2018 “Breakout” Players By: Ryan Lewis Posted on: August 30, 2018

Image via Bryan Terry, the Oklahoman

It’s almost football time in Oklahoma and Sooner nation can’t wait. Besides the chance to see the crimson and cream beating opponents on Saturdays, one thing fans are excited to see is who stands out this season. Every year, several players have bigger seasons than expected. Who will step up this year?

Below are a few predictions for potential breakout players this season. One thing that will be avoided is the, for want of a better word, “easy” picks. For example, Kyler Murray will obviously play more than last season and have a breakout-type year. However, that seems like the easy road to go down. The goal here is to choose just a few guys who, while they may have shown flashes, have not yet had a huge season nor already have through-the-roof expectations (so yeah, no Bookie on this list).

List is simply in alphabetical order, not in order of “potential.”

2018 Breakout Players

Nick Basquine: You’ll be hard-pressed to find many former walk-on players more well-liked and well-spoken-of than Basquine (Baker Mayfield aside). He walked on in 2014, redshirted, was Scout Team Player of the Year, got hurt for the 2015 season, played well in 2016 (during which he earned a scholarship), and was hurt again for 2017. His teammates speak highly of his character and the fortitude to come back from multiple injuries.
This is the season for him to put it all together and I think he will. The Sooners have quite a few inside receiver options between Basquine, Mykel Jones, Jaquayln Crawford, Myles Tease, and others, but I think Basquine earns himself frequent playing time and has a 500 yard season.

Justin Broiles: When a guy who was recruited as a cornerback has been looked at for both the free safety and the nickel positions in the offseason, and not due to lack of depth but rather to the player’s talent and athleticism, you know he’s going to be a playmaker. This spring, TFB heard that he was working at nickel. Then in June, the word was that he was penciled in as the starter at the free safety spot. His confidence, ability to make plays, and vocal leadership were all commented on. Additionally, TFB was told that, ‘he might not be the fastest or the biggest guy “but he cares a lot and works his a** off. He’s fearless. He’s the kind of guy you’d go to war with any day.”’ That’s exactly what you want to hear about a player. Although he’s bounced back and forth between FS and nickel, it sounds like he’s back at free safety, leaving Bookie at the nickel spot. While the competition is fierce, I think Broiles wins the starting job and proves himself a play-maker this fall.

Kennedy Brooks: I am all aboard the Brooks train. I know, I know, OU has an incredibly deep running back stable with the first and second spots presumably taken up by Rodney Anderson and Trey Sermon, and deservedly so. However, there is a spot for Brooks on this team and I think he’s going to force himself into the rotation. This is a guy who, according to sources, could probably put up “1,500 yards or more” by himself if he were starting. Additionally, he may show up at one of the return spots. The guy can flat out play and I think he shows it this year.

Ryan Jones: Originally recruited as a safety, Jones is playing at OLB now. On numerous occasions, the description of Jones has included some variation of ‘having that twitch that none of the other linebackers have.’ Another source said, ‘I’m told that not only is Jones physical on the edge but also he’s extremely fluid (no surprise given he played safety in high school). A source added, “he’s got that ‘it’ ability as an edge rusher.’ He has battled Nik Bonitto for the starting job at SAM this offseason and it looks like he has locked it down. Look for Jones to provide a physical presence on the edge and show why the coaches felt that the move to linebacker was the best bet.

100 Days to Football Time in Oklahoma: #33 Ryan Jones

Obviously, these four are correct since I said so and have never been wrong even once in my life. However, I’m sure you have more – who’s on your list?