Oklahoma Sooners projected depth chart - post-spring
With Oklahoma's spring football session for 2018 now in the books, we know more about how personnel matters are shaking out. How about a semi-educated guess at the state of the depth chart?
Eligible candidates are limited to players currently in the program – that excludes incoming freshmen and Notre Dame graduate transfer Jay Hayes, who will almost certainly have a spot in the rotation come fall.
Offense
I'll keep this breakdown short because the offensive side of the ball looks fairly cut-and-dried to me.
*Naturally, the quarterback derby is sucking up its fair share of oxygen in the offseason discussions around the team. As I mentioned in my writeup on the spring game, I still peg Kyler Murray as the odds-on favorite to start at quarterback.
*Cody Ford doesn't strike me as a natural left tackle, but indications are that he is leading for the position. I reckon that means offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh prefers the combo of Ford at LT and Bobby Evans at right tackle over Evans on the left and Adrian Ealy at RT.
Defense
A whole lot more in flux on D, especially given the shifting between 3-4 and four-down nickel looks that the Sooners were showing during the spring game.
*It looks to me as though Brendan Radley-Hiles will win a starting spot at safety. When OU goes to five defensive backs, I'm betting Bookie will play nickelback.
*Mike Stoops has a few different options in terms of configuring his linebacker rotations. In the spring game, Mark Jackson was moving from strongside LB in the 3-4 to weakside defensive end in the nickel and subbing out the JACK linebacker. Another alternative appears to be playing Ryan Jones at SAM in the 3-4, then removing Jones in the nickel and spinning the JACK down to DE.
In light of Jones' athleticism, he might end up as the preferred option at SAM.
*Levi Draper showed some promise at WILL LB in the Red-White Game. I have Curtis Bolton listed as the second-team WILL as of now, but he could turn into more of a pass-rushing specialist with Draper at WILL.
*Does Hayes' addition mean Neville Gallimore will primarily play nose guard? Seems to be how the big Canadian is trending anyway.
*Ronnie Perkins will make a push for first-string DE at some point in the season.