Tag: savion byrd

Analysis of the Oklahoma Sooners official depth chart for the 2023 season

A look at the depth chart for the 2023 Oklahoma Sooners ahead of their week one matchup with Arkansas State.

Week 1 of the 2023 college football season is upon us. With that comes the 2023 depth chart for the Oklahoma Sooners.

If there’s one thing about this depth chart, it’s there’s an emphasis on the word depth.

We heard from the coaching staff during OU media day that they had more “competitive depth” on the roster. Now that we have our first depth chart of the season, it’s clear the team has more depth. Now, how that translates to wins and losses will reveal itself throughout the season.

As Oklahoma gets set to take on Arkansas State in just a few days, here’s a look at the Sooners depth chart.

Savion Byrd looking to be more consistent in the 2023 season

Oklahoma offensive lineman Savion Byrd is ready for his opportunity to make an impact on the 2023 season.

The [autotag]Oklahoma Sooners[/autotag] have consistently had one of the best offensive lines in college football since [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] took over. They consistently put people in the NFL, most recently [autotag]Anton Harriso[/autotag]n and [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag].

To play for someone like Bedenbaugh can be grueling because of what he demands from his lines. But in the end, it is rewarding.

This year shouldn’t be any different.

Offensive Coordinator Jeff Lebby already named four of the five starters, [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag], [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag], [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag] and [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag]. All four of those guys have started at the Power Five level.

With Raym, Rouse, and Mettauer, the Sooners have three guys who have started three or more seasons of college football. With that much experience, there’s only one spot up for grabs.

[autotag]Savion Byrd[/autotag] looks to be the front runner to start at left guard, taking most of the first-team reps at this point in fall camp. Byrd told reporters, he has been working on being more consistent.

“Taking it one day at a time,” Byrd said. “Getting the game plans down, learning how to watch film properly, learning how to be consistent, like really consistent day in and day out. Being physical is not going to be the problem it’s making sure my hands are in the right place, feet, leverage, just really being consistent in my blocks and molding to be the offensive lineman I can be.”

In the [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] years, Oklahoma’s offensive lines were known to be nasty. They were physical and just wanted to maul you every play. Since then, there haven’t been too many players on the line with that mentality. Byrd brings that to this team.

But much was made about Byrd’s weight this offseason. He admitted to getting down to 265-270 pounds at one point. But staying consistent and putting in the work has helped him get up to 305 pounds.

As for his diet, “Eat anything that I can put my hands on,” Byrd said. That has obviously worked for him. To be a big-time guard you need to have that mentality that Byrd has but you can’t be too light in the pockets either.

Now the question is if he can take his game to the next level and become the next Oklahoma offensive lineman to go to the NFL. That’s the plan, now we have to see it play out.

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Oklahoma Sooners have the weapons to be great on offense

Though the Sooners lost a lot of talent to the NFL draft, there’s still the talent for the offense to be dynamic in 2023.

The Oklahoma Sooners are in the midst of a minor retooling on the offensive side of the football. They’re working to replace three starters along the offensive line, their top two pass catchers ([autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] and [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag]), and their leading rusher ([autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag]).

[autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] led the Oklahoma Sooners in receiving yards each of his three seasons in Norman.

Despite all of the turnover, the Oklahoma Sooners are still an incredibly talented offense.

Replacing [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag] at left tackle is [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag]. Rouse started 38 games at Stanford, a program known for producing good to great rushing attacks. That should play well in a [autotag]Jeff Lebby [/autotag]offense that wants to run the rock and run it a lot.

At right tackle [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] is replacing one-year starter Wanya Morris. There may not be a player in Oklahoma’s starting lineup that has as high a ceiling as Guyton. Jared Verse, a future top 10 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, called Guyton the best tackle he’d faced. Though he doesn’t have a ton of experience, the expectations are high for the incredibly athletic offensive tackle.

[autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag] slides over to right guard to replace Chris Murray, and at the moment, it looks like [autotag]Savion Byrd[/autotag] is the frontrunner at left guard. Byrd has just one collegiate start under his belt but was good in the Sooners matchup with Florida State. Byrd helped the Sooners have a fantastic day on the ground against the Seminoles.

Oklahoma is hoping for a similar breakout from [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag] that Willis experienced a year ago. In a thin tight end room, Stogner has to have a big season. He has the athletic prowess to be a game-changer in the passing game. His only question is his health. If Stogner can stay healthy for an entire season, there’s a chance he surpasses Willis’ receiving totals from a year ago.

