The Oklahoma Sooners enter the 2024 season with high expectations, looking to build on their recent success and make a statement in their inaugural year in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
With a talented roster and a strong coaching staff, the Sooners are poised for a competitive season. However, the transition to the SEC will present new challenges and opportunities for the program.
Offense Ready to Explode
Oklahoma has a promising offense that has the potential to be explosive. However, there are some key questions that need to be answered for the offense to reach its full potential.
At quarterback, Jackson Arnold is taking over the starting role after seeing limited action in 2023. Arnold has shown flashes of talent, but he will need to prove his consistency as starter at the SEC level. His ability to make accurate throws, read defenses, and extend plays, as well as limiting turnovers will be crucial to the offense’s success.
The offensive line is another area of possible concern for the Sooners. With a new group of starters, the offensive line will need to gel quickly and provide adequate protection for Arnold and create running lanes for the running backs. The development of young players and the integration of transfers will be key for the offensive line’s performance.
The running back position seems to belong to the duo of Gavin Sawchuk and Jovantae Barnes, with a host of other players vying for backup reps. The Sooners appear to be entering the season with reliable running backs who can complement the passing game and provide a physical presence. The emergence of a consistent one/two punch from the backfield will be crucial for the offense’s balance and efficiency.
Oklahoma has a large group of talented wide receivers, including Nic Anderson and Andrel Anthony. This group of players is the deepest and most talented on the roster. They have the ability to make big plays and stretch the field, but the development of younger receivers and the emergence of new playmakers will be crucial as well.
Defense Aims for Redemption
The Sooner defense is looking to build from the momentum of the 2023 season. While the unit showed flashes of potential, they also struggled at times.
The defensive line is a strength for the Sooners, with talented players like Damonic Williams, Ethan Downs, Da’Jon Terry, and Trace Ford leading the charge. These players have the ability to disrupt opposing offenses and generate pressure on the quarterback. The development of younger players like David Stone and PJ Adebawore will be key for the defensive line’s depth and rotation.
The linebacker position is another strength for Oklahoma, with Danny Stutsman leading the way. The cast of younger linebackers around him is pretty talented as well, featuring guys like Kip Lewis and Kobie McKinzie. The Sooners enter 2024 with the most competitive depth at linebacker than they’ve had in quite some time.
The secondary struggled at times last season, allowing big plays and suffering from confusion in coverage. The Sooners have tons of experienced talent to the secondary, and it’s time for that to pay off. Billy Bowman Jr. and Peyton Bowen are going to be stars on this defense, and Oklahoma has great potential at the corner positions as well.
Special Teams Preview
The Sooners have a solid foundation for their special teams unit in 2024. With experienced players like Zach Schmidt and Luke Elzinga returning, the kicking and punting games should be reliable. The return game has potential with Jalil Farooq leading the way.
However, Schmidt is being pushed by Florida State transfer Tyler Keltner and that’s a competition where we may not know the winner until the season opener. The return game also isn’t quite set yet, but there’s no shortage of possibilities for the Sooners when it comes to running back kicks.
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