Oklahoma

HC: Lincoln Riley OC: Cale Gundy DC: Alex Grinch

2018 RECORD - 12-2

Most Likely 2019 RECORD - 11-1

2019 PREVIEW 

The Oklahoma Sooners are dominating the Big 12. They have been for the last 4 years. Baker locked in a three-peat before Kyler Murray took over and won a 4th. Their the only Big 12 team to make the playoffs and they’ve done that three times. Back-to-back Heisman Trophies. Back-to-back number one overall draft picks in the NFL. Multiple skill players going high in the draft. Offensive linemen galore heading to the NFL. 

It makes you wonder, is there anyone left in Norman?

The easy answer is that Lincoln Riley hasn’t gone anywhere, and that might be enough. He’s also got a National Champion caliber quarterback that could excel in the power spread attack of Oklahoma. Two of the best returning RBs in the league coming back a preseason all-conference tight end and wide out. The preseason defensive player of the year. Three 5-star wide receivers that could and will contribute as freshmen.  If anyone in the Big 12 can claim the mantra of, “Reload not Rebuild” it would be Oklahoma.

The Sooners also added a former SEC Player of the year to play QB and an up and coming hotshot DC Alex Grinch who already transformed the Washington State defense into the Speed D it’s been since 2015, Grinch’s first year in Pullman. The Cougars defense went from 38 points per game allowed in 2014 to 27 in 2015. Oklahoma gave up a Big 12 worst 31 points per game in 2018, can Alex Grinch improve the defense by a field goal? A touchdown? Any improvement would be a huge impact for a team that has already been in the CFP in back to back seasons. 

For now, Riley and the Sooners get the benefit of the doubt and if Alex Grinch flips a defense switch in Norman watch out.  

Best Offensive Returners

RB Trey Sermon, RB Kennedy Brooks, WR CeeDee Lamb, TE Grant Calcaterra, OL Creed Humphrey

Best Defensive Returners

LB Kenneth Murray, DL Ronnie Perkins, CB Tre Brown, CB Parnell Motley

Newcomers 

QB Jalen Hurts (ALABAMA), OL RJ Proctor (VIRGINIA), WR Theo Wease, WR Jadon Haselwood, DL LaRon Stokes (JUCO)

Breakout Candidates

WR Charleston Rambo, WR Trejan Bridges, S Patrick Fields, S Delarrin Turner-Yell

More From Talk 103.9 & 1340