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Bright future for defensive line Players to watch

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SAT U R DAY, AUGU ST 2 4 , 2 0 2 4 • SO ON E R S FA L L PR E V I E W

Gameday

Recipes Ingredients 15 jalapenos, preferably red, cut in 1/2, seeded and deveined 1 tablespoon canola oil 2 pounds mild Italian sausage, casings removed tap here

Italian Stuffed Jalapenos

1/4 cup minced red onion

1)Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and set a rack in the middle of the oven.

1/4 cup minced red bell pepper

2)Place jalapenos on a sheet tray and roast for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool. Turn broiler on medium.

3) Heat the oil in a medium saute pan. Add the sausage and cook for 5 to 7 minutes.

Add the onions, peppers, and garlic and cook to soften for about 5 minutes. Remove and place in a large bowl. Cool to room temperature, then add mascarpone, and Parmesan. Mix ingredients thoroughly and season with salt and pepper.

4) Place approximately 1 tablespoon of mixture into each jalapeno half, and top with 1/2 teaspoon of mozzarella cheese.

3ODFH WKH VKHHW WUD\ RI VWX̆ HG SHSSHUV LQ RYHQ DQG EURLO XQWLO mozzarella cheese melts.

3 tablespoons minced garlic 2 cups mascarpone or cream cheese 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for garnish Salt and pepper 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

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SAT U R DAY, AUGU ST 2 4 , 2 0 2 4 • SO ON E R S FA L L PR E V I E W

First-year foray into SEC has no parallel in Sooner history hange is good?

In the short term, at least, we’re about to find out during an absolutely singular season of Sooner football, the likes of which we’ve never seen before.

It’s not like Oklahoma hasn’t entered a new conference before.

For those of us of a certain age, the Big Eight and Southwest Conference coming together — it was actually the spring of ’97 when second-year coach Patty Gasso led OU to the original Big 12 championship, when the squad’s home field remained across the street at Reaves Park — to form a new conference still feels recent.

This, however, is nothing like that, even if there was a time the Big 12’s South Division became a football murderer’s row.

For a moment, pretend the Sooners remained in their old conference and ponder what the conventional wisdom might be.

C

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Like no other season 2024-25 Schedule (Fr.) Aug. 30 vs. Temple, 6 p.m. ESPN Sept. 7 vs. Houston, 6:45 p.m. SECN

Clay Horning GUEST COLUMNIST

Good chance OU would be a favorite to finish No. 1 or 2 in the league race, maybe win the championship game in Arlington and, in the alternate universe we’ve just created, enter the new 12-team college football playoff as a top-five seed.

It would be the year OU finally, really, no kidding, mark it down, it’s happening, becomes a true defensive force.

All the offensive questions, and we’ll get to them, would be answered simply: Brent Venables has put together three straight terrific high school recruiting classes and made a killing in the transfer portal, too. There might be question marks of inexperience, but talent wins and by the time the Sooners find themselves in the thick of the season, that talent’s bound to have

Sept. 14 vs. Tulane, 2:30 p.m. ESPN or ESPN2 Sept. 21 vs. Tennessee, TBA Sept. 28 at Auburn, TBA BYE WEEK Oct. 12 vs. Texas, 2:30 p.m. ABC or ESPN James D. Smith | SEC

Oklahoma Football head coach Brent Venables speaks to the media at the 2024 SEC Football Kickoff, Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at the Omni Dallas Hotel in Dallas, TX. worked things out, so, really, what’s there to worry about.

This season?

Not even close.

Media covering the Southeastern Conference plugged OU into the eighth spot behind Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU, Missouri and Tennessee, programs ranked Nos. 1, 4, 5, 6, 11, 13 and 15 in the

media voted AP Top 25 and 1, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 15 in the coaches’ poll, while OU begins the season 16th in both.

In their old conference, the Sooners would be a top-10 selection.

But can they play great defense in their new conference?

You’ve got to love a unit

led by Billy Bowman in the secondary, Danny Stutsman at linebacker, that includes Ethan Downs, Kip Lewis and Gentry Williams, too, and still we haven’t mentioned Dasan McCullough or Peyton Bowen … yet the question mark is the line, whose best may be TCU

Oct. 19 vs. South Carolina, TBA Oct. 26 at Ole Miss, TBA Nov. 2 vs. Maine, 1:30 p.m. ESPN+ or SECN+ Nov. 9 at Missouri, TBA BYE WEEK Nov. 23 vs. Alabama, TBA Nov. 30 at LSU, TBA

See SEC on G7

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‘Going to be something amazing’ Mix of leadership, new talent points to bright future for defensive line TARIK MASRI TRANSCRIPT SPORTS E D I TO R

After starting every game as a true freshman and earning honorable mention All-Big 12 honors as a sophomore, Damonic Williams expected an easier transition when transferring from TCU to Oklahoma.

