Looking ahead to 2019

[CTOkie]

Some questions: (Note...these players have another year of eligibility according to Soonersports)
Will OU lose both Evans and Ford on the OL ? Both are juniors.
Is Murray staying for his senior year ? My guess is if OU wins the next two games he's definitely leaving....if OU falls short, he MAY return.
Will Bledoe, Mann and Gallimore return ?
The young LB's, Bonitto, White, Draper, Asamoah....will they become good players ?
What's going on with LB Jan-Michael Terry ?
Will Jeremiah Hall replace Meier at FB/HB ? Morris has played at the position but he's more of a receiver. Hall has done some good things this year.
Who replaces Siebert ? My early guess is Mundshau will punt, but who will do place kicking ? And will someone continue Siebert's non-returnable kickoffs ?
Based on what I see now, OU will be okay at RB, WR and will return a lot of talent along with a top ten recruiting class that has two 5-star receivers, an elite TE, QB Spencer Rattler, three 4-star DB's, two 4-star DE's, a 4-star OL and RB Marcus Major, 6'2" 200 lbs, (OKC) who's a 3-star rated prospect but looks very good on film, and is rated the 17th best back nationally by 247sports.
Got any further info ?

 

[soonermade]

Kyler has said he will not return to OU, but has not ruled out the NFL over MLB.

Don't forget, we have QB Austin Kendall, who kept Murray from being called the starter until the very end of the spring. I doubt Rattler would start at QB as a true freshman with Kendall waiting in the wings.

 

[virgie76712]

I'm still high on QB Mordecai of Ridgemont High, better known as Waco Midway. From the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

 

[CTOkie]

Kyler has said he will not return to OU, but has not ruled out the NFL over MLB.

Don't forget, we have QB Austin Kendall, who kept Murray from being called the starter until the very end of the spring. I doubt Rattler would start at QB as a true freshman with Kendall waiting in the wings.

Rattler is a stud, but he's also a freshman, which may or may not determine if he contributes in 2019. My prediction, assuming Rattler is redshirted or given a backup role, is Tanner Mordecai. He's a dual threat with a very strong arm. Kendall is a valuable player whether he starts or continues backing up.

 

[jvancuren3]

Mann returns
Bledsoe is gone
Gallimire returns
Ford or Evans stays - not both

QB will be interesting.
Hurts, Mordecai, Rattler, Kendall

Should be fun.
Glad we get Lamb and Calcaterra back plus the young kids Wease and Bridges arrive.

Add to that - Tatum, Redmond and Thompson should all be ready.

 

[22LR]

I'm still high on QB Mordecai

I'm with you 100% on this. He is the guy.

 

[CTOkie]

Mann returns
Bledsoe is gone
Gallimire returns
Ford or Evans stays - not both

QB will be interesting.
Hurts, Mordecai, Rattler, Kendall

Should be fun.
Glad we get Lamb and Calcaterra back plus the young kids Wease and Bridges arrive.

Add to that - Tatum, Redmond and Thompson should all be ready.

You KNOW something about Hurts transferring to OU ?

 

[soonermade]

Hmmmmmmmm, if Golding becomes OU's new DC, kind of makes sense that Jalen Hurts transfers along with him since Tua will be the future at Bama.

 

[Rush2112Sooner_rivals250647]

You KNOW something about Hurts transferring to OU ?

Haven’t heard anything, just people playing the “what if” game.

 

[OklaBama]

Haven’t heard anything, just people playing the “what if” game.

I really doubt that Hurts would be capable of winning the QB job in Riley’s offense. He would be better jumping to the Big 10. He’s definitely a talented guy but not for OU.

 

[Brentwood Sooner]

There will be a big drop off at QB next year so the defense better be light years better than this year

 

[humblesooner]

There will be a big drop off at QB next year so the defense better be light years better than this year

Well, the bar is set pretty low.

 

[CTOkie]

What year since 1999, and outside of 2014, has OU ever had a weakness at quarterback ?
2009 had Bradford injured, but Landry Jones replaced him and did a good job.
Nate Hybl directed two good OU teams in 2001-2002.
Paul Thompson replaced Rhett Bomar before the 2006 season and took OU to an 11-3 record.
Knight and Bell directed OU to an 11-3 record in 2013.
Knight and Thomas directed OU to an 8-5 record in 2014, which I regard as OU's weakest year for quarterbacking.

 

[bullmarket]

Some questions: (Note...these players have another year of eligibility according to Soonersports)
Will OU lose both Evans and Ford on the OL ? Both are juniors.
Is Murray staying for his senior year ? My guess is if OU wins the next two games he's definitely leaving....if OU falls short, he MAY return.
Will Bledoe, Mann and Gallimore return ?
The young LB's, Bonitto, White, Draper, Asamoah....will they become good players ?
What's going on with LB Jan-Michael Terry ?
Will Jeremiah Hall replace Meier at FB/HB ? Morris has played at the position but he's more of a receiver. Hall has done some good things this year.
Who replaces Siebert ? My early guess is Mundshau will punt, but who will do place kicking ? And will someone continue Siebert's non-returnable kickoffs ?
Based on what I see now, OU will be okay at RB, WR and will return a lot of talent along with a top ten recruiting class that has two 5-star receivers, an elite TE, QB Spencer Rattler, three 4-star DB's, two 4-star DE's, a 4-star OL and RB Marcus Major, 6'2" 200 lbs, (OKC) who's a 3-star rated prospect but looks very good on film, and is rated the 17th best back nationally by 247sports.
Got any further info ?

Win or lose.

Kyler will not be back.

