Tag: Spencer Rattler

Oklahoma’s Bill Bedenbaugh has high praise for incoming freshman Andrew Raym

Bill Bedenbaugh gave an in-depth look into Oklahoma’s offensive line philosophies and preparations week in and out on…

Bill Bedenbaugh gave an in-depth look into Oklahoma’s offensive line philosophies and preparations week in and out on the Run the Power Podcast in a nearly hour-long interview.

Sprinkled in with stories from his days with Hal Mumme and Mike Leach, one of the more intriguing tidbits Bedenbaugh gave was about freshman offensive lineman Andrew Raym. A four-star lineman out of Broken Arrow, Okla., Raym is a guy that Bedenbaugh could see moving around on the Sooners’ offensive front.

“He’s a guy that is playing guard for us right now and center,” Bedenabugh said. “I do think, eventually, just depending on what happens, he’ll take over center. But he’s a really smart guy. He’s got the body for it—physical guy, athletic guy. He can mentally handle what we’re putting on him.”

Predominantly playing tackle at Broken Arrow, Raym was recruited by Bedenbaugh as an offensive guard. However, the way Bedenbaugh philosophies the center position, Raym could become the one snapping the ball for Spencer Rattler in the future.

“I think, especially for us, center is the most important (position) just because he calls out audibles for everything,” Bedenbaugh told Run the Power. “He’s responsible for setting the pass protection, he’s responsible for setting the run blocking scheme, he’s responsible for everything.”

With Creed Humphrey holding down the anchor spot this upcoming season, Raym has an opportunity to learn from who Bedenbaugh says is the best center to come through Oklahoma in a while.

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Lincoln Riley discusses 2020 football season implications, Oklahoma quarterback competition

Here is what Lincoln Riley had to say about being ready to play a 2020 football season and the pending quarterback competition

With the impact of the coronavirus taking out spring football for all of college football, Oklahoma is in the same peculiar situation as everyone else.

Lincoln Riley hasn’t been content with how the playing field hasn’t been even across all of college football in terms of the communication between the coaching staff and players. The Sooners had plenty of position battles to start to work through during spring football and Alex Grinch continuing to revamp the Oklahoma defense in year two.

Riley made a two-week hiatus from talking to the media on Wednesday, going on Oklahoma play-by-play voice Toby Rowland’s radio show for an 11-minute segment discussing everything from the last two weeks.

Here is what Oklahoma’s head coach had to say about being ready to play a 2020 football season and the pending quarterback competition

ON THE 2020 FOOTBALL SEASON AND IF A TEAM CAN GET READY WITH LOSING THE SPRING:

“It’s going to be predetermined to our nation’s response to this virus and how seriously people take it and one, do we all take the steps to not only protect ourselves, but more importantly protect each other. Hopefully our nation will continue to get more serious about this and respond in a positive way. If that happens and we’re able to train our guys over the summer like we normally do, we get quite a few practices—we get 20 plus practices in fall camp, that’s enough to get a team ready to play. Now, are our guys going to have develop as much or are some of the guys going to miss spring football—of course. That’s a key time to develop guys, but I don’t know that it’s necessarily from a health standpoint or safety, any of that, I don’t know that it’s necessary to get somebody actually just ready to play football. I think with 20 plus practices and if we are able to get them on campus here some in the summer to train them, get them physically ready for camp, 20 plus practices in Aug., then we’ll be ready to play football. And by that time, I think the nation will need that.”

ON THE LOSS OF TIME FOR THE QUARTERBACK COMPETITION

“Honestly it is a lot better than if it were last year. For a lot of reasons with our football team. Obviously defensively. From an offensive line perspective with just how crazy and inexperienced we were last year. Our quarterbacks … your correct, neither one of them have played a ton of snaps at the college level, but I wasn’t going to be able help that through spring practice and fall camp anyway. That’s not going to change until we play games. The thing that is different this year is these guys have both been in our system now for awhile. They have been in our program now for awhile and you could tell. Even in the one day at practice that we got, I felt like we had two experienced guys out there and we do in my mind. They know what we’re doing. They know how to run our stuff. Now, can they obviously get better and are the reps beneficial to them? Of course they are. They are beneficial to anybody. But these guys will be ready to play. I’ll be excited to get them back and get back to work with them, but I know they are two pretty driven guys that will be getting a lot of work while they are outside of here.”

