Tag: kennedy brooks

Three ‘ifs’ for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2021 to overcome to become title contenders

What is standing in the way of the Oklahoma Sooners being title contenders in 2021?

We all know what the goal is for every college football team when they take the field in early September. Each team is looking to become title contenders for the 2021-22 college football season. For some teams, those dreams and aspirations are a lot more achievable. For instance, the Oklahoma Sooners are closer than their two rivals in the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Texas Longhorns. Well on paper anyway, nothing is known until the teams actually strap on the helmets and go to war on Saturdays.

Oklahoma returns a vast majority of their offensive explosions with Spencer Rattler at quarterback, wide receivers Marvin Mims, Theo Wease, Jadon Haselwood, tight ends Austin Stogner, and Jeremiah Hall. In the backfield, Kennedy Brooks returns to take back his role as the starting running back. The only real question surrounding the offensive line after losing Creed Humphrey and Adrian Ealy to the NFL draft. Impact transfer Wanya Morris will help lock down the edge of the offensive line. Andrew Raym might just be the guy to replace Humphrey.

The Sooners lost Ronnie Perkins and a trio of cornerbacks that will add some pressure to that unit. However, Isaiah Thomas and Nik Bonitto were impact players at the position. Adding back in Jalen Redmond, Marcus Stripling should help that unit. In the secondary, D.J. Graham and Woodi Washington look to man the outside cornerback spots. The nickel cornerback might just be freshman Billy Bowman. They are a unit to keep an eye on.

ESPN recently came up with three “if’s” (link requires subscription) that could mean the Sooners are contenders in 2021.

First up the running back situation

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Big 12 Football: Four running backs from the conference among PFF’s top returners

Four of college football’s top returning running backs for the 2021 season are in the Big 12 conference. Where do they land in PFF’s rankings?

The Big 12 conference will be home to a few of the best running backs in college football throughout the 2021 season. Continue reading “Big 12 Football: Four running backs from the conference among PFF’s top returners”

Oklahoma Sooners add transfer running back from LSU

Tre Bradford formerly of the Louisiana State Tigers has chosen to play his college football with the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Oklahoma Sooners football team might have found their replacement for Seth McGowan. McGowan entered the transfer portal prior to Lincoln Riley announcing that he and Trejan Bridges were no longer on the roster after their arrests.

Going into the season it was believed Oklahoma would roll with Kennedy Brooks, Eric Gray and Mikey Henderson at the running back position. On Thursday, the Sooners gained another running back through the transfer portal.

Tre Bradford, Louisiana State

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Bradford entered the transfer portal after one calendar year with the LSU Tigers. He appeared in three games for the Tigers during his freshman season with 10 carried for 58 yards. Bradford added three receptions for 13 yards and a touchdown in his limited playing time. Of his 13 total touches, he averaged 5.5 yards per touch. He didn’t see the field until December games against Alabama, Florida and Ole Miss. Now he is heading to Norman, Oklahoma.

The Texas native played his high school football with Lancaster. In the 2020 recruiting cycle, Bradford was listed as a four-star prospect and the No. 13 running back in the country. The No. 18 overall prospect in Texas received 28 offers: LSU, Ohio State and Wisconsin were the top teams on his list. Oklahoma wasn’t among those offers, but Bradford will suit up with the Crimson and Cream.

Riley continues to add to his team and running backs coach DeMarco Murray will be tasked with getting the newest addition to the room up to speed with the Sooners offense.

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Sooners Wire staff picks position groups to watch for the Oklahoma spring game

Sooners Wire staff makes the case for which position group to watch for the Oklahoma spring game.

After discussing the Oklahoma Sooners spring game ad nauseam it seems, the time has come to put on the pads and lace the cleats. Saturday evening when the lights come on, the football team will prepare to go to war, with each other.

There are plenty of position groups on full display that have questions that need to be answered. Can Isaiah Thomas fill the void left by Ronnie Perkins? What about the return of Jalen Redmond on the defensive line, and how will Marcus Stripling perform backing up Nik Bonitto at rush linebacker?

