Tag: Nic Anderson

Nic Anderson, Peyton Bowen named finalists for Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award

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.

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.

5 positions the Oklahoma Sooners don’t need to pursue in the transfer portal

The transfer portal opens on Monday Dec. 4 and while Oklahoma will address certain spots, there are several positions they don’t need to worry about.

The transfer portal is set to open on Monday Dec. 4 and the Oklahoma Sooners will be active to improve the talent on the roster.

Bryant Crews, here at Sooners Wire, highlighted several positions that should be a priority for the Sooners in portal season. However, there are a few spots that Oklahoma looks pretty good at heading into the 2024 offseason.

Brent Venables and his staff have done a great job building the talent base on both sides of the ball through both the high school and transfer portal ranks. And as the young talent on the roster continues to develop, there will be less need to attack the transfer portal for starters.

Here are five areas that look good to go for the Oklahoma Sooners as they head into the opening of the transfer portal.

2023 Position Review: Wide Receiver proves to be a strength for Oklahoma Sooners

There were a lot of questions going into the season at wide receiver but they proved to be a strength, not a weakness for the Sooners.

Going into the 2023 college football season, there were a ton of question marks surrounding the wide receiver room. The Sooners lost several of their top guys in receiving yards the year prior, like [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] and [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag]. Theo Wease went to Missouri via the transfer portal. It was a young group aside from Drake Stoops.

But during the season, the wide receiver room proved to be a strength of the team. They didn’t have anyone really emerge as a No. 1 type of guy until [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] was featured heavily at the end of the year, but they had a lot of No. 2 type of guys which you can win with.

It’s also a room that could return a lot of production in 2024, making that unit arguably the best on the team heading into the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Without further adieu, let’s take a look at how they did based on my preseason expectations.

More 2023 Reviews

2023 Position Review: Sooners quarterbacks exceed preseason expectations

2023 Position Review: Oklahoma Sooners running backs start the season slow, finish strong

15 highest graded Oklahoma Sooners on offense per Pro Football Focus for 2023

The 15 highest-graded Oklahoma Sooners on offense after the regular season.

The Oklahoma Sooners’ offense had a banner year in 2023. A number of players had great seasons for an offense that finished No. 3 in the nation in scoring and No. 4 in total yards.

It was an offense that scored more than 40 points seven times and 50 or more three times.

Though there were times when the offense needed to be better, it was one of the best in the nation. Their performances against Texas, Iowa State, West Virginia, and TCU were incredible, helping propel the Sooners to a 10-2 record.

But who were the most important pieces to the offense? Let’s take a look at Pro Football Focus’ top 15 highest-graded players on offense from the 2023 regular season.

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Year 2 under Brent Venables shows improvement, still a long way to go

The Oklahoma Sooners made substantial improvement in year two under Brent Venables and are headed in the right direction.

The 2023 regular season has come to a close for the Oklahoma Sooners. So, let’s take a look at where the program is at now compared to a season ago.

Fresh off a 6-7 season in Year 1, many nationally were wondering if the Sooners had the right man to lead them into the best conference in college football, the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. The Sooners needed a bounce-back season to show the college football world they were bigger than their previous coach.

The standard for many was to get to 9-3 or 10-2 and show improvements on both sides of the ball. In 2022, the Sooners finished No. 13 in yards per game, No. 42 in passing offense, No. 10 in rushing offense and No. 25 in scoring offense.

In 2023, the Sooners finished No. 4 in yards, No. 6 in passing offense, No. 39 in rushing offense and No. 3 in scoring offense. Safe to say, the offense was much improved in Year 2 over Year 1.

But what about defensively? Defense is where [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] hangs his hat, so how much improvement was made on that side of the ball? In 2022, the defense finished No. 122 in yards per game, No. 119 in passing yards allowed, No. 106 in rushing defense and No. 90 in scoring defense.

In 2023, the Sooners finished No. 80 in yards allowed, No. 99 in passing yards allowed, No. 57 in rushing defense and No. 41 in scoring defense. Again, they were better across the board. Was it as big of a jump as a lot of Sooner fans would have liked? No. But don’t forget how bad this was. That’s a really solid jump from where it was.

But those numbers can be deceiving. Sometimes, you can allow a lot of yards when the game isn’t close, so some people believe the real tell of how good an offense or defense is is how efficient they are. So, let’s compare last year to this year in terms of efficiency.

According to the end-of-the-season SP+ rankings (subscription required), the Sooners finished No. 10 in offense, No. 70 in defense, and No. 20 overall in 2022. In 2023, they finished No. 6 in offense, No. 33 in defense, and No. 13 overall. Again, it’s an improvement across the board.

All in all, the Sooners made a lot of progress in 2023, but they still have a long way to go as the head to the SEC.

