April 23Apr 23 Popular Post 3 minutes ago, statsman said: Yeah, I never understood the love for Burke. I figured him to be their “Neyor”- a key pickup, if healthy, who is just a sunk cost you absorb if unhealthy. Marvin Jones Jr. is on his third team at OU. Crazy. What OU is doing this year, hitting the portal hard for key positions and shuffling in dozens of new portal-ins from FCS (the “There is so much horseshit here that there must be a pony in there somewhere” theory of roster construction) is very reminiscent of Stoops year 1. That it is actually Venables year 4 is hilarious. It's an interesting comparison. I'm not in agreement with you on it, but it's not a bad notion. To me, a big difference is the level of evaluation talent on the two staffs. Look back at that Stoops staff, year 1: -HC Bob Stoops - at the top of the defensive coaching ranks, trends and minds of that era, fresh out of a mentorship under Spurrier, preceded by one with Snyder. -OC Mike Leach - at the top of the offensive coaching ranks, trends and minds of that era, fresh out of a mentorship under Hal Mumme. -Co-DC Mike Stoops - had coached under Snyder for years, played under Hayden Fry. This is pre-burnout, hungry and focused, 37 YO Mike Stoops. -Co-DC Brent Venables - 28 YO, mentored under Snyder for 6 years after playing his way up through JUCO and then to KSU. -DE Coach Bobby Jack Wright - this dude was hired for connections in Texas and throughout the small high school world and juco hinterlands, not as an evaluator. He opened the door to so much random tape that most schools were ignoring that it isn't even funny. He was the guy that connected them to Snow College and Heupel, if memory serves. Even the worst coach on the staff was invaluable for their original set-up. -TE/ST Coach Jonathan Hayes - long time NFL TE and played with Stoops under Fry at Iowa. Coaches for 15 years in the NFL after 3 years at OU. -RB Coach Cale Gundy - dude evaluated and recruited some legends at RB for OU, and then did the same at WR coach. Evaluated and recruited Quintin Griffin, who was a midget that big schools ignored. -WR Coach Steve Spurrier JR - mentored under his father for all of his early life. 28 YO and hungry. -OL Coach Mark Mangino - multi-year OL coach under Snyder, his mentor. -DL Coach Jackie Shipp - Coached all over the country in various programs learning the ropes for a decade before being called home by Stoops. That group was young, energetic, and educated. Some of those guys became famous evaluators of talent. Their classes were almost always under-ranked in the early days. What they did heading into 1999 and then again in 2000, without a portal and not utilizing bags effectively, remains impressive. I can't even imagine what they would have done with the portal and some NIL money. Ugly. Now compare that to the trash heap currently comprising the OU staff under Venables. You keep the time machine, I'm fine here in 2025. Jay Valai, Demarco Murray, Joe Jon Finley, etc.
April 23Apr 23 i remember ou fans on twitter talking up Burkes over Golden in that first window last season... they have worked themselves up thinking he will be the difference maker for them.
April 23Apr 23 41 minutes ago, closetojumping said: It's an interesting comparison. I'm not in agreement with you on it, but it's not a bad notion. To me, a big difference is the level of evaluation talent on the two staffs. Look back at that Stoops staff, year 1: -HC Bob Stoops - at the top of the defensive coaching ranks, trends and minds of that era, fresh out of a mentorship under Spurrier, preceded by one with Snyder. -OC Mike Leach - at the top of the offensive coaching ranks, trends and minds of that era, fresh out of a mentorship under Hal Mumme. -Co-DC Mike Stoops - had coached under Snyder for years, played under Hayden Fry. This is pre-burnout, hungry and focused, 37 YO Mike Stoops. -Co-DC Brent Venables - 28 YO, mentored under Snyder for 6 years after playing his way up through JUCO and then to KSU. -DE Coach Bobby Jack Wright - this dude was hired for connections in Texas and throughout the small high school world and juco hinterlands, not as an evaluator. He opened the door to so much random tape that most schools were ignoring that it isn't even funny. He was the guy that connected them to Snow College and Heupel, if memory serves. Even the worst coach on the staff was invaluable for their original set-up. -TE/ST Coach Jonathan Hayes - long time NFL TE and played with Stoops under Fry at Iowa. Coaches for 15 years in the NFL after 3 years at OU. -RB Coach Cale Gundy - dude evaluated and recruited some legends at RB for OU, and then did the same at WR coach. Evaluated and recruited Quintin Griffin, who was a midget that big schools ignored. -WR Coach Steve Spurrier JR - mentored under his father for all of his early life. 28 YO and hungry. -OL Coach Mark Mangino - multi-year OL coach under Snyder, his mentor. -DL Coach Jackie Shipp - Coached all over the country in various programs learning the ropes for a decade before being called home by Stoops. That group was young, energetic, and educated. Some of those guys became famous evaluators of talent. Their classes were almost always under-ranked in the early days. What they did heading into 1999 and then again in 2000, without a portal and not utilizing bags effectively, remains impressive. I can't even imagine what they would have done with the portal and some NIL money. Ugly. Now compare that to the trash heap currently comprising the OU staff under Venables. You keep the time machine, I'm fine here in 2025. Jay Valai, Demarco Murray, Joe Jon Finley, etc. Great explanation- thx. My point was more that they were casting a wide net for talent in a year when they should be just filling holes, not rebuilding whole rooms. You’re right about that OU staff in ‘99 and the job they did. Years ago, I did a detailed look at quick MNC builds (2000 OU, 2002 tOSU, 2003 USC, 2009 Bama), and was struck by how in each case- EXCEPT 2000 OU- the new HC inherited a bunch of future NFL talent. I had heard for years about Stoops cashing in on the roster Blake assembled, and was surprised to see that Stoops inherited less high level talent than Mack Brown did from Mackovic. He got two key guys from JC (Heupel and Torrance Marshall), and moved a bunch of athletes to different positions. Plus, being an early Spread adapter helped. Overall, it was really a remarkable job of coaching. I really wish the BCS had matched them with Miami, instead of FSU.
April 23Apr 23 The entire Dabo/Clemson coaching tree has been absolute disaster, Bret Venables 22-17 at OU is the most successful coach to come out of Clemson. Whatever Dabo did during the 2010’s is clearly not replicable and Venables spent the later half of his career solely in that environment and that’s where he saw his success.
April 23Apr 23 19 minutes ago, statsman said: Great explanation- thx. My point was more that they were casting a wide net for talent in a year when they should be just filling holes, not rebuilding whole rooms. You’re right about that OU staff in ‘99 and the job they did. Years ago, I did a detailed look at quick MNC builds (2000 OU, 2002 tOSU, 2003 USC, 2009 Bama), and was struck by how in each case- EXCEPT 2000 OU- the new HC inherited a bunch of future NFL talent. I had heard for years about Stoops cashing in on the roster Blake assembled, and was surprised to see that Stoops inherited less high level talent than Mack Brown did from Mackovic. He got two key guys from JC (Heupel and Torrance Marshall), and moved a bunch of athletes to different positions. Plus, being an early Spread adapter helped. Overall, it was really a remarkable job of coaching. I really wish the BCS had matched them with Miami, instead of FSU. OU 2000 also had freakish luck with injuries. Their depth was not great, so that was fortunate. I don't think a starter missed a single game. That just never happens.
April 23Apr 23 1 minute ago, Frank Drebin said: OU 2000 also had freakish luck with injuries. Their depth was not great, so that was fortunate. I don't think a starter missed a single game. That just never happens. Honestly- credit to them. They had players injured; how could they not? They just didn’t stop playing (I remember Calmus playing half the season with a cast on his forearm?). Back to Burks- I hope this link works. Basically, he made most of his hay in 2023 against Fresno State and Indiana. Against Iowa, tOSU, Michigan, Nebraska- he averaged less than 8 yards per reception (and he didn’t have a lot of receptions). If, in his fifth year of college football, Burks performs at a level the Sooners expect, then he will have climbed to a level of performance that he has never approached before. https://purduesports.com/sports/football/roster/burksdeion/12167
April 23Apr 23 1 hour ago, closetojumping said: -OL Coach Mark Mangino - multi-year OL coach under Snyder, his mentor and hungry. FIFY.
