Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Five takeaways from return of Sooners’ spring game

By Chip Rouse

Apr 24, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley speaks with the team after the spring game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley speaks with the team after the spring game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 24, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Eric Gray (0) runs for a touchdown past Oklahoma Sooners safety Jordan Mukes (29) during the spring game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Eric Gray (0) runs for a touchdown past Oklahoma Sooners safety Jordan Mukes (29) during the spring game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Biggest stars of the game are newcomers to 2021 roster

A number of big plays and highlights in the game came from newcomers to the roster and players who have played sparingly during their time at OU. This is obviously a very good sign for the future and underscores the depth on this Sooner team.

Tennessee transfer Eric Gray started the game at running back. He didn’t receive a lot of action after the opening moments of the game, but did manage to roll up 23 yards on four carries, including a 19-yard touchdown run early in the second half. It’s pretty apparent the speedster is going to be used both in the run game as well as a pass catcher out of the backfield.

Aside from Gray, perhaps the best performance by a Sooner newcomer expected to be a big-time contributor in the fall was by former five-star recruit Mario Williams. Williams caught five passes for 84 yards and just missed hauling in a 50-yarder from Spencer Rattler early in the game. The deep throw was broken up by redshirt-freshman defensive back Kendall Dennis on an excellent defensive play, which was almost as good to see as having Williams make a spectacular catch.

A pair of non-scholarship players, Jaden Knowles and Todd Hudson, combined for 69 rushing yards on just three carries apiece, and Knowles added 48 receiving yards on four catches. His two-yard touchdown run with just a few ticks over four minutes remaining gave the offense its first lead in the game at 30-29.

Young receiver Jackson Sumlin made 3 catches for 31 yards, including the touchdown throw from Caleb Williams.

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