Oklahoma Spring Game Observations: LIVE In-Game Blog
5:34 p.m.
Final: Red team defeats the White team 21-17 behind Jovantae Barnes’s two touchdown runs.
Dillon Gabriel finished 19-of-28 for 250 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
5:27 p.m.
Joseph Wete and Clayton Smith were really applying the pressure for the Sooners defense on that last drive.
Smith used his speed off the edge to find back-to-back tackles, while Wete was strong against the run.
— RL
5:21 p.m.
Micah Bowens has shown some flashes today. Almost got away with a massive scramble, but was touched from behind. Bowens has serious speed, but tough to show that off with a blue jersey in the spring game. He was able to extend plays with his legs on that drive.
Aside from the legs, Bowens has the best pass of the afternoon as well.
— RL
5:16 p.m.
Nick Evers ruled down on a rollout, but Joseph Wete was there for the finger-tip interception. It won’t count, but it was an impressive play from the redshirt junior competing for playing time. Wete stayed with the running back on the scramble.
Two sacks back-to-back for Evers who had no time to throw the ball on that drive.
— RL
5:11 p.m.
Touchdown play, 95-yard touchdown from Micah Bowens to Jayden Gibson in stride. The talented freshman showcased his speed on that breakaway snag.
After the White squad’s touchdown, the Red’s lead is cut to 21-17.
— RL
5:08 p.m.
Ben Harris had some nice moments on that drive. He found Brian Darby streaking across the middle for a first down.
Harris had a heads-up RPO that he kept and found Darby, creating something out of nothing. Woodi Washington was banged up on the play, didn’t look to be serious.
— RL
5:03 p.m.
Ralph Rucker started the second half for the White team.
Jayden Gibson snagged his first catch of the game, an eight yard curl, followed by another first-down catch. Gibson has been targeted a few times under heavy coverage.
— RL
4:51 p.m.
Sooners played a tribute video for Baker Mayfield before the halftime ceremony. The crowd gave Mayfield a nice standing ovation on his way to midfield.
Bob Stoops, Kyler Murray, Jason White, Steve Owens, Joe Castiglione, Joe Harroz and Mayfield’s family joined him on the field. Cool moment for Mayfield and his family, as they live-streamed his statue sitting at Heisman park.
Mayfield delivered a heartfelt speech at midfield, thanking many teammates and fans. Noted that he was able to talk with Coach Venables and the staff yesterday, and is encouraged by the direction OU is headed in.
“We have another celebration next year, this place is special.” -Mayfield
— RL
4:39 p.m.
Brent Venables just announced the Spring Game attendance of 75,360. Incredible showing from the OU fanbase today.
— RC
4:37 p.m.
Bob Stoops, Jason White, Kyler Murray, Joe Castiglione and Joe Harroz all on hand alongside Baker Mayfield and his family on the field while Venables runs through the success of the rest of the OU Athletic Department here at halftime.
— RC
4:33 p.m.
The Red Team takes a 21-20 lead into half time… but all the fans want is some Baker Mayfield. Time for the Heisman Trophy party in Norman with Brent Venables again addressing the crowd.
— RC
4:33 p.m.
Ben Harris closed the first half for the Red team, joining Dillon Gabriel, Ralph Rucker and Micah Bowens as signal callers to take a snap this afternoon. Harris is a redshirt freshman, local recruit from Carl Albert.
— RL
4:31 p.m.
Neither version of OU’s two-minute offense inspired confidence. Steady play by the Oklahoma defense though on both ends, which is a positive. And then Michael Turk just plants a 60-yard punt into the wind onto the 1-yard-line.
— RC
4:27 p.m.
Interesting look on that drive, as Daniel Parker was out wide a few times. Parker, who’s generally a blocking tide end, found a crease in the defense for a few yards.
He’s been mentioned multiple times throughout the spring by the coaching staff as an elite blocker.
— RL
4:23 p.m.
Tawee Walker gets his touchdown. The walk-on running back took the ball about 10 yards to get the White Team on the board.
Red Team up 21-10 with 2:08 minutes until the Baker Mayfield halftime party begins.
— RC
4:21 p.m.
The offensive lines are settling in a bit as the game goes on, but Bill Bedenbaugh wasn’t kidding when he wasn’t exactly stoked about splitting the unit the way it was.
Just hard to tell much with no cohesion along either o-line. Gabriel has shown he's comfortable rolling out of the pocket and running a bit though. Looking more athletic than Spencer Rattler in the open field, that's for sure.
— RC
4:19 p.m.
One thing Dillon Gabriel has done well today is making the easy play. There have been a few times where he looked down field, didn’t see anything and checked down to his running backs.
He found Tawee Walker for a big gain down the sideline on that drive. Gabriel also fired in two nice timing throws, a slant to Drake Stoops and a curl to Jalil Farooq.
— RL
4:06 p.m.
Micah Bowens was in the game for the Red team for first time on that last drive. His first pass was just outside the reach of Drake Stoops, while Josh Eaton had nice coverage on his second attempt.
— RL
4:00 p.m.
That was the Tawee Walker drive… until it wasn’t.
The new Sooner running back helped the White offense move all the way down the field, but Harrington laid a massive hit at the goal line and forced the ball loose. The Red Team recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback.
— RC
3:58 p.m.
Walk-on safety Justin Harrington on the field for the Sooners. Harrington was in the transfer portal towards the end of last season, but has been back practicing with the team.
He made a nice tackle on a screen pass to Cody Jackson.
— RL
3:55 p.m.
After people were still filing in during the first quarter, the crowd has filled in even more. Section of people all the way in the upper levels, too.
Updated picture of the crowd after the first quarter:
Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium at the end of the first quarter in Saturday's Spring Game
Ross Lovelace / SI Sooners
— RL
3:53 p.m.