The Sooners’ playbook isn’t easy to learn, even for a proven talent like Williams. He had to be much more focused on his keys on every play. It takes time to learn Brent Venables’ defense and after missing all of the spring, Williams didn’t have much time to get reps in the new system.

Dur ing his summer workouts, streng t h and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt challenged Williams to take on a leadership role on the team. He embraced the opportunity and he said his teammates supported him, too.

Some of the older players — Da’Jon Terry, Davon Sears and Jacob Lacey — sat him down and went through the playbook to make sure Williams understood it.

“I felt like at TCU it was just a little more, ‘You’re going to be here. Just do what you’ve gotta do and that’s it,” the junior defensive tackle said.

“But here it’s going to be, you’ve got to look at your keys for sure.”

Lacey is no longer on the Sooners’ roster after medically retiring this offseason.

He played three seasons at Notre Dame before transferring to Norman for one season, where he appeared in all 13 games on the defensive line.

Lacey has remained with the program and has been instru-

Photos by Paxson Haws | The Norman Transcript

OU defensive lineman David Stone performs a drill during practice Aug. 13. mental in teaching the Sooners’ scheme to newcomers.

“He’s a great teacher and a great friend,” Williams said.

Having that relationship between older players and newcomers is the goal of every college football program, but it’s not always that easy. The transfer portal has had a major impact on roster stability, making it more and more rare for players to remain with the same school for three or four years.

It’s been especially difficult for the Sooners’ defense over the past two seasons.

In Venables’ first offsea-

son as head coach, the entire defense had to quickly learn the new scheme. Even the veterans needed time to get reps in the system and learn it themselves, making it more difficult for them to help out the younger players.

Now with many of the team’s starters entering their second or third year in Venables’ system, there’s more players who are able to help the team’s new additions.

“It’s just … the whole team being bought in,” Gracen Halton said. “I feel like that’s different from this year to last year, the whole team is

bought in. As long as we stay locked in, there won’t be any problems.”

Venables and many outside of the program have pointed to the trenches as one of the key areas the Sooners needed to improve as they prepare for their first season in the Southeastern Conference.

While there has been steady improvement in two seasons under Venables, the Sooners need to take another step forward this year.

Right now, the pieces seem to be in place for the Sooners to take that step.

The Sooners lost three con-

tributing defensive lineman from last season in Lacey, Isaiah Coe and Rondell Bothroyd.

But, they return six lettermen from last season and brought in a platoon of highly talented newcomers that are waiting for their first opportunities to shine.

“They’re gonna be great. I promise you that,” Williams said. “I am so excited to see them play, too. It gives me chills right now talking about it because knowing that OU is in their hands in the next couple years is going to be something amazing.”

In all, there are 10 newcomers on the defensive line — two transfers and eight recruits. Senior defensive end Caiden Woullard from Miami (OH) is expected to compete for a starting spot.

The recruiting haul is highlighted by Jayden Jackson and David Stone, who are expected to be the future of the Sooners’ interior defensive line.

“They want to be on the field,” Halton said. “They’re pushing us older g uys, because you don’t want to see See AMAZING on G8

SAT U R DAY, AUGU ST 2 4 , 2 0 2 4 • SO ON E R S FA L L PR E V I E W

5

NUMERICAL ROSTER

Kyle Phillips | The Transcript

OU’s Deion Burks pulls in a pass during the spring game, Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

5 Sooners to watch this season DAVIS CORDOVA CNHI SPORTS OKL AHOMA

DAMONIC WILLIAMS, DEFENSIVE TACKLE Williams is one of the most prized transfers from the offseason and deservingly so. At TCU, Williams had an immediate impact on the field as a freshman in 2022-23, making 15 starts with 27 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in a season the Horned Frogs went to the National Championship game.

Last season, Williams followed up his first year with

a better second year, with 27 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.

Williams adds size and experience to the defensive line and was ranked as the 10th-best defensive lineman in the transfer portal this offseason according to 247sports.

