The Sooners are counting on Billy Bowman to take his game to another level.

When we look at an individual player’s situation during the offseason, we tend to think about it in terms of what it means to them, such as winning a position battle or improving draft stock. Teams need big offseasons from players, too – some more than others.

With the Oklahoma Sooners in their first season of spring football under new coach Brent Venables, here are five players whose development in the coming weeks will play an outsized role in OU’s success this fall.

Jalil Farooq, So., WR

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Surprised Farooq is still a Sooner? You’re not alone.

The sophomore from the Washington, D.C. area caught just four balls for 69 yards last season, so he seemed like an obvious transfer candidate to follow coach Lincoln Riley and QB Caleb Williams to USC. Sticking it out, however, has positioned Farooq to become a key contributor to the offense this fall.

From a physical standpoint, OU’s roster lacks the size offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby generally prefers at wideout. Farooq (6-1, 205 pounds) and Theo Wease (6-2, 201) make for notable exceptions. We know what we’re getting from Wease, who had 35 receptions for 530 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games in 2020. Farooq has the potential to match that kind of production and solidify the receiver rotation in 2022. That takes on even greater importance when you factor in Wease’s injury history.

OU could use a big spring from Farooq in which he builds on the momentum from a strong finish to 2021.

Billy Bowman, So., DB

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The previous coaching staff asked a lot of Bowman as a true freshman. He was the starting nickel in OU’s first game last year and played solid ball through the first six contests of the season. With injuries mounting, the coaching staff tried to capitalize on his versatility by shifting Bowman to cornerback. He clearly struggled in the role and became a non-factor in the second half of the campaign.

Bowman stands to benefit as much as any other player from a fresh start with the new regime. He comes off as a natural fit at one of the deep safeties in Venables’ defensive scheme, but he could also make a home at nickel (again).

The bottom line with Bowman is that OU would benefit from having his athleticism and instincts on the field this year. It’s on Bowman to seize the opportunity.

Savion Byrd, R-Fr., OT

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The consensus around Norman seems to be that Byrd has the highest ceiling of any offensive lineman on the team. That makes his development this spring of the utmost importance for OU.

The reality is that the Sooners have been juggling a lot of “least-bad” options at tackle for about three seasons. The lack of players developing on the edge kept Erik Swenson in the mix during that period despite his body breaking down repeatedly. It also forced Tyrese Robinson from his preferred spot on the interior out to right tackle last season.

Plenty of people close to the program would argue the reason for the deterioration at tackle is doing yoga in Southern California now. That doesn’t relieve the pressure on offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh to sort out the position now. By taking major steps forward this spring, Byrd would give OU a strong option for one of the two spots and hopefully force the other contenders, Wanya Morris and Anton Harrison, to level up.

Shane Whitter, Jr., LB

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In year one, Venables is meshing personnel he inherited with his own defensive schemes. The SAM linebacker presents one of his biggest challenges.

Historically, the SAM in Venables’ scheme really looks more like a classic safety. The idea is to have a hybrid-type player lining up to the strong side of the offensive formation. (It’s also referred to as an Apex LB.) He usually can play in space better than than a run-stuffing LB. In his stint as defensive coordinator at OU, Venables installed players like Keenan Clayton and Tony Jefferson at the position.

The Sooners don’t have many obvious candidates to fill that role on this squad, but OU handed us a context clue when the spring roster dropped. Whitter, who played inside LB in Alex Grinch’s defense, dropped nine pounds from his 2021 playing weight down to 216 pounds.

Whitter has the speed to meet the demands of the SAM role. We’ll see if he can pick up the nuances of the position now. If so, it will provide some of the flexibility Venables has shown he covets in a defense.

Nick Evers, Fr., QB

The Sooners don’t have any questions at the top of the quarterback depth chart. Lebby has made no bones about the fact that junior Dillon Gabriel is OU’s starter. OU will have to live this season with the uncomfortable reality that QB1 missed all but three of his games at Central Florida last year with a broken collarbone.

That makes developing adequate depth behind Gabriel this offseason paramount for Lebby, who also serves as QBs coach. As a true freshman, Evers doesn’t have the backup spot locked up by any stretch. You have to imagine, however, that Lebby would prefer the rookie came along quickly enough before August to claim the job.

If Evers doesn’t get up to speed and Gabriel misses any time, OU is facing the prospect of rolling with sophomore Micah Bowens or redshirt freshman Ralph Rucker, who walked on the team last year. Neither has the same type of tools as Evers.

Note that the Sooners may find themselves seeking out a transfer QB in the coming weeks.

