Editor’s Observe: That is Half 4 of a 14-part collection on Oklahoma’s early enrollees within the 2023 recruiting class.

Many instances, graduating highschool early and launching one’s faculty soccer profession pays off. Many instances, it doesn’t.

Whereas early enrollees are navigating new realms of ache and dedication, a whole lot of their buddies are again dwelling — enjoying basketball, operating observe or simply hanging out and taking full benefit of the affliction generally known as “senioritis.”

In Oklahoma’s case, 14 newcomers have chosen to make that sudden transition from boys to males. Jerry Schmidt’s winter exercises might sound not possible at first, after which the summer season grind is even tougher. In between, the teaching employees takes over, and spring soccer apply places them forward of their summer season counterparts.

On this collection, AllSooners examines every of the 14 newcomers and tasks their impression on Brent Venables’ soccer crew in 2023.

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Peyton Bowen isn’t nervous about enjoying for a first-time head coach at Oklahoma. Bear in mind, he had been comfortably dedicated to Notre Dame for nearly a 12 months. Then he shockingly flipped to Oregon on Nationwide Signing Day.

All three packages are guided by long-time assistants who’d by no means sat within the huge chair earlier than 2022.

However whereas Marcus Freeman’s Combating Irish and Dan Lanning’s Geese posted a profitable report of their debut season, Brent Venables’ Sooners went simply 6-7.

And Bowen is completely OK with all of that.

“I type of noticed the scenario,” Bowen instructed AllSooners. “Like, Coach Venables obtained put in a really poor scenario for my part, and he needed to begin and virtually scratched and clawed his option to virtually constructive report. And we virtually beat the thirteenth crew within the nation in a bowl recreation.”

S Peyton Bowen

• 6-0, 185
• Denton, TX
• 247 Sports activities: 5-star, No. 13 total, No. 2 S
• Rivals: 5-star, No. 10 total, No. 2 S
• On3: 5-star, No. 15 total, No. 2 S
• ESPN: 5-star, No. 14 total, No. 2 S

Background: Helped lead Denton Guyer to a 28-3 report in his last two seasons as a starter, anchoring the again finish of the Wildcats’ protection with consistency and big-play capability. Bowen additionally performed offense and was astonishingly good returning kicks, however his forte is protection, the place his confidence and expertise mix with an especially excessive soccer IQ. He’s a settling presence, however he additionally delivers the products: greater than 200 tackles, 12 interceptions and 23 passes defensed in his three years as a starter.

2023 Projection: With the commencement of Justin Broiles and Trey Morrison and a swarm of switch portal defections, count on Peyton Bowen to slip into the two-deep instantly — it wouldn’t be a shock to see him listed because the starter for the spring recreation. Key Lawrence and Billy Bowman have loads of expertise and big-game manufacturing to lock down two spots, and Damond Harmon, Robert Spears-Jennings and Justin Harrington have delivered key performs as nicely. However Bowen’s addition to the protection spot may facilitate a transfer to nickel again for somebody.

Bowen has defined advert nauseam why he lastly selected Oklahoma over Oregon and Notre Dame — proximity to his dwelling in Denton, TX, girlfriend on the OU soccer crew, greatest pal Jackson Arnold is the Sooners’ new quarterback, robust relationship with Venables, Brandon Corridor, Jay Valai and the Oklahoma teaching employees — however he additionally lately defined why he’s so excited to get to Norman for the present semester, start winter exercises and participate in spring apply.

“I feel we are able to win a Huge 12 championship and get that title again that we had all these years earlier than,” Bowen mentioned. “After which yeah, win our bowl recreation, get a get a — get two rings, hopefully. Stuff like that.”

Bowen mentioned his objectives for his freshman season are to win a beginning job and earn Freshman All-America honors.

”It’s s an awesome alternative to do this so near dwelling and share that with all my household,” he mentioned.

Whether or not it’s one of many two security positions or the nickelback (or the hybrid cheetah place or someplace in between), Bowen’s teammates have related designs on 2023. He’ll must work for it. However Venables is assured that Bowen can have nearly as good an opportunity as anybody.

“Peyton brings an incredible talent set, dynamics, instincts, velocity, simply nice, nice instincts, pure really feel for the sport,” Venables mentioned. “He’s a winner. Comes from the most effective highschool packages within the nation, Denton Guyer. He’s going to deliver a wealth of expertise enjoying at a really excessive degree from a contest standpoint. He’s a humble, hardworking man.

“Simply actually excited so as to add one other dynamic piece to what we try to construct — on either side of the ball, however clearly Peyton within the return recreation and on protection particularly.”

Bowen realized whereas in Orlando practising for the Underneath Armour All-America Recreation that he wasn’t the place he wanted to be to step right into a program like OU and instantly competing for a beginning job. He’s obtained a whole lot of work to do.

“They’re getting us prepared for faculty,” Bowen mentioned of the Underneath Armour coaches. “That was the aim out of all this was to get some work towards the perfect and are available out right here and compete. See how faculty life is gonna be.

Oklahoma’s 2023 early enrollees

“I obtained began on my conditioning (and) lifting early so we’ll see how that goes. Simply able to get going. … Similar to, getting wholesome.

“After which … I feel in highschool, I used to be getting like, a bit of lax. So I must get my work ethic again up simply to, like, get in that competing mindset once more, you already know, to go on the market, get my beginning place so I can begin as a freshman.”

Bowen is all too completely satisfied to remind everybody he grew up a religious Clemson fan, so when Venables changed Lincoln Riley at OU, he was instantly drawn to the Sooners.

“Having that so near dwelling … for me, it was similar to my coronary heart was all the time in it. Like, I simply thought that was the perfect resolution for me. Simply seeing that and being like a longtime Clemson fan and seeing Venables’ protection work for therefore lengthy.

“ … So I imply, I see a whole lot of potential, particularly with this class, in what Venables goes to be doing for that protection. It has been tried and true already. Like, we’ve seen it work.”

All of the craziness of recruiting is behind him. Bowen turned off social media, obtained in his personal area, felt what was proper for him and selected Oklahoma. Now he’s studying the trials and triumphs of Jerry Schmidt’s offseason exercises.

“It’s been a loopy course of,” he mentioned, “however I am proud of my resolution.”

“I’m extremely proud,” mentioned Venables, “that he selected the Sooners.”

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