Rondell Bothroyd – Page 5 – Syndication Server

How talented is the Oklahoma Sooners roster ahead of 2023?

According to recruiting rankings over the last 5 years, the Sooners should have one of the best rosters in 2023. But is that an accurate reflection of this roster?

We heard in the build-up to last season that the Oklahoma Sooners had one of the more talented rosters in the country. People (including me) pointed to that analysis as to why Oklahoma should be a contender in 2022. Some (not me) pointed to that analysis as to why 2022 was a coaching failure.

Based on recruiting rankings over the last five years, the Oklahoma Sooners should have one of the best rosters in college football. Based on recruiting rankings from the last five cycles, the Sooners have the eighth-best roster ahead of 2023. Brad Crawford of 247Sports explains:

Recruiting is the lifeblood of any successful program, and that’s no different at Oklahoma, a blue-blood accustomed to winning big. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen in Year 1 under coach Brent Venables, who came over to the Sooners following a lengthy tenure as Clemson’s top recruiter on staff under Dabo Swinney. The arrival of three five-stars in the 2023 recruiting cycle, however, is going to be a shot in the arm for Oklahoma prior to the school’s entry to the SEC in 2024. According to 247Sports’ recruiting rankings, Oklahoma has the second-most talented roster in the Big 12. You can probably guess who owns the league’s most lethal collection of talent. – Crawford, 247Sports

Oklahoma and Brent Venables have done a lot over the last two recruiting cycles to bring in talent from both the high school and transfer portal ranks. But as we saw last year when Oklahoma supposedly had one of the better rosters according to high school recruiting evaluations, it didn’t pan out to wins.

That doesn’t mean the analysis or rationale is wrong. The top of the list is carried by Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State, three teams that most would argue are the most talented teams in the country.

But given the turnover that Oklahoma’s undergone since Venables has taken over, do recruiting rankings prior to the coaching change accurately reflect the talent on the Sooners’ roster?

Oklahoma’s last two recruiting classes were strong, but there aren’t a lot of players left over from the three recruiting classes prior to Brent Venables’ arrival.

Oklahoma had the No. 4 recruiting class in 2019 on the strength of the signings of [autotag]Spencer Rattler[/autotag], [autotag]Jadon Haselwood[/autotag], [autotag]Trejan Bridges[/autotag], and [autotag]Theo Wease[/autotag]. All four of those players are gone. [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag], [autotag]Reggie Grimes[/autotag], and [autotag]Nate Anderson[/autotag] are the top players remaining from the 2020 class but haven’t ascended into star players for the Sooners just yet.

The top three players in the 2021 class, [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Clayton Smith[/autotag], and [autotag]Mario Williams[/autotag], are gone as well.

So, while the recruiting at Oklahoma has been good, the strength of the Sooners’ recruiting classes from 2019-2021 isn’t reflected on the 2023 roster. Given the amount of roster turnover that Oklahoma has undergone since Venables has taken over, these “talent rankings” don’t adequately reflect where Oklahoma is as a roster right now unless you look strictly at the last two recruiting classes.

But that doesn’t mean this isn’t a group capable of reasserting the Sooners as Big 12 contenders. Oklahoma brought in one of the best transfer portal classes in the first phase of the portal. Specifically, on the defensive side of the ball, the Sooners brought in several impact players. [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag], [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag], [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag], and [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag] could all start for the Sooners, but at least will play significant roles for the Sooners.

Brent Venables and his staff have added talent over the last two offseasons. They have a better roster than they did a year ago, especially on the defensive side of the ball. There’s optimism that will reveal itself on the field in a wide-open Big 12 in 2023.

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‘We’re just a lot further along’: Brent Venables impressed by his Sooners’ football acumen

Addressing the media on Thursday, Brent Venables likes where the Oklahoma Sooners are at this point in the 2023 offseason.

As the 2022 season inched along, it was evident that the Oklahoma Sooners didn’t have enough depth or talent, on the defensive side in particular, to achieve what they wanted in 2022. The Sooners didn’t sit back in the transfer portal.

Brent Venables and his staff attacked the transfer portal and closed on their No. 4 recruiting class to improve the depth and talent for 2023. Although Oklahoma doesn’t rank well in returning production, the Sooners are banking on their transfer portal and freshmen recruiting class making an impact this season.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] spoke about the improved depth.

