Ryan Broyles returns a punt.

The last meaningful memory of the Oklahoma Sooners’ 2009 season was the sight of star quarterback Sam Bradford awkwardly hitting the turf under the weight of a BYU defender. Originally, the team was seen by many to be a contender for a national title. And why not? With their Heisman winning quarterback returning, along with a stellar offense featuring All-World tight end Jermaine Greisham. and rock solid defense headed up by tackle Gerald McCoy, the sky was the limit. That sky came crashing down in their season opening loss to BYU. Not only did they lose their chances at a national championship right off the bat, but they also lost Bradford.

This season, coach Bob Stoops knows the fans in Norman, Oklahoma are yearning for success. Stoops has created a winning environment for the Sooners, with his savvy recruiting skills and astute game planning, as proven by his 2000 National Championship. Last year the Sooners were able to pull of a win in the Sun Bowl versus Stanford, but a victory in a non BCS bowl hardly quelled their appetite for success. The Sooners have had a rough recent history in Bowl games before last year, losing to Florida in the ‘08 Championship game, and then back to back Fiesta Bowl losses to Boise State and West Virginia the seasons before that. Bob Stoops and company have a chance to change the unlucky string of outcomes the Sooners have endured over the past couple seasons, and with most of their starters on both sides of the ball returning from last year they can do just that.

The talk in Norman this past off season is that the Sooners’ offense has the potential to be one of the best in college football this year. Redshirt sophomore Landry Jones returns at quarterback, after filling in admirably in place of Bradford last season. He was the best freshman quarterback in the nation, throwing for 26 touchdowns and 3,198 yards. Jones must improve on his 13 interceptions thrown and 58% completion percentage though. The weapons Jones was so used to throwing to last season on offense will return as well. Junior wide out Ryan Broyles is as electric as they come in the college game, and is a threat to go the distance on both kick/punt returns and passing plays. Broyles is far and away the Big 12’s best receiver, and should be in contention to grab All-America honors by seasons end. The Sooners have a lot of question marks behind Broyles, though. Fellow junior, DeJuan Miller and sophomore Jaz Reynolds both have great height for the position (6′4″, 6′2″ respectively) but did not produce at a competitive level last season. Both of them need to step up in order for Jones and Broyles to succeed. Senior running back DeMarco Murray gives the Sooners an elite option on the ground to complement Broyles in the air. Murray is versatile, fast, strong, and ready to perform at the All-Big 12 level he is capable of. The Sooners’ offensive line will take a huge hit with losing offensive tackle Trent Richardson to the NFL, but they should be able to pick themselves up. Six players who started games are coming back, but Bob Stoops might have to mix and match them in different positions on the line again. If the unit, lead by mammoth senior right tackle Cory Brandon (6′7″, 310 lbs), is able to pick themselves up the Sooners offense could be almost impossible to stop.

Travis Lewis

The Sooners’ defense could prove to be one of the best in the conference this season. Senior end Jeremy Beal is possibly the most talented player on Bob Stoops’s roster. The 6′3″, 260 pounder was third team All-America last year, and has a chance to improve on that honor. He is a a nightmare for quarterbacks with his speed that is so rare for a lineman. Opposite of him, junior Frank Alexander was a solid producer last year with seven tackles for a loss last year, so his presence cannot be ignored. Even though Beal might be the most talented player on the defense, junior weakside linebacker Travis Lewis is its unquestioned leader. The 6′2″ 232 pound thumper with the speed of a running back hasbeen wreaking havoc in the Big 12 since his dynamite freshman year. In both his seasons with the Sooners he has lead the team in tackles, and don’t expect that to change. In the secondary, even with the departure of cornerback Domonique Franks to the NFL, the group still stays strong. Senior free safety and Second Team All-Big 12 selection Quinton Carter returns as the team’s second leading tackler. Jonathan Nelson will turn a strong end to his 2009 campaign at safety into a fresh beginning at cornerback, starting across from small yet fast sophomore Demontre Hurst.

The Oklahoma Sooners finished last season unranked, so don’t expect them to start this one in the top ten. With the talent Bob Stoops has on both sides of the football though, they might not be on the outside looking in for long. The Sooners are our favorite to capture the Big 12 title at NextGen Sports, over teams that have garnered more off season press and attention like Texas and Nebraska. If the Sooners are able to get by difficult out-of-conference games against Cincinnati and Florida, and in conference matchups versus Texas A&M and Texas, they might have the inside track to a run at the National Championship. Even if it is a year too late.

-John Stoller