The Oklahoma football program continues to go full throttle at spring football, with the team’s spring game occurring towards the end of April. However, injuries remain a reality at football practice, regardless of the time of year. Unfortunately for head coach Brent Venables and the Sooners, two of their players, including a potential breakout candidate at wide receiver, found themselves on the sideline during Friday’s practice.
According to George Stoia III of Sooner Scoop and On3 Sports, Oklahoma freshman Daniel Akinkunmi and upperclassman Jalil Farooq missed Friday’s practice. The duo were spotted on the sideline, using a scooter to move around.
Oklahoma Football: Duo Miss Spring Ball with Lower Body Injuries
A pair of Oklahoma Sooners football players missed practice on Friday with potentially concerning lower body injuries. Freshman Daniel Akinkunmi, a three-star recruit from the NFL Academy in London, England, was in a boot and needed a scooter to move around the practice field. Per 247Sports, Akinkunmi is ranked as the best prospect from England. Akinkunmi joins OU as an Under Armour All-American offensive lineman. Akinkunmi is new to football, taking up the sport in high school after transitioning from basketball.
More concerning is the injury news regarding wide receiver Jalil Farooq. The pass catcher also needed a scooter to partake in watching practice. However, Farooq had a cast on his leg rather than a boot, an indicator that his injury is of a more severe nature. Farooq, a four-star recruit in the class of 2021, has big expectations heading into 2024. His injury, which appears to be more severe than Akinkunmi’s, could affect his performance in the upcoming season or, at the very least, keep him from team activities for a large portion of time.
The Sooners will head into next fall without the services of leading wideout Drake Stoops, who is heading to the NFL. Farooq, alongside freshman standout Nic Anderson, sits atop the depth chart with Stoops’ departure. However, his lower body injury could sideline him for a substantial time.
Oklahoma Sooners: Heading to SEC
The Oklahoma football program and its rival, the Texas Longhorns, will move from the Big 12 to the SEC next season. After a devastating 6-7 record in 2022, their first under defensive-minded head coach Brent Venables, the Sooners went 10-3 last season, earning a trip to the Alamo Bowl. However, quarterback Dillon Gabriel darted for the transfer portal after a 30-touchdown, six-interception campaign. Additionally, offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby dashed to fill the head coaching vacancy at Mississippi State.
The Sooners will turn to quarterback Jackson Arnold and offensive play-caller Seth Litrell in 2024. Arnold, a former five-star recruit, played sparingly as a freshman last season, going 44-of-69 for 563 yards and four touchdowns. He threw three picks. Arnold performed up and down during the Alamo Bowl after earning the start on the heels of Gabriel’s transfer. He threw for 361 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks. Meanwhile, Littrell took over play-calling duties. He served as an assistant with Oklahoma last season but was the head coach at North Texas from 2016 to 2022.
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