The second weekend of the big dance offers both the ridiculous and the sublime.

No time to waste – let’s break down the four regions in what usually turns into the best weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

Midwest Region

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What did we do to deserve this?

We hit on our pick for the Cyclones to upset a discombobulated LSU team in the first round. Unfortunately, that meant ISU could continue playing, setting up its knockout of Wisconsin in the second round. One lackluster team losing to an even more uninspiring one.

After winning just two games in 2020, the Cyclones made an impressive turnaround this season under new head coach T.J. Otzelberger. Doing so required playing a truly hideous style of basketball that isn’t fun to anyone outside of Ames, Iowa. And we’re talking about a team that went 7-11 in conference play. We can only hope this run ends soon.

Nice call

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Indeed, that was us picking the Aztecs to make the Final Four. They got bounced in their first game, instead, after blowing a nine-point lead in the second half to Creighton. In perhaps its most impressive feat, SDSU failed to score a single point in the final 3:51 of regulation.

We feel confident we will ignore the lesson here about backing a team that ranks 271st in the country in free throw percentage.

Non-Self-implosion

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Part of our confidence in San Diego State making a run stemmed from Kansas’ history of tightening up in the tournament under Bill Self. KU’s 79-72 win over the Bluejays seemed to teeter on disaster at times, but by surviving, the Jayhawks have put themselves in position for a trip to New Orleans.

Elite 8: Kansas over Iowa State

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Yes, we really are this close to Iowa State making the Final Four. Miami coach Jim Larranaga thoroughly de-pantsed Snitchin’ Bruce Pearl in the Hurricanes’ win over Auburn in the second round, but the Clones pose a terrible matchup for The U in the Sweet 16. They will face KU after the Jayhawks dispatch a gritty Providence team in round three.

Self will wave to his legion of haters when he’s cutting down the nets in Chicago on Sunday.

South Region

It’s time for the Kelvin-ator

Former Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson was dancing with his shirt off in the locker room after Houston thumped Illinois on Sunday afternoon, which raises a question that has been bugging us for a while now. What happened to the chambray?

Wardrobe aside, Sampson has burnished his coaching credentials in the latter stages of his career by working with his teams on putting the ball in the basket, not just rebounding it. In the last four seasons, the Cougars have finished no lower than 22nd nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to kenpom.com. While his teams at OU had a habit of fizzling out on offense in March, UH hasn’t had that problem under his watch. The Cougs still play his trademark lockdown defense.

Raising Arizona’s game

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Few people envisioned TCU pushing Arizona to the brink in the round of 32. The Wildcats were lucky to live to play another day after the Horned Frogs punished them on the boards for 45 minutes. Unfortunately for UA, its next opponent does everything TCU does just as well – if not much better.

The Wildcats need to level up before Thursday because that Arizona-UH game looks like a toss-up from this vantage point.

Also gross: Michigan

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To be fair, the Wolverines play a more aesthetically pleasing style of ball than Iowa State. No one can really feel good, though, about this team reaching this point. Michigan came into the tournament with 17-14 overall record and wheezed to the finish line by losing five of its final nine contests.

And even as an 11 seed, Michigan is no Cinderella. Sadly, the four-point spread in its game with Villanova on Thursday suggests the underdog Wolverines do have a solid shot to advance.

Elite Eight: Arizona over Villanova

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Villanova quietly put together one of the better first weeks of the tournament. Delaware never challenged the Wildcats as they coasted to a 20-point victory on Friday. In the second round, Nova finished off Ohio State with a cold-blooded 11-3 run in the final five minutes that snuffed the life out of the Buckeyes.

Jay Wright’s team ultimately lacks the athleticism, especially on the interior, to beat either Arizona or UH. Very little separates the former two squads, but Zona star Bennedict Mathurin should command enough attention from the Cougs on defense to open up some scoring opportunities for teammates like Christian Koloko.

Koloko should also play a key role in helping Arizona push past Nova when the teams square off on Saturday in San Antonio.

West Region

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Pale imitations

Last weekend’s matchup in the round of 32 between Duke and Michigan wasn’t a bad game by any stretch. In fact, the Blue Devils and Spartans played some downright entertaining hoops.

Nevertheless, it felt as though we were being sold a knock-off version of the two programs built during the tenures of coaches Mike Krzyzewski and Tom Izzo. Much of the responsibility for that falls on Izzo and Sparty, who no longer carry that March mystique with them.