KIP LEWIS, LINEBACKER Lewis was a player to watch last season, but his improvement from year one to year two has his excitement at an all-time high See WATCH on G7

0 Kalib Hicks RB 5-11 213 R-Fr. Denton, Texas (Ryan HS) 0 David Stone DL 6-3 294 Fr. Del City, Okla. (IMG Academy [Fla.]) 1 Jayden Gibson WR 6-5 197 Jr. Winter Garden, Fla. (West Orange HS) 1 Dasan McCullough LB 6-5 223 Jr. Bloomington, Ind. (Indiana University) 2 Jovantae Barnes RB 6-0 207 Jr..

Las Vegas, Nev. (Desert Pines HS) 2 Billy Bowman Jr. DB 5-10 200 Sr. Denton, Texas (Ryan HS) 3 Jalil Farooq WR 6-1 207 Sr. Lanham, Md. (Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. HS) 3 Robert Spears-Jennings DB 6-1 219 Jr. Broken Arrow, Okla. (Broken Arrow HS) 4 Nic Anderson WR 6-4 219 R-So. Katy, Texas (Katy HS) 4 Dez Malone DB 6-0 204 Sr.%5E Fresno, Calif. (San Diego State University) 5 Andrel Anthony WR 6-1 183 Sr. Lansing, Mich. (University of Michigan) 5 Woodi Washington DB 5-11 195 R-Sr.%5E Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Oakland HS) 6 Deion Burks WR 5-9 190 R-Jr. Inkster, Mich. (Purdue University) 6 Nigel Smith II DL 6-4 267 Fr. Melissa, Texas (Melissa HS) 7 Jaren Kanak LB 6-2 223 Jr. Hays, Kan. (Hays HS) 7 Zion Kearney WR 6-1 200 Fr. Fresno, Texas (Hightower HS) 8 Taylor Tatum RB 5-10 205 Fr. Longview, Texas (Longview HS) 8 Makari Vickers DB 6-1 192 So. Quincy, Fla. (Munroe HS) 9 Michael Hawkins Jr. QB 6-1 204 Fr. Dallas, Texas (Emerson HS) 9 Gentry Williams DB 6-0 187 Jr. Tulsa, Okla. (Booker T. Washington HS) 10 Kip Lewis LB 6-1 221 R-So. Carthage, Texas (Carthage HS) 10 Bauer Sharp TE 6-4 247 R-Jr. Dothan, Ala. (Southeastern Louisiana Univ.)

11 Jackson Arnold QB 6-1 211 So. Denton, Texas (Guyer HS) 11 Kobie McKinzie LB 6-2 242 R-So. Lubbock, Texas (LubbockCooper HS) 12 Devon Jordan DB 5-11 179 Fr. Tulsa, Okla. (Union HS) 12 Brendan Zurbrugg QB 6-2 202 Fr. Alliance, Ohio (Alliance HS) 13 J.J. Hester WR 6-4 202 R-Sr. Tulsa, Okla. (University of Missouri)

13 Reggie Powers III DB 5-11 208 Fr. Centerville, Ohio (Centerville HS) 14 Jaydan Hardy DB 5-10 174 Fr. Lewisville, Texas (Lewisville HS) 14 Steele Wasel QB 6-3 219 R-Fr. Choctaw, Okla. (University of Akron) 15 Kendel Dolby DB 5-11 185 Sr. Springfield, Ohio (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) 15 Brenen Thompson WR 5-9 165 Jr. Spearman, Texas (University of Texas) 16 Danny Okoye DL 6-3 253 Fr. Tulsa, Okla. (NOAH Homeschool) 16 Casey Thompson QB 6-0 192 R-Sr.%5E Oklahoma City, Okla.

(Florida Atlantic Univ.)

