A Vikings Fan’s Viewing Guide to CFB: The Oklahoma Sooners Revolving Door

OU offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby laughs behind Dillon Gabriel (8) before the Sooners' spring footblal game on April 23 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. jump1

Just like the NFL season is fast approaching, we are nearing the day where college football teams will arrive on campus and begin their own preseason work. As a self-proclaimed NFL Draft nerd, I get almost as excited for the college football season as I do for the NFL season. Because of that, I am putting together guides for many of the notable college football programs ahead of the 2022 season. Whether you’re a seasoned college football viewer, or just getting into it for the first time, there is something here for everyone.

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We’ve already gone through many of the major contenders in the AACthe ACC. and we just finished up with the Big 10 this past week. Now, we head down south to cover the contenders in the Big 12. Next up, is a program that looks nothing like it did 12 months ago: the Oklahoma Sooners.

Overview

There’s probably more uncertainty surrounding the Oklahoma Sooners heading into 2022 than any team that finished the 2021 season inside the top 10. Lincoln Riley jumped ship to coach the USC Trojans prior to the Alamo Bowl, and they lost both Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams to the transfer portal. Williams actually joins Riley at USC while Rattler heads to South Carolina.

Now, Oklahoma goes into the 2022 season with Brent Venables as their head coach and virtually a brand-new starting lineup. In a Big 12 conference where Baylor and Oklahoma State look to return with strong teams again, will the Sooners be able to regroup and compete?

2022 NFL Draft

  • LB Nik Bonnito, Round 2, No. 64, Denver Broncos
  • LB Brian Asamoah, Round 3, No. 66, Minnesota Vikings
  • DT Perrion Winfrey, Round 4, No. 108, Cleveland Browns
  • S Delarrin Turner-Yell, Round 5, 152, Denver Broncos
  • WR Michael Woods, Round 6, No. 202, Cleveland Browns
  • DE Isaiah Thomas, Round 7, No. 223, Cleveland Browns
  • G Marquis Hayes, Round 7, No. 257, Arizona Cardinals

Notable Transfers In

  • QB Dillon Gabriel (UCF)
  • WR LV Bunkley-Shelton (Arizona State)
  • WR Javian Hester (Missouri)
  • TE Daniel Parker (Missouri)
  • OT Tyler Guyton (TCU)
  • G
  • NT Jeffery Johnson (Tulane)
  • DL Jonah Laulu (Hawaii)
  • LB T.D. Roof (Appalachian State)
  • CB Trey Morrison (North Carolina)
  • CB CJ Coldon (Wyoming)

Notable Transfers Out

  • QB Spencer Rattler (South Carolina)
  • QB Caleb Williams (USC)
  • WR Cody Jackson (Houston)
  • WR Mario Williams (USC)
  • WR Jadon Haselwood (Arkansas)
  • TE Austin Stogner (South Carolina)
  • OT Darrell Simpson (Tulsa)
  • CB Latrell McCutchin (USC)
  • S Patrick Fields (Stanford)

2022 Schedule

  • 9/3 vs. UTEP
  • 9/10 vs. Kent State
  • 9/17 @ Nebraska
  • 9/24 vs. Kansas State
  • 10/1 @ TCU
  • 10/8 vs. Texas
  • 10/15 vs. Kansas
  • 10/29 @ Iowa State
  • 11/5 vs. Baylor
  • 11/12 @ West Virginia
  • 11/19 vs. Oklahoma State
  • 11/26 @ Texas Tech

Keys to 2022

Can Dillon Gabriel Provide Stability to the Oklahoma QB Room?

The Oklahoma Sooners QB room has been a mess for the past couple years after an era of guys like Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray running the show. Dillon Gabriel looks to provide some stability to the position after transferring in from UCF. He suffered a shoulder injury three games into the 2021 season, but through his 2+ seasons with the Knights, he recorded 8037 yards, 70 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.

Oklahoma’s new offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby worked with Gabriel during the 2019 season at UCF, so the hope is that the success will translate to a new program. The Sooners also welcome in some intriguing pass-catchers to help their QB out in former Arizona State receiver LV Bunkley-Shelton as well as former Missouri Tigers Javian Hester and Daniel Parker. We may not see the same level of production as recent Oklahoma quarterbacks, but Gabriel is being given every chance to succeed.

Beat Baylor and OSU

Oklahoma went 11-2 during the 2021 season, but their two losses came back to bite them seeing as they were against Baylor and Oklahoma State. These two teams eventually met in the Big 12 title game while Oklahoma sat at home. Despite this being an extreme transitory period in both coaching and roster, there is high pressure to perform given the recent history of this program.

Expectations only escalate with the assumption that this program will join the SEC in the very near future, potentially as early as 2024. In order to live up to the expectations, they will have to beat Baylor and Oklahoma State to make the Big 12 championship.

My “Purple Player to Watch”

The Minnesota Vikings have dipped into the Oklahoma pool a few times in recent NFL drafts. In 2019, they selected guard Dru Samia, and while that experiment ended up being a disaster, the hope is that 2022’s prospect, linebacker Brian Asamoah, ends up being an immediate contributor to the defense.

This upcoming spring’s draft, Vikings fans should be paying attention to the offensive line in Oklahoma despite the nightmares of Dru Samia. The Sooners have had a long history of producing terrific talents across the o-line, and this year, they have another center and guard that should enter the ranks of NFL prospects. Guard transfer from California, McKade Mattauer should benefit from playing in this program. The senior brings experience from his time with the Golden Bears and plays the position with terrific technique.

Additionally, Andrew Raym will try to live up to the precedent set at center by 2022 first-round pick Creed Humphrey. Raym has ideal NFL size at 6’4 and 307 pounds. There’s a mean streak about him as well that could be a welcome addition to this Vikings interior offensive line.

With Garrett Bradbury entering free agency, and the Vikings coaching staff already expressing doubts about his ability to start, it is likely that Minnesota will look to find another solution next spring. Raym should be viewed as a top candidate.

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