April 23Apr 23 Popular Post 1 hour ago, Ty Webb said: FIFY. The thing about Mangino that gets lost in all of the humor over the years about his morbid obesity and everything around that is that the guy was an unbelievable OL coach. He was also an amazing evaluator of talent. Kind of a rotund savant. I know he's allegedly a major asshole, but I've always kind of hoped that Sarkisian would hire him as an analyst to evaluate OL recruits, opposing DLs, our own OL efficiencies/deficiencies, and offer up red zone input. I don't care how expensive his wish list would be. If the guy wants to be compensated in Japanese wagyu gravy and ruby port by the gallon, then we step up and do so. If he needs a towel boy to wipe his ass 4 times a day, Max Merrill needs a gig. If he's defiling Bellmont restrooms twice weekly, have a fucking plumbling crew on standby. This needs to happen.
April 23Apr 23 Mangino would be a great analyst. Pretty sure he had weight loss surgery. He now is just about the size of the average Surly tailgater
April 23Apr 23 42 minutes ago, Frank Drebin said: Mangino would be a great analyst. Pretty sure he had weight loss surgery. He now is just about the size of the average Surly tailgater
April 23Apr 23 1 hour ago, Frank Drebin said: Mangino would be a great analyst. Pretty sure he had weight loss surgery. He now is just about the size of the average Surly tailgater Hey! I resemble that comment!
April 23Apr 23 5 hours ago, statsman said: What OU is doing this year, hitting the portal hard for key positions and shuffling in dozens of new portal-ins from FCS (the “There is so much horseshit here that there must be a pony in there somewhere” theory of roster construction) is very reminiscent of Stoops year 1. That it is actually Venables year 4 is hilarious. Reminds me of The Elks portal class last off-season. Spoiler: they all turned out to be horseshit and no unicorns were found
April 23Apr 23 18 hours ago, statsman said: The Okies are coping with Texas reloading… They got that OUDNA. That's just as good as whatever that aggy lunacy is. It won't win them any games. But it'll keep their hicks brainwashed just long enough for them to change the story when the shit hits the fan. Thatll be 9.95 Edited April 23Apr 23 by FCB It's never shot gd!!!
April 23Apr 23 34 minutes ago, FCB said: They got that OUDNA. That's just as good as whatever that aggy lunacy is. It won't win them any games. But it'll keep their hicks brainwashed just long enough for them to change the story when the shit hits the fan. Thatll be 9.95 In our Dallas hotel elevator last October, two fat sorority girls, dressed up like whores on the Friday night before the game, drunkenly told me and my wife that OU was going to “beat that ass because of sooner magic, baby!!” I just smiled and waited for our floor.
April 23Apr 23 12 minutes ago, closetojumping said: In our Dallas hotel elevator last October, two fat sorority girls, dressed up like whores on the Friday night before the game, drunkenly told me and my wife that OU was going to “beat that ass because of sooner magic, baby!!” I just smiled and waited for our floor. Must have been the same two fatasses that were talking shit after the game. I told them congrats on all 3 points. She replied something along the lines of, "I'd rather die in red than ugly burnt orange." I told her good luck with that.
April 23Apr 23 1 hour ago, closetojumping said: In our Dallas hotel elevator last October, two fat sorority girls, dressed up like whores on the Friday night before the game, drunkenly told me and my wife that OU was going to “beat that ass because of sooner magic, baby!!” I just smiled and waited for our floor. where was @Vic Mackey???
April 30Apr 30 Do I have OUs NIL strategy correct? - splurge on a handful of key impact positions (e.g., QB), portal or highschool - most of NIL goes to highschool recruiting, which should be cheaper than portal recruiting or roster retention. - hope they can be competitive in NIL to keep some of their current from portalling - deep value investing (e.g., FCS) in the portal to fill voids because they don't have money left after the 3 items above
April 30Apr 30 5 minutes ago, Danimal said: Do I have OUs NIL strategy correct? - splurge on a handful of key impact positions (e.g., QB), portal or highschool - most of NIL goes to highschool recruiting, which should be cheaper than portal recruiting or roster retention. - hope they can be competitive in NIL to keep some of their current from portalling - deep value investing (e.g., FCS) in the portal to fill voids because they don't have money left after the 3 items above I think you have it pretty straight as far as I can tell.
April 30Apr 30 Recruits these days I guess to not have the same interest in a pay of dicks for payment?
May 1May 1 7 hours ago, Danimal said: Do I have OUs NIL strategy correct? - splurge on a handful of key impact positions (e.g., QB), portal or highschool - most of NIL goes to highschool recruiting, which should be cheaper than portal recruiting or roster retention. - hope they can be competitive in NIL to keep some of their current from portalling - deep value investing (e.g., FCS) in the portal to fill voids because they don't have money left after the 3 items above They need to go full Tech + Matt Rhule Baylor. Spend most of their money in the portal, and load up high ceiling/long curve developmental high school recruits. The portal part is easy. The high school part is hard. They’d have to evaluate really well, develop really well, and then retain their upperclassmen when they’re ready to play. Venables and his dumb ass “GM” don’t have the tools to any of that shit, so they’ll wander in the desert until they’re humbled and hire a guy like Dillingham.
May 1May 1 I don't know if the Rhule Baylor system will work in the NIL era. Rhule would have lost most of his best and most productive players at Baylor in the NIL era. You either have money or you don't.
May 5May 5 OU thought they led for the WR, Miles, out of Duncanville. He committed to SMU and the Sooners are questioning everything… I have to admit- they’re smarter than Aggies. Liucci would just tell them that they had an even better prospect lined up, one who “get” A&M, and the goobers would all be happy. Edited May 5May 5 by statsman
May 6May 6 Popular Post Straight into my veins. I love this so much. The masses of college football will rise up, shouting, “This is wrong! We need the Sooners!” Edited May 6May 6 by statsman
May 6May 6 Lulz "leveled field. " No, sooner. There will be no more "leveled field." At least, what y'all consider to be "leveled." The death star has been built, and y'all will be praying for the return of the days when y'all could at least be competitive. But the annual ass fucking in Dallas will quickly kill that silly little hope.
May 6May 6 Author Popular Post 21 minutes ago, statsman said: Straight into my veins. I love this so much. The masses of college football will rise up, shouting, “This is wrong! We need the Sooners!” Yeah everyone sure didn't want to watch a Texas / Ohio State / Georgia / Notre Dame playoff. The world wanted Oklahoma, Auburn, and Clemson instead.
May 6May 6 12 minutes ago, texifornia said: Yeah everyone sure didn't want to watch a Texas / Ohio State / Georgia / Notre Dame playoff. The world wanted Oklahoma, Auburn, and Clemson instead. Don’t forget FSU! Nole Nation, baby! The Sooners don’t get it. Texas is a lot bigger than Oklahoma. A lot more people want to watch Texas, than OU. A lot more people want to hate watch Texas, than want to hate watch OU. I do suspect that there is some big donor OU money on the sidelines right now, waiting for the Venables regime to end. They’re thinking that there is no point in throwing good money after bad.
May 6May 6 Popular Post Those Jethros cheated from the 1950s on and lied and said everyone was doing it. We said when we start paying you'll know. Now you know, bitches.
May 6May 6 Popular Post On 5/1/2025 at 12:24 AM, billfromlaketravis said: They need to go full Tech + Matt Rhule Baylor. Spend most of their money in the portal, and load up high ceiling/long curve developmental high school recruits. The portal part is easy. The high school part is hard. They’d have to evaluate really well, develop really well, and then retain their upperclassmen when they’re ready to play. Venables and his dumb ass “GM” don’t have the tools to any of that shit, so they’ll wander in the desert until they’re humbled and hire a guy like Dillingham. To go full TTU requires double eagle style money and they flat out don't have those dudes who are interested in spending it Ruhle and Baylor is a bit more unique situation but requires both excellent evaluators of talent and excellent development of said talent and a plus S&T program. They have like two dudes who have shown they are good at evaluation or talent development at the position coach level. They have negatives at RB coach, they have given Jay Valai maybe the most titles of any position coach in the country (Assistant Head Coach for Defense / Co-Defensive Coordinator / Pass Defense / Cornerbacks and Nickelbacks), they have some old fuck (Jerry Schmidt) over S&C, they hired a ST coach 13 months ago who still has no bio on their website, they still have an unhealthy obsession with hiring former OU players and they have a head coach with no coaching tree and basically no ability to hire ourside of the OU/Clemson world. Oh yeah and they have the dumb who owns the power in the football dept that's going to lead to a host of issues. And none of this is easily fixable. They are in their Charlie Strong era - bad S&C, bad eval, bad development, coach with limited reach and interest in hiring outside of his tiny bubble, entire position groups with subpar talent and no real strategy on how to get better.