17 Taylor Heim LB 6-6 216 R-Fr. Yukon, Okla. (Bethany HS) 17 Jaquaize Pettaway WR 5-10 189 So. Houston, Texas (Langham Creek HS) 18 Kaden Helms TE 6-5 239 R-So. Bellevue, Neb. (Bellevue West HS) 18 Erik McCarty DB 6-1 185 R-Fr. McAlester, Okla. (McAlester HS) 19 Jacobe Johnson DB 6-2 200 So. Mustang, Okla. (Mustang HS) 19 Kade McIntyre TE 6-3 221 R-Fr. Fremont, Neb. (Archbishop Bergan HS) 20 Lewis Carter LB 6-0 227 So. Tampa, Fla. (Tampa Catholic HS) 20 Sam Franklin RB 5-10 198 R-Jr. Little Rock, Ark. (Univ. of Tennessee-Martin) 21 Jeremiah Newcombe DB 5-9 182 Fr. Gilbert, Ariz. (Casteel HS) 21 Xavier Robinson RB 6-0 222 Fr. Yukon, Okla. (Carl Albert HS) 22 Peyton Bowen DB 6-0 200 So. Corinth, Texas (Guyer HS) 22 Chapman McKown RB 5-5 174 R-Fr. Norman, Okla. (Norman North HS) 23 Eli Bowen DB 5-9 186 Fr. Corinth, Texas (Guyer HS) 23 Emeka Megwa RB 6-0 211 R-Jr. Fort Worth, Texas (University of Washington) 24 Samuel Omosigho LB 6-2 236 So. Heartland, Texas (Crandall HS) 25 Andy Bass RB 5-11 208 Fr. Oklahoma City, Okla. (Heritage Hall HS) 25 Michael Boganowski DB 6-2 211 Fr. Junction City, Kan. (Junction City HS) 26 Kani Walker DB 6-2 205 R-Jr. Suwanee, Ga. (University of Louisville) 27 Jayden Rowe DB 6-2 223 R-So. Tulsa, Okla. (Union HS)

COMING SOON!!!!!!!!

27 Gavin Sawchuk RB 5-11 200 R-So. Littleton, Colo. (Valor Christian HS) 28 KJ Daniels WR 5-9 152 Fr. Franklinton, La. (Bowling Green School) 28 Danny Stutsman LB 6-4 241 Sr. Windermere, Fla. (Foundation Academy) 29 Casen Calmus DB 5-10 196 R-Fr. Brentwood, Tenn. (Brentwood Academy) 29 Gabe Sawchuk RB 5-10 185 Fr. Littleton, Colo. (Valor Christian HS) 30 Trace Ford DL 6-2 246 R-Sr.%5E Edmond, Okla. (Oklahoma State University) 31 Cale Fugate DB 5-10 190 R-Fr. Tulsa, Okla. (Bixby HS) 31 Ashton Logan P 6-2 217 R-So. Anaheim Hills, Calif. (University of Colorado) 32 R Mason Thomas DL 6-2 240 Jr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Cardinal Gibbons HS) 33 Phil Picciotti LB 6-3 239 R-Fr. Perkasie, Pa. (IMG Academy [Fla.]) 34 Adepoju Adebawore DL 6-4 251 So. Kansas City, Mo. (North Kansas City HS) 34 Zach Schmit K/P 5-10 196 R-Sr. Oklahoma City, Okla. (Bishop McGuinness HS) 35 Liam Evans K 5-7 181 Fr. Moore, Okla. (Moore HS) 35 Jakeb Snyder DB 5-8 180 R-Fr. Bixby, Okla. (Bixby HS) 36 Josh Plaster K/P 6-0 187 R-Sr.%5E Flower Mound, Texas (Arizona State Univ.)

38 Owen Heinecke LB 6-2 227 R-So. Tulsa, Okla. (Ohio State University) 39 Peter Schuh DB 5-8 184 R-So. Montvale, N.J. (St. Joseph Regional HS) 40 Ethan Downs DL 6-4 265 Sr. Weatherford, Okla. (Weatherford HS) 41 Emmett Jones III DB 6-0 182 R-Fr. Lancaster, Texas (LubbockCooper HS) 42 Wyatt Gilmore DL 6-4 245 Fr. Rogers, Minn. (Rogers HS) 44 Taylor Wein DL 6-4 267 R-Fr. Brentwood, Tenn. (Nolensville HS) 45 Hampton Fay TE 6-5 245 R-Jr. Fort Worth, Texas (Michigan State Univ.)

45 Mykel Patterson-McDonald DB 5-10 172 Fr. Moore, Okla. (Westmoore HS) No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Home-

town (Previous School) 46 Dax Noles DB 6-0 192 Fr. Norman, Okla. (Norman HS) 47 James Nesta LB 6-3 216 Fr. Huntersville, N.C. (William Amos Hough HS) 48 Luke Elzinga P 6-4 229 R-Sr.%5E Grand Rapids, Mich. (Central Michigan Univ.)