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Oklahoma in at No. 6 in latest USA TODAY Sports preseason top-25

The coronavirus isn’t stopping the conversation. During the sports world shutdown, it’s hard not to look ahead to the next college season.

The coronavirus isn’t stopping the conversation.

During the sports world shutdown, it’s hard not to look ahead to the next college season: football.

The college football season will commence in early Sept., but the offseason banter is in full swing. USA TODAY Sports updated its top-25 on Wednesday, with Oklahoma coming at No. 6.

“Recent history says that Oklahoma will be there when it counts in December,” wrote USA TODAY Sports college football writer Paul Myerberg. “It’ll be with a new quarterback with a different background: Spencer Rattler isn’t a transfer, like his three predecessors under center, and will take over as a redshirt freshman with little in the way of meaningful snaps under pressure.”

The Sooners trail Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon and Alabama in Myerberg’s latest poll.

Oklahoma will likely be led by the former five-star quarterback in Rattler with a handful of returning offensive lineman and a young, but talented skill group. Alex Grinch wasn’t completely satisfied with how his defense performed in year one, but that side of the ball also has a ton of talent returning.

Joining the Sooners from the Big 12 in the top-25 are Texas (15), Iowa State (16) and Oklahoma State (19).

Oklahoma will begin the 2020 season against Missouri State on Sept. 5.

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What Lincoln Riley said about the quarterback battle between Spencer Rattler, Tanner Mordecai

Another quarterback battle. This time around it is between Lincoln Riley’s prized recruit and the quarterback he recruited before him.

Another spring, another quarterback battle.

It was Baker Mayfield, Trevor Knight and Cody Thomas in Lincoln Riley’s first year. Then Kyler Murray and Austin Kendall three years later, Jalen Hurts and Tanner Mordecai the next and now Spencer Rattler and Mordecai.

Times have changed, but Riley hasn’t. He holds all the cards to the quarterback battle between his prized quarterback recruit and one of the best quarterbacks from the state of Texas in the 2018 recruiting class. Though many have already named Rattler the starter, Riley hasn’t budged an inch off of the upcoming quarterback race.

Oklahoma’s head ball coach met with the media for the first time this spring on Monday. Here is what Riley had to say about the quarterback battle between Rattler and Mordecai.

ON IF THIS QUARTERBACK BATTLE IS DIFFERENT THAN THOSE IN THE PAST:

“It’s different. They’re not experienced, but they’re also, they’re experienced here. So it’s definitely been a different process than certainly compared to last spring. I would say it’s been more similar to like the years, especially maybe the year where we had Austin and Kyler kind of both coming back and both guys, neither one had played a ton yet, but they both had been in the system. Had both been in our program. Yeah, there’s some game experience that these guys don’t have and aren’t going to have, we get that. But there’s no doubt, it is nice to have guys that have been here. It’s not all just brand new. This time last year, we were obviously force-feeding, especially Jalen, at that point, trying to get him caught up as much as fast as possible. So it’s been a little different tone in there because of that. They’re guys that are ready. We’re very excited about the guys that are in that room. The guys that they’ve been able to learn under during their time. I feel like they’re both ready to be the starting quarterback here. If we didn’t, we would have brought somebody else in. We’ve obviously have had a history of that. But these guys are ready, they’re good enough, they’re talented enough. It’s their time.”

ON NAMING A QUARTERBACK IN THE SPRING:

“It doesn’t matter. I’m certainly not opposed to, if we had a clear-cut starter after spring of doing something then. I think there’s advantages to that if you’re able to do that, the team knowing who the starter’s going to be, first and foremost. I just think you have to let these things play out. I know everybody wants to come to conclusions, everybody wants to know what it’s going to be. And I know these things get dissected every which way and I know they’re going to continue to forever, that’s just the nature of the business. But it’s so simple. It’s the very core of team sports. You let however many people you have, you let them truly compete for a spot and may the best man win. To me it’s that simple. I’ve never felt any pressure on it to have a timeline, to feel like it needs to be done here or there. There’s obviously a timeline on the back end of this as you start to get close to the first game. But I think these things, you have to just let them evolve. Each one is different. So it’ll be fun to watch these guys because they’re both prepared, both experienced and both very talented players.”

