Estimating the impact of OU's transfers: Offense
A few weeks ago, we talked about the lineup of transfers for the Oklahoma Sooners on the defensive side of the ball in 2024. Through two seasons, the results show Brent Venables has primarily used the transfer portal to build depth on defense. You could say the same about the other side of the ball: Offensive tackle Walter Rouse and tight end Austin Stogner were on the field for a majority of the O’s snaps a year ago, but they were the only two transfers to do so on offense.
OU went far heavier on transfers this year to supplement its offense than it did on D. That undoubtedly owes in part to the previous coaching regime’s curation of the offensive line. Desperate times required the Sooners to take on a total of five transfers on the OL. All stand to play at least decent roles on this year’s squad – not much time for development with this group.
Here are some thoughts on the impact the 10 offensive transfers will have for the Sooners in 2024.
Offense
Febechi Nwaiwu, fourth-year junior
OU has two transfers who stand to make a huge difference on offense this year. Nwaiwu is one. Standing at 6-3 and 339 pounds, he all but locked up a spot in the starting lineup at guard when he signed with OU from North Texas after the 2023 season.
Nwaiwu played in 10 of 12 games for the Mean Green and accrued a total of 713 snaps out of 951 for UNT last season. Will he see the field on more than 75% of OU’s offensive plays in 2024? All things being equal, easily.
Deion Burks, fourth-year junior
Burks was the definition of a war horse last season for Purdue, clocking in for 813 of the Boilermakers’ 888 snaps (92%). He won’t see that much burn at OU this season, which is probably good for him. What Burks loses in time on the field, he will likely make up for in productivity.
Don’t be shocked if Venables and offensive coordinator Seth Littrell design an offense for the upcoming season that makes use of getting the ball in Burks’ hands in a variety of ways.
Branson Hickman, fifth-year senior
As a late addition to the team in the spring, Hickman is far from a flyer for OU. An injury to OL Troy Everett during spring practice created an opening in the starting offense line at center. The Sooners arguably improved the position after landing the SMU transfer.
The SEC transfer may feel some heat from Everett once he returns, but the bet here is that Hickman sees more action at center than Everett in 2024.
Michael Tarquin, sixth-year senior
OL coach Bill Bedenbaugh must have spotted something he liked when Tarquin was at Florida and before he transferred to USC. Last season turned into a fiasco for Tarquin. His played took a nosedive, and he played on just 332 of the Trojans’ 822 plays in the regular season.
Bedenbaugh can probably get Tarquin to play at his peak. Unfortunately, that doesn’t look too high at the moment.
Geirean Hatchett, fifth-year senior
A poor man’s Tarquin? If Hatchett gets significant playing time for the Sooners in ‘24, it doesn’t sound promising for OU’s season.
Hatchett sat out about two-thirds of Washington’s 2023 snaps. Again, if he is on the field for a larger share for OU this season, it likely means trouble.
Bauer Sharp, fourth-year junior
The most intriguing transfer – if not player – on the ‘24 roster for OU. As a transfer from Southeastern Louisiana, data on Sharp from prior years doesn’t come easily. Rave reviews from his play during the spring indicate he is line for heavy rotational use at tight end.
Samuel Franklin, fourth-year junior
Another mystery out of the FCS, this time from Tennessee-Martin. Franklin probably didn’t pick the Sooners with the idea of riding the bench for another season in mind. Competition for snaps in the offensive backfield looks ferocious at this point, however, and Franklin may not play more than one in five of them for OU in the upcoming season.
Spencer Brown, sixth-year senior
The latest scuttlebutt out of Norman has left some believing Brown could inherit a starting spot at right tackle. He looks like a higher-ceiling prospect than others vying for time in the offseason.
If Brown plays a majority of snaps for the Sooners this season, it likely means he has grown into his role as a starter. Better late than never if so.
Jake Roberts, senior
Should Roberts play many snaps for the Sooners this year? No, but he will be a more reliable option than the holdovers at tight end on the OU roster.
Frankly, this pickup reeks of desperation to stock up the TE room.
Casey Thompson, seventh-year senior
A year with the Sooners seems like a fitting way for the son of former OU quarterback Charles Thompson to cap off his career in college football. The big question with Thompson: If starting QB Jackson Arnold were to miss extended time this season, would the coaching staff turn to Thompson or freshman Michael Hawkins to stand in?