One thing for certain in a sea of uncertainty about what the Oklahoma team will look like in 2022 is that success will depend on the play of the starting quarterback. Well, duh.
And in the Sooners’ case, that means the play of portal grab Dillon Gabriel.
An important factor in that is the connection between offensive coordinator and QB.
That’s no problem for either Gabriel and OC Jeff Lebby, since they were together in both roles at UCF during Gabriel’s stellar freshman season.
Which brings to mind what happened last year.
Say what you might about Lincoln Riley’s genius as offensive play caller – and he is – the 2021 season showed how the disconnect between the OC and QB can cause failure.
It was evident last year there was something amiss with the Oklahoma offense.
Riley ditched starter Spencer Rattler midway through the season. And it wasn’t because the numbskulls in the OU student section were calling for backup Caleb Williams’ to step in.
Rattler and Riley weren’t on the same page, and in that disconnect it is usually the player who loses the spot, not the coach.
It was all a sign of an unhealthy offense. And although some might say things improved with Williams at the helm, it appeared – especially in the Baylor game – something was still wrong.
Williams won games, such as Texas and Kansas State contests, on his physicality alone. But it was not because of some clicking-on-all-cylinders offense the Sooners presented. Far from it.
By season’s end, the Sooners won five of their 10 games by one score or less.
One thing I am looking forward to is an offense that seems to have both OC and QB on the same page.
The Libby-Gabriel connection bodes well for that happening. But time will tell.
Gabriel brings good reviews. As a high school recruit he was ranked 42nd in the country out of Mililani, Hawaii and was offered scholarships at Georgia and USC. He is smaller in stature than his backups, standing only 5’11”.
He threw for 3,570 yards and 29 touchdowns at UCF from 2019-2021. Last year was interrupted by a shoulder injury.
Athlon Sports ranks Gabriel the 19th best QB in college football (former OU starter Williams is No. 3 and Rattler is No. 14).
Meanwhile, the others in the QB room:
Davis Beville – Beville played behind Pittsburgh starter Kenny Pickett the past two seasons. He stands tall, 6’6”. He was ranked as the 40th quarterback coming out of high school. He played in the Peach Bowl after Pickett opted out, throwing for 149 yards and one TD in Pitt’s 31-21 loss to Michigan State.
General Booty – A JUCO QB star, but not used to the level of competition found at Division 1. The Allen, Texas native played at Tyler Junior College last year, leading the nation with 3,410 passing yards and 27 touchdowns.
Nick Evers – A four-star quarterback who was the No. 8 QB in the 2022 class. Evers was the 8th QB in the 2022 class.He has a quick release and is light on his feet. The Flower Mound, Texas native is tutored by Kyler Murray’s father.
— Mike
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