Open Post | Tuesday, August 31st
Posted on: August 31, 2021
2023 5-Star LB Visiting OU
– CJ Vogel – Posted on: August 28, 2021
Five star 2023 Denton Ryan LB Anthony Hill Jr. Is planning on attending Oklahoma’s first home game of the year against Western Carolina.
I will have more on Hill this week, but he said he is building a real nice relationship with Lincoln Riley and LB Coach Brian Odom.
Donor Contribution | Zach Givens Projected Depth Chart | Post Fall Camp
– The Football Brainiacs – Posted on: August 29, 2021
Happy Sunday guys and gals!
Continuing to roll out our mini-series here thanks to our community member Zach Givens!
I know you all appreciate Zach’s work on his projected depth charts and I feel like they get lost in the comment section.
Zach is a respected member of the community and I think you all appreciate his diligent work and his thoughts on the depth charts he produces in the comment section so I thought it would be nice to dedicate a few threads to his work.
You have already seen his Pre-Spring game projected depth chart, his Post-Spring game projected depth chart, and his Pre-Fall Camp projected depth chart previously.
Today, Zach sent me his post-fall camp projected depth chart, and this will conclude the series!
I will note, this is a reflection of Zach’s thoughts, investigations, and projections and is not our (TFB) projected depth chart (which James will likely do prior to fall camp).
So have some fun with it and share your thoughts!
I really appreciate Zach taking the time and effort to put all of this together over the past months and I know you all appreciate his efforts as well!
From the desk of Zach Givens:
Charlie, after careful consideration and numerous alterations over the course of the off-season, I present you and all board members with my final projected three-deep depth chart for the 2021 season opener versus Tulane. While this chart will likely differ from the official depth chart SoonerSports puts out, I can assure you mine will be updated leading up to and after each game throughout the season for future reference and precision. Comments, criticisms and critiques are all welcome! With that said, here we go!
NOTE: The H/HB are two different positions with only one usually being on the field at once. So, for the purpose of limiting the starting lineup to 11 players, I simply have Mims’ name in front of Hall’s. They’re both basically starters and each will obviously see plenty of playing time regardless of how they’re listed on this chart, so there’s no need to be concerned. If I were to list a No. 2 HB it would be Brayden Willis, whose name would be listed behind Drake Stoops (himself the No. 2 H-receiver behind Mims). I hope that makes sense.
OFFENSE:
QB – Spencer Rattler, So., Caleb Williams, Fr., Ralph Rucker, Fr.
RB – Eric Gray, Jr., Kennedy Brooks, Jr., Jaden Knowles, Jr.
X – Theo Wease, Jr., Mike Woods, Sr., Jalil Farooq, Fr.
H/HB – Marvin Mims, So., Jeremiah Hall, Sr., Drake Stoops, Jr.
Y – Austin Stogner, Jr., Brayden Willis, Sr., Jackson Sumlin, Fr.
Z – Jadon Haselwood, So., Mario Williams, Fr., Tre West, So.
LT – Anton Harrison, So., Wanya Morris, Jr., Savion Byrd, Fr.
LG – Marquis Hayes, Sr., Robert Congel, Sr., Marcus Alexander, So.
C – Andrew Raym, So., Robert Congel, Sr., Ian McIver, Sr.
RG – Chris Murray, Sr., Tyrese Robinson, Sr., Brey Walker, Jr.
RT – Tyrese Robinson, Sr., Erik Swenson, Sr., Aaryn Parks, Fr.
DEFENSE:
E – Isaiah Thomas, Sr., Reggie Grimes, So., Ethan Downs, Fr.
NT – Perrion Winfrey, Sr., Josh Ellison, Jr., Jordan Kelley, Jr.
T – Jalen Redmond, So., LaRon Stokes, Sr., Kori Roberson, So.
RUSH – Nik Bonitto, Jr., Marcus Stripling, Jr., Clayton Smith, Fr.
MLB – David Ugwoegbu, Jr., Caleb Kelly, Sr., Danny Stutsman, Fr.
WLB – Brian Asamoah, Jr., DaShaun White, Sr., Shane Whitter, So.
NB – Billy Bowman, Fr., Jeremiah Criddell, So., Key Lawrence, So.
CB – Woodi Washington, So., Jaden Davis, Jr., Latrell McCutchin, Fr.
SS – Delarrin Turner-Yell, Sr., Key Lawrence, So., Justin Broiles, Sr.
