Apr 11, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Daniel Brooks (34) runs the ball during the spring football game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Red wins 20-7 over White. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
It’s finally here – the 2015 college football season – and it’s fun at this time of season to project ahead on what the total season might look like three months from now, whom the biggest stars will be and what might be the best and biggest of Sooner football this season.
Who among the 2015 Sooners will elevate their game to the level of Most Outstanding Player. How about the best newcomer or the most improved player? What would you project as the biggest game of the year for OU or the most difficult road game on the 2015 schedule?
What is the biggest trap game Oklahoma should be concerned about this season, and what win will the Sooners call their biggest in 2015?
Here is our season-opening look at how we think things will play out over the course of the 2015 season.
Most Outstanding Player
Oct 11, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA;Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Sterling Shepard (3) runs the ball in the fourth quarter against the Texas Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma beat Texas 31-26. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
There should be several players in the hunt for this honor. Based on the 2014 season, you can’t count out Samaje Perine, even with the Sooners expected to put the ball in the air a lot more than they did a year ago. And one of the chief targets when OU goes to its new Air Raid attack is certain to be senior wide receiver Sterling Shepard.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield, a transfer to OU from Texas Tech, where he started eight games as a walk-on freshman in 2013, is certain to have a big hand in how well the Sooner offense performs this season and, as such, a strong candidate for Most Outstanding Player honors when all is said and done.
Although the offense usually draws the most headlines because that’s where the most excitement and highlight plays exist, the Sooners also have some very talented players on the defensive side of the ball. And with the OU offense expected to move the ball and put up plenty of points, it will be the play of the defense that ultimately decides how far and how high Oklahoma will go this season.
Linebacker Eric Striker and defensive back Zack Sanchez are expected to lead a defensive resurgence this season, and if that indeed takes place, you can be assured that Striker and Sanchez will also be in the MOP conversation.
The Sooners will have plenty of candidates at season’s end, but my advance call is that the Most Outstanding Player honor will go to Sterling Shepard.
This will be the final season of eligibility for the standout Sooner receiver, and he will be looking to make up for the time he lost a year ago after being injured in OU’s eighth game of the season and missing the final five games of the 2014 campaign.
Shepard caught 51 passes in each of the last two seasons. With a more fast-paced, quick-strike passing attack, the sure-handed, home-grown wide receiver from nearby Oklahoma City should easily be able to notch 70 or more catches this season and is a dangerous weapon on reverse plays and as a punt returner.
This is going to be a big season for the Sooners, contrary to what many of the experts are saying, and watch for Shepard’s performance to lead the way.
Next: Most Improved Player