Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: Ranking the Sooners’ top 10 players entering 2018 season

By Chip Rouse

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 16: The Oklahoma Sooners take the field before the game against the Tulane Green Wave at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Tulane 56-14. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 16: The Oklahoma Sooners take the field before the game against the Tulane Green Wave at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Tulane 56-14. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 10
Next
ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 02: Desmon White #10 of the TCU Horned Frogs runs the ball against Kenneth Murray #9 and Will Johnson #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the second quarter during Big 12 Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 02: Desmon White #10 of the TCU Horned Frogs runs the ball against Kenneth Murray #9 and Will Johnson #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the second quarter during Big 12 Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

No. 9 — Sophomore linebacker Kenneth Murray

The sophomore linebacker out of Missouri City, Texas, is set to have a breakout year in the middle of the Sooners’ defense. Murray was named co-Defensive Freshman of the Year in the Big 12 in 2017.

He finished the season strong a year ago, recording four tackles and forcing a fumble against TCU in the Big 12 Championship game, won by the Sooners, and posted a career-high nine tackles (two for a loss and one for a quarterback sack) in Oklahoma’s College Football Playoff game with Georgia.

Voted a freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America and USA Today, Murray started all 14 of the Sooners’ games last season and was second on the team in tackles with 87.

Murray was the first freshman to start a season opener for the Sooners at inside linebacker.

Sooner fans can expect to hear Murray’s name called a lot this coming season when Oklahoma is on defense.

COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 09: Caleb Kelly #19 and Will Johnson #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners attempt to tackle K.J. Hill #14 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half at Ohio Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 09: Caleb Kelly #19 and Will Johnson #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners attempt to tackle K.J. Hill #14 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half at Ohio Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

No. 8 — Junior linebacker Caleb Kelly

Another Sooner player recruited out of the Golden State (California). Caleb Kelly provides veteran leadership to the Oklahoma linebacking corps that lost a couple of key players off of last season’s Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff team.

A five-star recruit out of high school in Fresno, California, Kelly has started 19 of OU’s 27 games the past two seasons. He ranked seventh on the team last season with 56 tackles and was credited with four quarterback hurries, second on the team.

In Oklahoma’s College Football Playoff loss to Georgia, Kelly made four tackles and forced what at the time was a game-changing fumble that safety Steven Parker scooped up and returned for a go-ahead Sooner touchdown. Georgia came from behind to tie the score and send the game to double overtime before the Bulldogs pulled out a 54-48 victory.

Home/OU Football