Tag: PJ Adebawore

How much better is the Oklahoma Sooners defense?

It’s the question on everyone’s mind, is Oklahoma’s defense better or is it the competition they’ve been playing?

There’s no question, the Oklahoma Sooners defense has looked much improved to start off the 2023 season. But the question that remains is it because they are that much better or is it because of the competition they are playing?

The short answer is it’s a little bit of both. No, Oklahoma isn’t playing many world-beaters offensively. The [autotag]SMU Mustangs[/autotag] and the [autotag]Cincinnati Bearcats[/autotag] presented unique challenges but neither are going to be considered one of the best offenses in college football.

The fact of the matter is that hasn’t mattered in years past. Oklahoma has struggled defensively regardless of who they’ve played. Don’t believe me? Take a look at this stat Oklahoma Football’s Twitter account shared.

The fewest points allowed in 31 years. That’s three decades. Oklahoma has had some very good defenses, especially in the early 2000s, and this year’s team has been statistically better thus far.

We could go through stat after stat after stat to show why Oklahoma’s defense is that much better, but a lot of it has to do with the things not on the stat sheet.

It has more to do with how much their understanding of the defense has improved and the difference in the mental makeup of this team. It’s not second-guessing where you need to go, which can slow a defender down.

It’s playing with better technique and knowing where to look. This defense is playing fast, and it’s because they aren’t overthinking things. They aren’t questioning if the move they made is the right one or not.

Does that mean they are elite? No, they are far from a finished product.

They still lack talent in key areas. That also doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be games where the defense plays poorly. It most likely will happen this year and the offense will need to win that game.

When that happens, it also doesn’t mean things aren’t heading in the right direction. It just means there’s still work to be done.

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5 storylines to follow as the Oklahoma Sooners get set to open fall camp

As the Oklahoma Sooners get set to open fall camp, here are five storylines to follow ahead of the 2023 season.

You can taste it. We are so close to the start of the 2023 college football season.

Some teams that will play in Week 0 have already started fall practice. For everyone else, such as the Oklahoma Sooners, they start this week. The first event on the horizon is OU football media days on Tuesday.

The summer is filled with official visits and major recruiting events. The Sooners just concluded their summer recruiting efforts with “Sooners under the Stars” and “Party at the Palace.” They’ve put a good foot forward and have already reaped the rewards of their efforts.

But the dead period starts Tuesday, so it’s time for these teams to lock in and get ready for the season.

Oklahoma kicks off fall camp on Thursday and there are a number of storylines to look for. Whether that’s position battles or progress from players from a year ago, we’ll have you covered throughout camp here on Sooners Wire.

So, without further adieu, let’s take a look at the five storylines I’m looking for this fall camp.

Oklahoma among Hearland College Sports top 5 Big 12 defensive lines

The Oklahoma Sooners defensive line was included among Heartland College Sports top five units in the Big 12 heading into 2023.

The Oklahoma Sooners coaching staff has worked since January on improving a defensive line that was so poor a year ago.

The Sooners lacked depth, talent, and athleticism in all areas of the defensive line which resulted in having one of the worst run defenses in the country and a pass rush that couldn’t get home in 2022.

But things look to be changing in Norman after adding five-star P.J. Adebawore and transfers Rondell Bothroyd, Da’Jon Terry, Davon Sears, Phil Paea, Trace Ford, and Jacob Lacey.

With those additions in mind, Heartland College Sports’ Bryan Clinton put the Sooners’ defensive line No. 3 in the Big 12 behind the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Texas Longhorns.

Among many issues that the Sooners faced defensively in 2022, the defensive line just wasn’t good enough down the stretch. OU allowed 212.6 ypg rushing in Big 12 play, and ranked dead last in the conference in sacks, with 13 in Big 12 play. So, how is Oklahoma third on our list? An absolute haul in the transfer portal. Brent Venables added six defensive linemen from the portal, all of which are projected to make a major impact on the unit: DE Trace Ford (Oklahoma State), DT Davon Sears (Texas State), DT DaJon Terry (Tennessee), DE Rondell Bothroyd (Wake Forest), DT Jacob Lacey (Notre Dame), and DT Phillip Paea (Utah State). The Sooners also add five-star true freshman DE P.J. Adeboware and expect big things from returnees like Jonah Laulu, Ethan Downs, and R Mason Thomas. This unit it lightyears ahead of where it was a season ago, and we expect it to be one of the most productive DL units in the Big 12. – Clinton, Heartland Sports

While I think the additions are big and will lead to a better defensive line, I don’t know if I would rank them that high just yet.

They have to prove it on the field because right now, I don’t know if they have any game-changers. I’m high on R Mason Thomas and Adebawore, but they are both unproven guys.

At defensive tackle, they have a lot more depth than last year, but is it quality depth? I think you’ll see four or five guys rotate in there and not see much of a drop-off.

No one is elite, but at least some consistency should help the run defense. Could a guy like Gracen Halton emerge to be a difference maker against the run and as a pass rusher? Can guys like Jordan Kelley and Isaiah Coe take the next step in their development? 