May 6May 6 Popular Post I'm going to post some depth chart articles in the next few posts from the Sooners Illustrated board. Highlights below and then spoilers after that. This one is defense: -They will be good to great on the front four. R Mason Thomas is too widely celebrated in my opinion, but he's a good player who will be drafted. They make him sound like a worldbeater, but he was neutralized or disappeared in a number of games. He played in 12 games last year, gaining 5 sacks between Tulane and Auburn, and 4.5 in the other 10 games. Not great, not bad. However, in 6 games, dude had 6 tackles total, with a .5 sack. Vanished. Damonic Williams/Jayden Jackson are a good DT pair and then they have bust central at the other Edge spot. -LB looks like hot garbage. I don't think a single LB on their roster plays at Texas and that includes the McKenzie dildo that was once committed to Texas. -Peyton Bowen missed the spring after a shitty 2024. His brother might end up being a really good CB, but he missed much of the spring too. -The other S and CB spots are middling or worse. -There's a running theme here where tons of the key guys on the OU roster missed all or parts of the spring because they were physically wrecked. Jerry Schmidt and Brent Venables thinks every single one of those guys sitting out are pussies and they're going to pay for it this summer and in fall camp. Spoiler NORMAN — May is here, and the offseason is in full swing for Oklahoma. Spring practices wrapped up April 12 with the first annual Crimson Combine, and the spring transfer portal window has closed, with the Sooners largely done adding pieces to supplement and improve their roster ahead of their second season in the SEC. Now that we have a better idea of what Oklahoma's roster will look like heading into Brent Venables' pivotal fourth season at the helm, and with spring practices behind us, it's time to take another stab at what the Sooners' depth chart will look like for 2025. On Sunday, we took a closer look at Oklahoma's projected two-deep depth chart on offense. Today, we'll examine the Sooners' projected two-deep depth chart on defense (with special teams to follow), based on what we saw throughout spring practices, other conversations with those around the program and based on the post-spring additions and subtractions from the roster. So, with that in mind, here's Sooners Illustrated's post-spring defensive depth chart projection, including a brief blurb on each position… (Photo: John Reed-Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) DEFENSIVE END R Mason Thomas, senior Danny Okoye, redshirt freshman The 411: R Mason Thomas is coming off an All-SEC season in which he was one of the more effective edge rushers in the country last season, and he figures to be a cornerstone of this year's defense after putting off the NFL Draft for one more year. Redshirt freshman Danny Okoye looks to carve out a spot in the rotation behind Thomas after playing nine total defensive snaps as a true freshman last year. NOSE TACKLE Damonic Williams, senior David Stone, sophomore The 411: Damonic Williams has started all but one game in his three-year career (the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy last season), so expect that to continue into his senior year and second season at Oklahoma. Meanwhile, with Da'Jon Terry out of the picture, former five-star prospect David Stone (who spent about 48 hours in the portal at the end of April) figures to see a significant increase in his role as a sophomore following a solid spring. DEFENSIVE TACKLE Jayden Jackson, sophomore Gracen Halton, senior The 411: Jayden Jackson earned Freshman All-America honors in Year 1 at Oklahoma but missed spring while recovering from an offseason labrum procedure. He'll be cleared in time for the fall and should pick up where he left off a year ago. But even with Jackson healthy, there shouldn't be any significant drop-off behind him, with senior Gracen Halton also back in the fold after logging the second-most snaps among OU defensive tackles last season. There's a reason defensive tackle is viewed as the strength of this Sooners defense. (Photo: JAMES D. JACKSON, 247Sports) DEFENSIVE END Marvin Jones Jr., senior Adepoju Adebawore, junior OR Taylor Wein, redshirt sophomore The 411: The second defensive end spot opposite R Mason Thomas feels somewhat up for grabs entering the summer. Florida State transfer Marvin Jones Jr., a former five-star prospect who joined OU during the winter window, seems like the favorite (and logical) candidate to start off the edge, but a couple of third-year players had strong springs in Adepoju Adebawore and Taylor Wein. Adebawore appears to finally be fully healthy and is looking to live up to his five-star expectations. Wein, meanwhile, was one of the big stock-risers from the spring and should be able to contribute this season. MIKE LINEBACKER Kobie McKinzie, redshirt junior Sammy Omosigho, junior The 411: With All-American Danny Stutsman off to the NFL, Kobie McKinzie steps into the top spot at Mike in Oklahoma's defense, ready to take on a larger role after being a rotational contributor the last two seasons. After working mostly at Cheetah his first two seasons, Sammy Omosigho has shifted inside to provide more depth at Mike and provide another high-ceiling player in the rotation. WILL LINEBACKER Kip Lewis, junior Kendal Daniels, redshirt senior The 411: After starting 12 games last season, Kip Lewis is back and ready to step up as Oklahoma's next big-time linebacker and a more vocal presence on defense. Behind him is Oklahoma State transfer Kendal Daniels, who can play inside at the Will or outside at Cheetah in the Sooners' defense. (Photo: NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) CHEETAH Kendel Dolby, redshirt senior OR Kendal Daniels, redshirt senior Reggie Powers III, sophomore The 411: Oklahoma has some diverse options at Cheetah, with Kendel Dolby back from last season's gruesome leg injury, Oklahoma State Kendal Daniels in the fold and the development of sophomore Reggie Powers III. Dolby made the Cheetah role his own early last season and gives OU's defense a more prototypical slot corner in that spot, while Daniels provides a bigger, linebacker/safety hybrid who has been compared to former Clemson start Isaiah Simmons. Powers is somewhere in the middle — a safety by trade but not as rangy as Daniels — and looked really good in the spring. Depending on the package, all three could have intriguing roles this fall, with Dolby also able to flex out to corner and Daniels capable of working inside at linebacker. CORNERBACK Eli Bowen, sophomore Devon Jordan, sophomore The 411: Eli Bowen missed some time in the spring with an apparent ankle injury but is coming off a breakout freshman season in which the former three-star prospect showed he has what it takes to be a lockdown corner in the SEC and hang with some of the league's top receivers. He enters the fall as the Sooners' top cornerback, while fellow 2024 signee Devon Jordan made the most of some first-team opportunities in the spring and is the likely next-man-up in the rotation behind Bowen. Freshmen Courtland Guillory and Maliek Hawkins should provide additional depth at corner. STRONG SAFETY Peyton Bowen, junior Jaydan Hardy, sophomore The 411: Peyton Bowen was held out this spring while recovering from a turf toe injury he played through last season (and which impacted his overall performance as a sophomore), but when fully cleared for the fall, he should slot right into the starting role at strong safety this season. Jaydan Hardy, who worked with the first-team defense throughout the spring, should have a sizeable role in the rotation and has the makings of being a potential impact player in the secondary. (Photo: John Reed-Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) FREE SAFETY Robert Spears-Jennings, senior Michael Boganowski, sophomore The 411: Robert Spears-Jennings returns to hold down the free safety spot for his final season and could be a gamechanger