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Oklahoma Football: 2023 Spring Game preview – Five things to watch

By Brandon Self

NORMAN, OK - APRIL 23: Head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners stands with his team for the alma mater during their spring game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on April 23, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - APRIL 23: Head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners stands with his team for the alma mater during their spring game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on April 23, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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NORMAN, OK – OCTOBER 15: Left tackle Tyler Guyton #60 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks up at a banner as he runs onto the field for a game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 52-42. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – OCTOBER 15: Left tackle Tyler Guyton #60 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks up at a banner as he runs onto the field for a game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 52-42. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

O-line-U

With the best offensive line coach in the nation (Bill Bedenbaugh) leading the big boys, it’ll be interesting to see who gets the most time on the field in the Spring game. It’s expected that Andrew Raym will remain the starting center and McKade Mettauer will stay at guard, but who is plugged in at the other three positions, and are they any good?

According to multiple reports this spring, McKade Mettauer will move to right guard since Tyler Guyton is expected to start at right tackle. Savion Byrd is expected to see the majority of time at the left guard come next fall, next to transfer tackle Walter Rouse.

This switch-up fascinates a football nerd like me because it shows Bedenbaugh’s genius. He moved Mettauer to the right to pair up with Guyton because Guyton is newer and Mettauer is experienced, which is an immense quality to have as an offensive lineman. The same holds true on the left, with Rouse entering his season with 40 starts under his belt from his Stanford days and Savion Byrd being new.

The guy I’ll focus on the most is a redshirt, Junior Tyler Guyton. According to multiple reports, Guyton has had one of the team’s best Spring practices of any Sooner.

"“He’s got all the ability in the world. He’s one of the most talented guys I’ve ever seen, and we’ve had some pretty talented guys come through here” – Sooner Offensive Line Coach Bill Bedenbaugh."

High praise from a college football legend like coach Bedenbaugh. Guyton displays above-average athleticism and a mean streak, making him a prime All-American tackle candidate.

With Walter Rouse and Jacob Sexton being injured and not participating in spring drills, we must see who else can play offensive tackle. Caleb Shaffer and Jake Taylor should get plenty of reps at tackle this Spring. The natural way an offensive line works, however, is on an 8 or 9-man rotation. Guards can move to tackle and tackle to guard. Centers fit in as guards, and guards can play center.

The depth is more important to see than the actual placement of a position tag. The Sooners brought in two elite-level high school offensive linemen, tackle Cayden Green and center Joshua Bates. The offensive line will be fine under Bedenbaugh, but seeing the depth’s progression in the Spring game will be interesting.

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