Billy Bowman’s Return ‘Sooner Rather Than Later’ Crucial in Oklahoma’s Stretch Run

Because the Sooners head to Ames to tackle Iowa State this weekend, a 4-3 file will not be what the crew had in thoughts popping out of the bye week. There are various totally different causes that issue into Oklahoma’s sluggish begin on the sphere, however accidents positively depend as one.

After Dillon Gabriel went down, the quarterback place was clearly the best gap to level to on the crew. In the identical recreation that Gabriel went down with a concussion, although, the Sooners misplaced security Billy Bowman too. Bowman is arguably simply as essential on the opposite facet of the ball.

“We miss a extremely good participant that makes performs, that communicates properly, that’s one among our greatest gamers,” defensive coordinator Ted Roof mentioned Monday. “That’s a part of the sport.”

When Gabriel returned, the offense instantly seemed again in sync. The Sooners scored 52 factors in opposition to Kansas behind a balanced assault. Though he’s struggled with accuracy at instances this season, it’s clear the impression he has on the offense.

The protection, nevertheless, hasn’t fairly appeared to determine issues out simply but with out Bowman. 

Bowman hasn’t performed a snap for the reason that first quarter of the TCU recreation and has been nursing a nagging knee damage. The Sooners and Bowman averted the worst, injury-wise, however Oklahoma’s protection has been hurting on the sphere with out him. The unit has given up greater than 40 factors in every of the previous 4 weeks, and the secondary has repeatedly been torched by the Massive 12’s proficient vast receivers.

The excellent news, although, is that it appears like Bowman is anticipated on the sphere someday quickly. After Gabriel’s return jump-started the offense, Bowman’s return might tie issues collectively and assist the Sooners end out the season respectably. There are nonetheless loads of huge video games left on the schedule.

“We’re hopeful he’ll get again sooner relatively than later,” Brent Venables mentioned in his Tuesday press convention. “As of at the moment, we don’t have a precise date for his return. He’s working round and making an attempt to get in form and have the sort of stability that he wants and the boldness that goes together with that too.”

It feels like his standing for the subsequent few weeks remains to be up within the air, as Venables was cautious about Bowman’s return. However the truth that Bowman is again at observe and working round ought to be a terrific signal for the Sooners.

To place issues in perspective, the sophomore security has performed simply three video games and one quarter of soccer this season. He ranks third on the crew in solo tackles at 22, tied for first on the crew in passes deflected at 4, and has recorded one of many Sooners’ two fumble recoveries on the season. 

Including him again into the lineup anytime quickly can be an enormous win for the Oklahoma protection. It additionally could not come at a greater time.

“As you progress via that rehab, you frequently push the bounds, if you’ll, and begin to do an increasing number of issues which might be football-like,” Venables mentioned. “He’s beginning to get extra comfy with that.”