Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Which early enrollees will make an impact?

By Christopher Dukes

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 25: Head Coach Lincoln Riley of Oklahoma Sooners during warm ups before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated West Virginia 59-31. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 25: Head Coach Lincoln Riley of Oklahoma Sooners during warm ups before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated West Virginia 59-31. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: The Sooner Schooner is seen before the Oklahoma Sooners take on the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: The Sooner Schooner is seen before the Oklahoma Sooners take on the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Austin Stogner, tight end

Stogner brings a giant frame and velcro hands to Norman and would probably be a day-one starter at 90 percent of the programs in the country, but Oklahoma has a couple of guys named Grant Calcaterra and Lee Morris already on the roster. That’s not even mentioning h-back hybrid Braden Willis, who earned playing time as a true freshman in 13 of 14 games.

Calcaterra has made some memorable catches as a Sooner and Morris seems to be a big-play machine, but Stogner’s skills may be too vast to ignore and Riley may come up with some packages to showcase the tallest receiver on the roster, but will he burn his redshirt year with so much established talent already on the roster?

LaRon Stokes, defensive lineman/linebacker

Watching LaRon Stokes’ film will remind a lot of Oklahoma fans of Obo Okoronkwo. He’s a guy who can play with his hand on the ground or standing up, get off blocks and create problems for opponents by crashing into the backfield.

Alex Grinch’s defense has a “rush end” position that looks to be custom-made for Stokes’ skillset. Yes, he’ll have to beat out a crowded field for the spot, but a deeper look reveals he’ll have a pretty good chance to become a contributor (and maybe even a starter) in Grinch’s new scheme.

Ronnie Perkins inherited the position a year ago after injuries took out several players in front of him on the depth chart, but Perkins looks more natural as an interior lineman and could very well shift inside under the new regime.

Jalen Redmond will be the favorite, but his status is still unknown after he was forced to miss most of last season with a medical issue. Mark Jackson is next up on the depth chart.

Though Jackson started seven games last year at the “jack” spot, he may be better suited in another role.  K’Jakyre Daley is an x-factor, but entering his junior year he is still waiting to break out.

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