The Football Brainiacs

Image of AD Miller via OU Daily

A random Wednesday in early July may or may not be the best time to put something like this out, but as far as I’m concerned there’s really never a bad time to talk football so here goes.

My approach with these type of ‘prediction lists’ is to try and avoid the obvious. I mean, sure, one could predict someone like Mark Andrews or Charles Walker as a “breakout” candidate for this coming season as there is a fairly easy argument to be made that neither has really had that true “breakout” season yet. But how much credit would you really deserve for going out on that limb? I’d argue not much.

Different circumstances but similar situation with someone like Caleb Kelly. Yes, he’s a true freshman. But there are high expectations for the five-star LB recruit for a reason. So again, wouldn’t be much of a prediction to proclaim Kelly as a “breakout” candidate.

In years past I’ve had some notable hits and any number of misses, so I can assure you my feelings won’t be hurt if you quickly dismiss one, any, or all of these. With that said, here is who I’m betting on in 2016.

* AD Miller: Let me just tell you there’s a reason I’ve been saving this tweet for several months now. Because when the sophomore wide receiver has the season I believe he’s capable of having, I’m warning you right now I’ll be that really annoying guy retweeting their own tweet to show everyone (FULLY aware of how little they will care) just how right they were.

It’s certainly no secret the Sooners will be turning to a bevy of candidates this coming season in an effort to replace a program all-time great in Sterling Shepard. Specifically, OU is really looking for someone (or really someones) to step up and solidify one of those outside receiver spots. And with Miller’s size, speed, and ability to high point the football I think he is the ideal candidate.

I’ll also grant you at this point Miller isn’t exactly a “sleeper” pick to break out this season after a solid performance in OU’s spring game. But remember that tweet from a certain someone who was ‘in’ on Miller even before that Red/White game?  That’s right, this guy. (It’s already annoying, I get it.)

* Marquise Overton: You may not agree, but I consider this to be a risky pick. Not due to a lack of faith in Overton, far from it. But rather as a result of the guys around him that he’ll be competing with for playing time. Both Matt Romar and Jordan Wade have spent considerable time in this program and on the field, so Overton will have his work cut out for him when it comes to earning snaps.

And for the life of me I’ll never understand why they burned Overton’s redshirt last year — I get he played in eight games, but it couldn’t have been more than a handful of snaps in any of them — but that has long been a pet-peeve of mine so let’s move on.

My confidence in Overton stems from the fact I expect he’ll simply force the coaches hand. I think he’ll be too good for them to keep him off the field. Even in the limited number of snaps he got last season, I can recall multiple instances where he blew a play up and/or collapsed the pocket. His wrestling background and low center-of-gravity couldn’t possibly be more ideal for what OU asks of their NTs in this defensive scheme.

* Du’Vonta Lampkin: A second DL pick with a number of veterans presumably ahead of him as well. I don’t know what to tell ya, I just love living out on that edge!

Seriously though, I think the key here is my belief that Lampkin possesses the athleticism and versatility to play either inside or outside at defensive end. And yes, as I alluded to, you have guys like Matt Dimon and DJ Ward, even someone like Austin Roberts, already in place. But a quick glance at OU’s current roster will reveal DE isn’t exactly a spot with an overwhelming amount of depth.

Outside of that, I think Lampkin will be very similar to Overton in that his talent will demand time on the field.

* PJ Mbanasor: Full disclosure, I’m drinking the Super K Kool-Aid when it comes to this kid and I’m perfectly fine with it. I know all anyone can talk about when it comes to Mbanasor is that Tulsa game. Heck, some people (no shots, I swear) are even still writing about it. But what has never ceased to amaze me was just how quickly some were willing to write off a kid playing corner, as a true freshman, in his first start ever. I mean all due respect, but you realize how stupid that would be, right?

Mbanasor’s physical skills are undeniable and from everything I’ve heard, the kid has done nothing but continue to put in the extra work all spring and summer to improve his game. I get that he has some legitimate competition for a starting spot, but that’s the nature of his position and really college football in general at this level.

I just believe the physical tools are all there, he’s learned from last season, and this is the year it comes together for him.

* Kahlil Haughton: Have you heard about how the Big 12 tends to be a pass happy league? Breaking news, right? Well, I’ve been told that in a pass happy league you tend to play more DBs. Hence why I have the sophomore safety — another guy who didn’t get a redshirt so they could play almost exclusively on special teams — on my list of breakout candidates.

As we’ve discussed a number of times now on TFB, the expectation is that OU will spend a considerable amount of time in their nickel package. And, as you’re well aware, that will likely involve Will Johnson being on the field as the ‘nickel’ defensive back. But when the Sooners bring on a sixth DB, as they tend to do at times, I’m expecting Haughton to be that guy.

I’ll be really interested to see where he’s at once the roster is updated later this summer/fall, but even with the outdated spring roster at 6’1″ 195 Haughton is already nearly the same size as Ahmad Thomas. So he has the size to hold up against the run and we’ve been told he has a comparable ability to that of someone like Steven Parker to cover in space. Which would make him an ideal fit for that ‘dime’ DB role and possibly even earn him some time at ‘nickel’ to spell Johnson, if need be.

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Alright, so those are my guys. But surely I’ve omitted at least one of yours, so jump on in to those comments and show everyone how much smarter you are than me.