on the back end for the Sooners this fall. Sophomore Michael Boganowski will see more reps as he carves out a role in the rotation behind Spears-Jennings. CORNERBACK Gentry Williams, redshirt junior Jacobe Johnson, junior The 411: Gentry Williams, fresh off consecutive shoulder injuries, is finally healthy and seemingly poised to step back into a starting role at corner. When healthy, Williams has next-level potential as a cover corner. Jacobe Johnson made good progress in his development at corner this spring, especially after being able to put his full focus on the position following a sophomore season in which he split time between corner and receiver out of necessity for the team. Spoiler NORMAN — May is here, and the offseason is in full swing for Oklahoma. Spring practices wrapped up April 12 with the first annual Crimson Combine, and the spring transfer portal window has closed, with the Sooners largely done adding pieces to supplement and improve their roster ahead of their second season in the SEC. Now that we have a better idea of what Oklahoma's roster will look like heading into Brent Venables' pivotal fourth season at the helm, and with spring practices behind us, it's time to take another stab at what the Sooners' depth chart will look like for 2025. On Sunday, we took a closer look at Oklahoma's projected two-deep depth chart on offense. Today, we'll examine the Sooners' projected two-deep depth chart on defense (with special teams to follow), based on what we saw throughout spring practices, other conversations with those around the program and based on the post-spring additions and subtractions from the roster. So, with that in mind, here's Sooners Illustrated's post-spring defensive depth chart projection, including a brief blurb on each position… (Photo: John Reed-Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) DEFENSIVE END R Mason Thomas, senior Danny Okoye, redshirt freshman The 411: R Mason Thomas is coming off an All-SEC season in which he was one of the more effective edge rushers in the country last season, and he figures to be a cornerstone of this year's defense after putting off the NFL Draft for one more year. Redshirt freshman Danny Okoye looks to carve out a spot in the rotation behind Thomas after playing nine total defensive snaps as a true freshman last year. NOSE TACKLE Damonic Williams, senior David Stone, sophomore The 411: Damonic Williams has started all but one game in his three-year career (the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy last season), so expect that to continue into his senior year and second season at Oklahoma. Meanwhile, with Da'Jon Terry out of the picture, former five-star prospect David Stone (who spent about 48 hours in the portal at the end of April) figures to see a significant increase in his role as a sophomore following a solid spring. DEFENSIVE TACKLE Jayden Jackson, sophomore Gracen Halton, senior The 411: Jayden Jackson earned Freshman All-America honors in Year 1 at Oklahoma but missed spring while recovering from an offseason labrum procedure. He'll be cleared in time for the fall and should pick up where he left off a year ago. But even with Jackson healthy, there shouldn't be any significant drop-off behind him, with senior Gracen Halton also back in the fold after logging the second-most snaps among OU defensive tackles last season. There's a reason defensive tackle is viewed as the strength of this Sooners defense. (Photo: JAMES D. JACKSON, 247Sports) DEFENSIVE END Marvin Jones Jr., senior Adepoju Adebawore, junior OR Taylor Wein, redshirt sophomore The 411: The second defensive end spot opposite R Mason Thomas feels somewhat up for grabs entering the summer. Florida State transfer Marvin Jones Jr., a former five-star prospect who joined OU during the winter window, seems like the favorite (and logical) candidate to start off the edge, but a couple of third-year players had strong springs in Adepoju Adebawore and Taylor Wein. Adebawore appears to finally be fully healthy and is looking to live up to his five-star expectations. Wein, meanwhile, was one of the big stock-risers from the spring and should be able to contribute this season. MIKE LINEBACKER Kobie McKinzie, redshirt junior Sammy Omosigho, junior The 411: With All-American Danny Stutsman off to the NFL, Kobie McKinzie steps into the top spot at Mike in Oklahoma's defense, ready to take on a larger role after being a rotational contributor the last two seasons. After working mostly at Cheetah his first two seasons, Sammy Omosigho has shifted inside to provide more depth at Mike and provide another high-ceiling player in the rotation. WILL LINEBACKER Kip Lewis, junior Kendal Daniels, redshirt senior The 411: After starting 12 games last season, Kip Lewis is back and ready to step up as Oklahoma's next big-time linebacker and a more vocal presence on defense. Behind him is Oklahoma State transfer Kendal Daniels, who can play inside at the Will or outside at Cheetah in the Sooners' defense. (Photo: NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) CHEETAH Kendel Dolby, redshirt senior OR Kendal Daniels, redshirt senior Reggie Powers III, sophomore The 411: Oklahoma has some diverse options at Cheetah, with Kendel Dolby back from last season's gruesome leg injury, Oklahoma State Kendal Daniels in the fold and the development of sophomore Reggie Powers III. Dolby made the Cheetah role his own early last season and gives OU's defense a more prototypical slot corner in that spot, while Daniels provides a bigger, linebacker/safety hybrid who has been compared to former Clemson start Isaiah Simmons. Powers is somewhere in the middle — a safety by trade but not as rangy as Daniels — and looked really good in the spring. Depending on the package, all three could have intriguing roles this fall, with Dolby also able to flex out to corner and Daniels capable of working inside at linebacker. CORNERBACK Eli Bowen, sophomore Devon Jordan, sophomore The 411: Eli Bowen missed some time in the spring with an apparent ankle injury but is coming off a breakout freshman season in which the former three-star prospect showed he has what it takes to be a lockdown corner in the SEC and hang with some of the league's top receivers. He enters the fall as the Sooners' top cornerback, while fellow 2024 signee Devon Jordan made the most of some first-team opportunities in the spring and is the likely next-man-up in the rotation behind Bowen. Freshmen Courtland Guillory and Maliek Hawkins should provide additional depth at corner. STRONG SAFETY Peyton Bowen, junior Jaydan Hardy, sophomore The 411: Peyton Bowen was held out this spring while recovering from a turf toe injury he played through last season (and which impacted his overall performance as a sophomore), but when fully cleared for the fall, he should slot right into the starting role at strong safety this season. Jaydan Hardy, who worked with the first-team defense throughout the spring, should have a sizeable role in the rotation and has the makings of being a potential impact player in the secondary. (Photo: John Reed-Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) FREE SAFETY Robert Spears-Jennings, senior Michael Boganowski, sophomore The 411: Robert Spears-Jennings returns to hold down the free safety spot for his final season and could be a gamechanger on the back end for the Sooners this fall. Sophomore Michael Boganowski will see more reps as he carves out a role in the rotation behind Spears-Jennings. CORNERBACK Gentry Williams, redshirt junior Jacobe Johnson, junior The 411: Gentry Williams, fresh off consecutive shoulder injuries, is finally healthy and seemingly poised to step back into a starting role at corner. When healthy, Williams has next-level potential as a cover corner. Jacobe Johnson made good progress in his development at corner this spring, especially after being able to put his full focus on the position following a sophomore season in which he split time between corner and receiver out of necessity for the team.
