Quarterback: C+
Okay, so maybe all that hype surrounding Trevor Knight at the beginning of the season was too much. People may have put too much into one big win against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Knight performed adequately through the team’s first four games but began to regress during the TCU game and never really got things going (with the exception of his performance in the loss to Kansas State). Then the injury against Baylor knocked him out for the final three games. Cody Thomas didn’t exactly get to play in the best weather scenarios but did see improvements from each start. Oklahoma will have an interesting storyline at quarterback in the spring.
Running Backs: A
Not many people predicted the running game to perform the way it did this year. Keith Ford was the No. 1 back and played like it for the first three games, until he was sidelined for six weeks with a fractured foot. In that time span, freshman Samaje Perine — the No. 4 guy on the depth chart during the summer — emerged as the leader of the offense with his breakout performance against West Virginia and his record setting performance against Kansas, notching an FBS record 427 rushing yards. Since then, it’s been all Perine, and deservedly so. The Sooners have a special player at running back. Don’t be surprised if he is in Heisman Trophy consideration for years to come.
Wide Receivers: B
The receiving group was the most interesting position coming into the season due to the fact that outside of Sterling Shepard and Durron Neal, no one had seen any significant playing time. Shepard exceeded expectations for the first half of the season, until suffering a groin injury on the first play of the Iowa State game that has lingered with him ever since. The passing game has suffered because of it and because of Knight’s injury as well. But in Shepard’s absence, younger guys have had the opportunity to gain valuable Big 12 experience that will assuredly carry over next season.
Offensive Line: B+
This group has been largely overshadowed by the incredible season Perine has had, but if it weren’t for the big guys up front, that wouldn’t even be a discussion. The offensive line has only allowed six sacks all year, which leads the nation. So often this season, the offensive line provided holes for the running backs and they were rewarded for it, even if not nationally, but internally. Oftentimes this year, the offensive line was being compared to those in the NFL in terms of size. The unit will lose three starters, but younger players will step in just fine as has been the case in previous years.
Defensive Line: A
The defensive front has been a good barometer for OU’s defensive performance this season. When they have been able to put pressure on the opposing quarterback, the results have been positive for the crimson and cream. But in games like their blowout loss to Baylor, the other team’s signal caller had plenty of time to find an open receiver. Much of the blame has landed on defensive coordinator Mike Stoops and his shift away from the aggressive play-calling that worked so well for the Sooners earlier in the year. Sophomore tackle Jordan Phillips has been one of OU’s most consistent players this season and has seen his potential NFL draft stock rise considerably. Oklahoma was second in the Big 12 in rushing defense heading into the game against Oklahoma State.
Linebackers: A-
The linebacking corps is the face of the defense. Junior Eric Striker has been a force all season, picking up a career high seven sacks even as the struggling secondary forced him to drop back into coverage more often. Striker surpassed OU legend Brian Bosworth’s career record for sacks as a linebacker earlier this year and headlined a talented group. Sophomore Dominique Alexander led the team with 93 tackles going into Bedlam, 15 more than sophomore Jordan Evans, who has played well in place of last year’s leading tackler Frank Shannon. The defense as a whole underachieved in 2014, but the linebackers were solid throughout.
Secondary: D+
The secondary has shown improvements from its lowest point against Baylor, but the unit is still the team’s biggest liability. Sophomore Zack Sanchez was an interception machine to start the season but tapered off as opposing quarterbacks started avoiding him to attack his young and inexperienced counterparts. The opportunity for freshmen Steven Parker, Ahmad Thomas and Jordan Thomas to gain significant playing time will pay off in the future, but this season's Sooners’ secondary was wholly unimpressive.
Special Teams: B+
Special teams were a distinct advantage for OU to start the season. Sophomore Alex Ross had key kick returns for touchdowns against West Virginia and Texas, and senior kicker Michael Hunnicutt was as reliable as they come. Hunnicutt has since had a nightmare game in the loss to Kansas State, and teams have found different ways to avoid putting the ball in Ross’ hands. Combine that with injuries that kept junior wide receiver Sterling Shepard from ever developing a rhythm in the punt return game, and any advantage the Sooners had on special teams has effectively been neutralized. The potential for big plays is still there, but they have been unable to produce down the stretch.
