Oklahoma football: Six players pivotal to Sooners’ success in 2022

OT Anton Harrison

If the quarterback is the most important person on the football team, what position is the second most important? Although that is more of a rhetorical question, there is a strong argument to be made the offensive left tackle position is the second most important position, at least on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage. A right-handed quarterback probably wouldn’t argue with that assessment because it is the job of the left tackle to protect a right-handed QB’s back or blind side.

But Oklahoma’s new starting quarterback throws from the left side, which means that LT Anton Harrison’s responsibilities will change slightly but the junior’s presence on the Sooner offensive line will be no less important.

At this early stage, it appears that UCLA transfer Chris Murray, who played right guard last season for OU, will could slide over to right tackle in 2022, but don’t be surprised if the Sooners switch Harrison to the right side at some point to capitalize on his strong pass-blocking skills.

In Harrison’s freshman season in 2020, he allowed just one quarterback sack in 173 pass-blocking plays, according to Pro Football Focus.

K Zach Schmit

Oklahoma has been blessed the past seven seasons with having two of the best placekickers in the game in Austin Seibert and Gabe Brkic. Both players were 80 percent or better in field-goal tries and nearly perfect in extra-point attempts.

Seibert’s last season was 2018, and Brkic declared for the NFL Draft after last season despite having another season of eligibility if he wanted to use it.

With the number of close games (seven points or less) the Sooners have played the last couple of years, having a reliable kicker becomes extremely important. Redshirt sophomore Zach Schmit inherits that role at OU for the 2022 campaign. He attempted just one field goal a year ago, which he made from 46 yards out, so this season will be like a whole new experience for the young kicker, who hails from nearby Oklahoma City.

Schmit was rated as a five-star prospect by Kohl’s Kicking coming out of high school, so he comes into his new role with stellar credentials. His performance this season will no doubt be of critical importance to the Sooners’ success under new head coach Brent Venables.

DB Woodi Washington

Redshirt-junior cornerback Woodi Washington is the anchor of what should be a much-improved OU defensive secondary this season. Washington started the first two games for the Sooners last season before suffering an injury that forced him to miss the next seven games. He returned for the final four games of the season.

In just six games last season, Washington recorded 27 tackles, two interceptions and a couple of pass breakups. In the Sooners’ Alamo Bowl win over Oregon, he had a season-high seven tackles and a pass breakup.

During the offseason, Washington’s new defensive backs coach, Jay Valai, has been challenging him to grow as a leader. “He understands the game, has a high level of ‘want to’ and has been busting his tail,” said Valai, who coached cornerbacks at Alabama last season, during OU’s spring practice sessions.

A healthy Washington for a full season would be a giant plus for the Oklahoma defense this season.