Tag: Oklahoma Sooners Depth Chart

Oklahoma Sooners release first depth chart of 2022 ahead of season opener vs. UTEP

Days away from the 2022 season opener vs. UTEP, the Oklahoma Sooners released their first depth chart of the season.

Wee one of the 2022 college football season has arrived, and the Oklahoma Sooners have released their first depth chart ahead of their opener against the UTEP Miners.

One of the goals of Brent Venables’ first offseasons with the Oklahoma Sooners was to create competition on the depth chart. Though several spots were solidified heading into fall camp, we still didn’t have an answer at right tackle, one of the wide receiver spots, defensive end, or at linebacker.

Now with the depth chart released, we get a glimpse at how the coaching staff sees the roster as they prepare for the first game of the Brent Venables era.

Several spots indicate an ongoing competition or those players will rotate at those positions with an “OR” designation. In Brent Venables’ defense, instead of deploying a “slot” or “nickel” cornerback, he utilizes the “Cheetah” position, a hybrid between a safety and a linebacker. Someone who can cover and provide support in the running game.

With that, let’s take a look at the first Oklahoma Sooners depth chart heading into week one vs. the UTEP Miners.

Oklahoma Sooners 2021 offensive depth chart projection 3.0

With the departures of three skill position players and an offensive lineman, the Oklahoma Sooners depth chart has seen some turnover in recent months.

Over the last couple of months, the Oklahoma Sooners offensive depth chart has been hit by players getting dismissed from the program. Back in May, it was Trejan Bridges and Seth McGowan on the way out. Yesterday, the University of Oklahoma dismissed Mikey Henderson from the program after an alleged incident involving all three.

Stacey Wilkins entered the transfer portal, and while it doesn’t appear that he’s found a new home yet, it’s likely he’s playing elsewhere in 2021.

While it’s a loss for the program on the depth chart, it creates new opportunities. In particular, a guy like Marcus Major benefits greatly from sliding up the depth chart. Overlooked a bit because of Seth McGowan in 2020 and still a bit because of LSU transfer Tre Bradford, Major has an opportunity to find a role as the team’s third running back.

Much of the depth chart remains unchanged, though the Spring Game gave us more insight into how the center competition is unfolding. Andrew Raym looks to be leading the pack at this point, but with Summer workouts ongoing and camp around the corner, the competition is still up for grabs. Don’t count Robert Congel or Chris Murray out just yet.

Even with the departure of Trejan Bridges, the Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver group looks incredibly deep. They return their leading receivers from 2020 in Marvin Mims and Theo Wease on the outside. Jadon Haselwood, who figures to get time at all three wide receiver spots, could be a big slot for Lincoln Riley and the Sooners’ offense. His size and athleticism would be a huge mismatch for slot corners or safeties.

The Sooners will likely rotate each of their starters through the slot to keep defenses off-balance and exploit mismatches.

Though Henderson was making the switch from H-Back to running back this offseason, he would have still been able to give you some snaps behind Jeremiah Hall. Now that will fall to Brayden Willis or Austin Stogner, who are more traditional tight ends.