Oklahoma football: Which Sooners are ready to breakout on offense in 2019?
With spring football fast approaching, Oklahoma football is set to begin the quest for a fifth-straight Big 12 Championship and its first college football playoff win.
For that to happen Oklahoma football must find new ways to score points with the exit of several top stars and four offensive linemen. Luckily for the Sooners, head coach Lincoln Riley has been stockpiling talent since his arrival in Norman and appears to have plenty of new options ready to roll on the offensive side of the ball. That’s why we are starting our two-part series on spring breakout stars on the offensive side of the ball.
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So who will be the next big stars? What names will all Oklahoma football fans know by the end of 2019? Here’s a look at some names to watch. (Note there are no true freshmen on this list, only returning players who are ready to break out).
T.J. Pledger, running back
Trey Sermon rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last year and Kennedy Brooks went over the mark so one might think there’s no room for a third back in the rotation, but Lincoln Riley is never afraid to rotate backs in and out of the lineup and spread the carries and touches around.
Pledger might be the best natural pass catcher in the Sooners running back stable and a talented runner with great vision and burst. He already burned through his redshirt as a freshman thanks to extended service on special teams and as a reserve. Now, after a full year in the strength and conditioning program, Pledger should be ready to become a regular contributor on offense.
Brey Walker, offensive line
A homegrown five-star offensive line talent, Walker had the benefit of learning behind two future NFL tackles last season as he redshirted. Big, athletic, strong and mean, the 6-foot-6, 338-pounder already has an NFL-type body, he just has to get up to speed in the college game.
The learning curve might include a few mistakes, but by the end of the season Walker has the talent to become not just another all-conference offensive tackle in the Sooners’ system, but an All American anchor for this group in the years to come.