The anticipated spring of Spencer Rattler, Alex Grinch couldn’t hold much longer

The move was subtle, yet it started a tidal wave that has been building ever since. The spring of Spencer Rattler, Alex Grinch is here.

The move was subtle, yet it started a tidal wave that has been building and getting bigger ever since.

In the waning moments of the Peach Bowl, Lincoln Riley made a decision to put in Spencer Rattler over Tanner Mordecai to get Jalen Hurts his final curtain call of his storied college career. It was one drive, but that tease kickstarted an offseason of anticipation and expectation that only the likes of Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray raised before.

Then came the potential poaching of Alex Grinch. First it was Washington State, then Colorado and more than likely others wanting his services to lead their respective programs. Grinch ultimately stayed put, aligning himself more and more with Oklahoma’s rabid, loyalty driven fan base.

Rattler and Grinch have been the straw that has stirred Oklahoma’s offseason drink. One that has the potential to taste so good by the time the Sooners’ 2020 season ends 10 months from now.

Riley has been adamant that Tanner Mordecai is still in the fight at quarterback, but no one has listened to Oklahoma’s head coach demands. Rattler is listed as high as third in Las Vegas’ early 2020 Heisman odds. He’s been the starting quarterback since before he trotted out onto the field to replace Hurts in late Dec. Rattler and the potential supporting cast with a deep receiving corps, running back room and return of four starting offensive linemen has been the reason the Sooners have been included amongst national championship conversation for the upcoming season.

Grinch will have his own challenges this spring. He’ll have to replace Kenneth Murray, Neville Gallimore and Parnell Motley with players Grinch didn’t recruit that are returning or include newcomers that were recruited by the new defensive regime, but have not been in the system.

Oklahoma fans have not been worried about the defense holding them back for the first time in over a decade, though. That’s what Grinch has delivered for Riley in just a year’s time.

You can sense the anticipation and expectation raise day-by-day.

It’s been a build-up that couldn’t hold for much longer and now the long await to see what the 2020 Oklahoma team could be is over. Lincoln Riley will kickoff the Sooners spring on Monday at noon with a meeting with the press, then players will take to the practice field on Tuesday for the first time this spring.

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Oklahoma announces kickoff time for 2020 Spring Game

Oklahoma football announced the kickoff time will be at 5 p.m. for their 2020 Spring Game.

Oklahoma football announced the kickoff time will be at 5 p.m. for their 2020 Spring Game, which will take place at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman on Saturday, April 18.

The Sooners’ annual Spring Game is typically a big weekend for Lincoln Riley and his recruiting team. The game serves as a way for fans to get a look at the upcoming team, recruits to visit the campus and alumni return to Oklahoma.

In last year’s spring game, quarterback Jalen Hurts got the first chance to showcase his skills as a Sooners. This year, quarterback’s Spencer Rattler and Tanner Mordecai will be looking to do the same.

This year’s Spring Game will also be Oklahoma’s first chance to showcase it’s 2020 recruiting class, which finished in the top-15 in the nation according to Rivals.com.

Last year, country music singer Lee Brice held a pre-game concert.

Oklahoma has said they will announce more details closer to the game.

Oklahoma’s scholarship situation heading into 2020 spring practice

Oklahoma is set to begin spring practice on Tuesday. Here is where OU’s scholarship situation sits heading into the spring.

The spring is near.

Lincoln Riley and the 2020 Oklahoma football team are well underway in winter workouts as spring practice is right around the corner. The Sooners are scheduled to begin on Tuesday and will practice at least until the spring game on April 18.

