Senior losses include: (my list includes does not include every senior, just the ones I think are worth mentioning, and does not include Tay Evans who has retired, and Charles Walker who may be forced to retire).
On defense:
Wade NT
Dimon DE
Roberts DE
Ahmad Thomas S
Evans LB
Austin CB
***************************
On offense:
Wren C (he's listed as a senior, but has only played two years here, so maybe he returns in 2017)
Westbrook WR/RS
Baxter WR
Lewis WR
**************************
Of these ten players listed, the two best are Evans and Westbrook in my opinion.....and Westbrook will be very hard to replace, as he is truly a "Mount Rushmore talent"....and OU probably loses two more games this year without him (Texas and Texas Tech).
Possible early NFL defections could be S Stephen Parker and RB Samaje Perine.
OU has played all but three (WR Farrar, OL's Roberson and Swenson) of its 2016 class, which bodes well for the future. (Correct me if I missed someone).
But....
The RB depth will feature:
Mixon
Adams
Anderson
Serman (4-star recruit)
Brooks (4-star recruit)
Sutton (a RB/ATH from Lackawana CC)
Obviously there's a redshirt or two here, but the potential overall, barring injuries, is excellent.
WR/TE corps will add:
Rambo (4-star recruit)
Lamb (4-star recruit)
Calcaterra (4-star recruit, a hybrid TE)
Hall (3-star recruit as a TE)
At least 2 or 3 of these guys could play immediately.
3 4-star LB's arrive.
3 4-star DB's arrive.
1 4-star OL arrives.
Through all of this breakdown, the only concern for me....as far as the team's personnel goes....is the absence of any interior defensive linemen arriving as of today's date. I am fairly sure that the staff will get at least two, with perhaps one from the JUCO ranks. What needs to happen also is having Lampkin and Overton (medical redshirt) becoming good contributors.
I also believe OU will find another good receiver from either the JUCO ranks or as a transfer from another school...guys like Saunders, Bradley, Westbrook, Lewis, Justin Brown, Stills, etc. always seem to crop up.
Mayfield again will be the heart and soul of the team for one more year and hopefully, guys like Kendall, Murray and recruit Chris Robison will stay in fold. (I hope Kendall sees playing time vs Iowa State the way he did yesterday. He can be a good one, but has yet to prove himself against good competition as Mayfield's backup).
On defense:
Wade NT
Dimon DE
Roberts DE
Ahmad Thomas S
Evans LB
Austin CB
***************************
On offense:
Wren C (he's listed as a senior, but has only played two years here, so maybe he returns in 2017)
Westbrook WR/RS
Baxter WR
Lewis WR
**************************
Of these ten players listed, the two best are Evans and Westbrook in my opinion.....and Westbrook will be very hard to replace, as he is truly a "Mount Rushmore talent"....and OU probably loses two more games this year without him (Texas and Texas Tech).
Possible early NFL defections could be S Stephen Parker and RB Samaje Perine.
OU has played all but three (WR Farrar, OL's Roberson and Swenson) of its 2016 class, which bodes well for the future. (Correct me if I missed someone).
But....
The RB depth will feature:
Mixon
Adams
Anderson
Serman (4-star recruit)
Brooks (4-star recruit)
Sutton (a RB/ATH from Lackawana CC)
Obviously there's a redshirt or two here, but the potential overall, barring injuries, is excellent.
WR/TE corps will add:
Rambo (4-star recruit)
Lamb (4-star recruit)
Calcaterra (4-star recruit, a hybrid TE)
Hall (3-star recruit as a TE)
At least 2 or 3 of these guys could play immediately.
3 4-star LB's arrive.
3 4-star DB's arrive.
1 4-star OL arrives.
Through all of this breakdown, the only concern for me....as far as the team's personnel goes....is the absence of any interior defensive linemen arriving as of today's date. I am fairly sure that the staff will get at least two, with perhaps one from the JUCO ranks. What needs to happen also is having Lampkin and Overton (medical redshirt) becoming good contributors.
I also believe OU will find another good receiver from either the JUCO ranks or as a transfer from another school...guys like Saunders, Bradley, Westbrook, Lewis, Justin Brown, Stills, etc. always seem to crop up.
Mayfield again will be the heart and soul of the team for one more year and hopefully, guys like Kendall, Murray and recruit Chris Robison will stay in fold. (I hope Kendall sees playing time vs Iowa State the way he did yesterday. He can be a good one, but has yet to prove himself against good competition as Mayfield's backup).