This is the first game action for top 2021 signee Caleb Williams. Will the game prove to move too fast for him, or will he show the staff why he was the top quarterback of his class? A pair of teammates wearing No. 4 will also have their opportunities, Mario Williams and Jaden Davis.

The staff takes a look at which position group they have their eyes on for Saturday.

First up Josh looks in the trenches

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10 Oklahoma players that need a productive spring game

A look at several OU players who need an impressive spring game.

It is that time of year again. The Oklahoma Sooners gear up for their spring game in Norman following camp. This year, the annual exhibition game will start at 4 p.m. on April 24. The intrasquad scrimmage will be held at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and be televised on FOX Sports Oklahoma.

As the team prepares for the 2021 season, expectations are high. The Sooners have won the Big 12 title every year dating back to 2015 but the team is after a loftier goal this upcoming season: the coveted national championship. OU has a balanced attack with the defense’s significant improvement under the tutelage of Alex Grinch and the Crimson and Cream are poised for the ultimate success in 2021.

Here is a look at several players on the roster that need a productive spring game performance.

A look at the 2022 NFL draft hopefuls for the Oklahoma Sooners

College Football News breaks down top draft prospects for 2022.

The 2021 NFL draft is just a couple of weeks away and there will be a few former Oklahoma Sooners looking to jump to the next level. Continue reading “A look at the 2022 NFL draft hopefuls for the Oklahoma Sooners”

Five Oklahoma Storylines Heading into Spring Camp

Spring Football is a day away, here are Oklahoma’s top headlines.

With the start of spring camp commencing on Monday, Mar. 22, the Oklahoma Sooners will kickoff their offseason program in Norman.

As a team that once again finished atop the Big 12, OU will strive to build off of last year’s success and towards a coveted national championship. Excitement is brewing as players- new and veteran alike- will hit the practice field for the first time in 2021. Pressure spikes as position battles begin and players rise and fall on the depth chart.

The spring dictates what happens in the fall between the hash marks. Camp will be pivotal in determining player evaluations and incorporating schematic changes. Here are some of the key storylines to monitor as Oklahoma prepares to once again be at the top of the college football hierarchy in 2021.

Spotlight Player: A look at the return of RB Kennedy Brooks

After a stellar freshman and sophomore season, here is what to expect from RB Kennedy Brooks in 2021.

Oklahoma running back Kennedy Brooks is back in 2021. The Sooners’ RB1 opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns amidst the global pandemic. To put things in perspective, Pro Football Focus ranked Brooks  No. 3 among the nation’s top returning backs for the upcoming season. The 5-11, 214-pound back is a bulldozer.

Brooks, a former four-star recruit ranks 30th in OU history in just two seasons with 2,067 rushing yards. The Mansfield native compiled two, 1,000-yard seasons donning Crimson and Cream and racked up nine career 100-yard games during his freshman and sophomore seasons (14th in school history). In 2018, Brooks tallied 1,056 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. In 2019, his production continued with 1,011 yards and six touchdowns on 155 carries.

The workhorse has thrived in Lincoln Riley’s RPO heavy offense. Brooks can do it all and his explosiveness on runs helps open up the high-powered passing game. His vision out of the backfield and acceleration once a hole opens is rare.

No. 26’s balance, spin move, and one-cut ability make it almost impossible for defenders to bring him down in space. Brooks is equally as effective on perimeter runs as he is between the tackles. The speedster elevates the screen game in addition with his agility and burst out of the flat. He is willing to power his way through traffic on dirty runs to gain additional yardage.

Brooks running behind Oklahoma’s counter pull will be lethal for defenses in 2021. He is a jack of all trades and an elite player that defenses will have to game plan around this upcoming season.

His effortless running impresses and as Lincoln Riley compared, “It’s like he’s running in the park with his Labrador.”

At the snap of the ball, No. 26 in the backfield is certainly someone you want to watch for in 2021. Because one thing is certain, Brooks runs with power with no wasted movement.

Spotlight Player: A look at the return of RB Kennedy Brooks

After a stellar freshman and sophomore season, here is what to expect from RB Kennedy Brooks in 2021.

