Tag: Xavier Robinson

Best photos from latest Oklahoma Sooners spring practice

Spring ball is heating up and here are the best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners latest spring practice.

Spring practice is in full throttle as the Oklahoma Sooners prepare for the 2024 college football season. There are a number of intriguing storylines to watch this spring with [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] taking over at quarterback and the turnover along the offensive line.

The newcomers are making a strong impression on the media in attendance. [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] and [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag] have stood out in the passing game as Arnold gets acclimated to life as the starting quarterback.

Defensively, true freshmen [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag], and [autotag]Reggie Powers[/autotag] have mixed in with the first-team defense and looked good in the early going.

There are a number of players that the team is taking precautions with on the injury front, so it’s hard to know who exactly is leading the way in the most high-profile position battles.

What we do know is that this is a deeper team than what the Sooners took into the spring a year ago, especially at wide receiver, defensive back, and linebacker. The competitive depth across the board is better this spring than in any year of the [autotag]Brent Venable[/autotag]s era at Oklahoma, which should serve the team well as they try to work out their depth chart.

Here’s a look at the best photos from the Sooners most recent spring practice.

5 positions where the Oklahoma Sooners are better than they were a year ago

Every year there is roster turnover, but where are the Sooners better? Here are five positions Oklahoma’s better than they were a year ago.

Every offseason teams around college football have to deal with a significant amount of turnover to their roster. That’s been the case for the Sooners each season of the Brent Venables era.

No position group was hit harder than the offensive line. They lost the five guys that were starters for the majority of the season. Though they’ve been able to retool the lineup with transfer portal additions, it will be months before we know if those additions will work out.

Elsewhere, however, the Sooners look to be in really good shape, especially when you compare it to how several positions looked this time last year.

Here are five position groups that look better compared to where they were a year ago.

Oklahoma Sooners’ 2024 signing class position outlook

A position by position look at who signed with the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2024 signing class.

The Oklahoma Sooners put together another top-10 recruiting class, signing all 27 of their prospects on the first day of the early signing period.

It’s a class that will help define Oklahoma’s success in the SEC. It’s a class that’s balanced, with 14 offensive signees and 13 on the defensive side of the ball. The defensive front is garnering all of the attention, but the Oklahoma Sooners brought in a number of really talented players on both sides of the ball.

Here’s a position breakdown of the Sooners’ 2024 signing class.

More: [autotag]2024 Early Signing Period[/autotag] coverage

Oklahoma Sooners 2024 Early Signing Period Tracker

Get to know the 2024 recruiting class with our Oklahoma Sooners 2024 early signing period tracker.

It’s Day 1 of the [autotag]2024 early signing period[/autotag], and the Oklahoma Sooners are already off to the races. A number of their prospects started the ball rolling first thing this morning, signing their national letters of intent to play ball at Oklahoma.

It’s expected that nearly all of Oklahoma’s committed players in the 2024 class will sign for the Sooners on Day 1 of the early signing period. However, as we saw in the Peyton Bowen recruitment a year ago, there could be a surprise or two during the early signing period.

As Oklahoma welcomes in its 2024 recruiting class, here are the players that officially became members of the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Sooners have officially signed each of their 2024 commitments.

Get to know the Sooners 2024 recruiting class with our early signing period tracker.

Follow along for all of our [autotag]2024 Early Signing Period[/autotag]

State of Oklahoma’s top running back officially signs with the Sooners

The state’s top running back is officially apart of the Oklahoma Sooners football team.

Running back was an up-and-down group in 2023 for the Oklahoma Sooners. But [autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag] proved how good he was as a recruiter with the class of 2024.

One of those guys who committed and now has signed is the state of Oklahoma’s top-ranked running back, [autotag]Xavier Robinson[/autotag]. The Carl Albert Titan is built like a titan, standing 6 feet, 2 inches and weighing 220 pounds.

He burst on the scene after an incredible junior season in which he rushed for 2,594 yards and 39 TDs on 9.4 yards per carry. He had another fantastic season in 2023, securing Max Preps Oklahoma Prep Player of the Year. After receiving substantial interest nationally, he committed to the Sooners.

As far as his role for 2024, that is unclear. The Sooners return a great deal in the running back room. It’s unclear if new offensive coordinators [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag] will use an H-back or fullback in their offense.

