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From multiple national championships, to Red River heroics, what were the best moments from the Oklahoma Sooners in 2023?
The Oklahoma Sooners had magical moments in 2023. There were national championship runs and new records set. There were incredible individual performances and great team accomplishments.
Big things happened off the field as well for the Sooners that helped set the stage for their move to the SEC.
So what were the top moments of 2023? Here’s Sooners Wire’s top 10.
Jackson Arnold’s first start for the Oklahoma Sooners wasn’t smooth sailing, but the adversity will only make him better.
Offensive coordinator Seth Littrell wasn’t concerned about easing his true freshman quarterback into the game. Jackson Arnold threw the ball on the Sooners’ first three plays of the game.
They weren’t straight dropbacks as the Sooners dialed up the run-pass option on the first play of the game and a play action naked bootleg on the second. On his first straight drop on 3rd and 10, Arnold threw a good ball to Drake Stoops, but Arizona safety Genesis Smith drove on the ball and through Stoops to intercept the pass.
It was Arnold’s first interception of his career and first in a game in which the Sooners had six turnovers. In total, Arnold had three interceptions and a fumble.
Despite three first half turnovers, the Sooners took a 14-13 lead into halftime, thanks in large part to a tremendous defensive effort, but also because Arnold settled in and found his stride.
It wasn’t the start that everyone had hoped for as the Sooners ultimately fell 38-24, but it was a game that revealed a lot of positive things about the Sooners’ quarterback.
It was an up and down performance in the Oklahoma Sooners 38-24 loss to Arizona and here’s our final report card for 2023.
All of the excitement that had been built up in anticipation of Jackson Arnold’s first start as the Sooners starting quarterback was dashed with a couple of first quarter interceptions.
It wasn’t how anyone hoped or expected it would start. Arnold rebounded to play well over the next two quarters as the Sooners built a 24-13 lead. However, turnovers at the end of the third quarter and in the fourth dashed Oklahoma’s hopes of ending the season on a high note.
Though there were six turnovers and the Sooners defense allowed some big plays, there were a lot of positives to take away from the game.
For the final time in 2023, here’s out postgame report card.
It was a tough way to end the 2023 season in the Sooners 38-24 loss to Arizona and here’s how social media reacted.
At one point in the third quarter, it looked as if the Oklahoma Sooners were going to run away from the Arizona Wildcats in their Alamo Bowl matchup. But the turnover bug that hurt the Sooners in the first quarter, reared its ugly head again toward the end of the third.
Instead of potentially going up 31-13 late in the third, the Sooners led by just three. And after the Wildcats defensive touchdown, it seemed as if the wheels fell off for the Sooners offense.
It was a tough way to end the season, but there were some promising moments that give us something to look forward to.
So how did social media react to the Sooners’ 38-24 loss? Always hard after a loss, but let’s take a look at some reactions to the overall performance, Jackson Arnold’s first start, and Nic Anderson and Drake Stoops’ big days.
The Sooners play their final game of the season in the Alamo Bowl, here is how you can watch the game and some key players.
The Oklahoma Sooners are set to wrap up their 2023 season. The Sooners are 10-2, but will face an [autotag]Arizona Wildcats[/autotag] team that is 9-3 and ranked No. 14.
The Sooners’ two losses came by a combined eight points. The Wildcats also know about close losses. Their three losses came by a combined 16 points, and two came in overtime.
There is a strong argument there isn’t a hotter team in college football than Arizona. It has won six straight by an average margin of 20.2 points per game, including four against ranked teams.
The Wildcats bring in the nation’s 18th-ranked offense and the 36th-ranked defense. They rank in the top 26 in both scoring offense and scoring defense.
Outside the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag], Arizona might be the most complete team the Sooners have faced all season. So, let’s take a look at how you can watch the game, some key players and an update on who is playing.
Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver LV Bunkley-Shelton enters the transfer portal.
The Oklahoma Sooners have one of the better wide receiver rooms in college football heading into 2024.
[autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] was a steady force amid breakout seasons from [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] and [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag]. [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] had a really nice year in a rotation role for the Sooners. The Sooners are losing Drake Stoops, who had a career year.
The quality of Oklahoma’s depth made it difficult for a guy such as [autotag]LV Bunkley-Shelton[/autotag] to see consistent playing time. According to On3’s Hayes Fawcett, Bunkley-Shelton plans to enter the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] with two years of eligibility remaining.
Heading into the [autotag]Alamo Bowl[/autotag], Bunkley-Shelton was third on the depth chart at one of the wide receiver spots behind Anderson and Gibson.
In his two years with the Sooners, Bunkley-Shelton caught five passes for 57 yards. That performance came after he spent two seasons with the Arizona State Sun Devils when he had 44 receptions for 518 yards and two touchdowns.
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A look at the Oklahoma Sooners depth chart heading into the Alamo Bowl.
The Oklahoma Sooners released the depth chart for the 2023 Valero Alamo Bowl matchup with the Arizona Wildcats.
