Tag: Key Lawrence

Tennessee Trio: The Sooners expects a boost from these former Volunteers

Rivals named the top five transfers in the Big 12 heading into 2021. These Sooners took the top three spots.

There is a lot of excitement surrounding Oklahoma’s cast of returning players in 2021. Spencer Rattler, Kennedy Brooks, Marvin Mims, Isaiah Thomas, and Nik Bonitto, lead the way for a Sooners team that’s the favorite in the Big 12. Those are just some of the names on a list that goes on and on due to how terrifyingly deep the Crimson and Cream are on both sides of the football.

At the same time, Lincoln Riley’s ability to bolster the roster with talent from the transfer portal could prove to be a tiny tweak that makes all the difference come playoff time.

Mike Farrell of Rivals ranked the top five transfer players in the Big 12. OU’s trio of Tennessee  transfers took the top three spots in Eric Gray, Key Lawerence, and Wanya Morris.

Eric Gray arrived in Norman as an undisputable impact player. The running back led the Volunteers with six touchdowns and finished with the sixth-most yards per game (85.8) in the SEC last season. Gray possesses great instincts and excellent change of direction skills at 206 pounds. 

With Kennedy Brooks already in the backfield, the addition of Gray is an added luxury for running backs coach Demarco Murray. As the ex-Volunteer’s ability to play out of the slot could allow Oklahoma to play both of its star running backs at the same time.

Blocking for Eric Gray will be a familiar face in Wanya Morris. Morris played left tackle at Tennessee, starting 17 of his 23 games and earning SEC All-Freshman honors. The Georgia native was called for just three penalties on 398 snaps in 2020. At 6-5, 312 pounds, his presence across from Eric Swenson should give quarterback Spencer Rattler peace of mind. 

The final member of the Tennessee trio is defensive back Key Lawerence. At 6-1, Lawerence brings size to the secondary and expects to find snaps at safety heading into 2021. He’s relatively inexperienced, playing just 105 snaps in his collegiate career.

Lawerence plays well in zone coverage and brings even more ball skills to the OU backfield. He recorded a pass breakup on just three targets last season. If anyone can help Lawerence take the next step in his development, it’s defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, who personally coaches the safety group.

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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.

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.

Trio of Oklahoma Sooners named to 2021 All-Transfer Team

The transfer portal has been kind to the Oklahoma Sooners over the years and that didn’t change in 2021 as they added several starters this offseason.

The transfer portal has become a unique weapon in the arsenal of Oklahoma Sooners Head Coach Lincoln Riley. The portal was instrumental in putting the Oklahoma Sooners on their current trajectory after landing Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Jalen Hurts. And the hits keep on coming.

Yesterday, 247 Sports released their All-Transfer Team heading into the 2021 season, and several Sooners, including one former Sooner, were featured on the list.

Ironically, the pipeline from the Tennessee Volunteers provided the Sooners with three of their biggest 2021 acquisitions in the same offseason. It hires former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback and offensive coordinator Josh Heupel, as their new head coach. Heupel’s Volunteers could have greatly benefitted from having Eric Gray, Wanya Morris, and Key Lawrence on the squad, but that’s what happens when coaches run a program into the ground.

Tennessee’s loss was Oklahoma’s gain in the 2021 transfer portal as they found two starters in Gray and Morris and a potential future starter in Lawrence.

Let’s take a look at the players to make the team.

Which under the radar Oklahoma Sooners will make a big impact in 2021?

Every championship contender needs glue guys who help keep the roster together. They may not start for the Oklahoma Sooners, but here are several role players that will have a significant impact.

Every team that is a championship contender has to have a lot of talent. However, when one of your starters goes down with an injury or needs a breather, championship contenders must have enough depth to minimize the talent drop-off. Championship teams also need role players who are good at what they do and are the glue of the roster.

The Oklahoma Sooners appear to be as talented as any team in the country heading into the 2021 football season. Another thing they have going for them heading into what could be a special season is several role players who will have significant impacts for the Oklahoma Sooners.

