5 Oklahoma players who turned heads in the Sooners' spring game

The spring game returned to Oklahoma on Saturday, and a few Sooners, especially newcomers, stood out from their teammates to ignite excitement for their future in crimson and cream.

Using a traditional scoring format and a running clock other than the first quarter, Red Team handled White Team 31-3 in front of 31,407 fans at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Red Team featured big names like quarterback John Mateer, kicker Tate Sandell and cornerback Courtland Guillory, but it was ultimately unknowns to most fans who made the biggest impact for both squads to show they, too, could soon become household names throughout Sooner Nation.

Read more: Brent Venables' answer on no Oklahoma spring game broadcast only angers fans more

Standouts from the Sooners' 2026 spring game

Coming from Colorado State this offseason and Tulsa before that, running back Lloyd Avant was expected to find some sort of role for the Sooners in 2026 because of his versatility, but with Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock both sidelined on Saturday, Avant clearly asserted himself as RB3 during spring camp.

OU offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle looked to run Avant into the ground early before he finished with a game-high 14 carries, which Avant turned into 69 yards while averaging 4.9 an attempt and scored a three-yard touchdown. Although it wasn't on display Saturday, Avant during the season can also be a weapon in the passing game and on special teams.

Obviously Avant's touches usually won't get near 14 behind Robinson and Blaylock, but he could end up being what Arbuckle wanted Jaydn Ott to be for the Sooners last season.

Those guys from nearby Midwest City High School seem to always take advantage of every opportunity. Other than a brief appearance in a blowout against Kent State last year, Saturday was the first time OU fans really got to see redshirt freshman safety Trystan Haynes.

With more opportunity, Haynes tied for White Team's high with seven tackles and got into the backfield once for a tackle for loss. And he did that while going up against some of the Sooners' best offensive players.

There's opportunity for more playing time at safety, and Haynes has certainly made his case for some of it.

Speaking of safeties trying to earn a larger role, sophomore Omarion Robinson also made a statement. Playing on White Team alongside Haynes, Robinson also had seven tackles, but added a pass breakup and forced fumble to his stat sheet to prove he's a ball hawk.

Two young players proving they deserve more playing time at the same position, where the Sooners need guys to step up, is a good problem for head coach Brent Venables to have entering the fall.

There was buzz during spring practices of freshman Jahsiear Rogers already being a weapon for the Sooners and making a case for immediate playing time, and that was confirmed on Saturday.

Rogers, with backups Whitt Newbauer and Bowe Bentley as his quarterbacks, caught five passes for 70 yards, which were both game-highs. It's worth noting that was without fellow speedy receivers Isaiah Sategna III and Virginia transfer Trell Harris out there with him, but it shows that even if Rogers gets buried on the depth chart this season, he'll be able to slot right in as a deep threat come 2027 and beyond.

Freshman running back DeZephen Walker was likely the MVP of the spring game in his Memorial Stadium debut. Walker went off for 81 rushing yards on eight carries, averaging 10.1 an attempt, and scored on an impressive 17-yard run.

Walker showed the vision and effort to be yet another freshman star at running back for the Sooners. There's a lot of mouths to feed in that backfield, though, but the Sooners are at least set for the future if guys like Walker stay in Norman.

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