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With question marks around Oklahoma's running backs, receivers, and even quarterbacks, the one thing that seems to at least be sure is that the Sooners are stout at the offensive line where they have 107 career starts returning.
2014 Oklahoma Sooners Offensive Linemen
|
# |
Name |
Position |
HT |
WT |
Year |
Hometown |
|
68 |
Alvarez, Jonathan |
G |
6-3 |
316 |
Fr. |
Mesquite, Texas (Horn HS) |
|
75 |
Evans, Tyler |
G |
6-5 |
339 |
RSr. |
Strafford, Mo. (Strafford HS) |
|
53 |
Feo, Tony |
G |
6-3 |
300 |
RSr. |
Pago Pago, American Samoa (Fullerton College) |
|
65 |
Hardaway, Nick |
G |
6-2 |
297 |
So. |
Moore, Okla. (Westmoore HS) |
|
64 |
Hartsook, Dylan |
G |
6-5 |
312 |
RSo. |
Midwest City, Okla. (Choctaw HS) |
|
52 |
Hughes, John-Philip |
G |
6-3 |
276 |
RJr. |
Tulsa, Okla. (Edison HS) |
|
54 |
Kasitati, Nila |
G |
6-4 |
315 |
RJr. |
Euless, Texas (Trinity HS) |
|
66 |
Nolan, Riley |
G |
6-0 |
278 |
RSo. |
Norman, Okla. (Missouri Southern State) |
|
77 |
Savage, Dionte |
G |
6-4 |
343 |
Sr. |
Flint, Mich. (Arizona Western ) |
|
74 |
Shead, Adam |
G |
6-4 |
339 |
RSr. |
Cedar Hill, Texas (Cedar Hill HS) |
|
63 |
Dalton, Alex |
C |
6-4 |
282 |
Fr. |
Troy, Ohio (Troy HS) |
|
56 |
Darlington, Ty |
C |
6-2 |
286 |
Jr. |
Apopka, Fla. (Apopka HS) |
|
78 |
Brown, Orlando |
T |
6-8 |
340 |
Fr. |
Duluth, Ga. (Peachtree Ridge HS) |
|
70 |
Daimler, Christian |
T |
6-7 |
300 |
RFr. |
Houston, Texas (Stratford HS) |
|
72 |
Farniok, Derek |
T |
6-9 |
329 |
RJr. |
Sioux Falls, S.D. (Washington HS) |
|
73 |
Frison, Kenyon |
T |
6-6 |
285 |
Fr. |
Salt Lake City, Utah (Granger HS) |
|
76 |
Grant, Sam |
T |
6-7 |
281 |
RSo. |
North Royalton, Ohio (St. Edward HS) |
|
69 |
Paul, Joseph |
T |
6-4 |
374 |
Fr. |
New Orleans, La. (Saint Augustine HS) |
|
55 |
St. John, Josiah |
T |
6-6 |
300 |
RJr. |
Toronto, Canada (Trinity Valley CC) |
|
71 |
Thompson, Tyrus |
T |
6-5 |
336 |
RSr. |
Pflugerville, Texas (Pflugerville HS) |
|
79 |
Williams, Daryl |
T |
6-6 |
329 |
RSr. |
Lake Dallas, Texas (Lake Dallas HS) |
The biggest shift on Oklahoma's offensive line comes at the center position where junior Ty Darlington takes over for the graduated Gabe Ikard. He played in nine games in 2012, including the first start of his career against Baylor, and then saw action against Texas Tech, Notre Dame, and Louisiana-Monroe in 2013. While the Sooners lose the veteran leadership of Ikard, they do have a strong replacement in Darlington who is stepping in with game experience.
Junior Nila Kasitati is most likely going to step in for Bronsin Irwin, who also graduated from last year's squad, and again brings experience to the position. He played in four games during the 2012 season and then started seven of the thirteen games of 2013.
The best news for Oklahoma is that they are replacing their graduated positions with experienced veterans to go along with seniors Adam Shead (LG), Daryl Williams (RT), and Tyrus Thompson (LT). The Sooners will feature what should be the top offensive line in the conference and, unlike the receivers and running backs, experience isn't an issue. However, depth may be.
Freshman Alex Dalton backs up Darlington at center, making it a position where they can ill afford to suffer an injury. The comeback story of the year is Tyler Evans who will rotate in at the guard positions to provide experienced depth but after him there is a ton of potential and little experience.
It goes without saying that everything starts upfront for the offense. While Trevor Knight settles into his second season he'll have new faces at running back and receiver to get adjusted with but he will have the luxury of a fantastic security blanked in a seasoned offensive line.