This is a defensive line that should feast on a poor offensive line and at least hold up to better offensive lines. Something that should lead to a much-improved defensive side of the ball in 2023.

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Oklahoma Sooners to have a bounce-back year according to Phil Steele

Longtime sports writer Phil Steele is feeling very optimistic about the Sooners in his Big 12 power rankings.

Longtime sports writer Phil Steele puts out his conference power rankings every offseason, and this year he’s feeling optimistic about the Sooners.

When ranking each Big 12 school, Oklahoma comes in at No. 2 behind the Texas Longhorns.

Several outlets are predicting a bounce-back season for Oklahom. Others are waiting to see the adjustments Brent Venables makes in Year 2.

The offense ranked 13th in the nation, but the defense ranked 122nd last season. The staff hit the recruiting trail and portal hard, bringing in a top-five class in 2023. The Sooners also added several impact transfers on the defensive side of the ball that should add talent and experience to a roster that was devoid of both in 2022.

The key defensively is going to be the defensive line and what kind of pressure it can create and how well it can contain the run game.

Both were major issues a year ago. However, with help from the transfer portal and signing five-star defensive end PJ Adebawore, there should be quite a bit of improvement.

Offensively the question is who replaces leading receiver Marvin Mims and leading rusher Eric Gray.

The running back room should be deeper and overall more talented than a year ago. There’s more experience, and with the help of the quarterback run game, the Sooners could build upon their top 10 rushing attack.

All of this is looking good for Oklahoma, on paper. The schedule is shaping up nicely, though there’s bound to be a team or two that exceed expectations.

This should be a bounce-back year, and what better way to leave the Big 12 than an Oklahoma versus Texas conference championship game? A lot of things have to go well for that to happen for both schools, something the Big 12 probably doesn’t want to see happen.

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Peyton Bowen among freshmen expected to be a factor in 2023 per On3

On3’s Matt Zenitz believes Oklahoma five-star freshman Peyton Bowen will be a factor for the Sooners in 2023.

The Oklahoma Sooners reeled in three five-star commitments in the 2023 recruiting class. [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], [autotag]P.J. Adebawore[/autotag], and [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] are all expected to have bright futures within the program.

Bowen was among 10 freshmen that On3’s Matt Zenitz believes will be a factor in 2023.

Some of the feedback that continues to come up in conversations about Bowen is that “he’s a true football player,” that he “makes it look easy” and that he continues to stand out with “his understanding of the game and how fast he plays.” He capped spring ball with an interception off of starting QB Dillon Gabriel in Oklahoma’s spring game. – On3’s Matt Zenitz

If the spring game can translate to the regular season, Oklahoma has someone who will see the field and will see it often in 2023.

Bowen has great instincts, cover skills, and ball skills. He’s someone Oklahoma just hasn’t had in the secondary in a long time.

It’s impressive for a true freshman to come in and make an impact, but it’s even more impressive given the safety position might be the deepest of the depth chart. Bowen will be competing for snaps alongside Billy Bowman, Key Lawrence, Reggie Pearson, and Robert Spears-Jennings. Bowman, Lawrence, and Pearson are experienced players who will provide a veteran presence to the Sooners’ secondary. Spears-Jennings is still looking to breakout, but he flashed in limited opportunities as a true freshman.

As long as Billy Bowman comes back in 2024 and Bowen lives up to the hype, that would be an incredible safety duo to take into the SEC.

It’s interesting not to see Adebawore on the list. I think Bowen will factor in, but the defensive end position is wide open. Adebawore will have plenty of opportunities to play and make an impact.

Now, playing on the defensive line is very hard as a true freshman because they aren’t typically ready for the physical grind. However, Adebawore is definitely someone who will be a factor. He’s got the athleticism and enough size to be disruptive as a pass rusher in a rotational role.

With Bowen and Adebawore, Oklahoma’s defense looks to have a bright future. If things go well, that future could be now for the Sooners.

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Ethan Downs named to Big-12 preseason all-conference team

In preparation for that, the Big 12 released its preseason all-conference team and like last year, only one Sooner made the list. This time it was defensive lineman Ethan Downs.

We are just a few days until Big 12 Media Days get underway in Arlington, Texas.

In preparation for that, the Big 12 released its preseason all-conference team and like last year, only one Sooner made the list. This time it was defensive lineman Ethan Downs.

Downs was named by the conference as a second-team all-Big 12 member last season and third team by Pro Football Focus.

He received a 78.2 grade by PFF ranking third at his position. But Downs like many of the Sooners had an up-and-down season. He seemed to really come along at the end of the year with seven of his 13.5 tackles for loss coming in three of his final four games.

He also had two of his team-leading 4.5 sacks in three of the final four games as well. He was 10th in the Big 12 in pressures among edge rushers, but he finished fourth in the conference in stops at the position.

He’s kind of been the forgotten man in the defensive end room with the emergency of R Mason Thomas, signing PJ Adebawore, and adding Rondell Bothroyd and Trace Ford in the portal.