“So we’re just a lot further along,” Venables shared with the media. “Strength, speed. I think this is a review compared to mid-years. I think that we got more depth than what we had a year ago, I think more impact players than we had a year ago.”

The Sooners brought in one of the top transfer classes in the country, led by [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag] and [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag]. They were highly productive players in 2022. McCullough was a true-freshman All-American for the Indiana Hoosiers, while Bothroyd put together a couple of seasons with Wake Forest.

It’s early in the 2023 offseason, but Venables has been impressed with what this group has shown so far in their time in Norman.

“And then, again, we’re further along, Venables continued. “Some of it because I think we’ve recruited a really good class of football players. Guys that have a very strong football acumen. That’s going to lend to a quicker transition if you will, and a group of guys that are hungry.”

Additionally, the Sooners that are returning have had a year in Brent Venables’ defensive system and Jeff Lebby’s offense. With time to review what went well and what didn’t in the 2022 season, those players have a better understanding of what’s expected this offseason in preparation for 2023.

Guys like [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], and [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] were first time starters for the Sooners. Each of them had some big moments as sophomores and are expected to make an even bigger impact in 2023.

The proof will come during the 2023 season, but there’s reason to be optimistic that Oklahoma will rebound from their first losing season since 1998.

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ESPN’s David Hale projects the Sooners to have the best comeback in 2023

In ESPN’s latest college football roundtable, David Hale chose the Sooners to have the best comeback in 2023.

There’s a lot to like about what Brent Venables is building in Norman. The Oklahoma Sooners may not have had the season they would have liked in 2022, but there’s a lot of optimism surrounding the Sooners this offseason.

They’re bringing back a lot of the pieces that played significant roles in 2022. Though they lost several starters to the NFL, they’ve made significant transfer additions to mitigate those losses and bolster a defense that struggled for much of the Big 12 schedule.

And it’s those transfer portal additions that has ESPN’s David Hale optimistic that Oklahoma could have the best comeback (ESPN+) in 2023.

There were myriad reasons for Oklahoma’s down 2022 campaign, but Brent Venables isn’t interested in excuses. His focus is entirely on improvement, and there’s reason to believe 2023 will offer quite a bit of it for the Sooners. The transfer portal gutted last year’s roster, but Oklahoma has added some solid players this season, including two potential star edge rushers in Rondell Bothroyd and Dasan McCullough. Add in a terrific recruiting class and the return of QB Dillon Gabriel, and Venables has much more to work with this time around. Those edge rushers are key. Venables loves to dictate the action at the line of scrimmage, something he did better than any coach in the country at Clemson. If Oklahoma’s pass rush takes a big leap and the Sooners get a little better turnover luck — they saw the 10th-biggest year-over-year decline in points off turnover margin in 2022 — they should again be contending for the Big 12 title and a possible playoff berth. – Hale, ESPN

The transfer class, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, will make a huge difference for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2023. They needed an infusion of talent to give them more depth, and depth they have. Their pass rush should be better with the additions of [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag], [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag], [autotag]Trace Ford[/autotag], [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag], and [autotag]Davon Sears[/autotag]. They’ll join a defensive front that was good at times and went cold other times. But Ethan Downs finished the season on a high note for the Sooners. After his first year as a starter

While the portal additions on offense will help replace the offensive line departures of [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag], Oklahoma will benefit from quarterback continuity and a strong running game.

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] now has a season of Power Five under his belt. He was good in 2022 and has a chance to be better in 2023 despite the losses of [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] and [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag]. [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] emerged as a reliable and versatile option in Jeff Lebby’s offense. They also brought back [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag], which provides another reliable option for the passing game.

They’re bringing back a ton of talent, but just as important is that the Big 12 looks incredibly wide open in 2023. Texas may be the frontrunner, but the Sooners will be right there with teams like Kansas State and Texas Tech as contenders for the conference title.

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Oklahoma landed one of USA TODAY Sports best transfer classes

USA TODAY Sports Paul Myerburg identified Oklahoma’s transfer classes as one of the best in the country this offseason.

The Oklahoma Sooners made a concerted effort to add talent and experience on both sides of the football in the 2023 transfer portal. The Sooners lost a lot of talent to the NFL in [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag], [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag], [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], and [autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag]. [autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag] is headed to Houston, so the Sooners have a lot of vacated snaps to fill.

