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Observations From Oklahoma's Open Practice Session Ahead of the Alamo Bowl

The No. 12-ranked Sooners opened a portion of practice to local media members on Tuesday amidst OU's Alamo Bowl preparations.

Ryan Chapman

Observations From Oklahoma's Open Practice Session Ahead of the Alamo Bowl
Observations From Oklahoma's Open Practice Session Ahead of the Alamo Bowl /
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NORMAN — Amidst the final days of the 2024 recruiting cycle, transfer portal season and the coaching carousel, Oklahoma still has a bowl game to prepare for.

The No. 12-ranked Sooners got back to practice this weekend, preparing to take on No. 14 Arizona in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28.

Brent Venables’ team got a pair of boosts over the weekend with the announcements that both safety Billy Bowman and linebacker Danny Stutsman will return next year, shifting focus to quarterback Jackson Arnold starting his first OU contest against the Wildcats in the final game of his true freshman season following the departure of Dillon Gabriel.

Oklahoma opened the first 20 minutes of practice to local media on Tuesday. Here are AllSooners' observations from the open session:

  • True freshman offensive lineman Cayden Green was noticeably absent from the practice, and it soon became obvious why. Green told On3 he intends to enter the transfer portal after starting five games at left guard this year for OU.
  • As expected, Gabriel wasn’t preparing for Arizona. Arnold led the way for Oklahoma’s quarterbacks, as Gabriel has already committed to play at Oregon next year.
  • Both of OU’s newly elevated co-offensive coordinators, Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley, spent time with Arnold while the team stretched. Littrell loomed, waiting for practice to get started, while Finley chatted whit Arnold as the quarterbacks stretched. Littrell and Finley both monitored the quarterbacks and receivers as the groups threw routes on air during the individual portion of practice.
  • Tawee Walker was with the running backs despite entering his name in the transfer portal, though fellow transfer Marcus Major was not spotted by AllSooners.
  • Stutsman and Bowman were both practicing, taking roles at the center of the team during stretches alongside Ethan Downs and Drake Stoops.
  • Oklahoma defensive back Justin Harrington was also present at practice, though he was off to the side with a brace on his left leg. Harrington is eligible to apply for a hardship waiver after his season was ended due to injury during OU’s non-conference slate this year. 
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Ryan Chapman
RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is deputy editor at AllSooners and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City. Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more. Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com. Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 

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