Sooners Spring Roster Updates
Posted on: March 5, 2015
Image via USA Today
OU finally posted an updated spring roster earlier today, and I just wanted to quickly run down some of the more notable items I was able to come across.
* Early enrollees jersey numbers – No. 2 John Humphrey, No. 11 Dede Westbrook, No. 12 Will Johnson, No. 24 Rodney Anderson, No. 52 Jamal Danley & No. 71 Bobby Evans
* As expected, Joe Mixon is now listed on the official roster and will wear No. 25.
* Taylor McNamara, Londell Taylor, David Smith & Cortez Johnson are no longer listed on the OU roster.
* Evidently they found a redshirt year for kickoff specialist Nick Hodgson as he was a senior last year, but still listed on this updated roster now as a fifth year senior. Something that may be causally dismissed, but he was one of the best in the country last year at kickoffs. This is a bigger deal, in my opinion, than some may give it credit for being.
* There is a chance it’s a typo — (UPDATE – It’s not a typo) — but Isaac Ijalana is now listed as a defensive lineman (was previously a tight end).
* Mark Andrews is still listed as a tight end, which (assuming it doesn’t later change to TE) I believe is really just in name only as TEs will be used very much like WRs in this offense.
* One-time former OU commit and more recent Tulsa Golden Hurricane, Dalton Rodriguez, is listed on the official roster as a defensive lineman & No. 84.
* For whatever it’s worth, heights & weights do not appear to have been updated yet.
59 Comments
Thanks for the updates! I will check out the webpage and update my spreadsheet.
Good point on Hodgson.
Yes, he was awesome at kicking off into the EZ and out of it!
Hodgson for another year is great….a real weapon.
That’s huge.
Was Dede Westbrook listed?
Yes, he’s No. 11.
Yeah, oversight on my part. He’s listed now. Sorry about that.
Can’t wait to see if Mayfield plays as well as last spring. I’m really hoping that kid takes off under Riley. Really down on Knight right now…don’t think he makes it as a QB, to be honest.
Agree.
I agree BUT … as long as TK can be a ‘great’ practice player (you know, the type that plays well as long as he’s not getting hit), I believe Mayfield will have his work cut out for him. Ever since HFJ I’ve been convinced that no matter how bad the starting QB plays, if he’s best in practice then he’s gonna start.
HFJ??? Who? What? I’m probably being dense, but help??
It seems like Cortez Johnson is a surprise. Was that something that was known?
Something that was possible given some of the issues he had and the fact he never really saw the field.
Late in the season, he saw some time on the punt return team, but that was it for him last year.
The Ijalana is NOT a typo, btw. He is now a DE.
I am guessing he doesn’t fit the mold of TE in the new system?
6’4″ 247 lbs. More like an OLBer. He can always come into the game to block on short yardage.
What happened to Taylor McNamara?
He requested approval for transfer in the fall and it was granted.
SK. Do you think that OU will use their TE more than what JH was calling?
He requested and was given his release to transfer. Same with David Smith. Wish them both all the best.
Doesn’t that make us pretty thin at TE (esp since Ijalena is now a DE)?
Seems like TE has switched to a FB and the new TE is a real big WR
…
It’s wrong.
I think I checked the wrong roster anyway. Don’t mind me. I’ll just keep to myself.
Edit: Found the “updated roster”. Still listed as a Jr.
Nah, you’re good. For some reason they’ve had him listed as a Jr ever since he signed and they added him to the roster. Just a simply typo they’ve yet to fix.
Isaac Ijalana at DE…This will be interesting.
I wouldn’t expect much to come of it, but maybe he’ll surprise me.
I’m curious to see what made them make this move.
I think he was more of a “blocking” TE and there’s just not much of a need for that in this new offensive system.
I think you’re wrong on this point.
I’m of the opinion that you’ll see a healthy dose of TE’s/FB’s in power sets. Certainly not as much as last year or so, but maybe 25% of the time. Now they may line up power and motion into something else with the power personnel, to get matchups….
I think you’ll see Andrews, Dalton and Flowers quite a bit.
In some packages. It’s clear that Riley wants pure speed/quickness in his WRs to create the yards and take to the house. Riley = explosiveness. Since they moved Flowers to FB I see more blocking out of the backfield, not from the TE.
this is not a shot, just an observation. but, you seem to always wonder why some people think you’re negative on all subjects. this is the type of thing we are referring to. maybe items like this are best left unsaid. but, at the end of the day, you be you and i’ll be me. but this is just a heads up even tho you didn’t ask for it
Trust me, I don’t spend any time worrying about it. You guys cherry pick your spots for when I’m being “always negative” and I’ve come to expect it.
Do you see any other OU media personalities (if you can even call me that) promoting the softball team? Or gymnastics? No, you don’t. But does anyone acknowledge that as part of my positive promoting of OU as a whole, not just the football program. Nope, of course not. That wouldn’t fit the agenda.
I offer my opinion, it’s one of the primary reasons I’m here. If I thought it was going to work out, I’d be just as apt to so as such here. In this particular instance, I don’t happen to feel that way. That’s not being negative, that’s simply stating my opinion.