According to USA TODAY’s Paul Myerburg, the Oklahoma Sooners brought in one of the best transfer portal classes in the country this cycle. [autotag]Dasasn McCullough[/autotag] was named as the Sooners’ best transfer addition.

This is another solid transfer class for [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag], this time joining one of the top-ranked traditional recruiting classes in the FBS. Stanford transfer [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag] pencils into one of the open spots at left or right tackle after spending four season as the Cardinal’s starter on the blind side. After one season at South Carolina, tight end [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag] has rejoined the program and figures to be the Sooners’ top option at the position. Former Michigan wide receiver [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] had moments of brilliance with the Wolverines and will have the chance to play a major role as OU tries to replace roughly two-thirds of last year’s receiving yardage. Lastly, (Dasan) McCullough was one of the top freshmen defenders in the Power Five in 2022. – Myerburg, USA TODAY Sports

The Sooners added several impact players on both sides of the ball. Including McCullough, the Sooners landed several defensive front players that can effect opposing passing games and help solidify their run defense. McCullough is rumored to be slotted in at Cheetah for the Sooners, but Oklahoma will utilize his pass rush ability in their blitz packages.

[autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag] comes to Oklahoma with 13 sacks and 24.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons at Wake Forest. [autotag]Trace Ford[/autotag] had a productive first two years in Stillwater before being limited by injuries. Oklahoma also added [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag] and [autotag]Davon Sears[/autotag] to help bolster the interior. Lacey comes from Notre Dame, and Sears was being pursued by Tennessee and Penn State before choosing Oklahoma.

Safety [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag] rounds out the defensive additions for the Sooners. He brings a lot of experience and big-hitting ability that can add some extra physicality to the Sooners’ defense.

On offense, Oklahoma made important additions along the offensive line with Rouse and guard [autotag]Caleb Shaffer[/autotag]. Both players could slide into the starting lineup and bring a ton of experience to the offensive line room. Both were four-year starters at their previous stops and join an experienced group that brings back [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag] and [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag] along the offensive front as well. [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] projects to start at right tackle after playing the swing tackle role for Oklahoma in 2022.

[autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] adds another talented wide receiver to their wide receiver competition opposite [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag]. Anthony has some deep-threat ability that will give him the opportunity to be an option to replace Marvin Mims.

Then there’s [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag]. The returning Oklahoma Sooners tight end will have an opportunity for a [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag]-type breakout season in 2023. Though the Sooners are a little deeper now that [autotag]Jason Llewellyn[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaden Helms[/autotag] are in their second years in Norman, Stogner will get a vast majority of the opportunities this season.

Time will tell just how impactful this transfer portal class will be, but on paper, the Sooners landed a strong group of players that will be key to the Sooners 2023 season.

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USA TODAY Sports considers the Sooners recruiting class one of the best of 2023

Now that the 2023 cycle is officially over, it’s time to evaluate how the Oklahoma Sooners and the rest of the country faired from a big-picture perspective. The Sooners finished with the No. 4 class in the cycle, according to the 247Sports …

Now that the 2023 cycle is officially over, it’s time to evaluate how the Oklahoma Sooners and the rest of the country faired from a big-picture perspective.

The Sooners finished with the No. 4 class in the cycle, according to the 247Sports composite[autotag]according to the 247Sports composite[/autotag]. They got big wins by closing the deal on Peyton Bowen and Makari Vickers. USA TODAY Sports’ Pete Myerberg believes the Oklahoma Sooners finished with one of the best recruiting classes on both the high school and transfer front.

Year 2 under Brent Venables looks much better for the Sooners, which again went heavy into the transfer portal to find plug-and-play starters from the Power Five. The most important is Rouse, who was briefly committed to Nebraska before joining the Sooners. He’s likely taking over at left tackle with former starter Anton Harrison off to the NFL. Another signee to watch is edge rusher Adepoju Adebawore, who may be the most ballyhooed prospect to come out of Kansas City in decades. Arnold was the Sooners’ top-rated signee and should see some snaps behind Dillon Gabriel in 2023 before taking the job the following season. – Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

[autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag] was a big-time transfer addition for the Oklahoma Sooners. Adding an offensive lineman with 39 starts and more than 2,500 snaps at left tackle. That’s an incredible amount of experience that [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] gets to add to his offensive line to replace [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag].