[mm-video type=video id=01f0ch8hagj75wm595 playlist_id=01eqbz7cqqgxy50qwt player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f0ch8hagj75wm595/01f0ch8hagj75wm595-8052c928ab90fb2eff7be0b627c55260.jpg]

Oklahoma running back Kennedy Brooks is back in 2021. The Sooners’ RB1 opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns amidst the global pandemic. To put things in perspective, Pro Football Focus ranked Brooks  No. 3 among the nation’s top returning backs for the upcoming season. The 5-11, 214-pound back is a bulldozer.

Brooks, a former four-star recruit ranks 30th in OU history in just two seasons with 2,067 rushing yards. The Mansfield native compiled two, 1,000-yard seasons donning Crimson and Cream and racked up nine career 100-yard games during his freshman and sophomore seasons (14th in school history). In 2018, Brooks tallied 1,056 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. In 2019, his production continued with 1,011 yards and six touchdowns on 155 carries.

The workhorse has thrived in Lincoln Riley’s RPO heavy offense. Brooks can do it all and his explosiveness on runs helps open up the high-powered passing game. His vision out of the backfield and acceleration once a hole opens is rare.

No. 26’s balance, spin move, and one-cut ability make it almost impossible for defenders to bring him down in space. Brooks is equally as effective on perimeter runs as he is between the tackles. The speedster elevates the screen game in addition with his agility and burst out of the flat. He is willing to power his way through traffic on dirty runs to gain additional yardage.

Brooks running behind Oklahoma’s counter pull will be lethal for defenses in 2021. He is a jack of all trades and an elite player that defenses will have to game plan around this upcoming season.

https://twitter.com/Eddie_Rado/status/1056430549487837184?s=20

His effortless running impresses and as Lincoln Riley compared, “It’s like he’s running in the park with his Labrador.”

At the snap of the ball, No. 26 in the backfield is certainly someone you want to watch for in 2021. Because one thing is certain, Brooks runs with power with no wasted movement.

Where Spencer Rattler and Kennedy Brooks rank among the Big 12’s best

A look at where Spencer Rattler and Kennedy Brooks rank among their peers in the Big 12 Conference.

As spring football approaches, excitement for the Oklahoma Sooners football team in 2021 is reaching a fever pitch. The offense was one of the most explosive in all of college football and the team gets their top running back returning after opting out in 2020. Lincoln Riley’s offense looks to reach new heights this upcoming season.

Our colleagues at Longhorns Wire ranked the best quarterbacks and running backs in the conference. For Oklahoma, Spencer Rattler and Kennedy Brooks are widely viewed as top returning players in all of college football. According to these lists both come in near or at the top of the Big 12’s best.

No. 1 Quarterback: Spencer Rattler

(Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Many could have argued that Rattler was the top quarterback in the conference going into last season. His performances as the season progressed proved why he was rated a five-star prospect and the next great quarterback Lincoln Riley will produce. His arm strength makes him a sure-fire first-round draft pick in the 2022 NFL draft. This will be the first time since Riley was named the head coach that a quarterback will be back for his second season. Rattler could lead the Sooners to heights they have not reached in 20+ years. – Longhorns Wire

When it comes to returning quarterbacks, Pro Football Focus ranked Rattler the No. 1 returning passer in all of college football. As his first year progressed, so did the play of the top quarterback recruit of the 2019 class. With his return coming off a sixth-consecutive Big 12 Championship for OU and a New Years Six bowl victory, expectations for OU are high.

No. 3 Running Back: Kennedy Brooks

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Along with Robinson and Hall, Brooks is widely viewed as one of the top rushers in the country. He opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, but he’ll return in 2021 as the starting running back for the Big 12 title favorites. – Longhorns Wire

Following the 2019 season, no running back in the conference had a higher offensive grade than Brooks. He sat out this past year but has two 1,000-yard seasons under his belt. Worthy of being no lower than the No. 2 spot in the conference behind the nation’s leading rusher last year in Breece Hall.

The duo of Rattler and Brooks in the backfield along with Marvin Mims, Theo Wease, and Austin Stogner are a big reason they are poised for big things on offense.