Oklahoma Football: Ranking the top 10 Sooners entering 2018

This season we here at Stormin in Norman are adding a new feature: A power ranking of the top 10 Oklahoma football players. It will be a fluid list that changes from week to week depending on performances.

The preseason rankings were based on last year’s performance, spring and fall camp hype and what coaches have said in interviews heading into the season.

1) Rodney Anderson

The Sooners’ back broke out during the second half of last year, totaling 1,342 yards and 17 toucdowns from scrimmage. He capped off his comeback year with 201 yards rushing against  Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifnial. All the more impressive considering he totaled only 12 carries through the first five games. Anderson is certain to get more touches this year as Oklahoma adjusts to a new starting quarterback for the first time in three years and could garner Heisman attention before it’s all said and done.

2) CeeDee Lamb

The sophomore wide receiver caught 46 passes for 807 yards and seven touchdowns  as a true freshman. Lamb added some bulk in the offseason to help him get off press coverage and his back-shoulder catch in the spring game shows he could very well be ungaurdable one on one when he is on his game.

3) Kenneth Murray

There are some out there who will groan about Murray being this high the list, but the Freshman All American middle linebacker is worthy of inclusion. Yes, he made some mistakes last season, but most of that can be attributed to being a freshman. With a  year of experience under his belt and countless offseason hours in the film room Murray’s brain is catching up with his extensive physical skills. By the end of the year writers will be scratching their heads as to why he was left off the preseason All Big 12 Team.

4) Ben Powers

The senior guard has 22 starts under his belt and will be the key to what Oklahoma wants to do on offense this year. Whether he is pushing a defensive tackle off the ball at the point of attack or pulling to make room for Sooner backs on the counter play, Powers brings the kind of consistency to the offensive line that coaches love.

5) Marquise Brown

Brown will be the fastest player on the field in just about every game he plays in this season. “Hollywood” takes the top off opponents’  coverage schemes and as he continues to add more dimensions to his game, he becomes an even bigger weapon in Lincoln Riley’s offense. Don’t be surprised to see him used in some new and dynamic ways in 2018.

6) Bobby Evans

Right tackle or left tackle? That is the question concerning Bobby Evans as he enters his redshirt junior year. The 6-foot-5, 301-pounder already has 26 starts at the right tackle position, but a move to the left could mean big NFL money for Evans should he succeed.

7) Kenneth Mann

It is a common story line for OU defensive linemen: tons of talent, but must get more consistent. Mann fits that bill perfectly. The Burleson, Texas product jumps out on film with a big play, but then disappears into the fold. Now in his junior season Oklahoma is hoping he’ll be able to put it all together and become an every-down threat to offenses.

8) Parnell Motley

Other than a horrible game against Oklahoma State, Motley was one of the best defensive backs on the Oklahoma roster last season, certainly the best overall cornerback. “DC Island” – as his teammates call him – made a game-changing interception  against Ohio State and his lockdown play against TCU helped Oklahoma shut down the Horned Frogs for the last three quarters of the Big 12 Championship Game. With two new starting safeties it will be crucial for Motley to continue his maturation and become the premier corner in Mike Stoops’ scheme.

9) Grant Calcaterra

Replacing a Mackey Award winner isn’t easy, but Calcaterra has the skillset to keep Oklahoma rolling right along at the tight end position. Calcaterra played in big-time games and came up with clutch catches as a true freshman and should see his numbers explode with more reps this year.

10) Austin Seibert

The last time we saw Seibert in official action was might leave a bad taste in a few Oklahoma fans’ mouths, but looking over his career as a whole it’s hard to deny the former No. 1 kicker recruit in the country has lived up to his high billing. Seibert is not only consistant – making 81 percent of his field goal attempts last year – he also has a big leg. He booted a 51-yarder against West Virginia last season and his kickoffs through the end zone were a blessing for a team that struggled with kick coverage at times last year.

11) Brenden Radley-Hiles (Bonus)

The “Bookie” hype train has been running wild all offseason. Hiles comes in as the most anticipated Oklahoma defensive recruit since Tommie Harris and should start from day one. Oklahoma used to have a position in its defense called the “Roy”, aptly named for Thorpe and Nagurski Award winner Roy Williams, but it’s been well over a decade since the Sooners had anyone who could fill that role. Hiles appears to be that guy. It will be fun to see what kind of havoc the Sooners’ defensive coaching staff can come up with now that they have a player of Hiles’ talent level at their disposal.