Oklahoma Sooners Football: How the newcomers fit at Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Sooners took an unconventional approach to re-stocking their roster for 2021.OU landed a total of just 16 players in its 21 recruiting class, which came in 11th overall in the 247 Sports Composite rankings. Among the top 20 classes in the country, Clemson and North Carolina signed the next smallest groups at 19 players. The fact that the Sooners ranked so high despite the lack of bodies speaks to the individual quality of the recruits they did get: 13 of the 16 signees were ranked as four or five-star prospects.Being so choosy (and suffering a few setbacks) on the national signing days positioned OU head coach Lincoln Riley and his coaching staff to take advantage of an unprecedented influx of talent in the transfer portal. The Sooners scored big there, securing five players and perhaps a sixth with experience playing for teams in major conferences.Here an overview of where all the newcomers will fit in this fall, including an assessment of the likelihood they will make an impact right away.Immediate starterWanya Morris, OL(Tennessee transfer)Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh couldn have been satisfied with the play of his unit last year, and the decision by right tackle Adrian Ealy to declare for the NFL draft added an element of uncertainty to the lineup for 2021. Consider some of those questions answered with the acquisition of Morris from UT. Bedenbaugh will do his typical mixing and matching in the offseason to figure out which combinations he likes best, but the smart money is on the ex-Volunteer landing on the top of the depth chart at left tackle for game one. Second-year freshman Anton Harrison will likely swing over to the right side to replace Ealy.Challenging for a starting positionKey Lawrence, DB(Tennessee transfer)To be clear, Lawrence probably will not win a first-string spot in the OU secondary in 21. He played sparingly at nickel for the Vols as a freshman last year, suggesting he still has some acclimating left to do at the college level.Nevertheless, the nickel spot is up for grabs this year following Tre Norwood departure for the NFL and Brendan Radley-Hiles on the precipice of transferring. At 6-2 https://www.osoutletstore.com/Billy_Bowman_Jersey-100, 200 pounds, Lawrence has the size defensive coordinator Alex Grinch supposedly covets for the role. That means he will get an opportunity to compete for the job.Ultimately, Lawrence should get some run as a backup.Big Kat Bryant, DL (in the event that he announces)(Auburn transfer)Casey Sapio-USA TODAY SportsThe thinking here goes that Bedenbaugh wouldn give a player in his fifth year a spot if he couldn help the team out in some way. Look for Congel earn a spot as a reserve swing player on the interior.Spot duty (i.e. See you in 2022)Nathan Rawlins-Kabonge, EdgeNRK seems a little too raw to get on the field right away. A little polish this year could help him turn into a monster in 2022.Jordan Mukes, DBMuch like NRK, Mukes could use a year refining his game. The Choctaw product has a promising future at safety.Cody Jackson and Jalil Farooq, WRIn the long run, it shouldn come as a surprise if Jackson develops into the best receiver in the 21 class. He doesn fit in an obvious spot right away, however, so it tough to see him playing a big role on this team in the fall.Farooq also finds himself the victim of a logjam at WR.Danny Stuntsman, ILBLinebackers coach Brian Odom continues mining for diamonds in the rough. Three-star recruit Shane Whitter generated buzz at inside LB in his first year on campus, although he never could force his way onto the field consistently. Stuntsman, a three-star prospect from Florida https://www.osoutletstore.com/Wanya_Morris_Jersey-149, has a similar feel. A Stuntsman-Whitter combo could be OU starting ILBs of the future.Damond Harmon, DBHarmon could turn into the sleeper of the 21 class. If he adds some size this year, Harmon should make some noise at nickel in a couple years.Micah Bowens, QB(Penn State transfer)Rich Barnes-USA TODAY SportsBowens provides desperately needed depth at QB and could make for a solid Wildcat option. Tough to envision him playing much this year otherwise.Ethan Downs and Kelvin Gilliam, DLIt really difficult for a first-year player to make an impact if he plays with his hand in the dirt Darrell Simpson Jersey. Downs and Gilliam probably take a year to bulk up and prepare for the future as three-tech defensive tackles or strong side DEs.Savion Byrd and Cullen Montgomery, OLAfter striking out on some highly regarded prospects, Bedenbaugh came away with Byrd and Montgomery as the only first-year linemen in the class. The likelihood either sees the field in a meaningful situation is slim.

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