Which Oklahoma Freshmen Could Break Out In the Cheez-It Bowl?

As Oklahoma shifts its consideration from a disappointing common season to a troublesome, top-15 opponent within the Cheez-It Bowl, proficient children must fill large sneakers within the Sooners’ season finale.

After dropping six video games and ending the season at a fair .500, Oklahoma drew simply in regards to the hardest bowl matchup potential. Exterior of TCU, who’s now ranked within the prime 4 and headed to the Faculty Soccer Playoff, No. 9 Florida State is the very best ranked staff on the Sooners’ schedule this season.

Regardless of a three-game skid in opposition to three prime ACC groups in the course of the season, the Seminoles rallied to 9 whole wins, ending the season on a five-game win streak. 

Veteran quarterback Jordan Travis is an enormous motive for Florida State’s enchancment, as he led the Noles to this system’s finest document since 2016. Travis introduced consistency to the offense, throwing for two,796 yards and 22 touchdowns and recording simply 4 whole interceptions.

Florida State’s balanced dashing assault might give the shorthanded Sooners issues, too, as Trey Benson is as proficient as they arrive. The sophomore operating again, who began his profession at Oregon, totaled 965 yards and 9 touchdowns on the bottom at 6.8 yards per carry.

Brent Venables will definitely have his palms full with the Seminoles’ proficient solid, however making issues worse, the Sooners shall be with no handful of important gamers. Working again Eric Grey, offensive linemen Anton Harrison and Wanya Morris, and defensive lineman Jalen Redmond have all opted out of the bowl recreation. 

As well as, quite a few gamers entered the switch portal early in December. Most distinguished of these is longtime huge receiver Theo Wease, who introduced his switch to Missouri, leaving the Sooners down a cross catcher.

In all, it will likely be an important probability for Oklahoma’s youth to play free. Typically, a staff with nothing to lose is essentially the most harmful staff on the sphere. 

Listed below are a number of proficient children who might use a breakout bowl recreation efficiency to spur on an enormous time 2023 season (with knowledge from Professional Soccer Focus):

Jovantae Barnes

Grey’s early departure definitely leaves a gap in Oklahoma’s operating again room, but it surely looks like Barnes has been ready for a much bigger alternative all season lengthy. It’s not typically {that a} true freshman operating operating again carves out enjoying time, however Barnes snatched away the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind 411 yards and 4 touchdowns, recording 4.6 yards per carry.

Oklahoma’s offensive line shall be shorthanded in opposition to the Seminoles, however shifting ahead, Barnes ought to have stout blockers over the following few seasons. He has an opportunity to be a particular operating again at OU, and a breakout efficiency within the bowl recreation would simply add gasoline to the hearth.

Offensive snaps in 2022: 193

PFF Grade: 69.9 

Jayden Gibson

Gibson’s affect on the sphere this season wasn’t felt as a lot as some anticipated. Regardless of being a real freshman, his bodily traits are arduous to disregard, and his velocity on the sphere is obvious. With Wease’s departure, although, Oklahoma must rotate guys round all through the huge receiver room. As Gibson plans on being a star sooner or later, a great quantity of these reps could possibly be headed his approach within the Cheez-It Bowl. Plus, connecting on a cross or two with Dillon Gabriel earlier than subsequent season might go a great distance for the pair.

Offensive snaps in 2022: 92

PFF Grade: 53.8 

Jacob Sexton, Jake Taylor

Oklahoma’s pair of extremely touted offensive linemen acquired reward from the teaching workers each within the offseason and all through the autumn, and now the duo goes to get an opportunity to show it on the sphere. With a number of spots opening on the road subsequent season, each Sexton and Taylor might every declare a leg up within the competitors heading into the Spring. Oklahoma’s proficient younger operating backs growing chemistry with the offensive line core shall be a recipe of success for the following few seasons.

Offensive snaps in 2022: 68, 41

PFF Grade: 58.9, 57.5

Gentry Williams

Typically the depth within the defensive again room brought on freshmen like Williams to get misplaced within the rotation. Over the previous couple of video games of the season, Williams noticed prolonged motion and held his personal. His blazing velocity provides the Sooners a real benefit on the skin, and as a big-time recruit securing snaps in his first season on campus, the longer term definitely seems to be brilliant. He might get an opportunity to have an prolonged alternative with the Sooners’ opt-outs and willingness to play younger expertise within the bowl recreation.

Defensive snaps in 2022: 60

PFF Grade: 60.4