Spring football starts Thursday for the Oklahoma Sooners, but not everyone on the roster will get to participate.
In anticipation of spring football kicking off, OU coach Brent Venables met with media on Wednesday, and during his 25-minute opening statement he gave a list of nine players that will miss all of spring football because of injuries, plus a few others who will be limited.
Among those limited, according to Venables, will be defensive backs Peyton Bowen and Gentry Williams. Venables said Bowen fought turf toe all of last season while playing in 12 games and making four starts as a sophomore.
Williams played only two games last year before suffering a season-ending injury.
Venables also updated that wide receiver Jayden Gibson "might have had a small setback" during his return from injury while running routes against air on Tuesday. Gibson missed all of last season after suffering a season-ending knee injury during fall camp before the season even kicked off.
As for those expected to miss all of spring football, here's the entire list:
Heath Ozaeta (OL)
Kade McIntyre (TE)
Jayden Jackson (DL)
Logan Howland (OL)
Seth Freeman (LS)
KJ Daniels (WR)
Andy Bass (RB)
Jovantae Barnes (RB)
Darius Afalava (OL)
From that list, four were consistent starters for the Sooners last season. Jovantae Barnes was OU's leading rusher before injuring his foot against Maine and missing the last three games. Venables said freshman All-American Jayden Jackson also dealt with a labrum injury last year that's keeping him out now.
Heath Ozaeta, Kade McIntyre and Logan Howland are also dealing with an injured labrum, which is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the shoulder socket to help keep the shoulder joint in place.
Freshman KJ Daniels had a hamstring injury that had been bothering him since high school. Darius Afalava also had a lingering injury from high school.
Seth Freeman got to OU with an ACL injury that was unknown until OU's medical staff found it. Andy Bass also tore his ACL for the second time.
OU dealt with an alarming amount of injuries last season, including to all five of its top wide receivers. Venables said it's something the program is looking into in hopes they don't suffer that misfortune again in 2025. All those injuries also factored into OU canceling its annual spring game.
"We went back and looked just studies-wise, it's been close to 2-1 from an injury standpoint when we had an inordinate amount of injuries this year compared to our first two years. And so looked back at every part of our program and where we can get better and just be more efficient and keep our guys healthy, but 2-1 the injuries occur in games as opposed to practice, and that's no surprise being around the game a long time, that's right about on par.
"But that did have a little bit to do with our decision for the spring game. Everything's changed in college football. And I'm, again, a traditionalist at heart, and I look at how we build and develop our team, and certainly there are no preseason games -- wish there were -- but the reality is it's a very dumbed down version. You're not showing a whole lot. You're keeping it very safe, doing quick whistles. You get all your good players out fast. Well, our roster is not the same. We've got close to 30 guys less than what we had a year ago at this time (because of new roster limits). Plus, you've got nine guys that aren't participating alone. Then you got another eight, nine, 10 guys that aren't available for contact right now, so there's another 20 guys."