If they do, I can see a world where Robinson makes an immediate impact playing that [autotag]Trey Millard[/autotag], [autotag]Dimitri Flowers[/autotag] or [autotag]Jeremiah Hall[/autotag] type of role.

More from the [autotag]2024 Early Signing Period[/autotag]

 

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Sooners continue to add via the transfer portal with commitment from RB Sam Franklin

Oklahoma continues to add productive pieces via the portal as UT-Martin transfer Sam Franklin commits to the Sooners.

Oklahoma has lost three running backs to the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] in the last few weeks. In many ways, it was beneficial, given it is nearly impossible to keep six scholarship running backs happy.

[autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag], [autotag]Daylan Smothers[/autotag] and [autotag]Tawee Walker[/autotag] entered the transfer portal. Walker is still practicing with the team, so there’s a chance he remains in Norman. [autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag] and the rest of the offensive staff decided losing three running backs was too much and offered multiple players in the transfer portal. One of those offers went to Sam Franklin, a talented and productive running back from UT-Martin.

After a visit with Oklahoma this week, Franklin cashed in that offer and announced his commitment to the Sooners. Franklin was a Walter Payton award finalist for the Skyhawks. The award is given annually to the national offensive player of the year in the Football Championship Subdivision of Division I.

For the 5-foot-10, 190-pound redshirt sophomore, 2023 was a massive year. With 223 carries, he amassed 1,378 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns. He caught 14 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown in 11 games. He’s decisive and quick enough to break away at the second level. Adding him to [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and [autotag]Jovontae Barnes[/autotag] gives Oklahoma three game-ready backs who have produced significantly. It also allows Oklahoma to ease incoming freshmen [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag], [autotag]Xavier Robinson[/autotag] and [autotag]Andy Bass[/autotag] into the collegiate football world.

Franklin has two years of eligibility remaining, and his commitment brings Oklahoma’s transfer portal commitment tally to four.

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2023 Position Review: Oklahoma Sooners running backs start the season slow, finish strong

The running back position was a disappointment for most of the season but how they closed the year provided reason to be excited about 2024.

The Oklahoma Sooners’ running back room had an up-and-down season in 2023. It was supposed to be one of their stronger groups led by [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] and [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag].

But both players battled injuries earlier in the season, so instead, it was the [autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag] and [autotag]Tawee Walker[/autotag] show for the first half of the year. Walker and Major did a solid job in that role, but both have their limitations. Oklahoma needed Barnes or Sawchuk to get healthy and take the reins.

Barnes was never really able to get healthy or contribute, but after the bye week, Sawchuk took off. He finished the year with four straight 100-yard games and gave the Sooners a look at what they hoped to have all season.

Let’s take a look at their overall grade based on preseason expectations, who stepped up, their best performances, and what the future holds for the position.

More: 2023 Review: Sooners Quarterbacks exceed expectations.

Oklahoma Sooners land another in-state product in a surprise commitment

Oklahoma got some good news in a surprise commitment from in-state 2025 product.

The [autotag]Oklahoma Sooners 2025 recruiting[/autotag] is absolutely on fire right now. The Sooners didn’t land just one but two players on Thursday night.

Marcus James from Carl Albert in Oklahoma City, Okla. was the one everyone knew was coming as he scheduled his announcement for 6:30 p.m. CT that day. But shortly after, his teammate, 2025 3-star athlete [autotag]Trynae Washington[/autotag], also committed to the Sooners.

Washington is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound do-it-all player for Carl Albert. He plays both wide receiver and safety. Washington told OUInsider (subscription required) in an exclusive interview the plan was for him to play tight end and wide receiver at Oklahoma.

Washington is the fourth Carl Albert player to commit to Oklahoma this calendar year, joining [autotag]Marcus James[/autotag], three-star 2024 running back [autotag]Xavier Robinson[/autotag] and four-star 2025 quarterback [autotag]Kevin Sperry[/autotag]. But they aren’t done, as Washington admits he has his eyes set on teammate, 2025 defensive back [autotag]Trystan Haynes[/autotag] to join the crew.

