As spring football approaches, excitement for the Oklahoma Sooners football team in 2021 is reaching a fever pitch. The offense was one of the most explosive in all of college football and the team gets their top running back returning after opting out in 2020. Lincoln Riley’s offense looks to reach new heights this upcoming season.
Our colleagues at Longhorns Wire ranked the best quarterbacks and running backs in the conference. For Oklahoma, Spencer Rattler and Kennedy Brooks are widely viewed as top returning players in all of college football. According to these lists both come in near or at the top of the Big 12’s best.
No. 1 Quarterback: Spencer Rattler
Many could have argued that Rattler was the top quarterback in the conference going into last season. His performances as the season progressed proved why he was rated a five-star prospect and the next great quarterback Lincoln Riley will produce. His arm strength makes him a sure-fire first-round draft pick in the 2022 NFL draft. This will be the first time since Riley was named the head coach that a quarterback will be back for his second season. Rattler could lead the Sooners to heights they have not reached in 20+ years. – Longhorns Wire
When it comes to returning quarterbacks, Pro Football Focus ranked Rattler the No. 1 returning passer in all of college football. As his first year progressed, so did the play of the top quarterback recruit of the 2019 class. With his return coming off a sixth-consecutive Big 12 Championship for OU and a New Years Six bowl victory, expectations for OU are high.
Highest passing grade when scrambling in 2020:
🚀 Spencer Rattler, OU – 91.3 pic.twitter.com/Q53zMmA8yB
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) March 2, 2021
No. 3 Running Back: Kennedy Brooks
Along with Robinson and Hall, Brooks is widely viewed as one of the top rushers in the country. He opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, but he’ll return in 2021 as the starting running back for the Big 12 title favorites. – Longhorns Wire
Following the 2019 season, no running back in the conference had a higher offensive grade than Brooks. He sat out this past year but has two 1,000-yard seasons under his belt. Worthy of being no lower than the No. 2 spot in the conference behind the nation’s leading rusher last year in Breece Hall.
Kennedy Brooks must've been taught right. Score a touchdown + thank his OL. This young man is after this fat man's heart. pic.twitter.com/ZsHbcgDucd
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) September 3, 2018
The duo of Rattler and Brooks in the backfield along with Marvin Mims, Theo Wease, and Austin Stogner are a big reason they are poised for big things on offense.