48 Jocelyn Malaska DB 6-1 186 R-So. Bethany, Okla. (University of Utah) 50 Ben Anderson LS 6-5 240 R-So. Charlotte, N.C. (Charlotte Latin School) 51 Branson Hickman OL 6-2 301 R-Sr. McKinney, Texas (SMU) 52 Troy Everett OL 6-3 308 R-Jr. Roanoke, Va. (Appalachian State University) 52 Damonic Williams DL 6-1 319 Jr. Torrance, Calif. (TCU) 54 Febechi Nwaiwu OL 6-4 339 R-Jr. Coppell, Texas (University of North Texas) 55 Eddy Pierre-Louis OL 6-3 305 Fr. Tampa, Fla. (Tampa Catholic HS) 55 Ashton Sanders DL 6-1 295 R-Fr. Pasadena, Calif. (Cathedral HS) 56 Eugene Brooks OL 6-3 336 Fr. Las Vegas, Nev. (Sierra Canyon [Calif.] HS) 56 Gracen Halton DL 6-2 291 Jr. San Diego, Calif. (St. Augustine HS) 57 Gunnar Allen OL 6-0 297 R-So. Aledo, Texas (Aledo HS) 58 Spencer Brown OL 6-6 321 R-Sr.%5E Detroit, Mich. (Michigan State University) 58 Ethan Lane LS 5-11 230 R-Sr. Dallas, Texas (Jesuit College Prep.

School of Dallas) 61 Kenneth Wermy OL 6-5 305 R-Fr. Cache, Okla. (Cache HS) 64 Joshua Bates OL 6-3 309 R-Fr. Durango, Colo. (Durango HS) 65 Jayden Jackson DL 6-2 300 Fr. Indianapolis, Ind. (IMG Academy [Fla.]) 65 Ty Kubicek OL 6-2 294 R-Fr. Sacramento, Calif. (Capital Christian HS) 66 Geirean Hatchett OL 6-5 312 R-Sr. Ferndale, Wash. (University of Washington) 70 Michael Tarquin OL 6-6 317 R-Sr.%5E Ocala, Fla. (USC) 71 Logan Howland OL 6-6 317 R-Fr. Westfield, N.J. (The Hun School of Princeton) 72 Josh Aisosa OL 6-3 323 Fr. Edmond, Okla. (Santa Fe HS)

73 Isaiah Autry-Dent OL 6-6 310 Fr. Fulton, Miss. (Itawamba Agricultural HS) 74 Evan McClure OL 6-4 275 Fr. Bixby, Okla. (Bixby HS) 75 Daniel Akinkunmi OL 6-6 321 Fr. East London, England (NFL Academy) 76 Jacob Sexton OL 6-6 322 Jr..

Edmond, Okla. (Deer Creek HS) 77 Heath Ozaeta OL 6-5 318 R-Fr. Snoqualmie, Wash. (Mount Si HS) 79 Jake Taylor OL 6-6 309 R-So. Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman HS) 80 Josh Fanuiel TE 6-3 250 R-Jr. Missouri City, Texas (Cameron University) 80 Bergin Kysar DL 6-3 245 Fr. Edmond, Okla. (Santa Fe HS) 81 Zion Ragins WR 5-8 145 Fr. Macon, Ga. (Jones County HS) 82 Ivan Carreon WR 6-6 223 Fr. Odessa, Texas (Odessa HS) 83 Major Melson WR 5-10 187 R-Sr. Mansfield, Texas (Legacy HS) 84 Davon Mitchell TE 6-3 250 Fr. York, Ala. (Los Alamitos [Calif.] HS) 85 Trey Brown WR 5-9 181 R-Fr. Nashville, Tenn. (Christ Presbyterian Academy) 87 Jake Roberts TE 6-4 252 Sr.%5E Norman, Okla. (Baylor University) 88 Jacob Jordan WR 5-9 182 Fr. Southlake, Texas (Carroll Senior HS) 89 Eli Merck WR 6-0 206 R-Fr. Norris, S.C. (D.W. Daniel HS) 90 Caiden Woullard DL 6-4 259 Sr. Massillion, Ohio (Miami [OH] University) 91 Drew Heinig DL 6-5 288 R-Fr. Jenks, Okla. (Glenpool HS) 93 Ace Hodges DL 6-1 284 Fr. Oklahoma City, Okla. (Casady School) 94 Mari Atchison DL 6-2 268 Fr. Tulsa, Okla. (NOAH Homeschool) 95 Da’Jon Terry DL 6-3 323 R-Sr.%5E Meridian, Miss. (University of Tennessee) 96 Davon Sears DL 6-2 295 R-Sr.%5E Detroit, Mich. (Texas State University) 97 Kyle Carlson LB 6-3 190 R-Fr. Dallas, Texas (Highland Park HS) 98 Tyler Keltner K 5-11 181 R-Sr.%5E Tallahassee, Fla. (Florida State University) 99 Markus Strong DL 6-3 290 R-Fr. Raiford, Fla. (Union County HS) Last updated Aug. 7, 2024 Weights as of June 27, 2024

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tions for 288 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for five touchdowns in 2023.