If you want someone who you’re only going to hear from when it’s a positive take, there are plenty of other people who can give you that.
If you want someone to give you an (IMO) educated, objective opinion, then as far as I’m concerned I am your guy. If you choose to see that as negative b/c it may not always be sunshine and lollipops, so be it.
brother, i’ve got nothing against you at all. you and i have bumped heads before, but nothing major. you do have some good stuff to say and i am glad you are here. and you do support the other teams. you are appreciated and if it goes without me saying it, then for that i am sorry. i’m simply just pointing out how it can be perceived when it happens to be on multiple subjects. i am not you, therefore i can’t know what’s in your head. but, i’m just showing you how it comes across. maybe as easy as i haven’t known you or read you long enough. this seemed kinda like a shot at multiple people(the player for not being good at the position he is leaving, or the player for not having the talent to be good at the new position, or the coaches for trying this) it does not make me think any less of you as a person or journalist. i know its not all roses. and i’m not trying to shut you up, i’m trying to show why people think that and that its not coming out of thin air
Totally understood. But as I’m sure you understand, if I started to worry about how something I’m going to say may or may not be perceived I’d drive myself crazy.
I guess at the end of the day people can take it however they want to take it, and I’m okay w/ that. If you (and I don’t mean you in the literal sense) want to only focus on the things I say that aren’t of a positive nature and choose to ignore the countless other ways I promote a plethora of other OU related things, so be it.
It’s just not worth my time trying to fight w/ people about it. I know what I’m doing, regardless of whatever others want to tell ME that THEY know what I’M doing, and I’m completely comfortable with it. I’ve got no problem saying I was wrong, and will happily do so when I am.
gotcha. i agree with that. wasn’t trying to start a fight and you can’t add disclaimers after every statement. be here all day. you seem to hate this as much as i when people throw out “card carrying, kool aid drinking, sunshine pumping, head in the sand, crimson glass wearing care bear or my little pony”. and you are not wrong. you just use a different thesaurus than i do 🙂
All good, my friend.
Just do what you do man. I know your style because, as you know, I was reading your stuff before you came over here. The people who know your true feelings for OU athletics have no problem with what you say, it’s the one’s who don’t understand your style that have the problem.
I felt like it was a perfectly fine thing for Jordan to say. When a player makes a position change, very rarely does anything come of it. I didn’t take it as overly negative. I think he was trying to level set expectations because many on here haven’t played at a high level and don’t understand the inherent challenges of switching positions, let along sides of the ball.
yeah. i get it. we’ve talked it out. and its always hard to understand people without seeing mannerisms and hearing inflection of tone and such. just a matter of getting to know his style more, i reckon. on the other hand, i will let it play out and let the end result factor into it. i would hate to be said player’s family and get word that some nameless, faceless people think poorly of my college age son who’s just trying to get an education while fulfilling a dream. i know he’s not attacking the kid, per se, but tell that to one of these kids family’s who may come on here
You never know. Numerous players flourish after switching positions. Will definitely be something to keep an eye on this spring.
Grissom redux?
…certainly wasn’t the reason he came here….doesn’t he only have 2 yrs
Found his Hudl film from his Senior year of High School where he played DE and he doesn’t look terrible. Plays DE in 4 man front but looks like he would fit better in our Def as a OLB lining up were Grissom did last year. Pretty athletic for a guy his size!
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/533485/highlights/7588406/v2
Is it true mixon cant play in the spring game? if so, that really sucks. One of the big reasons we are making the trip.
true ( and yes it sucks) by all reports that are coming out!
crappyyyyyy
What if his first two runs were awesome and then crack, he’s done for the year. that would make the trip worse. If it happens in a real game, i can take it but not in a spring game. I want him healthy going into summer and fall. my .02.
Well I don’t disagree, but then again I’d say the same thing about the entire 2 deep on both sides of the ball. It’s more usefull for the younger kids anyway, gets them a little taste of real college ball.
He could have used the scrimmage to shake the rust off a year of no real football. It aint happening though, so let’s hope he’s ready to rock when the real thing gets here.
I’m with ya but most of the 1s or 2s will be held to minimum snaps unless there is a shortage of players in that position.
I am glad also on Hodgson being around another year. I don’t think it is as big a deal this year as it would have been not having him the last couple, because I believe Seibert has a much stronger leg than Hunicutt, but this will allow Seibert to focus on kicking field goals for at least his first year!
Agree wholeheartedly. I think it will help having separate people punting, kicking off, and placements. At least during Seibert’s frosh year.
Jordan, it’s not that they “found” another year for Hodgson, as he has always had a 5th year of eligibility. Every player, whether on scholarship or not, has 5 years to play 4. OU, however, has never consistently listed walk-ons with the redshirt designation unless they were a redshirt senior. This year, however, it appears that all the players are now listed with their remaining playing eligibility, including all walk-ons, not just the seniors.
honestly I’m really excited to see how Mark Andrews is gonna be used in the Offense and Dalton Wood. I think that freshman has a Legit oppertunity to play and play early . with Andrews and wood in the field at the same time . should be really awesome too watch
Any Frank Shannon.?
Where can one find a link to the roster? The roster on SoonerSports.com appears to still be the Fall roster.