Five wildcard Sooners who could shift Oklahoma's first season heading into the SEC

The Oklahoma Sooners feature plenty of proven, veteran talents on both sides of the ball. Players like Danny Stutsman, Billy Bowman, Ethan Downs, and Jalil Farooq have been with the Sooners for years and have proven their ability to make plays.

However, the Sooners have several players who are relatively unproven. These players could swing Oklahoma's season in either direction depending on their play.

QB Jackson Arnold

A bit of a "Well duh" point to include the quarterback here, but there really isn't a player who is a bigger wild card than Arnold on the Sooners' roster. Their season rests on his arm and ability to make plays.

There are plenty of encouraging signs to take note of for Arnold. The coaching staff has praised his leadership and development repeatedly throughout the offseason, and his grasp of the playbook has come along smoothly.

Arnold is easily a more talented passer than former Sooner Dillon Gabriel, but it's mastering the little details that have to come for Arnold. The bowl game against Arizona showed some encouraging flashes but also showed the aggressiveness that Arnold will have to reign in over time.

EDGE Adepoju Adebawore

The sky is the limit for a player as talented as Adebawore is. The former four-star came in as a freshman and flashed right away, wracking up 13 pressures and two sacks despite rushing the passer just over 100 times last season. His 14.7% pass rush win rate led all Sooners last season.

His seven-foot wingspan is a deadly weapon when paired with his bend and quickness off of the line of scrimmage. He's added more weight throughout the offseason to get stronger but has still retained his explosiveness.

If his game begins to match the tools, Adebawore can turn the Sooners' pass rush into a real strength of the team while playing alongside players like Ethan Downs, Caiden Woullard, and R Mason Thomas.

The Offensive Tackles

It's hard to pick one specific player in this room; mainly because we still aren't sure who starts where along the Sooners' offensive line.

It feels likely that transfer OT Michael Tarquin will start at left tackle with Jake Taylor at right tackle. However, players like Spencer Brown, Jacob Sexton, and Logan Howland could all push to start as well.

Oklahoma has to get this room settled-and fast. They open the season against two of the tougher G5 defenses in Houston and Tulane before welcoming the Tennessee Volunteers to Norman in Week 4, led by potential top-ten pick pass rusher James Pearce Jr.

If Oklahoma's tackle play can be at least solid, the Sooners should have a quality initial season in their first year in the SEC. That remains a big if at this stage.

Related: State of the Sooners: Strengths and Weaknesses of Oklahoma's roster heading into first SEC season

DT Gracen Halton

Oklahoma's defensive tackle room is pretty unsettled after losing Isaiah Coe, Jonah Laulu, and Jordan Kelley from last season. They scored a big win in adding TCU transfer Damonic Williams, but the rest of the room is unproven at best.

Halton has played very little in his two seasons with the Sooners, coming in with just 165 defensive snaps. However, the light has seemingly come on for the junior out of San Diego.

The production is relatively modest with just 21 total tackles, but there were some encouraging flashes last season when he did play. Halton posted nine pressures on just 58 pass rushes. While he didn't register a sack, he did put up two QB hits.

The Sooners need a deeper defensive tackle room to survive in the SEC. Hopefully, Halton provides that answer.

CB Gentry Williams

It is impossible to not be intrigued by Gentry Williams. His play and production on the field has shown glimpses of a player destined for stardom. His pivotal early interception in the Red River Rivalry set the tone for that game right away.

The issue has been Williams's health. There was a drop-off in his film after the Texas game as he battled some nagging injuries. It has put a damper on his career each year with the Sooners, a true shame for a player as talented as Williams.

However, if he's healthy, Oklahoma's defense should be productive, much like it was at the beginning of 2023. The Sooners will need his playmaking this season, given the proclivity of receiving talent in the SEC. He's a true difference-maker on the defense, but he has to be able to stay healthy to do that.