Wide receiver still has some questions. Namely, who will start on the outside opposite [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag]? [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] will likely start in the slot in three or more wide receiver sets. Then it comes down to a host of wide receiver talents that are vying for that No. 2 spot. There are a lot of really good options, like [autotag]Brenen Thompso[/autotag]n, [autotag]Andrel Anthon[/autotag]y, [autotag]LV Bunkley-Shelton[/autotag], [autotag]Gavin Freeman[/autotag], [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], and [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag]. There’s a good chance the Sooners roll two deep at each wide receiver spot in games to keep everyone fresh in the Sooners’ uptempo offense.

But they have a good amount of depth to work with.

Speaking of depth, there’s no position on the offensive side of the ball as deep as the Sooners running back room. Led by [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] and [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag], the Sooners are loaded with talented runners. In addition to the sophomore running backs, the coaching staff is high on [autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag] and [autotag]Tawee Walker[/autotag] and the roles they’ll be able to play this year. Throw in true freshmen [autotag]Kalib Hicks[/autotag] and [autotag]Daylan Smothers[/autotag], and the Sooners have six guys they feel can help them run the football.

Featuring guys like Farooq and Barnes provide a physical dynamic that should allow Oklahoma to pick up dirty yards after contact and after the catch.

In addition to becoming a more physical team, the Sooners emphasized adding speed this offseason. Freeman and Sawchuk return and Oklahoma also added Smothers, Thompson, and Pettaway to their ranks. That’s a group of guys that are threats to score from any spot on the field any time they touch the ball because of speed.

At quarterback, the Sooners have an experienced veteran who threw for more than 3,100 yards and 25 touchdowns in Dillon Gabriel last season. 2022 was his first at the Power Five level and he was good. Now, he needs to take a step to improve the Sooners fortunes on third and fourth down and in the red zone.

The Sooners lost a lot of talent to the draft this offseason, but that doesn’t mean their devoid of talent. It’s a deep offensive roster that can help the Sooners be even better than they were in 2022.

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Offensive line hopes to anchor the 2023 Oklahoma Sooners

The offensive line is crucial to what every team wants to do offensively. Ever since Bill Bedenbaugh came to town it’s arguably been the strength of the Oklahoma Sooners.

Another day and another position group. This one is the position that doesn’t get enough credit, but it might be the most fun position to talk about.

The offensive line is crucial to what every team wants to do offensively. Ever since Bill Bedenbaugh came to town, it’s arguably been the strength of the Oklahoma Sooners.

But the Sooners will have their work cut out for them as they replace three starters from last year’s team. [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag] are gone.

They added transfer [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag] from the Stanford Cardinal to fill Harrison’s spot at left tackle. He comes in with a ton of experience and should help lessen the blow of losing Harrison.

[autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] will slide into the right tackle spot replacing Morris. Guyton played a great deal at the position early in the season when Morris was out. They love his upside, and he has the potential to be a future first-round pick. He’s extremely athletic but needs to improve on his technique. He’s poised for a breakout season in 2023.

The replacement for Murray is a little trickier. Bedenbaugh doesn’t like to show his hand this early, but all signs point to Savion Byrd taking that role.

Byrd is a violent blocker. He’s reminiscent of how the 2018 line played: They just mauled you. Now, he has some technique work to do, but his performance against Florida State in the Cheez-It Bowl was fun to watch. If he can refine some of his technique, he could be special.

I know [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag] started most of the games at left guard, but I think for this team to really have a dominant offensive line, someone like [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag] needs to take over.

You know exactly what you’ll get from Mettauer. He’s a steady piece with a lot of experience, but he doesn’t have the upside Taylor has. That guy can be similar to Byrd. He just plays mean.

The Sooners also bring back center [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag], who brings significant experience. He should be able to help solidify this line as it navigates the turnover experienced this offseason.

They also add transfers [autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag] from the Appalachian State Mountaineers and [autotag]Caleb Shaffer[/autotag] from the Miami (Oh.) RedHawks. Both of those guys will add depth to the line and should play a role on this team.

If you want to talk about some fun video, turn on Everett’s tape versus the Texas A&M Aggies. You’ll thank me later.

All in all, the Sooners have a lot of depth and have the potential to roll out the best offensive line in Norman since that elite 2018 line. Now, they still have to put things together, and players will have to progress the way a lot of people think they can, but the potential is there.

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Projecting Oklahoma’s offensive depth chart before summer practice

Summer offensive depth chart projection for the 2023 Oklahoma Sooners.