May 6May 6 Popular Post Offense, and this one is hilarious: -They raided FCS to fill spots and now the writers are having to sound upbeat about it. They also brought in JAGs from various G5 schools. All the while, they had many OLs miss most or all of the spring, shortly after sucking hind tit all fall. -They're going to be starting a dude from Pittsburg State at TE. They whiffed on every big name they went after and they are straight up fucked here. -They're not willing to say it, but word is that Jaydon Gibson has left the program and might be hurt again. Javonnie Gibson, their super-hype spring candidate from UAPB, is likely out for the season after shattering his leg in some manner but Venables won't confirm or deny that. So now, they're hyping Deion Burks again, after his shit himself in SEC play and quit the team via "soft tissue injury". -Jadyn Ott's 2023 season is all anyone needs to look at for the standard. Never mind 2024. -Mateer was the balls at Washington State, so he's going to be far better than the 5 star they just ran off at QB. -The OL had two starters miss the whole spring. Spoiler NORMAN — The offseason is in full swing for Oklahoma. Spring practices wrapped up a few weeks ago, and the spring transfer portal window has closed, with the Sooners seemingly done adding pieces to supplement and improve their roster ahead of their second season in the SEC. Now that we have a clearer idea of what Oklahoma's roster will look like heading into Brent Venables' fourth season at the helm, and with spring practices behind us, it's time to take another stab at what the Sooners' depth chart will look like for 2025. Today, we'll take a look at Oklahoma's projected two-deep depth chart on offense, based on what we saw throughout spring practices, other conversations with those around the program and based on the post-spring additions and subtractions from the roster. On Monday, we'll dive into the projected depth chart on defense and special teams. The video player is currently playing an ad. You can skip the ad in 5 sec with a mouse or keyboard So, without further ado, here's Sooners Illustrated's post-spring offensive depth chart projection, including a brief blurb on each position… (Photo: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) Quarterback John Mateer, redshirt junior Michael Hawkins Jr., sophomore The 411: After arriving from Washington State in the offseason, John Mateer seamlessly took the reins as QB1 for Oklahoma in the spring. The veteran signal-caller is deeply familiar with Ben Arbuckle's offense and showed command of the system in his first spring with the Sooners. Hawkins, after starting multiple games as a freshman last season, continues to develop and will be the No. 2 heading into the year. RUNNING BACK Jaydn Ott, senior Jovantae Barnes, senior OR Xavier Robinson, sophomore The 411: A post-spring shakeup to the position results in Oklahoma adding a proven No. 1 option to the backfield in Cal transfer Jaydn Ott, while Gavin Sawchuk and Sam Franklin both hit the transfer portal. The Sooners have several complementary options behind Ott, including Jovantae Barnes (limited due to injury in the spring) and Xavier Robinson, with Taylor Tatum also in the mix. WIDE RECEIVER Isaiah Sategna, redshirt junior Zion Kearney, sophomore OR Keontez Lewis, redshirt senior The 411: Oklahoma's receiver room was overhauled in the offseason and experienced some injuries in the spring (some more extensive than others), so the personnel and pecking order is still fluid entering the summer. For now, I give a starting nod to Arkansas transfer Isaiah Sategna, who primarily played the slot last season but has versatility to line up outside as a big-play threat. He impressed in his first spring at OU and brings SEC experience to the room. If Jayden Gibson can get healthy and on track ahead of the season after a pre-spring setback with his knee, he'll be in the mix here too. (Photo: NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) WIDE RECEIVER Elijah Thomas, freshman Jer'Michael Carter, junior The 411: All things being equal, this starting spot would go to Arkansas-Pine Bluff transfer Javonnie Gibson, but his status entering the summer is up in the air after a late-spring broken leg. He's expected back this season, possibly early in the year, which would be great news for Oklahoma as he was emerging as the potential No. 1 receiver this spring. In the meantime, freshman Elijah Thomas could have a chance to earn a starting role after an impressive first semester on campus, while McNeese transfer Jer'Michael Carter — a post-spring portal pickup — provides an experienced and lengthy option on the outside to complement the skillsets of Deion Burks and Sategna. SLOT Deion Burks, redshirt senior Josiah Martin, sophomore OR Jacob Jordan, sophomore The 411: After being limited to just five games last season, Deion Burks is back as the headliner in Oklahoma's wide receiver room. The redshirt senior will assume the starting job in the slot (though he can also split out wide) and serve as a focal point in the passing game. A number of options can work behind him, whether that's Sategna (when he's not on the outside) or Cal transfer Josiah Martin or sophomore walk-on Jacob Jordan, who showed some promise last fall. TIGHT END Will Huggins, redshirt senior Carson Kent, redshirt junior The 411: Oklahoma was looking to add a proven tight end in the spring transfer window but missed on its top target, so the Sooners appear set to head into the fall with the same group it finished the spring with. Pitt State transfer Will Huggins emerged as the top option coming out of spring practice and brings good size and blocking, albeit limited pass-catching production. Kennesaw State transfer Carson Kent reportedly provided some quality pass-catching during the spring, while the likes of Jaren Kanak, Kaden Helms and Kade McIntyre provide some added intrigue to this largely unproven group. (Photo: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) LEFT TACKLE Logan Howland, redshirt sophomore Jacob Sexton, senior OR Michael Fasusi, freshman The 411: Logan Howland missed spring due to an offseason labrum procedure, but after starting six games last season and getting settled at left tackle, he should be the favorite to start there come fall. Jacob Sexton, now healthy, handled the first-team duties during the spring and could push for the job, if the Sooners keep him on the left side. Freshman Michael Fasusi was impressive in his first spring and could be an early contributor, but it would likely take a lot for him to vault up the depth chart. LEFT GUARD Heath Ozaeta, redshirt sophomore Eddy Pierre-Louis, sophomore The 411: Similar to the situation at left tackle, Oklahoma was without its starter at left guard this spring as Heath Ozaeta recovered from a shoulder procedure, allowing for Eddy Pierre-Louis to get the first-team reps here. Ozaeta started eight games at left guard last season and showed promise in his development as a redshirt freshman. When healthy, he's the likely starter here, though Pierre-Louis looms as an option at either guard spot. CENTER Troy Everett, redshirt senior Jake Maikkula, senior The 411: Troy Everett returns as the starter at center after missing the start of last season but eventually settling back into the role. Now heading into his final season, Everett seems at home and in a clear leadership position for the Sooners' offense. His backup, Josh Aisosa, hit the portal at the end of spring, but OU brought in Stanford transfer Jake Maikkula to provide depth and flexibility on the interior of the line. (Photo: NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) RIGHT GUARD Febechi Nwaiwu, redshirt senior OR Eddy Pierre-Louis, sophomore Ryan Fodje, freshman The 411: Febechi Nwaiwu started every game at right guard last season and led OU's offense in snaps played. Now he's back, looking to be a more consistent performer at right guard. He's projected as the starter now, but keep an eye on Pierre-Louis, who looked good in the spring and could push for time here if Oklahoma flips him back to the right side. Freshman Ryan Fodje also impressed during his first spring on campus. RIGHT TACKLE Derek Simmons, redshirt senior Jake Taylor, redshirt junior The 411: After transferring in from Western Carolina, Derek Simmons came in and quickly established himself at right tackle, bringing 1,160 career snaps in that position to a rebuilt Oklahoma offensive line. Simmons appears to have a solid grasp on the top spot, while Jake Taylor and Stanford transfer Luke Baklenko worked behind him during spring practices. Spoiler NORMAN — The offseason is in full swing for Oklahoma. Spring practices wrapped up a few weeks ago, and the spring transfer portal window has closed, with the Sooners seemingly done adding pieces to supplement and improve their roster ahead of their second season in the SEC. Now that we have a clearer idea of what Oklahoma's roster will look like heading into Brent Venables' fourth season at the helm, and with spring practices behind us, it's time to take another stab at what the Sooners' depth chart will look like for 2025. Today, we'll take a look at Oklahoma's projected two-deep depth chart on offense, based on what we saw throughout spring practices, other conversations with those around the program and based on the post-spring additions and subtractions from the roster. On Monday, we'll dive into the projected depth chart on defense and special teams. The video player is currently playing an ad. You can skip the ad in 5 sec with a mouse or keyboard So, without further ado, here's Sooners Illustrated's post-spring offensive depth chart projection, including a brief blurb on each position… (Photo: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) Quarterback John Mateer, redshirt junior Michael Hawkins Jr., sophomore The 411: After arriving from Washington State in the offseason, John Mateer seamlessly took the reins as QB1 for Oklahoma in the spring. The veteran signal-caller is deeply familiar with Ben Arbuckle's offense and showed command of the system in his first spring with the Sooners. Hawkins, after starting multiple games as a freshman last season, continues to develop and will be the No. 2 heading into the year. RUNNING BACK Jaydn Ott, senior Jovantae Barnes, senior OR Xavier Robinson, sophomore The 411: A post-spring shakeup to the position results in Oklahoma adding a proven No. 1 option to the backfield in Cal transfer Jaydn Ott, while Gavin Sawchuk and Sam Franklin both hit the transfer portal. The Sooners have several complementary options behind Ott, including Jovantae Barnes (limited due to injury in the spring) and Xavier Robinson, with Taylor Tatum also in the mix. WIDE RECEIVER Isaiah Sategna, redshirt junior Zion Kearney, sophomore OR Keontez Lewis, redshirt senior The 411: Oklahoma's receiver room was overhauled in the offseason and experienced some injuries in the spring (some more extensive than others), so the personnel and pecking order is still fluid entering the summer. For now, I give a starting nod to Arkansas transfer Isaiah Sategna, who primarily played the slot last season but has versatility to line up outside as a big-play threat. He