Oklahoma is as packed with scholarship players as it comes heading into the spring. Riley and the Sooners are slated to have 71 of the expected 84 scholarship players for the 2020 season in the spring. This includes ten members of Oklahoma’s 2020 recruiting class in junior college transfers Joshua Ellison and Perrion Winfrey, Davon Graham, Mikey Henderson, Seth McGowan, Marvin Mims, Noah Nelson, Andrew Raym, Bryson Washington and Shane Whitter.

The 2020 spring will be the second spring with Alex Grinch at the helm, but the first with his own recruited players. Grinch is set to return the majority of his defense, but did lose the bulk of his star power in Kenneth Murray, Neville Gallimore and Parnell Motley.

On the flip side, Lincoln Riley is dealing with a quarterback competition and a presumed winner. He returns all four of his highly-touted pass catchers from the 2019 recruiting class and four offensive lineman.

Here is where Oklahoma’s scholarship situation stands heading into 2020 spring football.

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Lincoln Riley says Shane Beamer will ‘take a bigger role with special teams’

Lincoln Riley named Shane Beamer his special teams coordinator at his press conference on Wednesday.

Lincoln Riley named Shane Beamer his special teams coordinator at his press conference on Wednesday.

The vacancy came open due to Jay Boulware’s departure to Texas. Boulware spent seven seasons with the Sooners, acting as Oklahoma’s running backs and special teams coach.

Riley has not given the special teams coaching role to anyone yet. Along with Beamer, cornerbacks coach Roy Manning has spent time coaching special teams in his lone season at UCLA. New running backs coach DeMarco Murray also returned kickoffs for Oklahoma during his playing days starring for the Sooners.

Beamer was initially hired on as Oklahoma’s assistant head coach and tight ends coach in 2018. He spent the previous year as the tight ends and special teams coach for Georgia. Before that he had stints at South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Georgia Tech.

Demarco Murray replaced Boulware as the Sooners running backs coach.

The Sooners begin spring practice on March 10, and will play their annual Spring Game on April 18. Their first game of the 2020 season will be against Missouri State on Sep. 5.

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Oklahoma plans to begin spring practice prior to spring break

Lincoln Riley announced at his Wednesday press conference that Oklahoma football will begin spring practice on March 10.

Lincoln Riley announced at his Wednesday press conference that Oklahoma football will begin spring practice prior to spring break.

The University of Oklahoma’s spring break commences on March 14 and lasts through March 22.

A lot is up in the air with this Sooners team, but one thing is certain—there will assuredly be a quarterback battle. This year’s contest features freshman Spencer Rattler and junior Tanner Mordecai. While Mordecai saw a majority of the backup role behind Jalen Hurts last season, Riley opted to go with Rattler at the end of the game in last year’s loss to LSU in the Peach Bowl. Both have plenty of arm talent.

This will be Alex Grinch’s second spring season with the Sooners. After losing several key players to the NFL draft, including linebacker Kenneth Murray and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore, a lot is left to be desired for Oklahoma’s defense. With a full season under his belt at Oklahoma, Grinch should continue to help the unit improve.

Oklahoma’s spring game will kick off on April 18. The time has not been announced.

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Lincoln Riley provides no update on suspended players, says ‘process is ongoing’

Lincoln Riley gave a post-signing day press conference prior to introducing Jamar Cain and DeMarco Murray.

Lincoln Riley gave a post-signing day press conference prior to introducing outside linebackers/defensive ends coach Jamar Cain and running backs coach DeMarco Murray.

Prior to the Peach Bowl, Ronnie Perkins, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Trejan Bridges were all suspended for failing an NCAA drug test. The trio was suspended for the Peach Bowl and the national championship game if the Sooners would have made it that far.

NCAA rules state that a player failing a drug test must sit out for half the regular season, regardless of the sport. With the trio already serving one game, that leaves five games for them left to serve if their appeals do not lessen the punishment.

Looking forward, Oklahoma opens the season against Missouri State on Sept. 5. The Sooners play host to Tennessee before playing against Army on the road following a BYE week. To open Big 12 play, Oklahoma squares off against Baylor and Texas in their first two conference games.

If the appeals process does not pan out for the trio, they will not be available to play until Oct. 17 when the Sooners head to Ames, Iowa in Week 7.

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