How did Oklahoma rebuild in 2021 transfer portal?

247 Sports breaks down winners of the 2021 transfer portal.

After the pandemic year, anticipation grows for the upcoming season and a sense of normalcy again. College football’s transfer portal has added to the excitement, similar to the free agency period in the NFL. Programs have been replenished by replacing departures with experienced players from other universities.

The NCAA transfer portal was initially introduced in 2018 giving players the opportunity to switch teams and explore options. Players do not have to ask for permission, they simply put in a request and enter their name. Once approved and their name shows up in the portal, teams can vie for their services. Players can withdraw their name at any time and just because a name is entered, does not specifically mean that player will leave.

Some teams have made bigger splashes than others via the transfer portal, adding players to their current roster. As summer approaches, 247Sports compiled a list of teams considered to be the greatest transfer portal winners. The Oklahoma Sooners were among the group.

 “The Knoxville-to-Norman movement was forged this offseason, as Oklahoma managed to land three players who left Tennessee following the firing of coach Jeremy Pruitt. Running back Eric Gray (2) offensive lineman Wanya Morris (7) and safety Key Lawrence (20) all bring SEC experience to the Big 12, highlighted by Gray who had four 100-yard performances last season. Receiver Mike Woods (44) from Arkansas is another newcomer who brings plenty of product with him.”

Lincoln Riley also added a quarterback in Penn State’s Micah Bowens and interior offensive lineman Robert Congel from Arizona. Congel is competing with Chris Murray who transferred from UCLA last year at center. Gray is one of OU’s most promising newcomers with his one-cut ability and is projected to be one of the nation’s top backs with the departure of Rhamondre Stevenson to the NFL. Morris earned Freshman All-American honors and even though he never hit his ceiling with the Vols, Bill Bedenbaugh has a way of getting the most out of his lineman. He will be unleashed in the trenches protecting Spencer Rattler.

Every Oklahoma Sooner added/subtracted through the transfer portal

A look at each player the Oklahoma Sooners added or lost through the transfer portal for 2021.

The transfer portal has become free agency for college football. Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley has added quite a bit to the team through the portal and lost his fair share as well. After added six players for the 2021 season via the transfer portal, they only signed a total of 16 players through recruiting.

With the one-time transfer rule being put in place, there will be plenty more where that came from. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a lot of these recruits signed their letters of intent without seeing the campus or even having a face-to-face meeting with their new coaches. We could see an even larger rise in players entering the portal to find where they believe to fit best.

A full list of every player the Oklahoma Sooners added or lost through the transfer portal ahead of the 2021 college football season.

(not pictured) the team added Josh Plaster. A punter from Arizona State. 

Current and former Sooners make list for most impactful transfers

A look at which current and former Oklahoma Sooners will have huge impacts following their transfer.

The transfer portal is a huge part of the game of college football, and college basketball for that matter. The Oklahoma Sooners are no strangers to this as they have seen many players come and go in both sports. Continue reading “Current and former Sooners make list for most impactful transfers”

Lincoln Riley discusses Tennessee players transferring to Oklahoma for a change of scenery

Three Tennessee football players have transferred to Oklahoma following the conclusion of the 2020 season.

Three Tennessee football players have transferred to Oklahoma following the conclusion of the 2020 season.

On national signing day, Sooners’ head coach Lincoln Riley discussed Eric Gray, Key Lawrence and Wanya Morris transferring from the Vols to Oklahoma.

“I think they decided that they needed a change of scenery, and they liked what we were doing here, and those things came together pretty quickly,” Riley said during a national signing day press conference.

Dec 7, 2019; Arlington, TX; Oklahoma Sooner head coach Lincoln Riley on the sidelines during the third quarter against the Baylor Bears in the 2019 Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Riley mentioned he does not believe that one former Tennessee player caused another to leave UT for Oklahoma.

“I don’t know that one caused another to leave,” Riley said. “It wasn’t really a domino effect type deal. I think it was three separate situations, and they just happened to be from the same university.”

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