WATCH CONTINUED FROM G5

heading into 2024.

Lewis didn’t play much as a freshman in 2022, but last season made an impact worth remembering.

Lewis had 62 total tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss.

Lewis’ best game came in Stillwater against Oklahoma State where he had 15 total tackles in the loss.

Lew is, along w ith the defensive captain Danny Stutsman, have combined to form one of the best linebacker corps in the country.

CAIDEN WOULLARD, DEFENSIVE END

Photos by Kyle Phillips | The Transcript

DEION BURKS, WIDE RECEIVER

OU’s Kip Lewis makes a tackle during the Sooners’ game against Arkansas State, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Burks, a transfer from Purdue, is positioned to have a breakout season as one of the Sooners’ starting wide receivers this season.

Burks had a productive

year in his first starting season for the Boilermakers in 2023 where he had 47 catches for 629 yards and seven touchdowns, which he led the team in all categories.

He’s a speedy addition to the wide receiver corp that will help to replace the hole left by former go-to target Drake Stoops.

SEC

player when stacked up against the Bulldogs, Longhorns, Tide, Rebels, Tigers, another set of Tigers and Vols, all of which begin the season higher on the conference totem poll than the Sooners?

If the line falls down against that competition, how good will 150 tackles from Stutsman be if twothirds of them come 7 to 10 yards from the line of

scrimmage rather than 0 to 5?

Or will Bowman be in position to intercept any passes if OU’s being mauled on the ground.

There’s the unknown and there’s the unknown, in the dark, shot into space and swallowed up by a black hole and that’s what Year 1 in the SEC feels like from the ground.

The offense?

CONTINUED FROM G3

transfer Damonic Williams, who might be terrific but who did not earn first- nor second-team All-Big 12 honors last season, but honorable mention status, which is just fine, only OU’s not in the Big 12 any more but the SEC, so can a guy like that even be a plus

7

Sharp was an under-theradar target who turned out to be a hidden star in Louisiana.

Sharp transferred in from Sout heaster n L ouisiana

State as the 10th-best tight end transfer in the portal this offseason. He’s a former quarterback turned tight end.

Sharp stands at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds and is a threat at both receiving and rushing. Sharp had 29 recep-

Woullard is Oklahoma’s top transfer portal addition on defense and will instantly make an impact on the Sooners.

Woullard was 247sports’ 28th-ranked transfer prospect f rom t his spr ing’s transfer cycle and had a career-year at Miami (Ohio).

He earned All-MAC first team last season with 41 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 14 games started.

Woullard adds another powerful, but speedy defensive edge who c a n put pressure on the quarterback and make a tackle when it matters.

Woullard, along with Williams, the two improved the defensive line heading into the Sooners’ first season in the SEC.

Same thing, just without a long list of guys who’ve done it before.

First-year starting quarterback.

Is Gavin Sawchuk really in position to prosper as an every down running back when his forté has been home run carries when gifted space rather than space earned via tackles eluded?

We know Jalil Farooq

can catch passes and Purdue transfer Deion Burks did it in West Lafayette and is a serious prospect, but will they have chemistry with Jackson Arnold, is there dependable depth behind them and will there be time to get them the ball as Arnold toils behind an offensive line that appears to be an even bigger question mark than the defensive line?

So many questions.

More than ever before.

Also, Sooner Magic’s a thing, we’ve seen it before and maybe this team’s right where it needs to be and the only thing required are the opponents to prove it.

That could be true, too.

It’s like no other season.

Ever.

Enjoy the ride.

OU’s Deion Burks runs with the ball during the spring game, Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

BAUER SHARP, TIGHT END

LET’S GO SOONERS!!

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8

AMAZING CONTINUED FROM G4

a younger guy in your spot.

They’re pushing the older guys to be better.”