The depth chart is one of the more intriguing storylines, considering the opt outs and the transfer departures. That is particularly true on the offensive side of the ball. Oklahoma will break in a new starting quarterback and multiple offensive linemen when it takes on an Arizona defense that ranked No. 27 in the nation in points per game allowed.
The biggest storyline for the Sooners comes at quarterback. Jackson Arnold is set to make his first career start for OU. That alone makes the game incredibly intriguing for the Sooners, who hope Arnold can take their offense to another level as they prepare for their first season in the SEC.
The Oklahoma Sooners depth chart heading into the Alamo Bowl:
Oklahoma Sooners add more explosiveness to their wide receiver room with the addition of Purdue transfer Deion Burks.
The Oklahoma Sooners and wide receivers coach [autotag]Emmett Jones[/autotag] have added another player out of the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag]. This time in big-time playmaker [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag].
Burks is a 5-foot-11 and 195-pound wide receiver who, in 30 career games, had 63 catches, 804 yards, and seven touchdowns. That’s nearly 13 yards per catch.
He also could bring something to the return game for the Sooners. He returned 14 kicks in 2022, averaging nearly 20 yards per return.
This was a battle that was rumored to be between the Sooners and the Texas Longhorns. He is a veteran receiver with two years of eligibility left who will stretch the field and bring the big plays that Oklahoma looks for.
Took me a SEC but it was gone happen SOONER or later #BOOMER pic.twitter.com/sXaSbU8VWu
— 𝐃𝐞𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐤𝐬 (@deionkburks) December 12, 2023
He’s similar to what the Sooners were getting in [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] a season ago. Although Anthony is a little bit bigger but Burks has more production. It’s just another piece on what could be the best wide receiver room in the SEC next season.
They could return guys with a lot of experience like [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], Anthony, [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], Brenen Thompson along with adding Burks. That doesn’t even include the freshmen who are coming in or [autotag]Gavin Freeman[/autotag] or [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag], who played some a season ago.
Burks was ranked as the top wide receiver in the 2024 portal cycle.
Here’s a look at Deion Burks, OU’s newest add from the portal, scoring from 84 yards out this year. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/G3CBnQmtrD
— The REF (@KREFsports) December 12, 2023
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.
Nic Anderson and Cayden Green’s big freshmen seasons were capped off with All-American honors.
Coming into the 2023 college football season, wide receiver was a major question mark for the Oklahoma Sooners. By the time the season ended, it might have been the strongest position group on the team.
There’s some debate on that but there is no debate it was a pleasant surprise. A big part of that was redshirt freshman [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag]. Anderson finished with 31 catches for 725 yards and nine touchdowns. He led the nation with 23.4 yards per reception and was second on the Sooners in yards and touchdowns.
For his performance this season, Anderson was named a freshman All-American by the College Football Network. But he wasn’t the only one. True freshman guard [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag] was also named to the freshman All-American team.
Green started to receive real playing time after moving to guard from tackle during the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag]. He filled in nicely and never gave his spot back. Also, the Sooners’ running game took off in the back half of the season once he took over the position.
Both of these guys have a ton of potential. Green has a real chance at turning that freshman All-American nod into an All-American selection in the future. Anderson has the chance to do the same and could be a future high-draft pick in the NFL.
While former five-star true freshman [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] didn’t make the freshman All-American defensive team, he was an honorable mention. Injuries definitely played a role in him not making the team, but he made a strong first impression in Norman.
There is no doubt, they’ve all shown this season their futures are bright for the Sooners.
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After strong 2023 seasons, freshmen Nic Anderson and Peyton Bowen were named finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
The Oklahoma Sooners had a ton of freshmen play this year. It wasn’t only in mop-up duty either. A number of freshmen played significant snaps for the Sooners in 2023.
Two players, Nic Anderson and Peyton Bowen, were key to Oklahoma’s success this year. And with their strong performances, they were named finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award.
Anderson emerged early in the season as the Sooners’ No. 4 wide receiver. He caught touchdown passes left and right and came through on the Sooners’ biggest drive of the season with the game-winner against Texas. In that game Andrel Anthony was lost for the season due to a knee injury and Anderson became a starter for the Sooners on the outside.
This season, Anderson caught 31 passes for 725 yards and nine touchdowns. He was second on the team in yards and touchdowns. No player averaged more yards per reception than Anderson’s 23.4 yards per catch this season.
Peyton Bowen earned an opportunity to be a part of both the safety and cheetah rotations in Brent Venables’ defense. And though he battled injuries, put up a solid season with 33 total tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack. He also had a pair of blocked punts and five passes defended.
Anderson and Bowen were part of a freshman group that led the nation in snaps among the top 25 teams. Oklahoma was the only school that had two freshmen nominated for the award.
Hello to the cyclone faithful! Got a lot of respect for your players, staff and fan base.
To clarify,
We had the most snaps by freshmen of RANKED TEAMS in the country!
Playing freshmen AND winning at a high level was the point.
🤝
Boomer!
— Coach Miguel Chavis (@MiguelChavis65) December 1, 2023
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.
