New coach, same goals for Sooners

Aug 17, 2017 - 4:35 PM Bob Stoops' late June retirement was unexpected.

Even Lincoln Riley, the 33-year-old prodigy tabbed to take his place, didn't know until a few days before Stoops' announcement that the longtime Oklahoma coach was even considering stepping aside without coaching another game.

But with one of the best quarterbacks in the country returning, as well as the entire offensive line from last season's Sugar Bowl team, expectations haven't slipped a bit for the Sooners.

"Obviously Coach Stoops stepping down was a huge shock and it caught us all off guard but at the same time, none of the other staff was leaving," quarterback Baker Mayfield said. "We've been around Coach Riley and been fortunate enough to be around him and the great coach that he is.

"So it really hasn't been as up and down as you would expect. I think the expectations are even higher now."

But while Oklahoma still expects to compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff, this team has plenty of questions entering the season, especially with an unproven group of running backs and wide receivers, and a defense that's going through a transition as it moves to more of a 4-3 base.

The Sooners' offense was one of the nation's most prolific last season, with not only Mayfield but running backs Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine and Biletnikoff Award-winning receiver Dede Westbrook.

But the Sooners don't return a back who has rushed for more than 283 career yards and their leading returning receiver is a tight end -- Mark Andrews -- whose season a year ago was severely limited by a shoulder injury.

Of course, last year, Westbrook was coming off a solid but not spectacular season and a big question was who would replace Sterling Shepard as the top receiver.

"I think we're loaded at receiver honestly," backup quarterback Kyler Murray said. "All those guys can really run and they bring a lot of speed to our receiving corps. Once we get the timing down and all that type of stuff, I think they'll be dangerous."

The addition of graduate transfer Jeff Badet from Kentucky should help.

On the other side of the ball, Oklahoma decided to move to a four-man front to get more pressure on quarterbacks and take pressure off the secondary.

That moves Ogbonnia Okoronkwo up from linebacker to defensive end in most sets and helps the Sooners better utilize a thin linebacker group.

There won't be any time to ease into this season as the Sooners travel to Ohio State on Sept. 9.

MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER: QB Baker Mayfield -- The Sooners are actually deeper at the position than they were last year, when they only had one other scholarship quarterback -- true freshman Austin Kendall. Now, even with Kyler Murray eligible after sitting out last season, Mayfield is still the Sooners' most important. He had a record-breaking junior season and with many of his weapons gone from last year, more pressure will be put on him to make the offense go. He'll be asked to bring along an unproven group of wide receivers, but will at least have a strong offensive line to protect him.

BREAKOUT STAR: LB Caleb Kelly -- The former five-star recruit got off to a slow start as a true freshman but by the end of the year had come on strong. In the Sugar Bowl win over Auburn, Kelly had 12 tackles to lead the Sooners. This season, he'll be used at both inside and outside positions depending on how Oklahoma is lined up. His ability to make plays in space gives him an opportunity to put up big numbers as long as the Sooners are able to keep him from wearing down.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH: S Robert Barnes -- The easy answer here would be Jeff Badet, the graduate transfer wide receiver, but Barnes' upside is hard to ignore. He might not start at the beginning of the year but he has opened eyes with his performance in preseason camp and has a legitimate shot to move into a starting role soon. After missing his senior season with a broken leg, Barnes' recovery has gone better than expected. His athleticism at 6-foot-2 gives him the ability to make plays not many other OU safeties can make. His father, Reggie, was a standout linebacker for the Sooners.