Venables signed the No. 8 class in the country in 2024 according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. The Sooners had the No. 5 class in 2023 and have been inside the top 10 in each of the last four seasons.

Tarik Masri is the sports editor for The Transcript covering OU athletics and area sports.

You can reach him by emailing tarik@normantranscript.com

Preseason SEC Poll 1. Georgia 2. Texas 3. Alabama 4. Ole Miss 5. LSU 6. Missouri 7. Tennessee 8. Oklahoma 9. Texas A&M 10. Auburn 11. Kentucky 12. Florida 13. South Carolina 14. Arkansas 15. Mississippi State 16. Vanderbilt

OU defensive lineman Damonic Williams finished a drill during practice Aug. 13.

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SAT U R DAY, AUGU ST 2 4 , 2 0 2 4 • SO ON E R S FA L L PR E V I E W

9

Kyle Phillips | The Transcript

OU cherleaders during the Sooners’ game against West Virginia, Satruday, Nov. 11, 2023, at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Celebrating 100 years at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium TARIK MASRI TRANSCRIPT SPORTS E D I TO R

So much about the upcoming college football season w ill be centered around what’s new, but Oklahoma will be looking to highlight its past during its seven home games this fall.

T he S o one r s w i l l b e celebrating the 100th anniversary of Gaylord Family — Ok la homa Memor ia l Stadium this season and designated a theme related to the program’s history for each home game. The celebrations started on May 22,

by counting down the 100 days remaining before the season opener.

OU football’s official social media accounts have picked one historic moment to highlight each day leading up to the season.

“Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is one of college football’s greatest cathedrals,” OU vice president and director of athletics Joe Castiglione said in a statement. “It’s home to countless historic moments made possible by some of the game’s most talented and dedicated coaches and players, and by the most ardent

of fans.”

The first game to ever be played at the current site was in 1923. 16,000 seats were constructed on the west side of the field and debuted on Oct. 17, 1925 in a 7-0 win over Drake.

Those teams, led by hall of fame coach Bennie Owen, will be honored during the Tulane game on Sept. 14.

Oklahoma will also honor legendary coaches Barry Switzer, Bud Wilkinson and Bob Stoops at other games this season. The program has already announced that the Sooners’ 1974 and 1975 national championship teams

will be honored at halftime of the Temple game.

The Sooners w ill don throwback uniforms during the Houston game, similar to the one’s Wilkinson teams wore from 1946-1956. The school unveiled the uniforms with a photoshoot featuring players posing for photos like players did back in the ’40’s and ’50’s.

The other three games have more generalized themes.

The Tennessee game will remember record breaking performances in OU’s history, while the South Carolina game will celebrate Sooner Magic moments.

Against Maine, the Sooners’ will be looking back on fans’ favorite memories at OU home games. Fans have been encouraged to email gfoms100@ou.edu to submit their favorite moments at the stadium.

Some of those moments have been posted on OU athletics’ website. The short excerpts range from legendary moments that all Sooner fans will remember (the Texas Tech ‘Jump Around Game’ and the win against Nebraska in 2000), but others are far more personal.

Kent West wrote the following about Oklahoma’s

77-0 win over Missouri in 1986: “I was dating a girl whose dad owned some GREAT season tickets. Her cousin went to school with me and is a huge OSU fan. That game happened to be on November 8, 1986. It was the 77-0 beatdown of the Missouri Tigers.

My girlfriend’s cousin was so sick and tired of hearing Boomer Sooner being played the entire afternoon and we were loving it! It couldn’t have been a greater first experience for me.”

Tulsa World columnist See 100 on G11

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Ranking OU’s 5 toughest opponents this season TARIK MASRI TRANSCRIPT SPORTS E D I TO R

All-time head to head Temple — 1-1 Houston — 3-1

#5. Nov. 9 at Missouri

Tulane — 2-0

The last time Oklahoma travelled to Columbia, Missouri, College Gameday was on hand with both teams were ranked inside the top 11 nationally.

The Tigers returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown a stunned the No. 1-ranked Sooners, 36-27.

After producing two 10-win seasons in their first three years in the SEC, the Tigers hadn’t reached that mark again until last season.

The Sooners won’t have a bye week to prepare for the Photos by Kyle Phillips | The Transcript game like the Tigers, but have OU head coach Brent Venables celebrates during the Red River Rivalry, Saturday, a manageable game against Oct. 7, 2023, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.

Maine the week before.

