Position Breakdown
The Skill Positions
Quarterback:
Trevor Knight: A leader and spokesperson for the 2015 team, Knight must fight inconsistency in order to retain his starting job. He has the best physical tools of all three of the experienced quarterbacks, but lacks that consistency so far to earn the full trust from the coaching staff.
Baker Mayfield: Mayfield has come into Norman with a bang. He has been known for his "swag" since arriving from Texas Tech from his elaborate dance moves and demeanor during the Spring Games. Mayfield is a Air Raid system quarterback, which could give him the edge going into the fall.
Cody Thomas: A guy who might have the best skill set to be a big time quarterback is Cody Thomas. A big, durable quarterback with good enough arm strength, speed, and IQ to be a good, or great quarterback. Thomas is still a year or two away from shining on the field.
Running Back
Samaje Perine: Don't have to explain anything here.
Joe Mixon: Nor here.
Alex Ross: A track-like runner, Ross has trouble lowering his pad level and gaining those extra yards after contact. If Ross can become a more violent runner, he could scratch six to eight carries a game. A true home run or bust running back.
Rodney Anderson: Just a true freshman, but has the attributes Alex Ross doesn't represent already. Fits the "Oklahoma" style of running backs. A mean, violent runner who finished off runs very well. Will be hard for him to crack the rotation this year, but is a bull ready to be let out o the cage.
Daniel Brooks: A true Air Raid system running back. A very agile and quick runner who can catch the ball out of the backfield. Brooks is sort of a potential secret weapon for Lincoln Riley. Will be hard to get snaps over Mixon and Perine, but Brooks fits this offense well.
Flex
Mark Andrews: A 6'6" mismatch waiting to happen. Mark Andrews sends Oklahoma back to the days when Jermaine Gresham and James Hanna caught passes and out ran defensive backs. Andrews is something we haven't had the last two years, and will leave us scratching our heads to why we didn't have guys like him.
Dimitri Flowers: A more true FB/HB, I do not know where Flowers fits into the Air Raid, but he is excited about this offense per his Twitter. We will see where Flowers fits come September
Wide Receiver
Sterling Shepard: Don't have to explain anything here.
DeDe Westbrook: DeDe is going to push Sterling Shepard as the best receiver on this team. A 6'0" version of Jalen Saunders should be illegal, but we have him. A game-changer kind of receiver.
Durron Neal: Neal struggled at times last year with creating space between defenders and himself, which hurt quarterback play to a touch. Neal is also a very good blocker, which will be huge in this offense. He has the physical tools to be a dominant "possession" receiver for Oklahoma, just has to put two and two together to cement his name in the starting lineup.
Michiah Quick: A lot like DeDe Westbrook, Michiah Quick has a chance to be a great wide receiver for Oklahoma. But unlike Westbrook, he is still a year away from really leaving that mark just because of the talent in front of him. Give him another year to polish his footwork, blocking, and route running and Quick has a chance to be a playmaker for the Sooners.
Jarvis Baxter: The new kid on the block, literally. Baxter brings that pure "slot receiver" feel when you watch his JUCO film. He finds or creates space with his efficient route runnier. He is precise in and out of his cuts after the catch which allows him to extend plays. A potential steal for the Class of 2015.
Dallas Todd and Jeffery Mead: Two of a group of four receivers in Norman that are long and lanky. These guys can really stretch the field with their speed and length. Riley insists he will have lots receivers getting snaps, which means these young guys could be getting meaningful snaps in 2015.
AD Miller: The lone freshman who could find his way onto the field this season. Miller brings length, strong hands, and that "it" factor you look for in a receiver. He is raw in some areas, but is a little more developed than most incoming freshman.