Tag: Oklahoma football depth chart

Longhorns Wire dissects the Oklahoma Sooners depth chart

The Oklahoma Sooners look like a beatable opponent for Texas again in 2023.

In case you missed it, the Texas Longhorns defeated the Oklahoma Sooners last season, 49-0. It was the Sooners’ most lopsided loss in its rivalry against the Longhorns and the first shutout they had suffered in the game since 1965.

Some scoffed at the notion that the Sooners would fall off following the departure of former head coach Lincoln Riley to USC. The game put into perspective just how far the program had fallen. This offseason, Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables transformed the roster through the transfer portal and in recruiting.

Our Sooners Wire colleague John Williams shared a predicted spring two-deep depth chart for the team to give insight into what Oklahoma could look like this season. Although the team improved in more than one area, Texas has a good opportunity to start a winning streak over Oklahoma in the series.

Let’s analyze what the Sooners bring back this season.

Pre-Spring Football: Projected Oklahoma Defensive Depth Chart

Projecting the Oklahoma Sooners defensive depth chart ahead of spring camp

The Sooners will make a run for a National Championship in 2021 and if they get to the grand stage, it will be because of the defense. The offense has consistently been the hierarchy in collegiate football under wizard, Lincoln Riley. Oklahoma’s defense has been the team’s achilles heel in recent years but with Alex Grinch, the unit has evolved.

The defense has improved drastically during he last few years with Grinch on headset. The squad went from a rush defensive ranking of 32nd in 2019 to 9th in 2020, seven interceptions in 2019 (100th) to 16 in 2020 (3rd), and an average of 2.6 sacks-per-game in 2019 (34th) and an average of 3.4 sacks-per-game in 2020 (7th). Those are telling statistics.

Many cornerstone players are returning in 2021 including Perrion Winfrey, Nik Bonitto, and Woodi Washington. Spring football is fast approaching and roster battles will commence between the hash marks. Here is a preliminary take at what the Oklahoma Sooners depth chart could look like when the 2021 season kicks off. No doubt, Grinch will put the most physical and competitive players on the gridiron to don Crimson and Cream.

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