2018 Season Preview: Oklahoma Sooners
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Season outlook
Lincoln Riley will enter his second year as the Sooners head coach with a new quarterback under center. Junior quarterback Kyler Murray (5’10, 195) threw three touchdowns and zero interceptions behind Baker Mayfield last season and will assume the responsibilities as the new signal-caller in Norman. Around Murray is running back Rodney Anderson (6’1, 220) and wide receivers CeeDee Lamb (6’2, 189) and Marquise Brown (5’10, 168). All three have made their respective position groups’ preseason watch lists. On defense, junior linebacker Caleb Kelly (6’3, 231) moves to the inside linebacker position and will be asked to quarterback the defense.
Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops’ unit has to replace Ogbonnia Okoronkwo on the edge as well as five other starters. The defense’s new faces could very well decide the fate of the Sooners in a conference that features some of the best offenses in all of college football.
Troy’s player to watch
Game of the season
DraftNasty’s Prospect Watch
75 Dru Samia 6’5 303 RG-Senior
Samia came to Oklahoma as a highly-regarded recruit and has lived up to the billing for the most part. The Academic All-Big 12 selection has started 34 games at three different positions (RG, LG, RT) in his first three years on campus. He’s capable of finding color on the move when the team runs its plethora of power run game concepts. For him to take his game to another level, he needs to become more consistent handling inside movement by defensive ends (in pass protection). In addition, he has to stand his ground better when fighting pressure in 2018. The former River City Raiders (Calif.) product should once again challenge for all-conference honors in his final year in Norman.
Prediction: 10-2
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