5 Sooners to watch Saturday night vs. Oklahoma State

Oklahoma’s season comes down to only two video games in an try and turn out to be bowl eligible. The primary of these two video games happens on Saturday when in-state rival Oklahoma State involves city.

Within the wake of the Sooners loss to Oklahoma State a yr in the past, this system went by means of a stunning 24 hours. Lincoln Riley left for USC, the 2022 class started to disintegrate, and several other Sooners entered the switch portal. It was a stunning collection of occasions, however all of it paved the way in which for Oklahoma to herald Brent Venables.

At 5-5 in his first season on the helm, Oklahoma should win this sport, and the Venables’ protection could have its arms full.

Oklahoma can be lining up throughout from one of many Huge 12’s higher quarterbacks, Spencer Sanders. Even whereas competing by means of accidents this season, Sanders has thrown for two,261 yards, 16 touchdowns, and solely 5 interceptions whereas finishing 58.5 p.c of his passes. He’s additionally run for  628 yards and two scores, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. He’s the engine for this Oklahoma State offense, and with out him, the Cowboys aren’t practically as productive.

His weapons may even take a look at Oklahoma as properly, which brings us to this query: How will the Sooners’ protection carry out? We’ll discover out Saturday night, however listed here are 5 guys that might be instrumental in serving to the Sooners’ protection decelerate the Cowboys.

Ethan Downs, DE

Sep 10, 2022; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Ethan Downs (40) in motion in the course of the sport towards the Kent State Golden Flashes at Gaylord Household-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports activities

Final yr, Ethan Downs was a freshman, incomes situational snaps to spell Nik Bonitto or Isaiah Thomas final yr. On this yr’s Bedlam contest, he’s a full-fledged starter and should have had the perfect sport of his profession towards the West Virginia Mountaineers when he totaled 6 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack to associate with one other quarterback hurry as properly.

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But, Garrett Greene nonetheless ran for 100 yards on Oklahoma. Downs can be instrumental in setting the sting to stop Spencer Sanders from fleeing the pocket and dashing the passer towards Oklahoma State’s skilled offensive line.

Jalen Redmond, DT

Baylor’s Blake Shapen (12) seems to go as Oklahoma’s Jalen Redmond (31) makes a sack throughout a school soccer sport between the College of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Baylor Bears at Gaylord Household – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.
Ou Vs Baylor

Regardless of not reaching the sack numbers of his early seasons, Jalen Redmond has rounded himself right into a reliable participant for Oklahoma this yr. Week to week, it looks as if he’s essentially the most constant performer, which is what the Sooners wanted after shedding so many our bodies alongside the line of defense.

Like Downs, Redmond goes up towards an skilled Cowboys offensive line. Stunts and twists might not be as sensible with the specter of Spencer Sanders within the run sport. So the Sooners might want to win their particular person matchups. Redmond has the flexibility to win these one on ones and can want to take action this week.

Danny Stutsman, LB

Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman (28) celebrates a sack on Kent State’s Collin Schlee (19) within the third quarter in the course of the school soccer sport between the College of Oklahoma and the Kent State Golden Flashes on the Gaylord Household Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept., 10, 2022. Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Sophomore linebacker Danny Stutsman was the subject of debate on Tuesdayas Brent Venables downplayed any detrimental critiques of Stutsman’s efficiency this yr.

Brent Venables is aware of linebackers and his numbers and the video games themselves Stutsman has left all of it on the market. He’ll want that very same hearth and desperation this week. Sanders and the Oklahoma State offense prefer to assault each inch of the sphere on the bottom and via the air. Stutsman has been fairly stable in his protection drops the final three weeks, nabbing two interceptions. Can he get one other one?

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Robert Spears-Jennings, S

Safeties coach Brandon Corridor works with gamers because the College of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) holds fall camp observe on the rugby fields on Aug. 16, 2022 in Norman, Okla. [Steve Sisney/For The Oklahoman]

Oklahoma has seen a number of members of its 2022 recruiting class contact the sphere this yr. One of many extra athletic gamers in that group is security Robert Spears-Jennings.

Hailing from Damaged Arrow,  Spears-Jennings will get to participate in his first Bedlam sport. He’s seen his snap rely rise in current weeks, and he recorded 4 tackles towards West Virginia.

If Spears-Jennings sees the sphere, there’s an opportunity Gundy tries to assault the younger security as an alternative of making an attempt to assault Billy Bowman. Will Spears-Jennings reply the decision? We’ll discover out this weekend.

Jaden Davis, CB

Sep 3, 2022; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive again Jaden Davis (4) in motion in the course of the sport towards the UTEP Miners at Gaylord Household-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports activities

Jaden Davis will strap up his pads one final time at residence on Saturday towards Oklahoma State. Whereas his profession has been up and down, Davis will get a possibility to exit in an enormous means if he can present some sticky protection towards one of many higher small receivers within the nation, Brennan Presley of Oklahoma State.

Presley is barely 5-8, however he’s shifty and swift. It’ll be a troublesome matchup for Davis, however Presley is a favourite of Sanders. His 47 catches lead the crew, and he’s second in yards at 544. They want him, and if Davis can restrict his touches, Oklahoma can be in a greater place to win this sport.

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Story initially appeared on Sooners Wire