Perhaps just as valuable, if not more, is the addition of [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag], a defensive lineman with 13 sacks and 24.5 tackles for loss for Wake Forest over the last two seasons. Oklahoma struggled to rush the passer consistently in 2022, and he provides an immediate boost as someone who can play defensive end on early downs and defensive tackle in pass rush situations.

Then considering the Oklahoma Sooners landed the No. 4 class in the 247Sports composite rankings, this has been quite the offseason for [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and his staff after their 6-7 season.

[autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], from a talent perspective, could be considered the best quarterback in the class. [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag] is an elite prospect who hasn’t even reached his peak as a defensive prospect. Landing [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] was the icing on the cake of what was already an incredible recruiting class for 2023.

After a No. 8 class in 2022 and No. 4 class in 2023, the Oklahoma Sooners are on a roll on the recruiting trail. What will they do for an encore performance in the 2024 cycle?

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College coaches name Oklahoma Sooners a winner in the transfer portal

College coaches pick the Oklahoma Sooners as one of the winners of the transfer portal per ESPN.

The Sooners had to do something this offseason to improve the talent on both sides of the ball. [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and his staff did just that through the first stage of the [autotag]2022-2023 transfer portal[/autotag].

They’ve added impact players like [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag], [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag], [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag], [autotag]Trace Ford[/autotag], [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag], and [autotag]Davon Sears[/autotag] to a defense that needed an infusion of talent. In particular, they needed to add more pass rushers to give them more consistency.

Oklahoma’s also done a good job on the offensive side of the ball. To help mitigate the loss of [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag], and [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag] along the offensive line, Oklahoma brought in [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag] and [autotag]Caleb Shaffer[/autotag] to add to a line that will feature [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag], [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag], and [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] in 2023. The Sooners also added [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] from Michigan and brought back [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag] to be the presumptive starter at tight end.

The work Venables and his staff have done to improve the talent has garnered the attention of college coaches around the sport who named the Sooners as one of the winners of the transfer portal, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg (ESPN+).

“They struggled so badly last year,” a Big 12 assistant said. “The portal, if you do it the right way, it can change things. They’ve taken a good hold in the portal.”

Coaches expect edge rusher Dasan McCullough, a transfer from Indiana, to immediately impact the unit. Oklahoma emphasized its defensive line in the portal, adding Oklahoma State end Trace Ford, Wake Forest end Rondell Bothroyd and Notre Dame tackle Jacob Lacey. Former Sooners tight end Austin Stogner will return after a season at South Carolina, where he had 20 receptions. Wide receiver is an area Oklahoma likely will continue to pursue in the portal when it reopens. – Adam Rittenberg

The Sooners currently sit eighth in the nation in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings after the first period of the portal.

This coaching staff has done a really nice job at attacking weaknesses in the portal to give themselves an opportunity to improve upon their 6-7 season from 2022. It won’t be an easy task, but in a wide-open Big 12, the Sooners will be a Big 12 contender late in the season.

If there’s one thing this coaching staff has shown they can do, it’s recruit. Whether it’s in the 2023 recruiting class or the transfer portal, Brent Venables and his staff have done a fantastic job in the talent acquisition department.

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ESPN gives props to Oklahoma’s transfer portal additions

Oklahoma’s transfer portal haul has earned praise from pundits over at ESPN.

Oklahoma entered the offseason needing to better its roster. Yes, the 2023 class would include an infusion of talent. However, it’s not reasonable to expect those true freshmen to provide an immediate impact.

How would Oklahoma improve its defense? How would they replace the offensive starters they lost to the draft?

The transfer portal was the answer. And while Oklahoma missed on a few guys, overall, their haul via the portal was excellent. Pundits at ESPN seem to believe the same thing (ESPN+).

ESPN’s Tom Luginbill hailed the addition of Dasan McCullough as one of the best fits in this transfer portal cycle.

The Sooners are in dire need of upgrades on the defensive side, and McCullough is this cycle’s best pass-rusher. He had an excellent freshman campaign, registering 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. The former top-50 recruit in the 2022 class brings speed, effort and a disruptive force to Oklahoma. – Luginbill, ESPN

Oklahoma’s best EDGE rushing addition, Dasan McCullough, figures to be a major player next year for Oklahoma. Oklahoma was abysmal in generating pressure off the edge. Now with McCullough there, the Sooners become a bit more dangerous and dynamic. There’s a chance they plug him in as the Cheetah, utilizing his versatility and athleticism.