The Sooners need game-changers on the defensive line. They have some of those types of guys from the 2023 class and could get more from the 2024 class, but they still have to be developed, which may take a few years. They need some of their younger guys at cornerback to improve and be playmakers.

They also have to get better and more consistent along the offensive line. This season, they were too up and down. The Sooners were really solid in pass blocking but too inconsistent in the run game. They also need a No. 1 wide receiver to take over and take that next step toward elite. Again, guys like [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] showed signs of being big-time players like that, but they have to get more consistent.

The Sooners will have to do that while also replacing their offensive coordinator as [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag] is headed to be the head coach for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Sooner fans won’t want to hear this, but next year is another year of growth. It’s the first year in a new conference, and most of Oklahoma’s talent is still very young.

It probably won’t be what everyone has grown to expect, but as of right now, the program has made the necessary improvements in year two and are heading in the right direction.

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.

Report Card: Offensive fireworks help gloss over Sooners’ defensive woes

Offense dominates the day and passes final Big 12 test en route to a 69-45 win over TCU. We graded the team’s performance in this week’s report card.

Oklahoma has rebounded from the nightmarish season from 2022. They’ll spend the rest of Thanksgiving weekend at 10-2, a sharp contrast from the 6-6 record they amassed before their bowl game last year.

Friday saw the Sooners end their final regular season as Big 12 members in true Big 12 fashion with an old-fashioned shootout. The two teams combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense and 114 points in a 69-45 Oklahoma win.

Senior Day festivities preceded the game, with more than 20 Sooners recognized. Oklahoma’s win also solidified their 59th undefeated home record as well.

As Oklahoma waits to see how the rest of the Big 12 race plays out, we’re here to grade their performance in the win over TCU. Here’s the final report card for the regular season.

3 stars from the Oklahoma Sooners 69-45 win over TCU

The Oklahoma Sooners moved to 10-2 on the season and here are the 3 stars from the 69-45 win over the TCU Horned Frogs.

The Oklahoma Sooners finished the 2023 regular season with a bang on Friday. Their 69-45 win marked the second-highest point total this season.

Oklahoma’s offense was explosive and the defense came up with timely plays like they’ve done all season to come away with their 10th win of the season.

While there were some head-scratching stretches of play from the Sooners’ defense, the offense was a highlight reel throughout the game.

Here are the three stars, and a couple of honorable mentions, from Oklahoma’s win over the TCU Horned Frogs.

 

Relive the Oklahoma Sooners 69-45 win over TCU with these amazing photos

Relive the Oklahoma Sooners explosive performance against the TCU Horned Frogs with these incredible photos.

It was a magical day at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The Oklahoma Sooners hosted their final Big 12 home game before their move to the SEC next summer.

Oklahoma earned double-digit wins for the first time in Brent Venables’ career. The Sooners had a nice send-off for their seniors. And their seniors were instrumental in the 69-45 win.

In particular, Dillon Gabriel and Drake Stoops had huge days on Senior Day. Gabriel threw for 400 yards and accounted for four touchdowns. Stoops caught 12 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. It was his third 100-yard day in the last four weeks as he became the Sooners’ top receiving option.

After the first half, it seemed like the Oklahoma Sooners were going to roll to an easy win, but TCU made things really interesting, pulling to within 14 points in the second half. But at 52-38, the Sooners went on a 17-0 run, capped off by Billy Bowman’s interception return for a touchdown.

It wasn’t a dominant performance, but it was a performance that will be memorable as it allowed Oklahoma’s seniors to walk off Owen Field with a perfect 5-0 record at home in 2023.

It remains to be seen if the Sooners will have one more meaningful game in Big 12 play or if they’re simply awaiting their bowl destination. However, Oklahoma did what it needed to on Black Friday to give them a shot at a Big 12 title game berth.

Relive the big 69-45 win over the TCU Horned Frogs with some of the best photos from the game.

Oklahoma Sooners win final Big 12 home game, beat the TCU Horned Frogs 69-45

The Oklahoma Sooners cap off their 2023 regular season with a big win over the TCU Horned Frogs.

The Oklahoma Sooners played their final [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] home game against the [autotag]TCU Horned Frogs[/autotag], coming out on top with a 69-45 win.

On senior day and Oklahoma’s final day in the Big 12, this game had everything.

The defense forced a punt on their first drive and nearly earned an interception.

The offense marched right down the field on their first drive of the game. [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] hit [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] on a 50-yard pass to start the drive. TCU was called for pass interference on Austin Stogner and on the following play, Gabriel then ran it in from eight yards out for his 12th rushing touchdown of the season.

After a muffed punt by [autotag]Gavin Freeman[/autotag] set TCU up with great field position, the Horned Frogs scored on a [autotag]Josh Hoover[/autotag] keeper but missed the extra point.

