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When speaking with reporters at Sunday’s OU Media Day, Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley announced that freshman linebacker Jalen Redmond, freshman defensive tackle Michael Thompson, junior safety Chanse Sylvie and senior safety Prentice McKinney are expected to miss the 2018 season due to various ailments.
Redmond, a highly-touted freshman from Midwest City, will be out for 2018 due to a situation with blood clots. Earlier this month, he was hospitalized because of the issue. The presence of blood clots can be a scary situation, so it’s good to see that the thing was handled swiftly and that OU is taking the proper precautions.
Feeling better & ready to leave this hospital
— J-Eazy (@jalen_redmond) July 8, 2018
Despite the presence of guys such as Addison Gumbs, Mark Jackson and K’Jakyre Daly, Redmond is someone who was considered talented enough to challenge for snaps at the JACK position as a true freshman.
Thompson, another talented freshman, tore his ACL in June and was already assumed to be lost for 2018, but this confirms it.
Riley gave Sylvie a “50/50” chance to return from an achilles injury earlier this summer, but his 2018 season is unfortunately another offseason casualty. On the bright side, Sylvie does have a redshirt year available to him. McKinney, who is out following shoulder surgery, also has a redshirt year to burn.
Oklahoma couldn’t really afford injuries at the safety position, so guys like Robert Barnes, Kahlil Haughton, Justin Broiles and Bookie Radley-Hiles (depending on where he is during any given play) will really be relied upon to fill the void left by Steven Parker and Will Johnson.
Other tidbits
- According to Riley, wide receiver Nick Basquine is expected to be good to go by the start of fall camp (Aug. 3). Basquine has suffered two achilles injuries since last summer.
- Cody Ford has been considered the favorite to start at RT for a good while, but Riley pretty much confirmed it on Sunday. Ford will start camp by working primarily at tackle.
Riley on Cody Ford's move to OT: We're going to start him at tackle ... biggest question mark for him, as such a big guy, can he move on the edge ... he moved so well, it's just so natural for him. He has a chance to be a dominant factor in the run game. #Sooners
— Eric Bailey (@EricBaileyTW) July 22, 2018
- Defensive back Jordan Parker, who suffered a season-ending injury in the 2017 opener, has been getting some work at safety, per Mike Stoops.
- Stoops also mentioned the increased utilization of the 4-2-5 to counter the Big 12’s offenses. Having a guy like Bookie Radley-Hiles, who according to Stoops is “mature beyond his years”, makes that option all the more appealing.