As for what sold Washington on Oklahoma, he told OUInsider, “They are a big family, and make sure that you feel welcome there. The atmosphere there is great as well, the coaches getting involved just as much as the players. They were reaching out to me and trying to get me more involved, more than other colleges were.”

The Sooners didn’t land their first 2024 commit until March of this year when Jeremiah Newcombe broke the ice. As of right now the Sooners already have seven 2025 commits, with some more potentially on their way soon.

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Oklahoma continues in-state dominance for 2025 as athlete Marcus James chooses OU

Oklahoma’s 2025 class just got bigger as the Sooners landed three-star prospect Marcus James Thursday evening.

Oklahoma’s renewed focus on recruiting and locking down the state of Oklahoma is showing up in a big way. On Thursday, the Sooners landed another talented prospect from the Sooner State as three-star athlete Marcus James chose Oklahoma over Texas A&M, Utah, Arkansas, and TCU.

James is listed as a tight end on multiple recruiting services and an athlete on others. For Oklahoma, his initial home will be on the defensive side of the ball. The talented two-way player stands 6-foot-3 and weighs over 200 pounds.

James transferred to Carl Albert High School over the summer and joined an already loaded squad that features 2025 QB commit Kevin Sperry and 2024 RB commit Xavier Robinson. His recruitment blew up shortly after, but Oklahoma’s offer stood out the most. After an unofficial visit, the momentum tilted in Oklahoma’s favor.

James is productive on both sides of the ball and has a frame that could grow as he puts on good functional weight. Other schools offered the ability to play on the offensive side of the ball, which intrigued the three-star prospect, but ultimately, the fit and relationships with Sooners won out.

Marcus James becomes the sixth member of Oklahoma’s 2025 recruiting class. He also becomes the fourth 2025 in-state prospect to commit to the Sooners.

OU currently has the No. 4 recruiting class in the 247Sports team rankings. Oklahoma continues to build a formidable class in the 2025 cycle, getting a start much earlier than they did in 2024.

The Sooners will look to build their 2025 class with even more athletes from Carl Albert High School in Oklahoma as the Sooners have built strong momentum with four-star cornerback Trystan Haynes. Haynes ranks as the 84th best prospect in the country.

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2025 Athlete Marcus James sets commitment date; Sooners look like the favorite

The Oklahoma Sooners are trending to land 2025 athlete Marcus James out of Carl Albert High School.

Oklahoma’s 2025 class is miles ahead of where the 2024 class was at this point last year. In October of 2022, the Sooners didn’t have a single commitment for the class of 2024. Their first commitment didn’t happen until March of this year when four-star cornerback Jeremiah Newcombe hopped on board first.

That won’t be the case for 2025. Oklahoma is in a prime position to add to its 2025 recruiting class. As things stand, the Sooners sit at No. 4 in the nation in 247Sports team recruiting rankings. They already have five commits, with four-star receiver Jaden Nickens as their highest-rated prospect, sitting at No. 88. The class has a heavy Oklahoma flavor, with three prospects coming from the Sooner State.

One of those, quarterback Kevin Sperry, isn’t a native of Oklahoma but transferred to Carl Albert High School this summer. Carl Albert is an Oklahoma football power, and Sperry was the icing on the cake for a loaded squad. Sperry is one of multiple Power Five caliber players on the squad, and his teammate Marcus James could be joining Sperry in Norman.

James is an athlete in every sense of the word. At 6-foot-4 and over 200 pounds, it’s easy to see why. James has played offense and defense all season long, but the Sooners offered him on the defensive side of the ball.

He’ll make his decision on November 2 at Carl Albert High. From there, he’ll pick between Oklahoma, Arkansas, TCU, Texas A&M, and Utah. News of his commitment date hit the internet, and not one but two projections have favored Brent Venables’ landing the versatile athlete.

Sam Spiegelman of On3 Sports and Brandon Drumm of OUInsider and Rivals each logged predictions favoring the Sooners.

Brandon Drumm of Oklahoma Insider logged a Rivals FutureCast for James as well.

Oklahoma is pulling away from the pack with less than two weeks to go. The Sooners aren’t clear yet, but people around the recruiting industry favor the Sooners significantly down the stretch.

It will be an uphill climb for the other four schools as James has two Oklahoma commits in his ear daily with Sperry (2025) and 2024 running back commit Xavier Robinson.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.