The offense picked up right where it left off. Gabriel found [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] on 3rd and 11 for a gain of 17. He then found Gibson on a 59-yard touchdown pass, dragging a defender into the end zone.

After a 48-yard pass to [autotag]Jojo Earle[/autotag] got the Horned Frogs into OU territory, TCU took advantage as Hoover hit Earle on a 6-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 14-13.

To start the second quarter, the Sooners went with Freeman, Drake Stoops and [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag] as the wide receivers. OU used their speed, and Gabriel hit Thompson on a deep post route for a 53-yard touchdown pass.

The defense forced a three-and-out, and Gabriel continued his incredible performance. He helped convert a third and long and then a fourth down on the drive. [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] capped it off with a 12-yard touchdown run that gave the Sooners a 28-13 lead.

The Sooners forced a three and out on a sack by [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag]. But TCU tried a fake field goal, and it was snuffed out by the Sooners. The offense took over and marched right down the short field and capped it off with a 7-yard run by Sawchuk.

The Sooners’ defense forced its third straight three and out on TCU’s next drive. And on Oklahoma’s next possession, Sawchuk took off on a 41-yard run, setting OU up in TCU territory. The drive was capped off by a 9-yard touchdown run by [autotag]Tawee Walker[/autotag].

The Sooners took a 42-16 lead into halftime.

The Sooners outgained the Horned Frogs 375-221. They were also 7 of 9 on third and fourth down while holding TCU to 4 of 12. Gabriel finished the half 14-23 for 278 yards and three touchdowns.

The Sooners drove right down the field on their first drive of the half but had to settle for a 23-yard field goal. [autotag]Zach Schmit[/autotag] nailed it to extend the Sooners lead to 45-16. TCU responded as Emani Bailey ran it in untouched from 32 yards out. Gabriel tried another deep shot to Thompson, but it was into the wind and a bit late, and this time it was picked off.

TCU took advantage as Hoover found [autotag]Jared Wiley[/autotag] for the four-yard score to cut the lead to 45-31 after TCU converterted the two-point try. The Sooners faced a 4th and 1 on their own side of the 50 and Gabriel picked up 40 yards on the option keeper. Stoops capped off the drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Gabriel.

TCU went right back down the field like it was nothing. Bailey had a 49-yard run and then a touchdown catch on the following play to cut the Sooners lead back to 14. The Sooners drove the field but, after a sack, were forced to kick a 40-yard field goal. Schmit knocked it through to put OU up 17 with 10:14 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The defense finally made a stop, forcing TCU to turn it over on downs in their own territory. The Sooners capitalized as Sawchuk ran it in from nine yards out to make it 62-38. [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] would add to the lead after a 45-yard interception return to seal the win.

The Sooners had several big-time performances in the win. Dillon Gabriel completed 63% of his passes for 400 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 36 yards and a touchdown. Gavin Sawchuk had his fourth straight 100-yard day with 22 carries for 130 yards and three touchdowns. Sawchuk added 16 yards on two receptions to his big performance.

On the receiving end, Oklahoma had three players with more than 75 yards in the win. Drake Stoops caught 12 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. Nic Anderson had four receptions on eight targets for 97 yards. Jayden Gibson continued his strong finish to the season with two receptions for 76 yards and a score.

Defensively, the Sooners struggled in the second half, allowing 299 total yards and 9.3 yards per play. But as they’ve done often this season, the defense came up with big plays in key moments. In addition to his interception return for a touchdown, Billy Bowman led the team with nine tackles.

In total, Oklahoma outgained the Horned Frogs 607-520 on the day.

Oklahoma moved to 10-2 in year two under [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. Now they wait for this weekend’s results in the Big 12 to know if they’ll be playing next week in Arlington, Texas for the Big 12 title.

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.

5 takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners 69-45 win over TCU

5 takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners 69-45 win over the TCU Horned Frogs.

Oklahoma ended its final regular season as a Big 12 member with a 69-45 win over the TCU Horned Frogs. Backed by an explosive offensive performance that saw Dillon Gabriel return to throw for 400 yards and three touchdowns on Senior Day, Oklahoma rode the wave to another easy win at home. They finished the season undefeated in Norman.

Junior safety Billy Bowman had a pick-six for the second straight game, and Gavin Sawchuk ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns to tighten his stranglehold on the starting running back spot.

The defense was far from stellar as they allowed over 500 yards and gave up over 45 points. But when they needed to make a few plays to give Oklahoma breathing room, they did just that.

The Sooners finished the regular season with a 10-2 record and now wait to see how the Big 12 title game race shakes out over the next few evenings.

Here are five takeaways from the Sooners 24-point win.