The spring game is the first opportunity to see what the Oklahoma Sooners will look like in 2024. It’s the team that will usher the Sooners into their first season in the SEC. The spring game provides a glimpse of what we can expect from Brent Venables and his squad.
Not every question will be answered during the spring game as a number of players will be held out for precautionary reasons that would likely play if it were a game day in the fall. But still, there are a number of players to be excited about as the Sooners take the field on Saturday (weather permitting).
Oklahoma’s highly-anticipated 2024 recruiting class takes the field in front of the Sooner faithful for the first time, with a number of players that have already created a lot of buzz this spring. Here are a few of the players that we’re eager to watch in this weekend’s spring game.
1
Jayden Jackson, DT
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There has been talk of Jayden Jackson getting some run with the first-team defense. That doesn’t come as a surprise, given his quickness, strength, and size. Oklahoma is pursuing a pair of defensive tackles in the portal, Philip Blidi and Jermayne Lole. But if Jackson can continue to build on his strong spring, he might be in for a big workload this fall.
2
Davon Mitchell, TE
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Tight has to be better in 2024 than it was last year. It looks like Bauer Sharp is the leading candidate to start, but that won’t quell the excitement we have for blue chip prospect Davon Mitchell. Mitchell has great size already and an athleticism that will make him a gamechanger at the collegiate level. Even if he doesn’t start for the Sooners in 2024, he’ll have a role. This weekend in the spring game, he’s a player to watch.
3
Danny Okoye, DE
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Danny Okoye is an incredible athlete with great size and speed. People as big as he is aren’t supposed to have 4.5-speed. We’ve heard all about the testing and the athleticism, but the spring game provides an opportunity to see the talented Tulsa product on the field for the first time.
4
Michael Hawkins, QB
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There’s an electricity that comes with the way that Michael Hawkins plays the quarterback position. He’s got great athleticism and speed. He can sling the football with some of the best in the country and has really good size. Though he’ll be in the blue jersey and won’t be under contact, he’s got the ability to provide some magical moments in the spring game.
5
Zion Kearney, WR
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The wide receiver position has been a bit banged up this spring. Andrel Anthony has been out and the Sooners lost Jalil Farooq till fall. Nic Anderson has been dinged up during periods of spring ball as well. But the Sooners have a deep group of playmakers, including their freshmen class of receivers. Zion Kearney was a top 100 prospect coming out of high school and has a great blend of size, speed, and athleticism to be a game-changer at the collegiate level. He’s created some buzz this spring and it’ll be exciting to see him on the field for the first time in the spring game.
6
David Stone, DT
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There may be no player that arrived with as much anticipation than five-star defensive tackle, David Stone. A local product out of Del City by way of IMG Academy, Stone has all the tools to be a disruptive player for the Sooners. Like Jackson, Stone has looked the part early in his Oklahoma career, giving offensive linemen fits during spring ball. Stone and Jackson represent exactly what the Sooners have needed at defensive tackle for years and provide the hope that they’ll have a defensive front that can help Oklahoma contend for national titles in the years to come.
7
Safety Group
Nathan J. Fish, The Oklahoman
This is going to be cheating, lumping them all together, but the Sooners freshmen safety group has a chance to be as dynamic as the freshmen Oklahoma has along the defensive line. Though they’ll likely work in rotational roles this season, Michael Boganowski, Jaydan Hardy, and Reggie Powers have created buzz this spring. They’ve each stood out along the way, earning praise from the head coach and media in attendance.