Frankly, though, Coach K just looks like someone playing a part in these final games as head coach. The Blue Devils have their usual crop of young studs, but they don’t seem to have any direction. That’s trouble against well-coached teams like Texas Tech and (probably) Gonzaga.

Trending down: Gonzaga

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You could make a strong case that the selection committee gave the Zags a rough draw. They found themselves matched up last week with two under-seeded teams in Georgia State and Memphis.

That being said, the Bulldogs still showed they’re a step below last year’s national runner-up squad. The good news for Mark Few is that his team doesn’t have to be as good to win it all this year. But the Zags look very beatable at the moment.

Elite Eight: Gonzaga over Texas Tech

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If the Zags are going to lose in this tournament, it won’t be this week.

In the Sweet 16, Gonzaga will see an Arkansas team that is running out of steam. While the Razorbacks had the look of a potential Final Four participant a month ago, the Hogs could get blown out on Thursday.

The other Sweet 16 game in this region pits two diametrically opposed teams against each other. Duke possesses the overall talent to beat Texas Tech, but the young Blue Devils don’t look equipped to hand the Red Raiders’ brute strength and defensive tenacity. This smells like a case where Tech grinds its opponent down to a nub over 40 minutes.

Unfortunately for Tech, Gonzaga has a much better sense of what it wants to do on defense than Duke. The Red Raiders should make a point to try to draw Gonzaga stars Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren into foul trouble. But even if Timme or Holmgren gets stuck to the bench for long stretches, the Red Raiders still don’t have the shot-making to cash in.

East Region

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Strutting

Since his Peacocks have been the story of the tournament so far, Saint Peter’s guard Doug Edert is striking while the NIL iron is hot. The mustachioed marksman inked an endorsement deal this week with fast-casual restaurant chain Buffalo Wild Wings.

That has the makings of an ill-advised pregame meal. Saint Peter’s should keep Edert away from the wings on Friday – can’t afford for him to be indisposed against Purdue. The Peacocks will need all the firepower they can muster to keep pace with one of the most efficient offenses in the country.

What in Tar-nation?

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It was shocking to watch North Carolina run out to a 25-point lead over Baylor in round two. It was more shocking to see the Tar Heels fall apart over the final 10 minutes of the game.

They still managed to escape with a victory, and it’s worth noting that the Bears essentially flopped their way into the heads of the UNC players. Forward Brady Manek’s ejection in the second half for an elbow to antagonist Jeremy Sochan was just one example. Caleb Love fouling out with more than seven minutes to play didn’t help matters, as the Heels struggled to break Baylor’s press in his absence.

If there was cause for concern in Chapel Hill, first-year coach Hubert Davis did appear overmatched down the stretch. Overall, though, don’t expect UNC to crumble in against UCLA in the Sweet 16.

Elite Eight: UCLA over Purdue

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We have a saying around here: “Juzang for show; Jaquez for dough.” While Johnny Juzang and his silky midrange game get the lion’s share of notoriety on UCLA’s team, swingman Jaime Jaquez has proven to be the Bruins’ true catalyst. As such, Jaquez’s health will have a significant impact on how the East Region plays out. Assuming he’s firing on all cylinders on Friday, the boys from Westwood will advance against UNC.

Saint Peter’s has provided a nice story in this year’s big dance, and the Peacocks can probably hang with Purdue into the second half. The 12-point line on this game accurately reflects the disparity between the two teams, however, and the Boilermakers will likely separate themselves late in the contest.

With the school’s first Final Four in Purdue’s grasp, the pressure will mount for the Boilermakers versus the Bruins. UCLA, on the other hand, went last year for something like the 72nd time in program history. The better and looser team? Put the Bruins through to New Orleans.

The McCasland Foundation has pledged $1.75 million to support Oklahoma Athletics and the shared mission of providing a world-class experience for its nearly 600 student-athletes.

Defenders will be auditioning at multiple positions for OU this spring.

Spring football is in full swing for the Oklahoma Sooners, and earlier this week, we took a stab at projecting OU’s offensive depth chart. Now we’ll turn to the defense, where new head coach Brent Venables and his coaching staff may find more talent – and more questions – than on the other side of the ball.

OU also released a roster Tuesday, which may offer some clarity about positions on D. While Venables ostensibly operates out of a 4-3 base scheme, his fondness for hybrid players can lead to confusion when describing some positions. Notably, the SAM linebacker functions in many ways like a third safety or nickel, rather than a traditional LB. (In other words, there’s a lot of guessing below about who is playing where.)

Here’s our projection for where things stand on defense as of now.