impressed in his first spring at OU and brings SEC experience to the room. If Jayden Gibson can get healthy and on track ahead of the season after a pre-spring setback with his knee, he'll be in the mix here too. (Photo: NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) WIDE RECEIVER Elijah Thomas, freshman Jer'Michael Carter, junior The 411: All things being equal, this starting spot would go to Arkansas-Pine Bluff transfer Javonnie Gibson, but his status entering the summer is up in the air after a late-spring broken leg. He's expected back this season, possibly early in the year, which would be great news for Oklahoma as he was emerging as the potential No. 1 receiver this spring. In the meantime, freshman Elijah Thomas could have a chance to earn a starting role after an impressive first semester on campus, while McNeese transfer Jer'Michael Carter — a post-spring portal pickup — provides an experienced and lengthy option on the outside to complement the skillsets of Deion Burks and Sategna. SLOT Deion Burks, redshirt senior Josiah Martin, sophomore OR Jacob Jordan, sophomore The 411: After being limited to just five games last season, Deion Burks is back as the headliner in Oklahoma's wide receiver room. The redshirt senior will assume the starting job in the slot (though he can also split out wide) and serve as a focal point in the passing game. A number of options can work behind him, whether that's Sategna (when he's not on the outside) or Cal transfer Josiah Martin or sophomore walk-on Jacob Jordan, who showed some promise last fall. TIGHT END Will Huggins, redshirt senior Carson Kent, redshirt junior The 411: Oklahoma was looking to add a proven tight end in the spring transfer window but missed on its top target, so the Sooners appear set to head into the fall with the same group it finished the spring with. Pitt State transfer Will Huggins emerged as the top option coming out of spring practice and brings good size and blocking, albeit limited pass-catching production. Kennesaw State transfer Carson Kent reportedly provided some quality pass-catching during the spring, while the likes of Jaren Kanak, Kaden Helms and Kade McIntyre provide some added intrigue to this largely unproven group. (Photo: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) LEFT TACKLE Logan Howland, redshirt sophomore Jacob Sexton, senior OR Michael Fasusi, freshman The 411: Logan Howland missed spring due to an offseason labrum procedure, but after starting six games last season and getting settled at left tackle, he should be the favorite to start there come fall. Jacob Sexton, now healthy, handled the first-team duties during the spring and could push for the job, if the Sooners keep him on the left side. Freshman Michael Fasusi was impressive in his first spring and could be an early contributor, but it would likely take a lot for him to vault up the depth chart. LEFT GUARD Heath Ozaeta, redshirt sophomore Eddy Pierre-Louis, sophomore The 411: Similar to the situation at left tackle, Oklahoma was without its starter at left guard this spring as Heath Ozaeta recovered from a shoulder procedure, allowing for Eddy Pierre-Louis to get the first-team reps here. Ozaeta started eight games at left guard last season and showed promise in his development as a redshirt freshman. When healthy, he's the likely starter here, though Pierre-Louis looms as an option at either guard spot. CENTER Troy Everett, redshirt senior Jake Maikkula, senior The 411: Troy Everett returns as the starter at center after missing the start of last season but eventually settling back into the role. Now heading into his final season, Everett seems at home and in a clear leadership position for the Sooners' offense. His backup, Josh Aisosa, hit the portal at the end of spring, but OU brought in Stanford transfer Jake Maikkula to provide depth and flexibility on the interior of the line. (Photo: NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) RIGHT GUARD Febechi Nwaiwu, redshirt senior OR Eddy Pierre-Louis, sophomore Ryan Fodje, freshman The 411: Febechi Nwaiwu started every game at right guard last season and led OU's offense in snaps played. Now he's back, looking to be a more consistent performer at right guard. He's projected as the starter now, but keep an eye on Pierre-Louis, who looked good in the spring and could push for time here if Oklahoma flips him back to the right side. Freshman Ryan Fodje also impressed during his first spring on campus. RIGHT TACKLE Derek Simmons, redshirt senior Jake Taylor, redshirt junior The 411: After transferring in from Western Carolina, Derek Simmons came in and quickly established himself at right tackle, bringing 1,160 career snaps in that position to a rebuilt Oklahoma offensive line. Simmons appears to have a solid grasp on the top spot, while Jake Taylor and Stanford transfer Luke Baklenko worked behind him during spring practices.
May 6May 6 5 hours ago, Scholz said: Those Jethros cheated from the 1950s on and lied and said everyone was doing it. We said when we start paying you'll know. Now you know, bitches. 1946, to be exact. Jim Tatum's sales pitch to the OU board of regents was that he would pay veterans returning from WWII to play for OU, and build a football powerhouse. Unfortunately for him he took an unlimited budget and exceeded it. They fired him after one year and put Bud Wilkinson in his place who managed the money better. Tatum is also the only head coach they've hired since WWII other than the (also) one year Schnellenberger. Everyone else they hired as assistant coaches. Most of the time as internal promotions.
May 6May 6 2 hours ago, closetojumping said: Offense, and this one is hilarious: -They raided FCS to fill spots and now the writers are having to sound upbeat about it. They also brought in JAGs from various G5 schools. All the while, they had many OLs miss most or all of the spring, shortly after sucking hind tit all fall. Did you copy paste this verbatim from a late stage Jimbo post a few years ago...yikes
May 7May 7 7 hours ago, closetojumping said: Offense, and this one is hilarious: -They raided FCS to fill spots and now the writers are having to sound upbeat about it. They also brought in JAGs from various G5 schools. All the while, they had many OLs miss most or all of the spring, shortly after sucking hind tit all fall. -They're going to be starting a dude from Pittsburg State at TE. They whiffed on every big name they went after and they are straight up fucked here. -They're not willing to say it, but word is that Jaydon Gibson has left the program and might be hurt again. Javonnie Gibson, their super-hype spring candidate from UAPB, is likely out for the season after shattering his leg in some manner but Venables won't confirm or deny that. So now, they're hyping Deion Burks again, after his shit himself in SEC play and quit the team via "soft tissue injury". -Jadyn Ott's 2023 season is all anyone needs to look at for the standard. Never mind 2024. -Mateer was the balls at Washington State, so he's going to be far better than the 5 star they just ran off at QB. -The OL had two starters miss the whole spring. Hide contents NORMAN — The offseason is in full swing for Oklahoma. Spring practices wrapped up a few weeks ago, and the spring transfer portal window has closed, with the Sooners seemingly done adding pieces to supplement and improve their roster ahead of their second season in the SEC. Now that we have a clearer idea of what Oklahoma's roster will look like heading into Brent Venables' fourth season at the helm, and with spring practices behind us, it's time to take another stab at what the Sooners' depth chart will look like for 2025. Today, we'll take a look at Oklahoma's projected two-deep depth chart on offense, based on what we saw throughout spring practices, other conversations with those around the program and based on the post-spring additions and subtractions from the roster. On Monday, we'll dive into the projected depth chart on defense and special teams. The video player is currently playing an ad. You can skip the ad in 5 sec with a mouse or keyboard So, without further ado, here's Sooners Illustrated's post-spring offensive depth chart projection, including a brief blurb on each position… (Photo: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) Quarterback John Mateer, redshirt junior Michael Hawkins Jr., sophomore The 411: After arriving from Washington State in the offseason, John Mateer seamlessly took the reins as QB1 for Oklahoma in the spring. The veteran signal-caller is deeply familiar with Ben Arbuckle's offense and showed command of the system in his first spring with the Sooners. Hawkins, after starting multiple games as a freshman last season, continues to develop and will be the No. 2 heading into the year. RUNNING BACK Jaydn Ott, senior Jovantae Barnes, senior OR Xavier Robinson, sophomore The 411: A post-spring shakeup to the position results in Oklahoma adding a proven No. 1 option to the backfield in Cal transfer Jaydn Ott, while Gavin Sawchuk and Sam Franklin both hit the transfer portal. The Sooners have several complementary options behind Ott, including Jovantae Barnes (limited due to injury in the spring) and Xavier Robinson, with Taylor Tatum also in the mix. WIDE RECEIVER Isaiah Sategna, redshirt junior Zion Kearney, sophomore OR Keontez Lewis, redshirt senior The 411: Oklahoma's receiver room was overhauled in the offseason and experienced some injuries in the spring (some more extensive than others), so the personnel and pecking order is still fluid entering the summer. For now, I give a starting nod to Arkansas transfer Isaiah Sategna, who primarily played the slot last season but has versatility to line up outside as a big-play threat. He impressed in his first spring at OU and brings SEC experience to the room. If Jayden Gibson can get healthy and on track ahead of the season after a pre-spring setback with his knee, he'll be in the mix here too. (Photo: NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) WIDE RECEIVER Elijah Thomas, freshman Jer'Michael Carter, junior The 411: All things being equal, this starting spot would go to Arkansas-Pine Bluff transfer Javonnie Gibson, but his status entering the summer is up in the air after a late-spring broken leg. He's expected back this season, possibly early in the year, which would be great news for Oklahoma as he was emerging as the potential No. 1 receiver this spring. In the meantime, freshman Elijah Thomas could have a chance to earn a starting role after an impressive first semester on campus, while McNeese transfer Jer'Michael Carter — a post-spring portal pickup — provides an experienced and lengthy option on the outside to complement the skillsets of Deion Burks and Sategna. SLOT Deion Burks, redshirt senior Josiah Martin, sophomore OR Jacob Jordan, sophomore The 411: After being limited to just five games last season, Deion Burks is back as the headliner in Oklahoma's wide receiver room. The redshirt senior will assume the starting job in the slot (though he can also split out wide) and serve as a focal point in the passing game. A number of options can work behind him, whether that's Sategna (when he's not on the outside) or Cal