FS – Pat Fields, Sr., Key Lawrence, So., Bryson Washington, Fr.
CB – D.J. Graham, So., Jaden Davis, Jr., Justin Harrington, Jr.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
K – Gabe Brkic, Jr., Zach Schmit, Fr.
P – Michael Turk, Sr., Reeves Mundschau, Sr.
KR – D.J. Graham, So., Billy Bowman, Fr.
PR – Marvin Mims, So., Drake Stoops, Jr.
KO – Gabe Brkic, Jr., Josh Plaster, So.
LS – Kasey Kelleher, Sr., Ethan Lane, Fr.
H – Spencer Jones, Sr., Reeves Mundschau, Sr.
Gabriel Dindy | Sourced Update
– Super K – Posted on: August 30, 2021
This past weekend, Gabriel Dindy released his top two which, as expected, included OU and Texas A&M.
In our most recent update (here) we noted that Dindy’s father indicated that Gabriel is leaning in a direction. However, we have been unsure what direction that is.
I did get a little bit of information coming from around the Lakeland program.
***Sources around the program seem to think Dindy is leaning towards OU. I can’t yet seem to corroborate that from the OU side or from any additional sources but given Dindy’s ties to the Sooners, it would certainly make sense.
***Dindy had also noted he will be moving his timeline up from the UA game. But it doesn’t appear a decision is imminent given he still plans on taking a visit or two or three.
***Source around the program also said that despite the fact that Dindy has a top two, there are enough people friendly to the Bama program around Lakeland that I wouldn’t be surprised if Dindy does at least check Bama out for a game this season. We shall see on that front but for right now the focus is clearly on the Sooners and TAMU.
***My last update, I noted that I really didn’t have a good sense of which direction this one is moving in. I still don’t have a strong sense. But if I had to guess, I’d put it at maybe 60/40 Sooners.
Tre Bradford Enters the Portal | Looking at the Running Back Room
– James Hale – Posted on: August 30, 2021
The Sooners have lost another running back to the portal. Tre Bradford has officially entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.
Last week, Super K dropped a pair of notes in regards to this topic: Sourced | Something on my Radar and Follow Up on Yesterday’s Note.
While we did not name names, as we prefer to leave that to the player or Lincoln Riley, we made sure you had a heads up that a player at a position of need was considering transferring. Tre Bradford was indeed that guy.
No matter where they will play this weekend, OU will go into the season with two scholarship running backs. That’s it, two scholarship running backs. OU usually has at least four and, in most years, five, and maybe a fullback that can play running back if needed, but no team has had more bad news at running back than the Sooners.
Earlier this week, sophomore Tre Bradford notified Coach Lincoln Riley and running back Coach DeMarco Murray that he was leaving the program with the thought of transferring back to LSU. Talk about a shocker! OU can’t believe it, and they don’t understand why a guy who is going to play and get some significant minutes wants to leave and go back to a program where they hardly played him a year ago.
If he wanted to transfer at the end of the year, that would be more understandable because some kids don’t like being the third-team player. However, to transfer now, a week before the first game, and miss the season because he has already used up his one-time transfer rule makes no sense. This one-time strong running back room, as far as numbers go, has been decimated.
The first running back to leave was junior T.J. Pledger soon after the 2020 season when he transferred to Utah, where he is going to get a ton of playing time for the Utes.
Back in May, sophomore Seth McGowan was one of three players charged in an alleged robbery. After being moved to running back from H-back in the spring, Sophomore Mikey Henderson was allegedly the driver in that same robbery.
The final blow came (or will be coming officially) during training camp when sophomore Marcus Major was reportedly ruled ineligible. The Major news has yet to be confirmed by OU.
Bradford transferred to OU in June after getting very little playing time at LSU last year. OU was reluctant to take him at that point but decided he was good enough to help their room. He received rave reviews from both Coach Riley and Coach Murray, and on the surface, things looked good for Bradford.
Last week news started to come out of camp that Bradford was suddenly disenchanted, and he told the coaching staff that he was thinking about leaving. Then last week, he watched a couple of practices instead of participating, but the Sooners were still working on him to stay.
This decision doesn’t make any sense because the only place where Bradford can play next year is at OU. I know there is a debate about him potentially being able to play at LSU based on a number of practices, but that is still up in the air in my opinion as it comes down to what constitutes practices.
