The Oklahoma Sooners are lower than three weeks away from kicking off the 2022 season with a brand new coach and a brand new angle.
As September creeps nearer, AllSooners previews each recreation on the 2022 schedule.
Oklahoma’s 12-game common season schedule options six dwelling video games, 5 away video games and the annual neutral-site Purple River Showdown.
First up for the Sooners is the house opener with the UTEP Miners.
UTEP Miners
Convention USA
Sept. 3, 2:30 p.m.
- Head Coach: Dana Dimel
- 2021 report: 7-6 (4-4 C-USA)
- Offensive returning starters: seven
- Defensive returning starters: eight
Key gamers
QB Gavin Hardison
Hardison, a junior, would be the key piece to the puzzle for UTEP in 2022. The issue is, each his No. 1 and No. 2 choices have departed, leaving the huge receiver room trying a lot completely different. High move catcher Jacob Cowing transferred to Arizona, leaving speedster Tyrin Smith as Hardison’s go-to man.
The most effective facet of the rising junior’s recreation is his arm energy and skill to throw the deep ball. Hardison threw for 3,218 yards and 18 touchdowns in 13 video games final season. His greatest flaw has been accuracy, throwing 13 interceptions and finishing simply 55 % of his passes. The Sooners can set the tone for the season early with a couple of fast takeaways towards a mistake-prone quarterback.
DE Reward Amaewhule
Amaewhule is a load for offensive strains to deal with and is within the backfield usually. Over the course of his Miner profession, he’s totaled 87 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and even scored a landing.
At 6-foot-3, Amaewhule has nice measurement and energy. Oklahoma’s offensive line can have a pleasant check early towards an All-Convention USA expertise and an NFL prospect. The Sooners revamped the offensive line this offseason, however query marks nonetheless stay.
LBs Breon Hayward and Tyrice Knight
The center of the protection is without doubt one of the strongest elements of this UTEP crew. Each Hayward and Knight amassed over 120 tackles every and earned All-Convention USA honors. The Miners have an skilled protection that finally helped lead final season’s shocking turnaround.
RB Ronald Awatt
Awatt is a candidate for a breakout season with prolonged carries and an even bigger function. Final season, he discovered 844 yards and 6 touchdowns on the bottom.
The senior again has critical potential to be a 1,000-yard rusher in 2022. Awatt can be working behind probably the greatest offensive strains in Convention USA and has nice imaginative and prescient and pace. Folks have taken discover, as he was listed on the Doak Walker Award watch listing.
High unit: Offensive line
The Sooners can have an early check towards a stout Miners offensive line. UTEP was inconsistent offensively final season, however ought to discover success working the ball this fall.
Andrew Meyer, Elijah Klein, and Jeremiah Byers will all be again in El Paso, giving the Miners three Honorable Point out All-Convention USA blockers.
The road was in a position to pave the way in which for UTEP’s high rusher, Ronald Awatt, who averaged 5.4 yards per carry. As a crew, UTEP racked up 2,112 speeding yards final season. Establishing a presence up entrance will give an skilled sign caller like Gavin Hardinson time to work.
The Sooners are heavy favorites within the opening matchup, however UTEP isn’t getting sufficient credit score as a crew. Oklahoma has performed in quite a lot of home-openers that have been significantly extra lopsided.
Final season, the Miners went for the large play time after time. It led to inconsistency, but additionally helped the Miners discover success for the primary time in a very long time. UTEP had 14 performs leading to longer than 50 yards final season. OU’s protection surrendered eight 50-yard chunk performs, good for a tie at 83rd within the nation.
If Oklahoma’s improved secondary can preserve the Miners from explosive performs, the Sooners ought to coast to the primary non-conference victory of the 12 months. Though Oklahoma is predicted to win comfortably, it is going to be a superb early check towards a really skilled Group of 5 crew. The offense should show effectivity early towards the Miners’ robust defensive entrance.
Search for offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby to assist Dillon Gabriel set up chemistry with quick connections early on. Then, as the sport goes on, Gabriel will be capable of showcase his long-awaited deep ball towards an unknown UTEP secondary.
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