transfer Josiah Martin or sophomore walk-on Jacob Jordan, who showed some promise last fall. TIGHT END Will Huggins, redshirt senior Carson Kent, redshirt junior The 411: Oklahoma was looking to add a proven tight end in the spring transfer window but missed on its top target, so the Sooners appear set to head into the fall with the same group it finished the spring with. Pitt State transfer Will Huggins emerged as the top option coming out of spring practice and brings good size and blocking, albeit limited pass-catching production. Kennesaw State transfer Carson Kent reportedly provided some quality pass-catching during the spring, while the likes of Jaren Kanak, Kaden Helms and Kade McIntyre provide some added intrigue to this largely unproven group. (Photo: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) LEFT TACKLE Logan Howland, redshirt sophomore Jacob Sexton, senior OR Michael Fasusi, freshman The 411: Logan Howland missed spring due to an offseason labrum procedure, but after starting six games last season and getting settled at left tackle, he should be the favorite to start there come fall. Jacob Sexton, now healthy, handled the first-team duties during the spring and could push for the job, if the Sooners keep him on the left side. Freshman Michael Fasusi was impressive in his first spring and could be an early contributor, but it would likely take a lot for him to vault up the depth chart. LEFT GUARD Heath Ozaeta, redshirt sophomore Eddy Pierre-Louis, sophomore The 411: Similar to the situation at left tackle, Oklahoma was without its starter at left guard this spring as Heath Ozaeta recovered from a shoulder procedure, allowing for Eddy Pierre-Louis to get the first-team reps here. Ozaeta started eight games at left guard last season and showed promise in his development as a redshirt freshman. When healthy, he's the likely starter here, though Pierre-Louis looms as an option at either guard spot. CENTER Troy Everett, redshirt senior Jake Maikkula, senior The 411: Troy Everett returns as the starter at center after missing the start of last season but eventually settling back into the role. Now heading into his final season, Everett seems at home and in a clear leadership position for the Sooners' offense. His backup, Josh Aisosa, hit the portal at the end of spring, but OU brought in Stanford transfer Jake Maikkula to provide depth and flexibility on the interior of the line. (Photo: NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) RIGHT GUARD Febechi Nwaiwu, redshirt senior OR Eddy Pierre-Louis, sophomore Ryan Fodje, freshman The 411: Febechi Nwaiwu started every game at right guard last season and led OU's offense in snaps played. Now he's back, looking to be a more consistent performer at right guard. He's projected as the starter now, but keep an eye on Pierre-Louis, who looked good in the spring and could push for time here if Oklahoma flips him back to the right side. Freshman Ryan Fodje also impressed during his first spring on campus. RIGHT TACKLE Derek Simmons, redshirt senior Jake Taylor, redshirt junior The 411: After transferring in from Western Carolina, Derek Simmons came in and quickly established himself at right tackle, bringing 1,160 career snaps in that position to a rebuilt Oklahoma offensive line. Simmons appears to have a solid grasp on the top spot, while Jake Taylor and Stanford transfer Luke Baklenko worked behind him during spring practices. Reveal hidden contents NORMAN — The offseason is in full swing for Oklahoma. Spring practices wrapped up a few weeks ago, and the spring transfer portal window has closed, with the Sooners seemingly done adding pieces to supplement and improve their roster ahead of their second season in the SEC. Now that we have a clearer idea of what Oklahoma's roster will look like heading into Brent Venables' fourth season at the helm, and with spring practices behind us, it's time to take another stab at what the Sooners' depth chart will look like for 2025. Today, we'll take a look at Oklahoma's projected two-deep depth chart on offense, based on what we saw throughout spring practices, other conversations with those around the program and based on the post-spring additions and subtractions from the roster. On Monday, we'll dive into the projected depth chart on defense and special teams. The video player is currently playing an ad. You can skip the ad in 5 sec with a mouse or keyboard So, without further ado, here's Sooners Illustrated's post-spring offensive depth chart projection, including a brief blurb on each position… (Photo: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) Quarterback John Mateer, redshirt junior Michael Hawkins Jr., sophomore The 411: After arriving from Washington State in the offseason, John Mateer seamlessly took the reins as QB1 for Oklahoma in the spring. The veteran signal-caller is deeply familiar with Ben Arbuckle's offense and showed command of the system in his first spring with the Sooners. Hawkins, after starting multiple games as a freshman last season, continues to develop and will be the No. 2 heading into the year. RUNNING BACK Jaydn Ott, senior Jovantae Barnes, senior OR Xavier Robinson, sophomore The 411: A post-spring shakeup to the position results in Oklahoma adding a proven No. 1 option to the backfield in Cal transfer Jaydn Ott, while Gavin Sawchuk and Sam Franklin both hit the transfer portal. The Sooners have several complementary options behind Ott, including Jovantae Barnes (limited due to injury in the spring) and Xavier Robinson, with Taylor Tatum also in the mix. WIDE RECEIVER Isaiah Sategna, redshirt junior Zion Kearney, sophomore OR Keontez Lewis, redshirt senior The 411: Oklahoma's receiver room was overhauled in the offseason and experienced some injuries in the spring (some more extensive than others), so the personnel and pecking order is still fluid entering the summer. For now, I give a starting nod to Arkansas transfer Isaiah Sategna, who primarily played the slot last season but has versatility to line up outside as a big-play threat. He impressed in his first spring at OU and brings SEC experience to the room. If Jayden Gibson can get healthy and on track ahead of the season after a pre-spring setback with his knee, he'll be in the mix here too. (Photo: NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) WIDE RECEIVER Elijah Thomas, freshman Jer'Michael Carter, junior The 411: All things being equal, this starting spot would go to Arkansas-Pine Bluff transfer Javonnie Gibson, but his status entering the summer is up in the air after a late-spring broken leg. He's expected back this season, possibly early in the year, which would be great news for Oklahoma as he was emerging as the potential No. 1 receiver this spring. In the meantime, freshman Elijah Thomas could have a chance to earn a starting role after an impressive first semester on campus, while McNeese transfer Jer'Michael Carter — a post-spring portal pickup — provides an experienced and lengthy option on the outside to complement the skillsets of Deion Burks and Sategna. SLOT Deion Burks, redshirt senior Josiah Martin, sophomore OR Jacob Jordan, sophomore The 411: After being limited to just five games last season, Deion Burks is back as the headliner in Oklahoma's wide receiver room. The redshirt senior will assume the starting job in the slot (though he can also split out wide) and serve as a focal point in the passing game. A number of options can work behind him, whether that's Sategna (when he's not on the outside) or Cal transfer Josiah Martin or sophomore walk-on Jacob Jordan, who showed some promise last fall. TIGHT END Will Huggins, redshirt senior Carson Kent, redshirt junior The 411: Oklahoma was looking to add a proven tight end in the spring transfer window but missed on its top target, so the Sooners appear set to head into the fall with the same group it finished the spring with. Pitt State transfer Will Huggins emerged as the top option coming out of spring practice and brings good size and blocking, albeit limited pass-catching production. Kennesaw State transfer Carson Kent reportedly provided some quality pass-catching during the spring, while the likes of Jaren Kanak, Kaden Helms and Kade McIntyre provide some added intrigue to this largely unproven group. (Photo: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) LEFT TACKLE Logan Howland, redshirt sophomore Jacob Sexton, senior OR Michael Fasusi, freshman The 411: Logan Howland missed spring due to an offseason labrum procedure, but after starting six games last season and getting settled at left tackle, he should be the favorite to start there come fall. Jacob Sexton, now healthy, handled the first-team duties during the spring and could push for the job, if the Sooners keep him on the left side. Freshman Michael Fasusi was impressive in his first spring and could be an early contributor, but it would likely take a lot for him to vault up the depth chart. LEFT GUARD Heath Ozaeta, redshirt sophomore Eddy Pierre-Louis, sophomore The 411: Similar to the situation at left tackle, Oklahoma was without its starter at left guard this spring as Heath Ozaeta recovered from a shoulder procedure, allowing for Eddy Pierre-Louis to get the first-team reps here. Ozaeta started eight games at left guard last season and showed promise in his development as a redshirt freshman. When healthy, he's the likely starter here, though Pierre-Louis looms as an option at either guard spot. CENTER Troy Everett, redshirt senior Jake Maikkula, senior The 411: Troy Everett returns as the starter at center after missing the start of last season but eventually settling back into the role. Now heading into his final season, Everett seems at home and in a clear leadership position for the Sooners' offense. His backup, Josh Aisosa, hit the portal at the end of spring, but OU brought in Stanford transfer Jake Maikkula to provide depth and flexibility on the interior of the line. (Photo: NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports) RIGHT GUARD Febechi Nwaiwu, redshirt senior OR Eddy Pierre-Louis, sophomore Ryan Fodje, freshman The 411: Febechi Nwaiwu started every game at right guard last season and led OU's offense in snaps played. Now he's back, looking to be a more consistent performer at right guard. He's projected as the starter now, but keep an eye on Pierre-Louis, who looked good in the spring and could push for time here if Oklahoma flips him back to the right side. Freshman Ryan Fodje also impressed during his first spring on campus. RIGHT TACKLE Derek Simmons, redshirt senior Jake Taylor, redshirt junior The 411: After transferring in from Western Carolina, Derek Simmons came in and quickly established himself at right tackle, bringing 1,160 career snaps in that position to a rebuilt Oklahoma offensive line. Simmons appears to have a solid grasp on the top spot, while Jake Taylor and Stanford transfer Luke Baklenko worked behind him during spring practices. recruiting is not going that well for them either.. they are going to end up punting on this class and focus on the portal. Guess the whole BV on the hot seat and the disconnect on who is the one actually offering players (Nagy vs the coaches) is taking a toll.
