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Oklahoma-BYU GameDay: Under the Radar

Jacob Sexton ... Kani Walker ... Robert Spears-Jennings ... Jayden Gibson

John E. Hoover

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Jacob Sexton

Sophomore Jacob Sexton was a surprise starter last week at right tackle in place of Tyler Guyton, who apparently sustained an undisclosed injury in practice late in the week. Sexton played all 79 offensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, even though he only graded out with a season-low 46.9 PFF overall grade on offense. His pass blocking was good (64.8), but his run blocking wasn’t (41.1). It was Sexton’s fourth game of the season after also getting substantial snaps at Tulsa (28), against Iowa State (33) and at Kansas (54). Those experiences should help him settle in quickly at BYU — assuming Guyton isn’t back yet to reclaim his spot. That seems like a safe assumption, since Sexton was named a team captain for this week’s game. BYU doesn’t have much in the way of defense (the Cougars rank deep into the 100s in every major statistical category), but as young and inexperienced as Sexton is, he’ll be facing BYU players who have served mission trips and are well into their 20s. He’s given up one sack and five QB hurries this year, so he’s going to need to be good for the Sooners to have success.

— John Hoover

Kani Walker

BYU’s offense has struggled to produce both through the air and on the ground, but teams have found success against Oklahoma through the air. Regardless of if cornerback Gentry Williams is able to return to the lineup, Kani Walker has often played significant snaps as his understudy. A disciplined performance from Walker could help steady Oklahoma’s secondary, taking away one avenue of attack for the Cougars. Relying on the run game has been disastrous for BYU this season, as it ranks 124th in the country in rushing yards per game. OU preventing either quarterback, Kedon Slovis or Jake Retzlaff, from getting into a groove could spell disaster for the Cougars’ offense.

— Ryan Chapman 

Robert Spears-Jennings

Oklahoma’s defense has been much improved over the course of the season, there’s no doubt about that. In both losses, though, Kansas and Oklahoma State had a 100-yard rusher and OSU quarterback Alan Bowman shredded the Sooners on easy plays down the field. With Peyton Bowen banged up down the stretch, Oklahoma has been missing a hard-hitting safety. Robert Spears-Jennings has risen to the occasion recently, and seems to be getting better as the season wears on. He’s a heat-seeking missile and can help the Sooners stop both the run and the pass. He recorded his career-high in tackles against Oklahoma State and tied it last week against West Virginia with seven total tackles and a pass break-up. A big performance would help Oklahoma against BYU and give Spears-Jennings momentum heading into the offseason.

— Ross Lovelace

Jayden Gibson

After scoring his second touchdown of the season against Iowa State, redshirt freshman wideout Jayden Gibson was held to just one catch for 17 yards over the Sooners next four games. While much of this has to do with Gibson not being on the field, the 6-foot-5 pass catcher found his way back into the endzone against the Mountaineers last weekend. Gibson finished the Sooners' contest against West Virginia with two catches for 38 yards and a touchdown, but showed that he can be a threat down the field for OU's offense. With the Cougars' starting defensive backs all being around 6-feet tall, Gibson could be a solid option off the bench for Dillon Gabriel once again this week, fitting in as a nice complimentary piece to Drake Stoops, Nic Anderson and Jalil Farooq. 

— Randall Sweet

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John E. Hoover
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.

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