NORMAN — The Sooners beat Illinois State, 35-3, on Saturday to open the season. While it was a ho-hum victory, it was the first look at this year’s team and how the coaching staff has evaluated the depth chart at multiple positions. Here’s a look at the Pro Football Focus data from the win, including […]
NORMAN — The Sooners beat Illinois State, 35-3, on Saturday to open the season.
While it was a ho-hum victory, it was the first look at this year’s team and how the coaching staff has evaluated the depth chart at multiple positions. Here’s a look at the Pro Football Focus data from the win, including snap counts and performance grades:
Editor’s note: The offense played 72 snaps. The defense played 47. * indicates a player started the game.
OFFENSE
Quarterback
*John Mateer — 72 (90.6)
Running back
Xavier Robinson — 28 (64.5)
*Jovantae Barnes — 23 (62.8)
Tory Blaylock — 18 (79.5)
Jaydn Ott — 4 (57.6)
Wide receiver
*Deion Burks — 67 (69.5)
*Keontez Lewis — 65 (80.7)
*Isaiah Sategna — 49 (56.0)
Ivan Carreon — 7 (57.5)
Jer’Michael Carter — 5 (56.2)
Jacob Jordan — 3 (94.5)
Zion Kearney — 1 (59.1)
Tight end
*Jaren Kanak — 48 (66.7)
Will Huggins — 28 (47.0)
Carson Kent — 14 (56.5)
Offensive line
*Logan Howland — 72 (69.3)
*Febechi Nwaiwu — 70 (62.1)
Luke Baklenko — 66 (67.1)
Ryan Fodje — 56 (52.3)
*Troy Everett — 39 (57.5)
Jake Maikkula — 33 (64.2)
*Eddy Pierre-Louis — 18 (79.5)
*Jacob Sexton — 6 (60.6)
DEFENSE
Defensive tackle
*Damonic Williams — 21 (60.5)
David Stone — 18 (74.8)
*Jayden Jackson — 18 (68.4)
Gracen Halton — 16 (60.5)
Trent Wilson — 5 (69.7)
Defensive end
*R Mason Thomas — 38 (71.7)
Adepoju Adebawore — 19 (53.1)
Taylor Wein — 17 (70.5)
*Marvin Jones Jr. — 14 (54.7)
Markus Strong — 11 (60.3)
Danny Okoye — 5 (73.5)
Wyatt Gilmore — 1 (60.4)
Linebacker
*Kobie McKinzie — 24 (67.4)
*Kip Lewis — 22 (71.5)
Owen Heinecke — 20 (72.7)
Sammy Omosigho — 18 (82.6)
James Nesta — 4 (66.5)
Taylor Heim — 4 (60.8)
Cornerback
*Courtland Guillory — 34 (65.1)
*Gentry Williams — 31 (71.8)
*Kendal Daniels — 31 (70.2)
Devon Jordan — 19 (65.8)
Jeremiah Newcombe — 14 (54.1)
Safety
*Peyton Bowen — 30 (74.6)
Reggie Powers — 23 (75.2)
Robert Spears-Jennings — 21 (69.2)
*Michael Boganowski — 18 (65.0)
Jayden Hardy — 11 (62.3)
Omarion Robinson — 10 (64.3)
NOTES
— Another game, another odd running back rotation.
Barnes got the start and ran for nine yards on seven carries. Tory Blaylock (8 carries, 44 yards) began to outpace him in the second quarter before he exited the game with an injury.
The third running back in the rotation was Robinson. Ott, the Sooners’ prized offseason addition, didn’t log an offensive snap until the fourth quarter and saw one carry, though he did serve as the team’s kick returner.`
— Burks, Lewis and Sategna saw the vast majority of snaps at wide receiver. The Sooners didn’t rotate much there at all. The other four receivers combined to play 16 snaps, indicating the coaching staff’s confidence level in the top three guys.
It’ll be interesting to see where Javonnie Gibson fits in when he returns.
— It’s difficult to read that much into the offensive line. Derek Simmons, Heath Ozaeta and Michael Fasusi were held out, and Jacob Sexton was injured six snaps into the game. But it is notable that Everett and Maikkula essentially split the snaps at center, and the battle for that spot remains ongoing.
— Defensive end played out as expected: R Mason Thomas saw the bulk of snaps on the right side, while the left side was a true rotation.
— Heinecke played a real role in the linebacker rotation. That’ll be interesting to monitor.
— It was really interesting to see how often the Sooners played Daniels, Bowen and Powers at the same time. It’s clear OU coach Brent Venables wants versatile guys on the field that can play multiple positions.
— The player who ranked second on the team in snaps? Guillory.
The true freshman was stellar in his collegiate debut. Even when Eli Bowen and Kendel Dolby return, it’s going to be hard to keep Guillory off the field.
Up next: The Sooners host Michigan at 6 p.m. (ABC)
Category: General Sports