If he transfers to LSU or anywhere, or any other D-1 school, he will likely have to sit out the year, and for two straight years at the start of his career, he will be a none factor in college football. Talk about a quick way to put a stop to your football career. The Bradford’s will be a case study for how not to begin your college football career.
So, who else can run the football for the Sooners? Of course, sophomore quarterback Spencer Rattler (6’1, 200) can run the football. Last season he carried the ball 81 times for 160 yards and six touchdowns. Coach Riley likes his quarterbacks to run the ball some, and Rattler admits he has worked in getting faster this offseason.
“That’s something that I’ve tried to strive to get better at in the offseason,” said Rattler. “I worked on my speed all off-season, and I’ve gotten faster. I feel like I’ve gotten stronger in my lower body, so I think we’ll see a lot of smart running from me this season.”
“I’m not going to be trying to run people over, but if I have to get a first down or get into the end zone, I’ve gotta do what I’ve gotta do.
“In this offense, there are always opportunities for the quarterbacks to run, and I will be able to take advantage of them. I don’t think we are going to be loading up with power quarterback run game with me out there, but I scramble, and I can run the zone read, and if things are wide open for me, I can take advantage of it.”
If OU had to go to freshman Caleb Williams (6’1, 218) he is an excellent runner that can produce in the run game like Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts before him. He would be a quarterback that Coach Riley would game plan a run game for him.
OU does have other running backs on the roster. Walk-on junior Jaden Knowles (5’7, 195) out of Kennedale, Texas, rushed for over 4,000 yards in high school with 52 touchdowns. Those numbers still did not earn him D-1 offers, and he started his career at Southwestern Oklahoma State, where he rushed for 394 yards and three touchdowns while adding 18 catches for 94 yards.
In the spring game, Knowles was one of the stars of the game carrying the ball three times for 31 yards and a touchdown, and was outstanding in the pass game catching four passes for 48 yards.
Knowles has been nicknamed Weatherman J by Rattler and his friends.
Knowles recently was quoted saying that he wished he was in Louisiana so he could study the Hurricane. He is crazy enough to be a weatherman that is for sure
This year, the other walk-on that could play a factor is Todd Hudson (5’7, 180) of League City (Clear Springs), Texas, another big high school producer. Hudson rushed for more than 4,000 yards and scored 49 touchdowns in his career. Hudson has actually played some for OU, carrying the ball eight times for 20 yards.
I think Hudson would probably get the call before Knowles, but Knowles was the first on the field in the spring game.
Senior H-Back Jeremiah Hall (6’2, 248) could get a few more carries this year. Hall is a good player and would not turn the ball over and handle it okay. He has seven carries for 28 yards throughout his career but only got one carry last year.
Two Sooner receivers have actually played running back in high school that you figure could move to running back in an emergency. Sophomore Brian Darby (6’0, 200) is bigger than Knowles and Foster, and at A&M Consolidated High School in College Station, Texas, he split time between wide receiver and running back. He rushed for close to 700 yards at A&M Consolidated.
Darby only caught one ball last year for 14-yards, and he doesn’t figure to be one of the main steam receivers this year for the Sooners.
Freshman Jalil Farooq (6’1, 203) hasn’t been at OU long, and he had a tough time getting to Norman. He missed all of his senior year because of COVID, and then when he reported to OU this summer, he had a pulled hamstring that hampered his development. He finally got well in mid-July, and he has been very good in camp at receiver.
The big question is how much Farooq will play? He is actually a good redshirt candidate at receiver, but he played running back as much as he played receiver in high school, and he was even recruited as a running back by a couple of schools.
Farooq is well put together and can pass as a running back. He knows how to find holes, take pitches, and he knows what it means to run downhill. As a junior in 2019, Farooq rushed for 668 yards on 65 carries and scored 11 rushing touchdowns.
I have mentioned the possibility of redshirt freshman QB Micah Bowens (5’11, 192) before, and this is still a possibility. Once freshman Ralph Rucker (6’0, 206) was named the third-team quarterback, and the Bradford situation flared up, OU did work Bowens at running back. He didn’t look super getting a handoff and running downhill trying to read zone blocking, but he hasn’t done that much during his career.
Bowens is very quick and fast, and it’s worth a look. Maybe Bowens should start thinking about changing positions. He never got much of a chance at quarterback during his freshman year at Penn State and now has been beaten out by a freshman walk-on for the third quarterback spot at OU. He is an athlete and can run, and with those athletic tools, they may play at receiver, running back, or maybe DB.
