Oklahoma Spring Game Preview: Injury Report

There's no official word on spring game participants, but a few Sooners have missed time this offseason.

Ross Lovelace | Apr 19, 2023

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Oklahoma Sooners

NORMAN — Brent Venables’ second season in Norman officially kicks off Saturday with Oklahoma’s spring game. After a disappointing 2021 season, the team will look much different in year two.

Behind the No. 4 recruiting class in the nation and a busy offseason in the transfer portal, Oklahoma’s depth has already increased. The added talent on the roster will be extra important with multiple injuries already reported throughout the spring.

Oklahoma hasn’t listed an official injury report yet, but there are players missing good portions of spring practice that can safely be ruled out of Saturday’s exhibition.

OUT

Jovantae Barnes, RB, sophomore - foot
Walter Rouse, OL, fifth-year - shoulder/labrum
Kaden Helms, TE, sophomore - knee
Jason Llewellyn, TE, sophomore - foot
Jacob Sexton, OL, sophomore - knee
Erik McCarty, DB, freshman - knee
Emeka Megwa, RB, redshirt sophomore - knee
Robert Spears-Jennings, DB, sophomore - shoulder
Cullen Montgomery, OL, redshirt freshman - shoulder

With no need to rush back into action, it's safe to assume those players will rest up during the exhibition. There are also players who were reported as limited participants throughout the spring starting to ramp up reps in practice. It's unclear if the limited participants will play on Saturday, but the group seems to be progressing well.

LIMITED

Trace Ford, DL, redshirt senior
Kelvin Gilliam, DL redshirt sophomore
Jayden Rowe, DB, redshirt freshman
Shane Whitter, LB, redshirt junior

At Wednesday’s open practice, defensive back Kani Walker was playing with club wrapped around his hand, but seemed to be a full-go otherwise.

Oklahoma's spring game is scheduled to kick off Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Published Apr 19, 2023

ROSS LOVELACE

Experience Ross is a young, up-and-coming sports reporter who has covered the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Oklahoma Sooners over the past six years. He's made guest appearances on various radio stations and has helped out with the All Sooners podcast whenever he gets the chance. Ross enjoys public speaking and has done so at multiple churches and high schools across the OKC metro area. In addition to writing, Ross has been the Play-by-Play announcer for Crossings’ basketball and football programs since 2020. In high school, Ross worked for self-starter blogs and latched onto Thunder Digest, where he discovered his passion for writing. From there, he worked for the OU Daily as a women's basketball reporter and was hired by All Sooners. Ross landed an internship with Sports Illustrated's Inside the Thunder and has since become a full-time contributor. One day, Ross hopes to work in the NBA. Work History Education Ross holds a bachelor's degree in Public Relations and a minor in Communication from the University of Oklahoma. Personal Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Ross played basketball and wrote for his own Thunder blog at Crossings High School in OKC, OK. He enjoys reading, New York Jets football and a week at the beach. Ross is engaged to be married at the end of the year. His Twitter handle is @Rosslovelace.