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Ten Most Indispensable Oklahoma Football Players in 2016

By Chip Rouse

Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;Clemson Tigers and Oklahoma Sooners line up in the first quarter of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;Clemson Tigers and Oklahoma Sooners line up in the first quarter of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners before the start of a game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners before the start of a game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

One reason why expectations are so high for Oklahoma football as the countdown to the 2016 season nears the three-week mark is the balance that exists in all the important aspects of the game, making the Sooners a complete team.

The Sooners have few appreciable weaknesses entering the 2016 season when you consider the main components that make up a successful college football team. But as we all know, there is nothing perfect about the game of football, where injuries and other unforeseen outcomes can alter the course of history in a New York minute.

It is difficult to quantify the impact of not having a player or players available for any length of time during the season. Skill positions, those responsible for handling the ball, obviously are valued higher and considered more important to a team’s success than those players who do not handle the ball or are more likely to force turnovers on defense.

On the other hand, losing the services of one or more offensive line starters can irreparably disrupt the best of offensive attacks. So, where do you draw the line?

This got us thinking, who are the most indispensable Sooners on the 2016 football roster, and how vulnerable would the defending Big 12 champions be if one or more of the 10 players we have identified as “most indispensable” were unavailable for one or more games during the season or, heaven forbid, lost for the balance of the year?

Here is our list of the 10 most indispensable Sooner players heading into the 2016 season. Any combination of one or more of these player having to miss any extended time at any point during the coming season could mean the difference between a sensational 12-0 or 11-1 regular season and a disappointing 9-3 or 8-4 campaign in a year for which expectations were much higher.

Next: Huge Drop Off Between Starting QB Baker Mayfield and His Backup

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