What is OU football's best position group entering spring 2025? We rank each group

What is OU football’s best position group entering spring 2025? We rank each group

Posted by author February 2, 2025 Football

Spread the love

NORMAN — OU football will once again be a program in transition in 2025.

The Sooners will have a new offensive coordinator, new defensive coordinator and quarterback for the second consecutive season. OU’s offense largely struggled last season while its defense was its backbone.

Plenty of production returns from that defense, including defensive end R Mason Thomas and defensive tackle Damonic Williams, as well as safeties Peyton Bowen and Robert Spears-Jennings, linebackers Kip Lewis and Kobie McKinzie and defensive tackles Gracen Halton and Jayden Jackson.

There are plenty of newcomers and question marks throughout as well. With the winter transfer portal closed and the semester beyond the two-week point, here’s how we ranked OU’s position groups:

1. Defensive line

Projected starters: Gracen Halton, Jayden Jackson, Marvin Jones Jr., R Mason Thomas

Projected contributors: Adepoju Adebawore, Danny Okoye, David Stone, Taylor Wein, Damonic Williams

Intel: This position group is stacked with experienced returners. Adding Jones in the portal gave OU two elite pass-rushing edges. Jackson broke out during his freshman campaign and should be even better in 2025. Adebawore and Stone are both former five-star recruits who have yet to make their mark. Expect Okoye and Wein to compete for spots on the two deep.

2. Linebacker/hybrid

Projected starters: Kendel Dolby, Kip Lewis, Kobe McKinzie

Projected contributors: Kendal Daniels, Jaren Kanak, Samual Omosigho, Reggie Powers

Intel: OU’s linebackers room won’t be as deep as the 2024 group but it still has a chance to be really solid. Veterans Kanak, Lewis and McKinzie are back. It hurts losing Lewis Carter, Dasan McCullough and Danny Stutsman but I expect Omosigho to improve and Daniels was a big portal get. Who Venables decides to play at his famed hybrid cheetah position remains to be seen but I expect it’ll be Daniels, Dolby and Powers. The sky’s the limit for Dolby who showed flashes of excellence in 2023 and missed most of the 2024 season due to injury.

3. Running back

Projected starter: Jovantae Barnes

Projected contributors: Xavier Robinson, Taylor Tatum

Intel: Most would assume Robinson showed enough last season to become the full-time starter but I think the Sooners will ride with their veteran. Before he was injured, Barnes rushed for a combined 340 yards in three games. Tatum was electric at times last season but needs to work on taking care of the ball. If it can stay healthy, this appears to be one of OU’s strongest groups.

4. Quarterback

Projected starter: John Mateer

Other options: Cole Gonzales, Michael Hawkins Jr., Jett Niu

Intel: If Mateer both stays healthy and lives up to the hype, this position group could rise to No. 1. Mateer threw for 3,139 passing yards and 826 rushing yards, and recorded 44 touchdowns — 29 passing and 15 rushing — and threw just seven interceptions in 2024. It’s yet to be seen if he can play like that against SEC competition but Mateer is the most important player entering the 2025 season. Hawkins is a solid backup option as he’s only going to continue to improve.

5. Safety

Projected starters: Peyton Bowen, Robert Spears-Jennings

Projected contributors: Michael Boganowski, Jaydan Hardy

Intel: Losing Billy Bowman Jr. is a blow to this position group but Spears-Jennings seems poised to step in and lead. Bowen will play a bigger role. Boganowski and Hardy are perhaps two of the most intriguing players on defense as the talent is there for them to contribute. This is still a strong position group that should improve as the year goes on.

6. Offensive line

Projected starters: Troy Everett, Logan Howland, Febechi Nwaiwu, Jacob Sexton, Derek Simmons

Projected contributors: Josh Aisosa, Luke Baklenko Michael Fasusi, Heath Ozaeta, Eddy Pierre-Louis

Intel: OU’s offensive line should be much improved compared to last season’s disaster. Everett, Howland and Ozaeta have gained more experience and OU’s coaching staff is betting they’ll be better from it. I think they will be as well. I’m intrigued to see Fasusi and Pierre-Louis in spring camp because both could be starters sooner rather than later.

7. Cornerback

Projected starters: Eli Bowen, Jacobe Johnson

Projected contributors: Devon Jordan, Gentry Williams

Intel: The Sooners should probably add another cornerback during the spring transfer portal window. Bowen started seven games as a true freshman and was stellar. I think Johnson is ready to take a leap. For Williams, it’s a question of whether he can stay healthy. If OU adds more depth, cornerback could jump the offensive line.

8. Wide receiver

Projected starters: Deion Burks, Jayden Gibson, Javonnie Gibson

Projected contributors: Ivan Carreon, Zion Kearney, Keontez Lewis, Isaiah Sategna, Elijah Thomas

Intel: Outside of Burks, OU’s receivers group is filled with questions. Will Jayden Gibson come back stronger after his knee injury? Can Carreon and Kearney improve after being thrust into games due to injuries last season? Can Elijah Thomas break out as a true freshman? I think the portal additions could be solid contributors.

9. Special teams

Projected starters: Austin Welch, Jacob Ulrich

Projected contributors: Liam Evans

Intel: This position group is extremely difficult to predict. I feel confident in Welch and Ulrich as the starting kicker and punter, respectively, for now. Welch made 14 of his 18 field-goal attempts and Ulrich averaged 46 yards per punt this past season. This ranking could also jump later on.

10. Tight end

Projected starter: Davon Mitchell

Projected contributors: Carson Kent, Kade McIntyre

Intel: My colleague Ryan Aber and I graded the tight end position as an F in our 2024 grades earlier this month. It was another disappointing season at the position and they didn’t improve in the winter portal window. Mitchell will have to take a big step after not seeing the field in 2024 if he’s going to start but I feel confident he will. Kent and McIntyre could contribute.