On the touchdown pass to Mims, defensive lineman Isaiah Coe was injured. He was helped off the field by the coaching staff and is being attended to on the sidelines.
Updated: Coe back on the field for the Sooners.
— RL
3:52 p.m.
The White defense dials up some pressure and Dillon Gabriel makes them pay. Unbothered by the blitz and he delivers a 33-yard strike to Marvin Mims on the last play of the first quarter.
Zach Schmit fires the extra point through and the Red Team is up 21-3.
— RC
3:50 p.m.
Kendall Dennis jumps a sideline pass intended for Jalil Farooq. Nice play by Dennis to adjust his body and make the play there. Defense has been solid all-around this afternoon.
— RL
3:47 p.m.
Jovantae Barnes picks up his second touchdown of the day, this one a 3-yard run.
Had a nice series there as the true freshman pushed the pile a few times. Missed a hole on the third down before the touchdown, but Venables had Lebby go for it on fourth down and Barnes bounced it outside for a huge gain. Really nice showing early from Barnes.
Red Team up 14-3 with 1:13 left in the first quarter.
— RC
3:46 p.m.
Barnes has lived up to the hype as a physical runner. Carried the pile for a good five yards on a short fourth down.
— RL
3:43 p.m.
Drake Stoops caught a ball from Dillon Gabriel, but Ethan Downs rallied to the ball and forced a fumble. Joshua Eaton recovered it, and Bryson Washington was also at the bottom of the pile fighting for the recovery.
— RC
3:42 p.m.
Evers couldn’t seem to settle in during his first drive behind center. He was sacked multiple times and didn’t have much time to work with. Jordan Kelley was a big part of that, as he has shown why the coaches have been excited thus far.
— RL
3:39 p.m.
Nick Evers checks in at QB on the Red team for the first time today. First pass is a screen to Marvin Mims complete down the sideline, but it was called back for an illegal man downfield (Chris Murray).
— RL
3:35 p.m.
The White Team has Anton Harrison and McKade Mettauer, who could very well be the starting left half of OU’s offensive line this fall.
Eric Gray busted a 49-yard run tucking in behind those guys on the left.
Joshua Eaton came up with a big pass defense in the red zone to force a field goal from Gavin Marshall.
Red Team up 7-3 with 6:26 left in the first quarter.
— RC
3:32 p.m.
Kanak seems to check all the boxes as a freshman for the Sooners. Made a nice tackle on Gray trying to bounce it outside. Has dropped back into coverage multiple times too.
— RL
3:28 p.m.
Brent Venables isn’t on the sideline for this one. He’s standing behind the play and giving his defensive players coaching notes after the White Team forces the punt.
— RC
3:27 p.m.
Gibson looked to have some separation on third down, but the true freshman was unable to haul in Gabriel’s pass and the White Team goes three-and-out to start their portion of offense.
— RC
3:25 p.m.
Starting defense for the Red Team
Josh Ellison- Marcus Stripling - Jalen Redmond - Ethan Downs
Danny Stutsman - T.D. Roof - Jaren Kanak
Keyshawn Lawrence - Damond Harrison - Kendall Dennis - Jaden Davis
— RL
3:25 p.m.
Starting offense for the White Team:
Harrison - Mettauer - Congel - Walker - Parks
Gibson - Stoops - Willis - Farooq
Gabriel - Gray
— RC
3:20 p.m.
Red Team marches right down the field thanks to a 48-yard pass play from Dillon Gabriel to Theo Wease.
Jovantae Barnes finished it off with a touchdown run to put the Red Team up 7-0. It was a six-play, 75-yard drive that took 1:21 off the clock.
— RC
3:17 p.m.
Starting offense for the Red Team:
Tyler Guyton - Nate Anderson - Chris Murray - Wanya Morris - Marcus Alexander
Marvin Mims -Theo Wease - Cody Jackson - Daniel Parker
Dillon Gabriel - Jovantae Barnes
— RL
3:17 p.m
Starting defense for the White Team:
Grimes - Johnson - Kelley - Laulu
White - Ugwoegbu
Washington - Spears-Jennings - Bowman - Broiles - Walker
— RC
3:15 p.m.
The Red Team will receive and defend the North end zone to start the 2022 Spring Game. Dillon Gabriel time.
— RC
3:13 p.m.
Looks like the captains are set for both sides. It’ll be Justin Broiles and Brayden Willis for the White and Keyshawn Lawrence and Marvin Mims for the Red.
— RL
3:12 p.m.
Brent Venables took the field with a mic before the teams came out to a roaring ovation from the crowd.
He brought the former players out to more fanfare, telling them that the former players built the Oklahoma football program.
“This is Oklahoma,” Venables said. “The winningest team in the modern era… This has always been about the players.”
We’ve heard about the refocus on the Oklahoma alumni, and Venables is making a show of it front and center at the 50-yard-line before this thing gets kicked off.
— RC
3:03 p.m.
The Red and White team are preparing to take the field to get this thing going, and the Pack the Palace campaign was a huge success. Lower bowl already looks filled and reports are there are still huge lines outside the stadium to get in.
It also appears Andrew Raym is dressed as if he's going to give things a go today.
— RC
2:36 p.m.
Stadium filling in nicely as the Sooner faithful appears determined to pack the palace. Just over 30 minutes until kickoff.
— RL
Ross Lovelace / SI Sooners
2:33 p.m.
Along with Major and Graham being sidelined, it appears Nick Anderson, Brynden Walker, Major Melson, Jaden Knowles and Jackson Sumlin are also in street clothes and unavailable to play.
— RL
2:25 p.m.
Players have started their warmups and it appears D.J. Graham and Marcus Major are in street clothes ahead of today's scrimmage.
— RC
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