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    Oklahoma Sooners Preview: Roster, Prospects, Schedule, and More

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    The Oklahoma Sooners are looking to bounce back in 2023 behind QB Dillon Gabriel, OT Tyler Guyton, and others. We look at Oklahoma's 2024 NFL Draft prospects.

    The Oklahoma Sooners endured their worst season in 2022 since their 5-6 finish in 1998. First-year head coach Brent Venables struggled after taking over for Lincoln Riley, producing a 6-7 mark that was a major fall from grace that started with the team ranked No. 9 overall. We’re going to break down the Sooners’ 2024 NFL Draft prospects as they look to bring the program back to powerhouse status.

    Oklahoma Sooners Roster and Depth Chart Changes

    Entering their final season in the Big 12 before moving to the SEC, Oklahoma has to revamp its roster on the fly. Losing Riley not only had an immediate effect with transfers, but the bleeding continued this offseason. However, the Sooners added a slew of notable transfers and a top-seven recruiting class to help offset the changes.

    Star wide receiver Marvin Mims and rusher Eric Gray entered the NFL, while fellow receiver Theo Wease Jr. and second-leading tackler David Ugwoegbu departed to Houston. The good news is the majority of the team’s best players will return to the field in 2023. That includes bringing back tight end Austin Stogner, who transferred from Oklahoma to South Carolina for one season only to return.

    Other notable talents have joined the roster. Indiana linebacker Dasan McCullough is expected to make an immediate impact on the defense. Offensive tackle Walter Rouse and defensive tackle Rondell Bothroyd will undoubtedly be Day 1 difference-makers.

    The Sooners have more experience and veteran leadership across its roster entering this fall compared to last year. Much of this season’s hopes will be on Venables to improve their 99th-ranked defense.

    Oklahoma NFL Draft Prospects

    Dillon Gabriel, QB

    One of the most productive quarterbacks in NCAA history, Gabriel could return to college again in 2024 and challenge to become a top-three passer in yards thrown. However, it’s possible the 6’0″ lefty declares after this coming season. He’s a unique prospect due to the incredibly aggressive mindset he’s had since debuting at UCF as a freshman.

    Gabriel is a tremendous deep passer who never saw a single-covered receiver he wouldn’t throw a jump ball to. He has a quick release and the ability to buy some time or scramble for a few yards if he absolutely has to. He keeps defenses on their toes on every dropback, even though he’s not a great athlete and doesn’t possess an overly strong arm.

    Things get stickier on shorter routes, where Gabriel has to load up to get more velocity on bullet passes. This causes his accuracy and ball placement to drop significantly, and is a concern as to whether he can sustain success in an offense that doesn’t revolve around RPOs and deep passes.

    Austin Stogner, TE

    With his 6’6″, 255-pound frame, Stogner gives quarterbacks a big catch radius over the middle of the field. He’s experienced as an inline player, as a red-zone target, and someone who benefits from purposeful route combinations that get him into space. He’s not overly fast or shifty, so he’s more of a complementary piece of an offense that wants a blend of quality blocking and the occasional splash reception.

    Tyler Guyton, OT

    Tyler Guyton only started five games in 2022, but he immediately jumps off the screen as a polished blocker with 14 total games played in three seasons. Playing right tackle across from 2023 first-round pick Anton Harrison, Guyton was a natural pass blocker with refined patience. He’s a standout athlete who can effortlessly pivot from one target to another when he needs to.

    Guyton is a nasty run blocker who will pancake a defender when he has the chance. There’s room for improvement with how he engages with his hands in the run game so they can’t slip off his grip, and he must take better angles when landmarking upfield. Nevertheless, Guyton has a high upside and first-round potential.

    Walter Rouse, OT

    Rouse produced a strong career at Stanford before transferring to play across from Guyton, giving Oklahoma maybe the best offensive tackle duo in the nation. Rouse is a good athlete at left tackle, allowing him to handle stunts and a variety of pass rusher types. His biggest impact is as a run blocker, where his reach and leg drive gives him the ability for violent finishes.

    Walter Rouse (75) during the third quarter at Stanford Stadium.

    Rouse can improve his ability to engage defenders without overcommitting his body, protecting himself against overreaching and losing his balance. Speed rushers found some success by getting into his body, swatting Rouse’s hands, and going hard into his inside or outside shoulder with a burst of speed.

    Rouse will benefit from more experience in a vertical passing attack that will challenge his ability to control defenders for longer periods of time. If he passes that test, Rouse can enter into the Day 2 consideration.

    Andrew Raym, C

    An athletic center who is a solid help blocker, Andrew Raym fits well into zone schemes that allow him to get into space and use his body to shield off defenders from the ball carrier. Raym does well when he can work directly upfield instead of laterally. He struggles with powerful nose tackles who can challenge his strength at the point of attack, making him a late-round prospect entering 2023.

    Rondell Bothroyd, EDGE

    A transfer from Wake Forest, Bothroyd has experience as a 4-3 strongside end with good production from the last two years. Bothroyd wins with speed, as he can quickly change directions when he has space to manipulate the feet of his blocker. He plays with a low pad level to keep his chest free, and he can fight hands away from his body while accelerating around the corner.

    More agile blockers had success slowing his initial move, turning Bothroyd into more of an effort rusher who struggles to create once a hand grabs him. His play strength and ability to disengage when defending the run have to improve for him to be more than a subpackage and complementary player at the NFL level.

    Woodi Washington, CB

    Most comfortable as a press corner, Woodi Washington gets the job done without much flash. He’s a strong run-support defender despite being 5’11” and 191 pounds, and that physicality is consistent throughout his game. His focus on coverage is disrupting receivers at the catch point and finishing plays as a tackler.

    This mindset does cost him ball production, where he has only five interceptions and 12 pass breakups in 33 games played. He’s not a vertically explosive athlete, and an increase in playmaking chops would help his value significantly. But he is a late-round prospect as a possible depth piece.

    Billy Bowman, CB

    With a smaller frame at only 5’10” and 188 pounds, Billy Bowman was constantly around the ball in 2022. He plays in the slot often and projects well to the next level in the same role. He has NFL-caliber quickness, allowing him to track receivers on sharp-cutting routes and crossers.

    However, Bowman’s deep speed was exposed by better athletes, and he lacks the functional strength to be a reliable run defender. His high level of effort and enthusiasm is infectious, helping boost his value as a possible Day 3 prospect.

    Oklahoma Sooners Schedule

    • Week 1
      BYE
    • Week 2
      Sept. 2: vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves
    • Week 3
      Sept. 9: vs. SMU Mustangs
    • Week 4
      Sept. 16: at Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
    • Week 5
      Sept. 23: at Cincinnati Bearcats
    • Week 6
      Sept. 30: vs. Iowa State Cyclones
    • Week 7
      Oct 7: vs. Texas Longhorns
    • Week 8
      BYE
    • Week 9
      Oct. 21: vs. UCF Knights
    • Week 10
      Oct. 28: at Kansas Jayhawks
    • Week 11
      Nov. 4: at Oklahoma State Cowboys
    • Week 12
      Nov. 11: vs. West Virginia Mountaineers
    • Week 13
      Nov. 18: at BYU Cougars
    • Week 14
      Nov. 25: vs. TCU Horned Frogs
    • Week 15
      BYE

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