenses off-balance and exploit mismatches.

Though Henderson was making the switch from H-Back to running back this offseason, he would have still been able to give you some snaps behind Jeremiah Hall. Now that will fall to Brayden Willis or Austin Stogner, who are more traditional tight ends.

Oklahoma Sooners selected to Pro Football Focus’ All-Big 12 Team

Pro Football Focus released their preseason All-Big 12 team and the Oklahoma Sooners were heavily featured with nine selections in all.

As we get closer to the start of the 2021 season, major media publications will begin releasing their preseason awards and all-conference teams. The Oklahoma Sooners figure to be featured quite prominently on many All-American and All-Big 12 squads. And that was the case as Pro Football Focus released their All-Big 12 team.

In all nine Sooners made the squad, headlined by quarterback Spencer Rattler.