Crimson countdown: No. 23 Emeka Megwa
The Crimson Countdown is officially on for the 2023 Oklahoma football season. It’s the second season under head coach Brent Venables and expectations are high once again. The Sooners are looking to rebound from the uncharacteristic 6-7 season in 2022.
Every day as we get closer to kickoff, SoonerScoop.com will count down the days with you. Starting with No. 99 and working our way to No. 0, we’ll be there every step of the way.
Crimson Countdown: No. 23 Emeka Megwa
2022 stats: N/A.
2023 outlook:
More than anything, it’s nice to attend practice and see Megwa not on crutches. The transfer from Washington has had to work a long way back after injuries.
Megwa was recruiting pretty heavily for the 2020 class, including by the previous OU staff. The Fort Worth product opted to head to the Northwest, but it didn’t pan out.
Megwa elected to transfer to OU right around the beginning of the 2022 season. However, because of his knee injury, he remains a complete unknown. He was always at practice, but he was also always on crutches.
Venables said last week Megwa will be a bit limited during preseason camp, but it’s a start. The more capable backs you can have, the better. We’ll see if Megwa can fight his way into a pretty deep rotation in 2023.
2023 running back outlook
Oklahoma will look to replace last season’s leading rusher Eric Gray, who is now a New York Giant. OU has several options with sophomore Jovantae Barnes and redshirt freshman Gavin Sawchuk as the frontrunners to start. Barnes was Oklahoma’s backup last season, but after suffering a foot injury in spring practice, the door has opened for Sawchuk. Oklahoma also welcomes a pair of true freshmen in Daylan Smothers and Kalib Hicks. And don’t count out redshirt senior Marcus Major, who returns for his fifth season in Norman.
