4 Oklahoma players whose stock has skyrocketed already during fall camp

Fall camp signals the market is open, and four Oklahoma players in particular have used just a week's worth of practices to already improve their stock ahead of the Sooners' season opener against UTEP on Friday, Sept. 4, at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Lloyd Avant and 3 other Sooners making buzz ahead of the season opener

Lloyd Avant went from a quiet transfer addition to a crowded running back room, to the loudest name of fall camp so far after completely shifting the position hierarchy. Coming from Colorado State, Avant wasn't expected to contribute much, other than maybe add a little wrinkle to the offense and on special teams because of his versatility. But over a week into practices, Avant still seems to be the Sooners' top back after running backs coach Deland McCullough said he was at the start of fall camp.

Read more: Lloyd Avant is forcing Deland McCullough to rethink Oklahoma's backfield hierarchy

More recently, Voice of the Sooners, Toby Rowland, admitted that Avant has even surprised him with expectation that he'd eventually lose the spotlight to someone like Xavier Robinson, Tory Blaylock or Jonathan Hatton Jr. Even next to those talents at practice, Avant has still looked impressive.

Will Avant remain the Sooners' No. 1? Only time will tell, but he's at least earned his chance to take things over instead of being just an afterthought.

Thanks to some injuries along the offensive line, freshman Noah Best got the opportunity to play with the starting unit at right guard and hasn't disappointed. Ryan Fodje, who is expected to start at right guard but shifted to left tackle, even went as far to say that he believes Best could start Week 1.

Read more: Noah Best is turning Oklahoma’s early injury problem into an advantage

Best likely won't crack the starting lineup consistently with all the experience the Sooners have returning up front, but he used this fall camp to solidify a spot in the regular rotation when he wasn't on any projected two-deep depth chart before practices started.

The Sooners need depth at cornerback behind solidified starters Eli Bowen and Courtland Guillory, and that could be sophomore Trystan Haynes, a local product from Carl Albert High School. Knowing the need was coming, OU used the transfer portal to add some potential depth pieces, but Haynes has shown this fall camp that the Sooners might have already had what they needed the whole time.

Media has attended only a few practices so far, but reporters who got even that tiny sample size won't stop raving about linebacker Cole Sullivan, who just transferred from Michigan. Brent Venables after practice on Friday also mentioned Sullivan by name as a player who has had a great fall camp.

Sullivan came to OU with the expectation to start at linebacker, but with Owen Heinecke's sudden return, Sullivan starting became less likely. He's been so impressive, though, that he's practiced at multiple positions as the Sooners find every way to get him on the field, which could include starting at cheetah.

Want to see it with your own eyes? Peep No. 18 in the first video:

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