Oklahoma not only found answers for their departures, but they improved the overall talent as well. It’s precisely why ESPN believes Oklahoma was one of the schools that addressed its needs the best via this portal cycle in particular.

It’s tough to imagine a Brent Venables-led team would struggle on defense, but the Sooners gave up 461 yards per game, which ranked 122 out of 131 FBS teams and surrendered 5.75 yards per play (82nd). Needing to add playmakers, Venables landed versatile and disruptive Indiana freshman linebacker Dasan McCullough. He also added Texas Tech safety Reggie Pearson Jr., Notre Dame defensive lineman Jacob Lacey, Wake Forest defensive lineman Rondell Bothroyd, Oklahoma State defensive lineman Trace Ford and Texas State defensive lineman Davon Sears. Those transfers are paired with a top-five recruiting class as well. – Tom VanHaaren, ESPN

With a mix of upperclassmen leadership, upside, and production being infused with what the Sooners return, Oklahoma got better as a defense on paper this offseason.

The next step is putting it together this offseason and letting it showcase itself on the field in the fall.

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‘They aren’t far from an SEC offense’: Power Five coaches share thoughts on Oklahoma for 2023

Oklahoma’s offense is ready to roll for 2023, but can the Sooners defense improve enough to make them players in the Big 12?

In a season the Oklahoma Sooners played five one-score games and went 0-5, one could say the Sooners were clo … err, not far from keeping their streak of winning seasons alive.

It’s really hard to lose that many one-score games. It takes a great many bad breaks, so 2023 should see offer a regression to the mean. All the Sooners had to do was win one of those one-score games to prevent their first losing season since 1998. However, maybe that losing season is just what the doctor ordered to reset the program.

Oklahoma hasn’t laid back on the recruiting trail or in the first month of the 2022-2023 transfer portal. It has made significant additions to the defensive front and in the secondary to bolster a unit that allowed 30 points per game and allowed 35 or more points in seven games in 2022.

“Based on where they fell to this past year, they’re probably thinking that they’ve got to make a quick fix,” a Power Five coordinator told Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.

To that end, the Sooners have added [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag], [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag], [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag], [autotag]Davon Sears[/autotag], [autotag]Reggie Pearson Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Trace Ford[/autotag] to improve their defense. Each should have a significant role if not start for the Sooners in 2023. McCullough, Bothroyd and Pearson, in particular, will bolster the Sooners’ defense. They were playmakers in their previous programs, something the Sooners lacked in 2022, especially from the pass rush. If the Sooners can improve their defense, there’s no telling how good they could be with the offense they have.

“They aren’t far from an SEC team on offense,” a defensive coordinator who faced Oklahoma shared with Rittenberg. “To say that team’s 6-6, I don’t know why. If you’ve got a quarterback and guys that can catch the football, you’re going to be able to score points.”

Oklahoma was 1-6 in games the defense allowed 35 points or more. The Sooners were 5-1 in games the defense held opponents to fewer than 30 points. The path to returning to the top of what will be a convoluted Big 12 in 2023 is getting the defense closer to 20-25 points per game allowed. Of course, that’s easier said than done. However, if the parts can come together, the Sooners will have a chance to do something significant in 2023.

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Pair of Sooners transfer additions considered perfect fits for Oklahoma

The Sooners have been active in the portal, but these two transfer additions could be “perfect fits” for Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Sooners haven’t been shy about adding talent to their depth chart via the transfer portal over the last two offseasons. They’ve been active on both sides of the ball.

Two of their more recent additions were dubbed perfect fits for the Sooners by Hawkeyes Insider at 247Sports writer Brandon Sonnone. Among his list of perfect fits were defensive lineman Rondell Bothroyd and wide receiver Andrel Anthony.

This is a projection of upside, but Andrel Anthony to Oklahoma makes a lot of sense. If players were stocks, buy low on Anthony after he amassed only 19 catches for 328 yards and four scores in 22 career games.

