Change could be powerful. The Oklahoma Sooners noticed lots of change occur in a short while final November and December. Whereas it created lots of questions on the way forward for this system, new head coach Brent Venables, supplied a gentle hand on the wheel to revive confidence in Oklahoma in a tumultuous time.
That’s why, regardless of all the turnover, Oklahoma stays in excessive regard throughout the nation and is taken into account a workforce that may contend within the Large 12 and for a playoff spot. They’ll face challenges from Baylor, Oklahoma State, and Texas (as they do seemingly yearly), however the Sooners work within the switch portal, and of their 2022 recruiting class, of us are assured that Oklahoma shall be competing for the convention title on the finish of the season.
Each offseason at ESPN, they check out the place every workforce stands in regard to the current and the longer term. After being ranked No. 4 within the 2021 model of those rankings, the Sooners fell again to No. 7 in 2022. Let’s check out what Adam Rittenberg needed to say in regards to the Sooners rankings.
Future Quarterback Rating: 7
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What ESPN mentioned:
Lebby reunited with switch quarterback Dillon Gabriel, whom he labored with at UCF in 2019 and produced the nation’s No. 2 offense. Gabriel may lead OU’s offense by means of 2023, and the workforce additionally added ESPN 300 quarterback recruit Nick Evers. – Rittenberg, ESPN
Oklahoma went from five-star quarterbacks Spencer Rattler, Caleb Williams, and Malachi Nelson to an expertise Dillon Gabriel, four-star Nick Evers, and five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold.
Whereas that could be a internet loss when it comes to recruiting stars, the Sooners are nonetheless well-stocked with gifted passers on the place. Every of those guys are Jeff Lebby guys.
Gabriel performed underneath Lebby at UCF and dedicated to Oklahoma mere hours after Caleb Williams made his announcement to enter the switch portal. Nick Evers had been recruited by Lebby previous to selecting Florida. When he decommitted from the Gators and Lebby was employed by Brent Venables and the Sooners, Evers was the brand new offensive coordinator’s first name. And like Evers, who had been recruited by Lebby at Ole Miss, Jackson Arnold’s connection to the OC made {that a} pure match for the 2023 commit.
They might not have the identical star energy because the quarterbacks that performed or have been dedicated to play underneath Lincoln Riley, however they’re Lebby guys that can match properly in his offensive system.
Future Offense Rating: 6
What ESPN Mentioned:
Riley upheld an unbelievable normal of offensive manufacturing throughout his tenure, and produced elite quarterbacks virtually each season. The unit might take a step backward, however Venables made a robust coordinator rent in Jeff Lebby, an OU alum who has developed his scheme underneath a number of profitable offensive-minded coaches. – Rittenberg, ESPN
The Jeff Lebby rent was enormous for the Oklahoma Sooners. A confirmed monitor file of success teaching offense that goes from NAIA Southeastern to UCF to Ole Miss. He’s had success on the highest stage of competitors within the SEC and has already confirmed to be a robust recruiter.
Reuniting with Gabriel was an enormous win for the Sooners new offensive coordinator. Oklahoma’s offense might look completely different in 2022, however it should nonetheless be actually, actually good.
Future Protection Rating: 24
What ESPN mentioned:
There’s an opportunity Oklahoma shall be higher off long run with Venables, who understands elite protection and what it should take for the Sooners to raise there. As proven by the protection rating, I don’t love the Sooners’ personnel as a lot as those that shall be teaching them. There are some constructing blocks resembling lineman Jalen Redmond, linebackers DaShaun White and Danny Stutsman, and defensive backs Justin Broiles and Key Lawrence. OU additionally added a number of intriguing transfers, together with nostril deal with Jeffery Johnson (Tulane) and defensive again Trey Morrison (North Carolina). Maybe essentially the most encouraging signal throughout the teaching transition was Venables retaining cornerback Gentry Williams, ESPN’s top-rated in-state prospect and No. 53 general recruit for 2022, within the class. Venables is an elite recruiter and will improve OU’s general expertise on protection as this system prepares to enter the SEC. – Rittenberg, ESPN
2021 Future Crew Rating: 4
The place they stood final yr at No. 4 was largely on account of Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams manning the quarterback place and the highly-rated recruiting class that Lincoln Riley was creating for the 2023 cycle. Rattler and Williams are gone and the 2023 class misplaced everybody however three-star middle Joshua Bates and is rebuilding.
All the teaching and roster turnover doesn’t appear to have damage the Sooners all that a lot year-to-year as Oklahoma dropped solely three spots from No. 4 general to No. 7.
Whereas Rittenberg isn’t too excessive on the defensive expertise for 2022 and the recruiting class continues to be formulating, there’s little doubt that Brent Venables will be capable to put collectively an amazing protection.
What it means for Oklahoma?
Oklahoma continues to be getting respect regardless of all the turnover amongst the teaching employees and of their subsequent recruiting class due to Brent Venables and Jeff Lebby and the work they’ve executed within the months since coming to Norman.
Whereas the 2023 recruiting class continues to be a piece in progress, the Sooners have put collectively a workforce able to taking again the Large 12 title that they held for six seasons in a row earlier than final yr’s letdown. They’ve constructed a workforce that’s starting to tackle the traits of what Venables desires his groups to appear like after they make the transfer to the SEC.
Oklahoma nonetheless has some inquiries to reply this summer time, however with arguably the perfect quarterback within the Large 12, the Sooners must be in nice form to achieve the Large 12 title sport in December.