Oklahoma has started summer preparation for the upcoming season. Currently, the players are getting in their strength and conditioning work. There have been no padded practices, and there will not be any for a while, but that will not stop us from trying to figure out what Oklahoma’s starting offense and defense will look like when the Sooners take the field on Sept. 2 against the Arkansas State Red Wolves.

Offensively, the Sooners starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel returned to help quarterback an offense that was 13th nationally in total offense last season. Much was made about Gabriel’s performance but a team finishing in the top 20 in total offense is probably doing many things right. Blaming the quarterback for a 6-7 season seems a bit excessive. In the one game Gabriel didn’t play, Oklahoma scored zero points in its biggest game of the season versus Texas.

Outside of that, Oklahoma underwent departures to the NFL by their starting right and left tackles, Wanya Morris and Anton Harrison, respectively. The latter was selected in the first round by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Marvin Mims went in the second round to the Denver Broncos. Starting running back Eric Gray was drafted in the fourth round by the New York Giants. Starting tight end Brayden Willis is a San Francisco 49er after being drafted in the seventh round.

Oklahoma will have holes to fill. We took our best shot at projecting an offensive depth chart while considering transfer portal acquisitions, recruiting, general roster maturation and turnover from last year’s team.

Oklahoma Sooners No. 7 in ESPN’s future offense rankings

Despite the turnover on offense, ESPN likes where the Sooners are heading, slotting them No. 7 in their future offense power rankings.

The Oklahoma Sooners are working to replace several starters off of an offense that was pretty good in 2022.

Marvin Mims, Eric Gray, Anton Harrison, Wanya Morris, Chris Murray, and Brayden Willis were each selected in the 2023 NFL draft. If you’re keeping track at home, that’s the top two receivers, leading rusher, and three starting offensive linemen.

Though there is a lot of turnover that they’re working through, they still have a group of talented players on offense to fill those holes. That’s why the Sooners were ranked No. 7 by Adam Rittenberg in ESPN’s future offense rankings

Scouting the Sooners: Despite Oklahoma’s first losing season since 1998, the offense produced at a decent clip, finishing 10th nationally in rushing (219.4 yards per game). The SEC transition looms for the Sooners, but the unit projects well with depth at quarterback, wide receiver and other positions. Quarterback play will remain a strength as [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] returns for a second season in coordinator Jeff Lebby’s offense, and incoming freshman [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], ESPN’s No. 3 overall recruit, should carry the unit through the 2025 season. Oklahoma loses top rusher [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], a fifth-round NFL draft pick who gained 1,366 yards last season, and will turn to sophomore [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag], redshirt freshman [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and others. Barnes averaged 4.5 yards per carry as Gray’s backup last fall. The Sooners regain tight end [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag], who played his first three seasons at OU before transferring to South Carolina for 2022. He leads a group that includes junior [autotag]Blake Smith[/autotag], second-year [autotag]Kaden Helms[/autotag] and others. – Rittenberg, ESPN

Jovantae Barnes and Gavin Sawchuk are going to be dynamic players. Barnes ran for more than 500 yards last season. In Sawchuk’s first extended run with the Sooners, he ran for 100 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. With as much as Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby wants to run the ball, being able to hand it to a pair of dynamic runners 25-30 times a game will create big plays and set the tone for the Sooners offense.

OU lost top wide receiver [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] Jr. to the NFL, and will lean on junior [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], senior [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag], freshman [autotag]Gavin Freeman[/autotag] and others to fill the production void. The Sooners added Michigan transfer [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag], and signed [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag], ESPN’s No. 45 overall recruit in the 2023 class. Younger receivers [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] and [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] also will be part of the mix. The offensive line should remain a strength, especially at center with senior [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag] and at guard with [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag]. Junior [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] started five games at tackle in 2022, and Oklahoma did well in the portal with [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag] (Stanford) and [autotag]Caleb Shaffer[/autotag] (Miami Ohio), both multiyear starters. Depth appears solid with sophomores [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag] and [autotag]Savion Byrd[/autotag], and others. OU added [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag], ESPN’s No. 2 guard and No. 55 overall recruit for 2022. – Rittenberg, ESPN

If there are questions, it’s at wide receiver beyond Jalil Farooq and Drake Stoops and along the offensive line where they’re hoping transfer additions can help solidify the unit.