Anthony has the smooth aspect to his game, and that should be utilized well in Jeff Lebby’s super spread system. The idea of getting Anthony in space or isolated in 1 vs. 1s on deep shots is super intriguing. – Sonnone, Hawkeyes Insider

Anthony provides a big-play threat for the Oklahoma Sooners. As a true freshman in 2021, Anthony averaged 20.7 yards per reception for the Michigan Wolverines. That number dropped considerably in 2022, but depending on his usage, the Sooners could have a new big-play threat to replace Marvin Mims on the outside.

One of the things the Oklahoma Sooners have to figure out this offseason is their pass rush. The pass rush had a couple of really strong games in wins over Nebraska and Oklahoma State and in the first half of their loss to West Virginia. In an effort to find a more consistent pass rush, the Sooners added Bothroyd.

In terms of scheme fit, this might be one of the best matches that we’ve seen so far this pgortal cycle. Rondell Bothroyd is listed at 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, but he might be a little closer to 280. That size, combined with his strength made him a movable piece in Wake’s 4-man front this past season, and it could lead to him being an ideal defensive end in the 3-man Tite Front that Brent Venables has popularized.

Boyd brings pass-rush juice (14 sacks over two seasons) and is solid versus the run. He had some experience lining up over the tackle at Wake Forest, but figures to do that a ton at Oklahoma. His versatility will be a plus. – Sonnone, Hawkeyes Insider

In addition to Bothroyd, the Sooners added Trace Ford, Dasan McCullough, Jacob Lacey and Davon Sears to their defensive front. Bothroyd is easily the guy on the defensive front with the most production. If he can bring that to Oklahoma and the Sooners can get a guy like Ethan Downs to improve upon his strong finish to the 2022 season, Oklahoma mighty have the answers it is looking for rushing the passer.

For the Sooners to get back to the top of the Big 12 standings, they’ll need big-time contributions from their transfer portal additions. And if Anthony and Bothroyd are indeed perfect fits for the Sooners, they should have a big season in Norman.

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Oklahoma Sooners inside the USA TODAY Sports way too early top 25 for 2023

Oklahoma looks to be a bounce-back candidate for the 2023 season, making USA TODAY Sports way too early top 25 for next year.

Coming off of a 6-7 season in which the defense struggled for most of the Big 12 schedule, it’s a bit surprising that the Oklahoma Sooners find themselves inside the top 25 of these way too early 2023 power rankings.

Whether it was CBS Sports or 247Sports, it appears the Sooners will be a popular bounce-back candidate this offseason. To that end, Oklahoma was included in the top 25 of USA TODAY Sports’ way too early power rankings for 2023 by Paul Myerburg.

It has to get better. There’s plenty of talent on offense to team with established starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Based on his track record, it feels very safe to expect the defense to take a huge leap in Brent Venables’ second season. The Sooners will also be a deeper and more experienced team after almost completely redoing the roster last winter and making significant headway in the transfer portal this offseason. Don’t forget that five of OU’s seven losses came by a touchdown or less, so simply returning to the mean in these close games would bring OU back into the eight-or-nine win range. – Myerburg, USA TODAY Sports

Myerburg makes a great point, that if Oklahoma split the five games in which they lost by a touchdown or less, the Sooners would have been at least an eight-win team. Four of those five losses came by a field goal. Improved depth on defense could help the Sooners better withstand late surges by their opponents. P

Getting [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] back is a great start to rebounding after the Sooners’ first losing season since 1998. Having quarterback continuity amid some key losses on the offensive side of the ball will help calm the waters. But more important than that is the work Brent Venables and his staff have done to add immediate difference-makers to the defense in the [autotag]2022-2023 transfer portal[/autotag].

Guys like [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag], [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag], [autotag]Trace Ford[/autotag], [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag], and [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag] are ready-made players that will step in and either start or be a part of the two-deep on the Sooners’ initial depth chart when they break camp next fall. Bothroyd, Ford, and McCullough, in particular, bring pass rush productivity to Norman to help a defensive front that struggled with pass rush consistency in 2022. Add that group to Reggie Grimes, who started 2022 hot and Ethan Downs, who finished strong down the stretch, and the Sooners are building quite the arsenal at defensive end.

Improving the defense is the key to the Sooners returning to contention in the Big 12 in 2023. Moving the needle from 30 points per game to closer to 20 will make the biggest difference for the Sooners. It’s too early to tell how all the pieces will come together, but based on what they’ve done in the transfer portal thus far, the Oklahoma Sooners are trending in the right direction.

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