Oklahoma Football: Predicting the Depth Chart Heading into Fall Camp

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This is a season of redemption for the Oklahoma Sooners. This team was one of the favorites to win the national championship a season ago, but fell apart at the end of the year and ended up settling for the Insight Bowl instead.

This year, the Sooners return 15 starters, including eight on the offensive side of the ball. The team will get a healthy running back on the field, and have one of the best quarterbacks in the country leading the squad.

Defensively, Oklahoma should be improved as well, which is why the Sooners are considered a top-five team in the new USA Today Coaches Poll. 

With fall camp underway, here is how the 2012 Oklahoma Sooners depth chart should look.

Quarterback

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Starter: Landry Jones, Senior

Backup: Drew Allen, Junior

Jones is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. He has topped 4,400 passing yards in both of the last two seasons, completed over 60 percent of his passes and thrown for 93 touchdowns throughout his career. He has a great chance to be considered the best quarterback in Oklahoma history as he prepares to shatter the record books this season.

Running Back

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Starter: Dominique Whaley, Senior

Backup: Roy Finch, Junior

Whaley was one of the best running backs in the country last season until he went down with a broken ankle. In just six games, he rushed for 627 yards and scored nine touchdowns. The good thing for Sooners fans is that he has been cleared to play in 2012.

Receivers

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Starter: Kenny Stills, Junior

Backup: Durron Neal, Freshman

With Ryan Broyles now in the NFL, it will be Stills who is expected to become the No. 1 wide receiver. In just two seasons, he has 122 receptions for 1,635 yards and 13 touchdowns.

 

Starter: Jaz Reynolds, Junior 

Backup: Trey Metoyer, Freshman

Reynolds is another experienced receiver, who averaged over 17 yards a reception last season and scored five touchdowns.

 

Starter: Trey Franks, Junior 

Backup: Courtney Gardner, Junior

Franks was a backup last season, but will likely start this year. He is a speedy receiver, who is also a big factor on special teams for the Sooners. 

 

Starter: Brannon Green, Junior 

Backup: Taylor McNamara, Freshman

With the Sooners not having a single tight end returning from last season, the junior college transfer expects to step in and contribute right away.

Offensive Line

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Left Tackle

Starter: Lane Johnson, Senior

Backup: Tyrus Thompson, Sophomore

Johnson started 12 games at right tackle, but being the most experienced offensive lineman on the team, he will likely switch to left tackle this season.

 

Left Guard

Starter: Adam Shead, Sophomore

Backup: Bronson Irwin, Junior

Shead started five games last season at left guard. He will likely move up the depth chart with the recent injury to starting center Ben Habern.

 

Center

Starter: Gabe Ikard, Junior

Backup: Austin Woods, Junior

Ikard was the starting left guard, but with Habern no longer around to play the center position, he will shift over. He was a All-Big 12 first-team selection and played seven games at center last season.

 

Right Guard

Starter: Tyler Evans, Senior

Backup: Bronson Irwin, Junior

Evans started every game at right guard last season and was an All-Big 12 honorable mention. 

 

Right Tackle

Starter: Daryl Williams, Sophomore

Backup: Derek Farniok, Freshman

Williams saw action in nine games last season and even started a game during the 2011 season. The 6'6", 300-pound lineman will hold down the right side of the line.

Defensive Line

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Starter: David King, Senior

Backup: Chaz Nelson, Junior

King started five games last season, racking up 31 tackles and two sacks.

 

Starter: Jamarkus McFarland, Senior 

Backup: Stacy McGee, Senior

McFarland is the veteran in the middle of the line. He played in all 13 games last season, finishing the year with 21 tackles.

 

Starter: Casey Walker, Senior 

Backup: Jordan Phillips, Freshman

Walker started eight games at defensive tackle, producing 16 tackles and a sack. 

 

Starter: R.J. Washington, Senior 

Backup: Marquis Anderson, Freshman

Washington should finally get his chance to start full-time after spending his career as a backup. He has 5.5 sacks throughout his career and is a candidate for the 2012 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award.

Linebackers

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Starter: Corey Nelson, Junior

Backup: Aaron Franklin, Sophomore

Nelson started 11 games last season, was an honorable mention All-Big 12 and was fourth on the team with 4.5 sacks.

 

Starter: Tom Wort, Junior 

Backup: Jaydan Bird, Senior

Wort will return as the starting middle linebacker. He finished fourth on the team with 71 tackles in 2011.

 

Starter: Joseph Ibiloye, Senior 

Backup: Frank Shannon, Freshman

Ibiloye only started in one game last season, but will move into a starting role in 2012. He has been a solid contributor throughout his career and should provide the Sooners with valuable minutes.

Defensive Backs

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Cornerback

Starter: Aaron Colvin, Junior

Backup: Lamar Harris, Senior

Colvin now has experience playing cornerback and safety. He led the Sooners in tackles last season at the strong safety position. He is one of the leaders on this defense heading into the new year.

 

Safety

Starter: Tony Jefferson, Junior

Backup: Gabe Lynn, Junior

Jefferson has really been a solid player throughout his career, finishing third on the team in tackles last season and adding four interceptions. Hopefully he can become more of a leader this season as he enters his junior year. 

 

Safety

Starter: Javon Harris, Senior

Backup: Bennett Okotcha, Freshman

Harris started eight games last season at safety, racking up 47 tackles and intercepting three passes.

 

Cornerback

Starter: Demontre Hurst, Senior 

Backup: Joe Powell, Junior

Hurst led the team with 11 pass deflections and was a second-team All-Big 12 selection. He is a 2012 candidate for the Bednarik Award.

Specialists

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Kicker

Starter: Michael Hunnicutt, Sophomore

Backup: Eric Hosek, Freshman

Hunnicutt drilled 21 of his 24 field-goal attempts in 2012, setting a Big 12 record for freshman kickers. He made all four kicks from beyond 40 yards and made all but one of his 56 extra point attempts.

 

Punter

Starter: Tress Way, Senior

Backup: Dylan Seibert, Freshman

Way was a Big 12 honorable mention, averaging over 45 yards per punt attempt and pinning 17 of his 63 kicks inside the 20-yard line.