If Walter Rouse and his 38 starts can be the answer at left tackle, the Sooners have options at guard with Caleb Shaffer and Cayden Green. Green got a lot of opportunities during the spring with injury issues plaguing the Sooners offensive line.

Even with questions on offense, the future is bright with an experienced signal caller in Dillon Gabriel and impressive skill talent. If they can find more efficiency on third down and in the red zone, the Oklahoma Sooners will take their offense to another level in 2023.

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5 things we’re watching for at Oklahoma’s spring game

Oklahoma has its spring game this weekend, and we’ve got five things we’ll be looking at for Oklahoma’s spring debut of team 129.

Team 129 in Oklahoma’s illustrious football history takes the field publically for the first time on Saturday afternoon. It’s a game and weekend that means a lot to the team, staff, fanbase, and recruits.

Oklahoma comes into this spring off the heels of its worst season in over 20 years. The Sooners were a rough watch at times. Despite that, they still found themselves in a bowl game against a talented Florida State team.

Oklahoma lost the likes of [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag], [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag], [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], [autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag], and [autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag] to the NFL Draft process.

The Sooners saw players transfer out but also welcomed in a number of players from their top-five recruiting class. The Sooners attacked the portal with some serious intensity bringing in impact transfers on both sides of the ball.

It’s now time for the world to at least get a glimpse of some of these new Sooners while getting a chance to see how the returning players improved from last year.

Here are our top five storylines heading into the spring game.

Don’t forget about these Oklahoma Sooners for 2023

Though the Oklahoma Sooners have added a lot of talent this offseason, there are several Sooners we shouldn’t overlook for 2023.

The Oklahoma Sooners coaching staff has been hard at work this offseason to retool and upgrade the roster. Through a transfer portal class ESPN ranked No. 4 and a recruiting class ranked No. 4 by 247Sports, the Oklahoma Sooners have brought in a ton of talent to compete for jobs in 2023.

And it’s a roster that needed it, considering they are ninth in the Big 12 in returning production for 2023, and they’re heading to the SEC in 2024.

At the same time, the talent they’re bringing back is young and unproven. In particular, the 2022 recruiting class and transfer portal additions. While they didn’t play a ton last year, they’ve now spent a year with Brent Venables and this coaching staff and will have an opportunity to earn some significant playing time.

Despite the additions, there are several returning Sooners we shouldn’t forget about for 2023.

Oklahoma Sooners land transfer offensive linemen Caleb Shaffer

Oklahoma continues its portal shopping spree by adding grad transfer offensive lineman Caleb Shaffer from Miami of Ohio.

[autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] is not satisfied with his offensive line room as the Sooners prepare for the 2023 season. It’s hard to blame him as the Oklahoma Sooners lost two starters, [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag] and [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag], to the NFL Draft process and Chris Murray to graduation.

Instead of waiting idly, Bedenbaugh went portal shopping and helped land interior offensive linemen Caleb Shaffer out of Miami-Ohio. Shaffer announced his commitment to Oklahoma on Thursday evening.

Shaffer projects best as a guard and marks the third time in the last four years that Oklahoma’s offensive line coach has landed a transfer guard in the offseason. Previous guards [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag] and [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag] ended up becoming starters for Bedenbaugh, and it’s quite possible that Shaffer could become the next starter for the Sooners at guard.

He has a wealth of experience, with 35 starts and over 2,200 snaps to his collegiate resume. Shaffer was an Academic All-MAC player as well. Since he is a grad transfer, he will have one year of eligibility.

Shaffer’s commitment gives Oklahoma a wealth of options if senior [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag] is not granted another year. It also allows younger interior linemen like [autotag]Savion Byrd[/autotag], [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag], and others to continue developing at a steady pace.

Shaffer won’t be given a starting job, but he’ll undoubtedly be in the mix for one all offseason. Shaffer also marks just the second offensive transfer portal addition, along with the return of tight end Austin Stogner.

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Report Card: Young linemen, running backs stood out for the Sooners

With the final report card of the year, the Sooners’ young offensive linemen and running backs offer hope for the future.

Just like that, season 128 of Oklahoma football is done. By record, they were the worst Oklahoma team since 1998, finishing under .500 (6-7) on the season. However, after the Sooners’ performance against the No. 13 Seminoles, it’s hard to suggest they were as bad as that 1998 team.

Their performance against a good Florida State team offered hope. It provided encouraging signs as we head into the offseason.

Before doing so, we take a look at each position group and grade Oklahoma’s performance from the 35-32 loss to the Seminoles in the Cheez-It Bowl.