‘Jack’ depth quickly evaporates
Going into preseason camp, Oklahoma lacked the star power that it had in recent years at the ‘jack’ defensive end/linebacker spot, but it looked to make up for that with depth.
Freshman Jalen Redmond was expected to compete for immediate playing time there with sophomore Addison Gumbs and junior Mark Jackson Jr.
But with Redmond out for the season with a blood clot issue and Gumbs first out for the season with a knee injury and now out of the program, that depth has quickly evaporated.
“Jon-Michael Terry’s emergence has helped. Now it’s just the emergence of all of our other linebackers, some of these young d-linemen,” Sooners coach Lincoln
Riley said. “It gives you options whether it’s moving somebody, whether it’s something schematically.”
Riley said Gumbs’ transfer had nothing to do with the injury, though the timing might’ve been affected because of it.
“There was a situation at home that the family made a decision that he needed to be there for,” Riley said. “We support him. We hate to lose him. He was a very promising your player in the program.
“No bad blood. No messy exit. None of that. Just life comes up and you have to deal with it.”
Crawford may redshirt
During the spring, freshman wide receiver Jaquayln Crawford was one of the young playmakers that looked like he could have an immediate impact for the Sooners.
But Crawford wasn’t talked about much during preseason camp and, although healthy, might wind up redshirting.
“(Crawford’) kinda in that group right now of kinda trying to decide if we’re going to redshirt him or not,” Riley said. “He’s done some good things, had some good flashes, but probably one of those guys we may look at exploring the four-game deal with.” Mittermeier expected back Senior offensive tackle Quinn Mittermeier figured to be a valuable piece for the Sooners on the offensive line, with the ability to back up both tackle spots and contribute on special teams.
Mittermeier has played in 25 games over the previous two seasons, primarily on special teams, but wasn’t used in last week’s win over Florida Atlantic.
“He was out for that game,” Riley said. “We expect him back this week. Had a situation he had to attend to, but he’s back and ready to run so we expect to have him full go.”
Klatt: Oklahoma defense as good as it’s been since early 2000s
Count Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt among the believers in Oklahoma’s defense after just one week.
“Oklahoma might be better this year than last year, even without Baker Mayfield. And that’s saying something, because he was incredible,” Klatt said on FS1’s First Things First. “That defense that I saw on Saturday was as good as Oklahoma has played defense since the early 2000s.”
Klatt currently has the Sooners ranked No. 2, behind only Alabama.
Quotable
Caleb Kelly on fellow linebacker Curtis Bolton:
“Curtis has been through the ringer. He’s a redshirt senior now. He’s finally getting his time to shine,. I support him and love the guy for real. … I’m real proud of him and I know he’s gonna continue to do well because he’s a freakin’ ball player.”