2022 Oklahoma Sooners Depth Chart Projection – Defense (Spring)

Nose tackle

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Jeffrey Johnson, Sr.
Isaiah Coe, Sr.
Josh Ellison, Sr.
Jordan Kelley, R-Sr.

Johnson didn’t transfer from Tulane to OU to ride the bench, nor did Venables give him a scholarship for that purpose. He therefore moves to the top of the heap at nose tackle.

The best way to describe this position is “solid.” It feels as though defensive line coach can cycle through multiple players without see much of a drop off. Keep an eye on Ellison.

Defensive tackle

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Jalen Redmond, R-Jr.
Kori Roberson, R-Jr.
Kelvin Gilliam, R-Fr.

Redmond has a lock on the three-tech DT spot. The story here is Gilliam, who is weighing in at 285 pounds. Packing on that extra 30 lbs. means he will have the size to compete for a rotation spot.

Strong defensive end

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Reggie Grimes, Jr.
Ethan Downs, So.
Jonah Laulu, R-Sr.
Brynden Walker, Jr.
Noah Arinze, R-So.

The time for Grimes to make good on his potential has come. Downs, who enjoyed a solid freshman season, is nipping at his heels. After transferring in from Hawaii, Laulu should fortify the depth on the strong side and potentially force the holdovers in front of him to up their game.

Weak defensive end

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Marcus Stripling, Sr.
Clayton Smith, R-Fr.
Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge, R-Fr.

This has the makings of a tight competition that lasts the entire offseason. Even though Stripling occupies the top line for now, the hope here is that Smith makes a leap after a freshman season in which the blue-chip recruit barely saw the field. The same goes for NRK.

SAM linebacker

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Shane Whitter, Jr.
Jaren Kanak, Fr.

Here’s where the guessing starts. Frankly, there aren’t many obvious candidates at this position currently on the roster.

Relative to the players who played SAM LB for Venables at Clemson, Kanak seems to fit the profile. Is he ready for that role as a true freshman? Whitter’s maturity may give him the edge, assuming he checks the boxes from a physical standpoint.

MIKE linebacker

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Danny Stutsman, So.
David Ugwoegbu, Sr.
Joseph Wete, R-Jr.
Kobie McKenzie, Fr.

The MIKE LB will see more action inside the run box than the SAM and WILL LBs, so the Sooners will need a more physical presence between the tackles. Time for Stutsman to take over after playing a reserve role in 2021. Expect the other two holdovers from last season to become the subjects of transfer speculation.

WILL linebacker

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DaShaun White, Sr.
T.D. Roof, R-Sr.
Kip Lewis, Fr.

White will be a captain this season. He could play MIKE, but putting him at WILL with Stutsman inside looks like the optimal combination.

Whitter could back up White if SAM doesn’t work for him. Likewise, Roof could slide over to SAM.

Cornerback

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Woodi Washington, R-Jr.
Joshua Eaton, Jr.
Kendall Dennis, So.

Keep in mind that Washington has played safety in a past life. He may seem like a sure thing at CB, but with the coaches adding a number of transfers, don’t dismiss a position switch out of hand. Either way, he’ll be on the field in the secondary come fall.

Cornerback

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D.J. Graham, Jr.
C.J. Coldon, Sr.
Jaden Davis, Sr.
Kani Walker, So.

The name to know here is Coldon, a Wyoming transfer who started 19 games for the Cowboys in the last two seasons. His addition may give OU some flexibility at CB if the coaches decide to experiment with Washington and Graham in other spots. (Say, nickel?) Coldon could slide in somewhere else in the secondary as well.

Unfortunately, Coldon won’t reach campus until after spring football is over.

Strong safety

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Key Lawrence, Jr.
Jordan Mukes, So.
Robert Spears-Jennings, Fr.

Lawrence played well last year at both corner and safety. OU could probably use his physicality more at safety, so it seems like a good bet at this point.

Mukes is a sleeper – he’s an outstanding athlete.

Free safety

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Billy Bowman, So.
Justin Broiles, R-Sr.
Bryson Washington, R-So.

Will Bowman even be playing on the defensive side of the ball this season? You could make a case that depth issues at wide receiver would warrant a switch to O for such an electric athlete. He’s listed as a defensive back at the moment, though, so let’s assume he’s staying put.

Broiles filled in admirably last year and has the makings of a solid utility player as a super senior.

Nickel

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Trey Morrison, Sr.
Jayden Rowe, Fr.

After competing against Morrison at North Carolina, Venables made a point of recruiting the former Tar Heel to Norman. You can bet he will have a role somewhere in the secondary. If Venables envisions the nickel to be more of a coverage player, it makes sense for Morrison. At 189 pounds, asking him to do much in run support seems like a mistake.

