Oklahoma Football: 3 Sooners Burning Questions As 2022 Preseason Camp Kicks Off

It’s a brand new daybreak for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2022. After a tumultuous 2021 that noticed the stunning departure of head coach Lincoln Riley and quarterback Caleb Williams, Oklahoma soccer will look to rebound with a brand new man accountable for the staff within the type of a well-recognized face: Brent Venables. With that stated, let’s check out a number of the burning questions for the Sooners.

Oklahoma Soccer 2022 Burning Questions

3. Who’s taking the leap on protection?

The arrival of Venables in Norman is an indication of higher issues to come back for Oklahoma’s protection that was mediocre, even within the Massive 12 in 2021. Oklahoma soccer completed final season simply sixth within the convention with 390.8 complete yards surrendered per contest and likewise sixth with 25.8 factors allowed per recreation. That wouldn’t fly for Venables, who will now have to remodel that protection with out two essential items it had in 2021, with each Brian Asamoah and Nik Bonitto now within the NFL.

Asamoah led the Sooners’ defensive position in 2021 with 80 complete tackles, whereas Bonitto was second on the staff with seven sacks. Not solely that, however the three of the Sooners’ prime sack-getters in 2021 are all gone, with Isaiah Thomas and Perrion Winfrey each turning professionals within the offseason. Which means the tandem of Reggie Grimes and Ethan Downs has large sneakers to fill in 2022. The 2 challenge to be the defensive finish starters for the Sooners, with senior transfers Jonah Laulu and T.D. Roof coming in to offer extra expertise on the defensive position.

Downs could possibly be a stable guess to interrupt out after a freshman season wherein he was capable of ship the products persistently when given the chance. In 2021, Downs had 14 tackles (9 solo) and 0.5 sacks plus a compelled fumble in eight video games.

Senior DaShaun White can be nonetheless with the Sooners, and he could possibly be the chief of this group that’s poised to make loud noises in Venables’ first 12 months in Norman.

2. Can Eric Grey keep as the highest choice for the Oklahoma soccer’s floor assault?

The Sooners’ floor assault regarded high quality in 2021, with operating again Kennedy Brooks and quarterback Caleb Williams main the frenzy. Brooks has now taken his abilities to the NFL, whereas Williams has way back packed his luggage for the West Coast, leaving large holes in Oklahoma’s backfield. For context, Brooks was fourth general within the Massive 12 in 2021 with 1,253 speeding yards, whereas Williams was the one non-running again on the highest 15 listing of Massive 12’s prime rushers by common with 39.55 speeding yards per contest.

The presumptive no. 1 operating again now for the Sooners is incumbent Eric Grey, who was simply third on the staff final season with a mere output of 412 speeding yards and a few touchdowns on 78 carries. He was stable, although, with 5.3 yards per carry. Nonetheless, a rise in work quantity in 2022 may additionally imply much less environment friendly efficiency. Because it stands, he hasn’t utterly widened the hole between him and different operating backs on Oklahoma’s roster that options the likes of fellow returnee Marcus Main and a few freshmen in Javontae Barnes and Gavin Sawchuck.

Main is seemingly the largest menace to Grey’s beginning function. A former four-star prospect, Main was solely capable of play in three video games in 2021 because of eligibility points however these are all behind him now. As somebody who has performed behind the likes of Rhamondre Stevenson, Trey Sermon, and Brooks, Main does come throughout as somebody who may doubtlessly be the operating again group’s largest star in 2022.

Nonetheless, Sooners offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby continues to be adamant that Eric Grey is the lead man for the staff’s floor recreation that burned rubber for 180.3 speeding yards per contest in 2021.

Per Ryan Chapman of Sports activities Illustrated:

“The room goes to begin with EG,” Lebby stated. “Eric has completed an unbelievable job. I’ve stated this since being round him for 5 days – the man’s a professional. The whole lot he does is in knowledgeable method. Couldn’t be extra enthusiastic about the place he’s at and what he’s going to have the ability to do for us this fall.”

1. Can Dillon Gabriel fill the void left by Caleb Williams?

Filling the void beneath heart left by Williams goes to be a tricky ask for any quarterback, however the Sooners may simply have the right one for that problem in Dillon Gabriel. The incoming senior quarterback has been ranked by ESPN fourth general in its listing of prime 50 newcomers.

“Gabriel performed for offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby at UCF, and now Lebby is the coordinator at Oklahoma. The 2 are reuniting at an ideal time after the Sooners misplaced quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler. In 2019 and 2020, Gabriel threw for a mixed 7,223 yards and 61 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He suffered an damage that minimize his 2021 season brief and now he has a chance to guide Oklahoma.”

Gabriel’s familiarity with Lebby’s system will go a great distance in fast-tracking his ascent to the group of elite quarterbacks within the Massive 12 — if he isn’t already a part of it. Oklahoma soccer’s offense has all the time been high-flying, and Gabriel seems to have the chops to guide the Sooners’ assault ripped opposing defenses in 2021 for 36.0 factors per recreation.