Every season there always seems to be at least one player that bursts onto the scene seemingly out of nowhere. Sooner legends are born, and a newfound confidence pulses through the team. Whether it’s Woodi Washington’s phenomenal freshman campaign in 2020, or the heroic performance by Caleb Williams in last year’s Red River Shootout, there is always one man that etches their name into the history books, and this year is no different. There is a multitude of candidates that could potentially have a breakout year this fall, but who could they be? Let’s take a deep dive into who could garner national attention in 2022.
Number One – Ethan Downs
Ethan Downs has given me every reason to believe that he will be one of our best players defensively this season. The warrior from Weatherford was one of four players selected by Brent Venables to speak at the Big 12 Media Days. That alone tells me that he has the mental attributes that are desired by many. He’s a leader, plain and simple. How does he look on the gridiron? Last season, Downs didn’t see the field very often. He only accounted for 14 total tackles, 3 TFLs, and 0.5 sacks. However, he has garnered a lot of buzz through fall camp so far, and seems to be one of the top performers. Now that Isaiah Thomas is gone, I expect Ethan Downs to play a large role on the defense, and have plenty of opportunities to showcase his skills.
Number Two – Billy Bowman
Billy Bowman is another guy who I think will have a breakout season, and ultimately has the potential to end up on the All-Big 12 Team at the end of the year. He’s been tearing it up in fall camp so far, and has earned high praise from coaches. Coach Venables has called him “one of the most consistent players on defense,” and has said that he “may be playing better than anybody else out there” This is what safeties coach Brandon Hall had to say about Bowman:
“He’s confident and he’s got a great desire. Everybody knows he’s athletic, he’s explosive. He has all the traits to be a great football player and he shows up every day hungry and ready to work… I expect Billy to do great things at Oklahoma. I really do. I think he’s got a great temperament. He’s very confident and very quiet at the same time. He’s really gonna be a good football player. He loves the game.” – Brandon Hall on Billy Bowman
He’s got some burners as well, running a 10.84 100 meter as a sophomore in high school. Under this new defensive focused regime, Bowman could really end up as a nightmare for opposing offenses. He has all the tools to do so. It’ll be interesting to see if he can put it all together in 2022.
Number Three – Jalil Farooq
Last but certainly not least, we have Jalil Farooq. It’s an understatement to say that I am extremely excited to see what he can do in 2022. Anthony Treash of PFF seems to agree, as he has Jalil Farooq listed as one of his potential breakout candidates this season. Although he wasn’t utilized often last year, what we did see of Farooq was nothing short of spectacular. The young receiver hauled in four catches for 69 yards in a 47-32 victory over the Oregon Ducks. Farooq was also one of the highest graded wideouts during bowl season according to Pro Football Focus. He has a great frame for the position, listed at 6’1″, 205 pounds. He’s agile, has great hands, and can make plays in space. Although my depth chart prediction doesn’t have Farooq at the top of the list right now, I still expect him to be one of the top pass catchers in the Oklahoma offense this year.