Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma-Oregon Under the Radar

Three under-the-radar players who could contribute in a big way to the Sooners' efforts in the Alamo Bowl on Wednesday.

John E. Hoover | Dec 29, 2021

John Hoover: Jalen Redmond

Despite all the attention on the guys who are opting out, the Sooners’ most talented d-lineman could be tackle Jalen Redmond. OU led the nation in tackles for loss the first three weeks of the season, but then Redmond got hurt and the defensive line productivity plummeted. With Redmond back in the lineup for the final three games, the Sooners lost twice, but the defensive line looked like its old self again. In just seven games this season, Redmond had 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 quarterback sacks and six QB hurries. A healthy Jalen Redmond will be a problem for the Oregon offense.

Ryan Chapman: Mario Williams

The Oregon Ducks enter Wednesday’s contest with a skeleton crew on the back end of their defense, opening the door for an OU wide receiver to have a breakout game. With no Austin Stogner or Jadon Haselwood, and plenty of attention likely going to Marvin Mims, Mario Williams could propel himself into a big spring with a nice performance against the Ducks. Getting Williams the ball was an emphasis early in the season, but as the offense continued to struggle, his touches fell by the wayside. With Cale Gundy stepping in to call the plays on Wednesday, it may offer a reset for Williams, who could see the ball come his way and again be entrusted with plenty of opportunities to make big plays for the Sooners.

Danny Stutsman, Alamo Bowl Practice — Danny Stutsman :: Ryan Chapman / SI Sooners

Josh Callaway: Danny Stutsman

Danny Stutsman has been one of the most fun guys on the team this season both in terms of on the field and off. His social media persona has been tremendous content and his flashes in games throughout the year has showcased him as a budding star for Oklahoma. He’s someone who has definitely enjoyed the week in San Antonio — see the video of him riding a dolphin for evidence of that — but now it is time to transition that into his best game of the year. Four very key defensive players for Oklahoma have opted out of this game, leaving guys like Stutsman in a position to step up and showcase themselves on a big stage. Watch for this to be his true arrival to the Sooners’ program on Wednesday night.

Published Dec 29, 2021

JOHN E. HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.