Oklahoma Sooners Football: Surprises on the Updated Depth Chart

The Oklahoma Sooners, ranked first in a number of preseason college football polls, released an updated, pre-fall depth chart last week. The order of a few positions could surprise some.

One of the biggest questions facing the Sooners coming into this season is how they will replace stud running back DeMarco Murray. Head coach Bob Stoops has said on multiple occasions this offseason that the team will be going with a running-back-by-committee approach this year.

Who will comprise this committee, however, has been up for debate.  

There is still fall practice before the final decisions will be made, but after the post-spring and now pre-fall depth charts, it looks like sophomore Brennan Clay will be the front man of the would-be committee.

This comes as little surprise to those who have been following Clay, who had an extremely impressive high school career at Scripps Ranch High School in San Diego.

The real surprise is in the number two listing, or rather, the number 1A listing, of Jonathan Miller. The wording of the chart lists Clay first, followed by an "or" and then Miller.

This implies that not only did Miller jump talented sophomore Roy Finch and highly touted freshman Brandon Williams, but he will vie for the starting spot in the fall. Only time will tell who will win out at the position.

Perhaps a bigger surprise than the presence of Clay and Miller on the top of the chart is the complete absence of Finch and Williams. Though I'm sure the committee system will provide the four of them, as well as fullback Trey Millard, plenty of touches, I would assume whoever wins that starting spot would be given the ball most often.

Other Surprises

 Senior cornerback Jamell Fleming, an anchor of the defense, recently returned to the team after sitting out spring practice due to some personal issues. Having missed spring practice, it was suspected that he would have to re-earn his starting spot from sophomore Gabe Lynn, and now those suspicions have been confirmed, as he lines up as the number two cornerback.

The presence on the chart of redshirt freshman Daryl Williams as the starting right offensive tackle, in front of sophomore Josh Aladenoye, will also turn some heads.