Projecting OU’s Depth Chart
Posted on: August 18, 2014
Image via Tulsa World
Bob Stoops may or may not ever get around to posting an updated depth chart before the season opener — the one currently listed on the official website is from prior to the Sugar Bowl — so we figured we’d go ahead and put a projection together or what OU’s two-deep could look like. This is simply a projection on our part past on a number of things that have been reported throughout the spring/summer both here on TFB and elsewhere.
As you’ll see in reading over what we’ve put together, there may be some names missing you were expecting to be included. Or possibly a name or two you weren’t expecting we have in there. Either way we’ll attempt to clarify some things below as to the reasoning behind how we sorted things out.
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* I suspect one of, if not the first names you’re looking for and not seeing is Dorial Green-Beckham. I think it goes without saying, based on his immense talents and how we’ve heard reps have been split in practice, were he to be cleared by the NCAA that he’d be listed as a starter. But as it stands today we don’t know if he’ll be available, either or the La Tech game, later in the season, or for any part of the season. So at least for now we’ve chosen to not include him.
* Much like the point above, as things currently sit the implication seems to be Frank Shannon will be available until some type of ruling is made on his appeal of the university’s decision to suspend him for one year. That could certainly change, possibly in the near future, and most of you know if that happens Jordan Evans would be his replacement.
* For the defense, we probably could have included multiple versions of a depth chart for the variety of formations OU is expected to employ. But for simplicity’s sake, we simply left it as is and figured we’d address things here. As many of you have read here a number of times now, the expectation is when OU shifts to their 3-3-5 (or some variation thereof) Q.Hayes will move over to the nickel and Steven Parker will take his spot at strong safety. With the talent at Mike Stoops’ disposal, OU will have the luxury of doing any number of different things on defense this season at any given time. Thus putting something like this together becomes a little more difficult, which is simply to say don’t take this as a black-and-white statement expecting the defense to line up like we have it listed above every single down.
* Decided to take M.Stoops at his word with respect to Jordan Thomas.
* By all accounts, Ford and Ross are pretty much interchangeable as the “starting” running back, hence our inclusion of the ‘OR.’
* At wide receiver, Jeffery Mead’s name could be a bit of a surprise as a true freshman. But he has definitely impressed the coaches since arriving on campus. Third team slot WR could be any number of players at this point, especially if they move Shepard inside some, so Andrews was admittedly a bit of a guess on our part.
So that’s what we came up with, but we definitely want to hear from you. Where might you agree with us? Or even disagree? Are there any other names we haven’t mentioned that you expected to be included? Hit us up with your comments below and, as always, thank you for reading!
53 Comments
Pleasantly surprised to see KJ Young in there. He has some of the best HS film I’ve ever seen.
Try looking up Jeffery Mead, then KJ’s film will be the seconed best you have ever “seen”.
How many snaps a game do you see Byrd getting?
Playing a bunch of safeties, will it come down to who’s hot/ will play more?
Crazy to think Shannon, DGB, Mixon could all be starters and Mayfield could be the back-up but we can’t get any confirmation on there status.
Austin at N?? I don’t see that at all. Besides that it looks good. I also Expect Byrd to be the guy over Thomas
We struggled w/ who to put there behind Hayes. Just hasn’t been a lot of talk as to who else is working there after moving Wilson to CB. So, admittedly, that was a bit of a guess on our part.
Fair point – just don’t like his size there. hard to put anyone there without guessing
I wouldnt be shocked to see Savage starting at one of the guard spots.
Also I agree, KJ must have really come on strong lately.
Shead & Savage are interchangeable, IMO. But Shead has been here a long time & I think the coaches usually reward loyalty if the diff btwn the two players is somewhat minimal (as I believe it to be here).
You may very well be right. Either way its win win.
Definitely surprised by KJ Young over Bennett and Smallwood. Just not sure how I feel about a receiving corps that’s under 6′. Then again, DGB’s waiver is processing and we’ve seen how the depth chart changes after the first few games.
Also, don’t mean to freak some people out… But that Oline depth…. yeesh.
I have Evans and Shead as the 2 guards; both are former entrenched starters that got knocked out by injuries. I hope they both have great last years. Is Farniok really a good option at LT–thought St. John was more athletic for that spot. That is a lot of beef on the front line, especially if Nila is doing time at the center spot.
Very excited about Mead/Todd. However in the long run, I feel like Mead will be the better of the two, not to discredit Todd in any fashion.