May 7May 7 8 hours ago, closetojumping said: Deion Burks...quit the team via "soft tissue injury". This is the only piece I might take slight exception to. He fought to get back on the field after missing seven calendar weeks and got a really nasty concussion near the end of the game he returned. He may or may not be any good this year, but prior to the injuries, he was getting open in front of two QBs that were psychically incapable of staying in the pocket to find an option later in the play.
May 7May 7 10 hours ago, kilroydos said: This is the only piece I might take slight exception to. He fought to get back on the field after missing seven calendar weeks and got a really nasty concussion near the end of the game he returned. He may or may not be any good this year, but prior to the injuries, he was getting open in front of two QBs that were psychically incapable of staying in the pocket to find an option later in the play. He averaged 7.9 ypc, your mods hinted at him being reluctant to return to the field throughout all of October and most of November, and he had a long of 20 yards on the season. Prior to the season, from the spring of 2024, through magazine write-ups in June, through media days, and then through scoring his only 3 tds against an absolutely shitty Temple team, your talking heads and coaching staff told anyone and everyone how fucking great he was. What a steal he was! What was Purdue doing letting him get away!! Then? He got hurt against Tennessee and had to be begged back onto the field. Once injured again, he was done and talking of transferring. Your idiots running things with NIL overpaid to keep him. He's a pedestrian slot WR who can't handle the physicality of the SEC. He'll be an afterthought riding a bike by the Texas/OU game.
May 7May 7 Burks is a good example of how programs should be careful in the portal and NIL era. OU invested an amount that mattered to them, to sign him. When he got injured, and was unavailable, they hurt. Then, they had to recommit this spring, lest this talent get away and they have to spend more to replace it. Contrast that with Isaiah Neyor, a speedy WR portal transfer Texas brought in for 2022. He got injured before the season. It hurt not having him out there across from Worthy, drawing coverage or exploiting the attention Worthy got. But, that’s football. No one felt cheated. And, when the off season came, and Neyor rehabbed, Texas went out and signed AD Mitchell, who beat out Neyor. Texas wasn’t counting on Neyor for anything more than to compete. Neyor moved on to Nebraska for 2024. Texas signed three more WRs from the portal for that year. it’s supposed to be investing, not gambling. You don’t spend any money that you can’t lose, or the game is too rich for you.
May 7May 7 1 hour ago, closetojumping said: He averaged 7.9 ypc, your mods hinted at him being reluctant to return to the field throughout all of October and most of November, and he had a long of 20 yards on the season. Prior to the season, from the spring of 2024, through magazine write-ups in June, through media days, and then through scoring his only 3 tds against an absolutely shitty Temple team, your talking heads and coaching staff told anyone and everyone how fucking great he was. What a steal he was! What was Purdue doing letting him get away!! Then? He got hurt against Tennessee and had to be begged back onto the field. Once injured again, he was done and talking of transferring. Your idiots running things with NIL overpaid to keep him. He's a pedestrian slot WR who can't handle the physicality of the SEC. He'll be an afterthought riding a bike by the Texas/OU game. Oh I never said he was great, just that I don't think he quit on the team. I think once the other WRs started to leave/get more seriously injured, Burks became a higher retention priority than he would have been otherwise. In an ideal roster situation, you're exactly right that he's a depth piece with speed and above average hands that can be a change of pace. Given the reality of the room, he's been treated like a #1, for better or worse. No idea what he's going to look like this year.
May 7May 7 7 minutes ago, statsman said: Burks is a good example of how programs should be careful in the portal and NIL era. This is exactly the issue. OU's staff haven't shown much of an ability to attract top-flight talent at some key positions, and so they're constantly scrambling and overpaying for what they have. This means they're overleveraged on talent with no margin for error.
May 9May 9 Holy shit what a retard. Our OL may not be better next year, but it should be even or a slight decrease at worst. OT - Goosby and Baker (3rd year players) OG - Campbell and Neto (4 years in the program) C - Hutson (4 years in the program) Our Defense is better at every level. I will not accept the sullying of AA Michael Taaffe's good name! "LB may even be OU." - In what way? We have AA Anthony Hill and the Flyin' Hawaiian back there versus trashcans!? This guy has to be trolling. Edited May 9May 9 by Fondren & Main
May 9May 9 49 minutes ago, texifornia said: From @statsman Thanks, I fucking needed this laugh. Holy shit. 9 minutes ago, Fondren & Main said: Holy shit what a retard. Our OL may not be better next year, but it should be even or a slight decrease at worst. OT - Goosby and Baker (3rd year players) OG - Campbell and Neto (4 years in the program) C - Hutson (4 years in the program) Our Defense is better at every level. I will not accept the sullying of AA Michael Taaffe's good name! "LB may even be OU." - In what way? We have AA Anthony Hill and the Flyin' Hawaiian back there versus trashcans!? This guy has to be trolling. I'm not sure I would expect our OL to be "better" next season, but considering the player changes and a zone read threat at QB, I absolutely fucking expect to be better running the fucking football next year.
May 9May 9 51 minutes ago, texifornia said: From @statsman When did okie turn into aggy. See a dr. or don’t WGAS
May 9May 9 Local and national media types are drinking the kool aid. Greg McElroy at ESPN said "I'm not sure there's been a team that's going to improve as much as I think Oklahoma has a chance to improve, I think Oklahoma is poised for a significant jump in wins. I think Oklahoma is poised to have some breakthrough candidates in multiple different positions." OU's counterpart of Craig Way said that OU got the top QB, RB, and WR (Gibson?) in the portal.
May 9May 9 7 minutes ago, chiu1040 said: I'm not sure there's been a team that's going to improve as much as I think Oklahoma has a chance to improve "Improve as much as I think they have a chance to improve"? hahahaha
May 9May 9 OU has a reasonable chance to start 5-0, and roll into Dallas as a top 10 team. And then may promptly lose five in a row.
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