The Oklahoma Sooners are preparing for their first season in the SEC.
Brent Venables is entering his third season as the Sooners’ head coach — and after a rough start in 2022 where he led Oklahoma to just a (6-7) finish following his first year in Norman, the team had a significant turnaround last season and finished 2023 with a (10-3) record.
Things appear to be trending in the right direction for Oklahoma since Lincoln Riley abruptly left as head coach to take the job at USC. Now that Venables has gotten settled and implemented his culture and style of coaching, Oklahoma has the No. 9 recruiting class of 2024 and is making strides to get back into contention for a national championship.
There is good reason for optimism for Oklahoma Sooners fans heading into 2024.
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The defense is trending up after showing solid improvement last fall. Also, quarterback Jackson Arnold is a rising star, and the Sooners have one of the nation’s top receiving corps. A rebuilt offensive line holds the key to how high Oklahoma can climb in the SEC standings.
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Veteran receivers Jalil Farooq, Andrel Anthony and Nic Anderson at least give Arnold familiar faces to target as playmakers. Purdue transfer Deion Burks adds more proven production to the group.
The line, however, is fully rebuilt, and the running back position needs a game-changer, although Gavin Sawchuk closed 2023 strong with five straight 100-yard games.
On defense, the Oklahoma Sooners appear to be in solid shape.
Eleven of the top 13 tacklers return, led by two first-team All-Big 12 performers in linebacker Danny Stutsman and safety Billy Bowman Jr. Stutsman led the unit with 104 tackles, while Bowman’s six interceptions tied him for third nationally. The rugged Stutsman provides production and presence as the leader of a defense with attitude and upside, returning six starters. Bowman opted to return rather than jump to the NFL, giving the secondary a ball-hawking veteran leader.
In a disturbing development, one of their defensive backs was shockingly arrested on Wednesday, bringing unnecessary drama and distraction to the program.
Oklahoma Sooners DB Makari Vickers Arrested On Wednesday
![BREAKING: Oklahoma Sooners Defensive Back Arrested On Wednesday 3 Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma football, Oklahoma Sooners football, Makari Vickers, Makari VIckers Oklahoma](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_2328-956x1024.jpeg)
On Wednesday, Oklahoma sophomore defensive back Makari Vickers was arrested by the OU Police Department.
The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Sooners on SI that Vickers had been arrested by the OU Police Department and booked into Cleveland County, but the Sheriff’s Office was unable to give any additional details.
We are aware of the matter and it is being addressed internally,” an athletics department spokesperson told Sooners on SI.
The former 4-star prospect appeared in eight games as a true freshman for the Oklahoma Sooners, tallying eight tackles and one pass breakup. Despite being such a young player, Vickers earned time on the field in crucial moments for Brent Venables’ defense playing meaningful snaps in the second half of a tightly contested Bedlam matchup in Stillwater.
This is an ongoing story and we will provide more details as they arise.