Spring practices will give OU’s new coaches a better idea of who fits where on the offensive side of the ball.

The Oklahoma Sooners open spring football this week with new faces across the roster and the sidelines.

Naturally, first-year head coach Brent Venables headlines the changes. After five seasons under former coach Lincoln Riley, the players left on the roster from previous seasons will have to adjust to different ways of doing things for the new coaching regime. Meanwhile, new players will try to establish themselves in the eyes of teammates and the coaches – they include a handful of instant-impact transfers at key positions.

All those changes leave plenty of room for uncertainty, especially as the coaches implement new schemes on both sides of the ball. With that in mind, let’s try to project the state of the depth chart, beginning with the offense.

2022 Oklahoma Sooners Depth Chart Projection – Offense (Spring)

Quarterback

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Dillon Gabriel, Jr.
Nick Evers, Fr.;
Ralph Rucker, R-Fr.

No uncertainty here: Offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby has already anointed Central Florida transfer Dillon Gabriel as OU’s starting QB. Gabriel thrived in Lebby’s scheme in 2019 and 2020 before missing most of the 2021 campaign with a broken collarbone. Physically, Gabriel will be getting back up to speed in the spring; fortunately, he isn’t facing the same learning curve when it comes to learning the offense.

This is one position where Venables and the coaching staff may look to add another transfer after the spring. Rookie Nick Evers will probably be the second option behind Gabriel in the spring.

Running back

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Eric Gray, Sr.
Marcus Major, R-Jr.
Jovantae Barnes, Fr.
Gavin Sawchuck, Fr.

The running back room in Norman represents one of the bigger stories for the Sooners this season, even if it doesn’t carry the same cachet as the QB position. Lebby’s offense builds on the ground attack first and foremost, which makes a strong stable of backs a must. Gray and Major seem like a solid pairing atop the rotation. Gray, however, is more of an all-purpose RB, and Major has yet to prove himself as a feature back.

As an early enrollee, Barnes will have a chance during spring practice to make a case to see the field right away. Expect the Las Vegas native to make the most of the opportunity.

Tight end

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Brayden Willis, Sr.
Daniel Parker, Sr.
Kaden Helms, Fr.

Willis said recently he intended to declare for the NFL draft before OU’s coaching change. Needless to say, the buy-in from the veteran feels high, and he has generated some buzz during winter workouts. For his part, Parker didn’t transfer to OU to sit the bench. Lebby may play a significant amount of 12 personnel this season to take advantage of the duo’s physicality in the running game.

Wide receiver

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Theo Wease, R-Jr.; Marvin Mims, Jr.; D. Stoops, R-Sr.
Jalil Farooq, So.; Cody Jackson, So.; Trevon West, Jr.
Brian Darby, Jr.; Jayden Gibson, Fr.; Nic Anderson, Fr.

If we’re talking about proven commodities, Wease, Mims and Stoops have the best bodies of work among the OU receiving corps. Will that dictate how the rotation looks this fall? For now, let’s assume it carries some weight.

Farooq seems to be the most likely member of the second line to become a major contributor this season. He showed flashes of brilliance last season and reportedly turned heads during preparation for the Alamo Bowl. Jackson also showed promise before an illness derailed his season.

The Sooners may be looking for another receiver in the transfer portal come April.

Offensive line

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Right tackle: Wanya Morris, Sr.; Savion Byrd, R-Fr.
Left tackle: Anton Harrison, Jr.; Aaryn Parks, R-So.
Right guard: Chris Murray, R-Sr.; Brey Walker, R-Sr.
Left guard: McKade Mettauer, Sr.; Marcus Alexander, R-Jr.
Center: Andrew Raym, Jr.; Robert Congel, R-Sr.

Admittedly, this projection feels all kinds of shaky.

First, three players are essentially competing for the two tackle spots – Morris, Byrd and Harrison. Those of us outside the program know nothing about Byrd, although whispers behind the scenes indicate he has the highest ceiling on the roster. You could say the same for Morris, a touted 2021 transfer who rarely saw the field. Meanwhile, Harrison’s motor has left something to be desired in the last two years. Workouts with strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt should factor heavily in how this competition plays out, in other words.

Second, are any position changes coming? Raym, for example, seems miscast as a center. That doesn’t mean OL coach Bill Bedenbaugh has a better option at his disposal, but spring offers an opportunity to find out if any other linemen would work there. That might allow Raym to shift to his more natural spot at guard.