 

[veritas59]

Why would anyone think Bledsoe is gone?

 

[CTOkie]

Why would anyone think Bledsoe is gone?

I read of that possibility recently. Personally, I don't believe he's ready.

 

[Scottsdale.Sooner]

I have not seen Rattler play in person but parents of opposing players have told me he is a man among boys.

 

[coeSooner81]

As long as the next qb is smart and coachable Riley will set them up for success. There are to many weapons for the next guy to not be successful. Don't turn the ball over and take what the defense gives hims, and he will be okay.

 

[CTOkie]

As long as the next qb is smart and coachable Riley will set them up for success. There are to many weapons for the next guy to not be successful. Don't turn the ball over and take what the defense gives hims, and he will be okay.

Agree.
Riley will have the next starting QB up and running by September.
But Murray has been so much of OU's success this year, especially bailing out the porous defense, that next year and beyond, I don't see OU getting away with playing poorly on defense. Kendall or Mordecai have to play smart. What OU gets from true freshman Rattler is unknown right now even if he is highly regarded.
OU has to learn to win without having to score over 40 points so often.

 

[62SackMonster]

Kyler has said he will not return to OU, but has not ruled out the NFL over MLB.

Don't forget, we have QB Austin Kendall, who kept Murray from being called the starter until the very end of the spring. I doubt Rattler would start at QB as a true freshman with Kendall waiting in the wings.

That was all a game played by Lincoln.

 

[62SackMonster]

Why would anyone think Bledsoe is gone?

The NCAA based on his illegal substance case. OU is still trying to get it overturned so he gets his year back. Basically he lost 4 games and also a year of elgibility. I know Grier had the illegal substance issue while at Florida but he transferred but I’m not sure if really lost a year or not

 

[62SackMonster]

QB still concerns me. Mordecai looked good but he needs to add some weight, he just looked smaller than the listed 6’2 215. Kendall just scares me when he is in there.

RB will be fine with Brooks Sermon and Pledger. I would love for another one as I am not sold on Major. I know Millwood and his dad said it was by design that he wasn’t used but honestly I got to question is heart if he even thought that was right.

WR we will be fine. Bridges and wease along with lamb and Calc. One of the 2 in Robinson or Crawford will ease the loss of Brown some.

OL. We may lose a lot but I think Hayes and Robinson can be better than Samia and Powers. Tackles concerns me but we have some major talent there and hopefully either ford or Evans comes back. Honestly I think Evans should.

DL- Mann is back I hope Gallimore stays as that would be a nice front with Thompson. Perkins will be a stud and if we can get Redmond back that would be great. There is some talent so it will be interesting to see who the coach will be and will they allow them to be more aggressive

LB- Kelly and Murray are back with White and a lot of talent. The new coach has a lot of work to do on development because has talented as they are, they just really haven’t been developed as a player. We need to get away from having to play a walkon if one person goes down.

DB- Again development. I think we can be good back there but our safeties are severely lacking ball and covg skills. Our corners have moments but they really need to spend some time in the weight room. Brown is shorter but weighs more than Norwood and Motley. Bookie just needs to find a position and needs to be coached up.

 

[veritas59]

I read of that possibility recently. Personally, I don't believe he's ready.

Neither do I. Not even close.

 

[CTOkie]

At 6'2" 206 lbs, Mortecai does not have a size issue....no more than Mayfield who was 6'1" 220 lbs.
Sermon will be back with Brooks and Pledger.
RB Major is now rated a 4-star.
OL, Powers and Samia WILL be missed. And their replacements will have to block even better with Murray and his mobility gone.
Defensively, this team need both an overall with personnel and schemes and a newfound commitment to excellence...asap.
Kelly and Murray, with all their raw talent, haven't been elite. They need to be. This month would be a good time to start, and maybe the Texas game was the beginning for the entire defense.
The much-maligned secondary can't get better unless more pressure is applied by the front line. No secondary can be elite if opposing QB's are getting 4-6 seconds to hunt for a receiver.
The Alabama, regardless of the outcome, will be an education for Riley as his team faces Saban and his great group of players and coaches.

 

[Patriotgame_rivals]

QB still concerns me. Mordecai looked good but he needs to add some weight, he just looked smaller than the listed 6’2 215. Kendall just scares me when he is in there.

RB will be fine with Brooks Sermon and Pledger. I would love for another one as I am not sold on Major. I know Millwood and his dad said it was by design that he wasn’t used but honestly I got to question is heart if he even thought that was right.

WR we will be fine. Bridges and wease along with lamb and Calc. One of the 2 in Robinson or Crawford will ease the loss of Brown some.

OL. We may lose a lot but I think Hayes and Robinson can be better than Samia and Powers. Tackles concerns me but we have some major talent there and hopefully either ford or Evans comes back. Honestly I think Evans should.

DL- Mann is back I hope Gallimore stays as that would be a nice front with Thompson. Perkins will be a stud and if we can get Redmond back that would be great. There is some talent so it will be interesting to see who the coach will be and will they allow them to be more aggressive

LB- Kelly and Murray are back with White and a lot of talent. The new coach has a lot of work to do on development because has talented as they are, they just really haven’t been developed as a player. We need to get away from having to play a walkon if one person goes down.

DB- Again development. I think we can be good back there but our safeties are severely lacking ball and covg skills. Our corners have moments but they really need to spend some time in the weight room. Brown is shorter but weighs more than Norwood and Motley. Bookie just needs to find a position and needs to be coached up.

Losing Bolton will be a big hole to fill IMO though I think Kelly is playing better...