There’s no doubt that Oklahoma has a lot more depth this year than they did last year so if Downs is up and down again, he will see his snaps start to diminish.

But if he can build upon how he ended the season, then being a first-team all-Big 12 is definitely in the cards.

He could also end up being a guy who plays a lot when they go with three down linemen but doesn’t play as much when they go with four down linemen.

That is still to be determined but if he’s more consistent, it will be hard to keep him off of the field.

Oklahoma’s defensive line needs to make a significant jump in 2023

For the Sooners to improve defensively in 2023, Oklahoma’s defensive line will have to make significant improvements.

It’s no secret a big reason the Oklahoma Sooners didn’t achieve what they wanted to last year was the defense. The Sooners finished 106th in run defense, 119th in pass defense and 122nd in total defense.

A big reason those numbers were so horrific was how poor the defensive line was last season. It couldn’t generate a pass rush, and it struggled to get off blocks and make stops in the run game.

It’s clear the staff recognized the issues from last year and attacked the transfer portal, hoping to improve the defensive front. The big priority over the last few recruiting classes has been to add blue-chip defensive linemen.

The Sooners added six players from the transfer portal: Jacob Lacey, Trace Ford, Davon Sears, Rondell Bothroyd, Da’Jon Terry and Phillip Paea. Throw in Dasan McCullough, who played edge for Indiana in 2022, and the Sooners made a concerted effort to add players that can affect the running game and get to the quarterback.

Each of those additions should contribute this year, and a few might even start. The transfer portal is not the only place where the Sooners added talent. They also added five-star P.J. Adebawore.

He might not be a starter immediately, but he has the potential to start by the season’s end. The team also returns starters Isaiah Coe, Ethan Downs and Reggie Grimes.

A guy that played quite a bit last season as a true freshman and is poised for a breakout season is R Mason Thomas. He’s added weight and appears to have kept his speed and twitch.

The starting defensive line could be Thomas, Coe, Terry and Bothroyd when the Sooners deploy four-man fronts. When they go with a three-man front, it could be Thomas or Downs, Terry and Bothroyd until Adebawore becomes more comfortable.

There’s no doubt the Sooners needed to upgrade the defensive line. Now we’ll see if the results follow.

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Oklahoma welcomes 14 mid-year enrollees to campus as the spring semester starts

14 members of Oklahoma’s 2023 recruiting class set to join the Oklahoma Sooners as early enrollees.

Oklahoma has seen a number of players leave this offseason via the transfer portal, graduation or to pursue professional careers in the NFL. In response, Brent Venables and his coaching staff signed the program’s highest-rated class in quite some time. While we will not see any live action from Team 129 until the spring game, it will be encouraging to know that more than half of the 2023 recruiting class will enroll early to acclimate to the collegiate athlete lifestyle.

With classes starting Jan. 17, Oklahoma’s 2023 signees will move in this weekend. Which members of the Class of 2023 can we look out for in winter workouts and spring practices? Take a look below.

QB Jackson Arnold

Edge PJ Adebawore

S Peyton Bowen

C Joshua Bates

OL Cayden Green

RB Kalib Hicks

DL Derrick LeBlanc

ATH Erik McCarty 

LB Phil Picciotti

RB Daylan Smothers

WR Keyon Brown

DB Makari Vickers

DB Jasiah Wagoner

DL Ashton Sanders

Fourteen of the 25 members of the class of 2023 will join the Sooners football program for the offseason program. For multiple freshmen, this early leg up can be invaluable.

For example, five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold can begin to learn the playbook, have actual live reps and build chemistry with the receivers. For players in the trenches such as Cayden Green, PJ Adebawore, Derrick LeBlanc, Ashton Sanders and Joshua Bates, the early time with Jerry Schmidt getting stronger can help their pursuit of early playing opportunities.

Brent Venables and his staff will be thrilled to welcome their newest players to the program for good as they prepare Team 129 for the 2023 season.

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OU, Bedlam to play host to big names with a number of prospects descending on Norman

Oklahoma takes on in-state rival Oklahoma State for Bedlam and will be doing so with a massive group of recruits in attendance. From @thatmanbryant

There’s a fairly significant amount of importance surrounding Bedlam this year. The amount of games left between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State has been reduced significantly with Oklahoma’s impending move to the SEC on the horizon.

We may have 2023 and 2024, but the rivalry will cease as we know it in the next few years. Every game has always mattered but these last few, like the one on Saturday night, will mean a lot more.

Additionally, Oklahoma is fighting for bowl eligibility. They need one more win to participate in 2022’s bowl season.

Lastly and arguably most importantly, Oklahoma has its biggest recruiting weekend of the football season with Oklahoma State coming to town. We’ll revisit 2022 Bedlam several years from now and look back and remember it as a pivotal moment in Oklahoma’s last five to ten years.

There are some big-time names across multiple recruiting classes that will be in attendance for Oklahoma including five-star DT and Texas A&M commit David Hicks and recently dubbed 2024 five-star DT David Stone. More than 20 recruits have already committed to being in Norman, some via social media and others per OUInsider.com.