#4. Oct. 26, at Ole Miss

Tennessee — 3-1 Auburn — 2-0 Texas — 51-63-5

Oklahoma (10-3, 7-2) 2023-24 Team Stats OU / OPP Scoring

OU’s Jaquaize Pettaway runs with the ball during the spring game, Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

After playing 11 games against what might end up being one of the toughest schedules top-to-bottom the program has ever played, the Sooners will close out the season at Death Valley

against LSU. The date and location have everything to do with what could make this game so difficult for the Sooners.

LSU is 128-23 at home since 2000 a nd 107-1 4

when the game is played at night. The kickoff time for that game has not yet been announced. Still, with this game being set as the regular season finale, there will be extra excitement surround-

ing this game regardless.

Brian Kelly has posted 10-win seasons in each of his first two seasons in Baton Rouge. The Tigers have an experienced offensive line and are hoping they’ve

Avg. Per Play 6.8 5.4 Avg. Per Game 507.0 389.6

Rushing

Fumbles-Lost 19-11 13-6

Yards 2,368 1,805

Penalties-Yds 88-761 76-622

YPA 4.5 3.9 YPG 182.2 138.8

Per Game 58.5 47.9

TD’s 32 14

Net Punt Avg 39.6 38.3

Passing

TOP Per Game 29:04 30:56

Att-Comp-Int 453-310-9 474-269-20

#3. Nov. 30, at LSU

Total Offense 6,591 5,065

PPG 41.7 23.5

Yards 4223 3260

Late in October, Oklahoma will be on the road to face a team that’s ranked sixth in the preseason AP Poll.

With that in mind it seems little ridiculous to ranks the Rebels as the fourth toughest game on the Sooners’ schedule this season. Still, while Lane Kiffin’s squad appears to be a real threat to win the conference and a playoff berth, it still feels like this game is on a different tier than the top three.

That doesn’t mean it’ll be easy to walk out of Oxford with a win. Senior quarterback Jaxson Dart is a three-year starter for the Rebels and will have more talent around him than any of his previous seasons.

South Carolina — first meeting Ole Miss — 0-1 Maine — first meeting Missouri — 67-24-5 Alabama — 3-2-1 LSU — 1-2

3rd Down 48.9% 31% 4th Down 68.4% 52.9%

Avg Per Game 324.9 250.8

Field Goals 15-21 21-27

TD’s 34 18

RZ TD’s 46-67 22-42

RZ Scores 60-67 34-42

addressed the issues on the defensive side of the ball.

#1. Nov. 23 vs.

Alabama

#2. Oct. 12 vs.

Texas (Dallas)

Nick Saban retiring makes facing the Crimson Tide a little less daunting, but only by a little.

While there will be an adjustment period as new head coach Kalen Deboer t a ke s over, ma ny have applauded the hire. He takes over one of the most talented rosters in college football at the most tradition-rich program in the country.

The Sooners will have the luxury of a bye week before the game, but the Crimson Tide will face Mercer the week before. It’ll be just the seventh time the two college football giants have faced off and the second time in Norman.

So far Oklahoma is projected to be an underdog in Dallas for the third straight despite coming off a win over the Longhorns last season.

Still, Texas was a playoff team last season and was picked second in the preseason SEC poll behind Georgia.

The only reason this game won’t be the Sooners’ toughest this season is because they should have confidence knowing they’ve won this game before. Additionally Brent Venables and his staff will be more familiar with what the Longhorns do than the Tide.

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100 CONTINUED FROM G9

Berry Tramel, who started his sportswriting career at the Transcript, wrote a series of stories titled “Tramel’s Tales,” that dive into the 100-year history of the stadium.

The stadium’s of f icial capacity grew to as many as 83,489 from 2016-18 after renovations were made to bowl-in the south side of the stadium. That capacity is now down to 80,126 after certain aisles were widened and hand rails were added prior to the 2019 season.

The Sooners have won 82% of their games played on Owen Field, going 418-86-15.

Home Game Themes Temple: Barry Switzer Era Houston: Bud Wilkinson Era Tulane: Bennie Owen Era Tennessee: Record Breaking Performances South Carolina: Sooner Magic Moments Maine: Fan Favorite Moments Alabama: Bob Stoops Era

Jason Gray | For The Ada News

OU junior wideout Andrel Anthony (5) strolls into the end zone for a touchdown earlier this season against TCU at Memorial Stadium in Norman.

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