I’m some what surprised but not completely surprised that mead has made an impact so early. I really thought he would RS no matter what but the more time has passed he does look like he could make plays even though he is too thin but if he can help now then play him. My other surprise is Todd who I think will be better in college, where mead may be better as a pro. I thought Todd was the most ready WR we took this last year. Either way the future looks good with all the tall dudes we got I just wish they thought it would be beneficial to bring in dahu this year.
I agree, I was expecting Todd to be the most ready out of the 3 bigs we got. I was thinking Mead would take the season to really get his feet under him and gain some size. Hopefully having DGB around will help them grow as big WR’s.
I’d put Farniok as the backup RT and St. John as the backup LT.
That makes the most sense to me as well.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of the two [or even both] true freshmen OTs to wind up at the #2 spot on the R/L tackle slots before the middle of the year. I haven’t seen a lot of Farniok that I like.
I am excited about the talent at RB with Knight running the show, I would like to see Smallwood be a big part of the offense. On D there are so many weapons at M. Stoops disposal it should be a site to see.
What does the loss of Shannon do to the depth at LB?
At an already thin position I think it would create a problem that would only be mitigated by how well Jordan Phillips and the rest of the DL play.
Wouldn’t surprise me to see Cortez Johnson as the back up NB
I could see that as well. Had him penciled in there at one point.
Is Stanvon Taylor just not cutting it?
Think he has been banged up
This Jeffery Mead guy intrigues me, is he really that good? Because him and DGB on the outside with Neal & Shepard on the inside would be a nice thing to see
Very big (obviously), w/ really good hands and great body control. I just always assumed he’d redshirt b/c he’s so slim, but he may force their hand w/ the plays he’s making in practices.
I’m guessing I misunderstood something, but wasn’t Striker supposed to be playing some at Nickel? Just curious why you didn’t mention him there. Thanks.
He’s essentially serving that purpose from his “OLB” spot when they don’t bring in that extra DB.
Ah, that makes sense. Thanks.
I dont like the thought of Sanchez recieving punts, when our CB position isnt that deep as far as experience is concerned.
It could be a couple other guys aside from Sanchez, he’s just one of several who have been discussed behind Shepard. I think they’d like it to be Quick, but he’s struggled some fielding punts in practice.
Brooks should get that duty IMO
You might see him on kick returns
Dj ward?
He’ll play some, but I don’t feel like his exclusion here on the two-deep is unjustified.
No disagreements just statements! I really hope Dalton comes on because I hate when the primary back up for a lineman starts at another position. This is mitigated some by the fact that OU plays a lot of different OLineman. And also I wouldn’t be supersized if the FB position between Ropkowski & Flowers becomes a either/OR position by the time conference play starts!
Thoughts:
– Man, we graduate a lot of quality talent along the oline after this season.
– We are very thin at ILB (we all know that already).
– Young but experienced on defense. Only two SR’s, I think, on the depth chart above. Bodes well for the future.
Maybe we should start Nila at center, he apparently gains 3 pounds when moving from RG. I can only assume that would help our run game 😉
you guys are ruthless 😉
fixed. we cool now?
1st String OL averages 6-4.2 321.
2nd String OL averages 6-5.5 325.
I like that Kasitati beefs up a few pounds to play center!
Dallis Todd?
Good question.
Man, I don’t care who starts where, plays where, as long as whoever is out there plays lights out and the Sooners win ball games and bring home #8. Get ‘er Done!
Mead is like an even skinnier version of Malcolm Kelly. I thought he was extremely underrated at the prep level and was a 4 star receiver that was unfairly rated a 3 star. This has a chance to be the best receiving corps recruiting class in Oklahoma football history. The size and versatility of this most recent group is incredible. Now they just have to prove they can pan out at this level.
Quick talking point, how would you like to see the depth chart by mid-season, assuming solid development of all players?
don’t know how I feel about the interchangeability of Ross and Ford. Wish one of them would separate themselves.
Thanks for all the work you do to bring us updated information. SoonerDick
I am really shocked that you have Nila over Evans? Is Evans not 100% yet? Nothing against Thomas but I want to see Byrd win Safety spot.
Dallis Todd not making it into a top-3 spot for WR?
I posted this on another thread but since you’re asking: Did Dallis Todd fall off the map? He was supposed to be the most ready of the three bigs from the class.