Oklahoma had twelve players from their offense leave this past offseason. Although, the biggest loss for the Sooners offense has to be that of Ryan Broyles. Broyles was the biggest and most reliable target for Landry Jones last season. In 2011, Broyles recorded 1,157 receiving yards on 83 receptions and ten receiving touchdowns. He was selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Kenny Stills will most likely be counted on to fill the gap left by Broyles’ departure.

Dec 30, 2011; Tempe, AZ, USA; A general view of an Oklahoma Sooners helmet during a game against Iowa Hawkeyes during the 2011 Insight Bowl at the Sun Devil Stadium. Oklahoma won 31 to 14. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Hilderbrand-US PRESSWIRE

Despite losing their top wide receiver from last season, Oklahoma kept their starting quarterback from 2011. Landry Jones announced back in January that he would be returning to Norman for his senior year. Last season as a junior, Jones recorded 4,463 yards on 355 completions, 29 passing touchdowns, and fifteen interceptions. Landry will need to be a key part of the offense if Oklahoma wants to be successful in the Big 12 this season.

Just like the offense, the Sooners had twelve players leave on defense this offseason. Two of these players include the 2011 Big 12 Defensive Play of the Year and the leading tackler for Oklahoma during the Stoop’s era. These two players are Frank Alexander and Travis Lewis. Both of these players were drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft. Alexander was selected in the fourth round by the Carolina Panthers while Lewis was selected in the seventh round by the Detroit Lions.

During the 2011 season, Lewis recorded 84 total tackles (most on the team), four tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, and two forced fumbles and Alexander recorded 19 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Alexander also broke up eight passes.

The biggest strength for the Sooners on defense in 2012 will be their defensive backs. They have five full and part-time starters from 2011 returning for the 2012 season. The two most important defensive backs this season will be Demontre Hurst and Tony Jefferson. Hurst recorded 55 total tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and eleven broken up passes last season. Jefferson had a nice sophomore year with the Sooners in 2011 which was highlighted by four interceptions.

The road to a Big 12 Championship will be a hard one for Oklahoma in 2012. They will need to play two big road game against TCU and West Virginia (new additions to the Big 12) and two big home games against Texas and Oklahoma State. The Sooners also have a big non-conference game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Norman on October 27th.

2012 Oklahoma Sooners Schedule -

@UTEP 9/1
Florida A&M 9/8
Kansas State 9/22
@Texas Tech 10/6
Texas 10/13
Kansas 10/20
Notre Dame 10/27
@Iowa State 11/3
Baylor 11/10
@West Virginia 11/17
Oklahoma State 11/24
@TCU 12/1

Other “Knowing the Big 12″ Previews -

TCU Horned Frogs
Kansas State Wildcats
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Texas Longhorns
Baylor Bears

For more on Oklahoma, check out Stormin in Norman.

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Sept 18, 2011; Chicago, IL, Chicago Bears legend Gale Sayers before the Geico 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

Gale Sayers or the “Kansas Comet” as he was nicknamed during his stay at Kansas had an amazing career in football. He is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame, plus was a two-time All-American and five-time All Pro while at Chicago.

Sayers should signs of being a great athlete while at Omaha Central High School, where he set the state long jump record of 24″11. He signed with Kansas, after spurning Iowa in the recruiting process.

While at Kansas, Sayers proved himself to be quite a dual-threat player. He could do it all on the field, run, pass, receive, and return kicks. As a freshman, Sayers amassed 1,125 rushing yards. He showed great ability to break open any play, leading to more opportunities as a kick returner as a sophomore. Here he rushed for 917 yards, added 11 receptions for 155 yards, and 314 returning kicks. While a senior, Sayers set a record a NCAA Division 1 record, with a 99-yard run vs Nebraska. Sayers finished with 2,617 rushing yards, and 3,917 all-purpose yards at Kansas. He was drafted by Chicago with the fourth pick in the 1964 NFL Draft.

Injuries cut his career short in the NFL, however he made a great mark on the field during seven seasons. As a rookie, he scored 22 touchdowns, 14 rushing, six receiving, and two returning kicks.

Sayers finished his career in 1971 after trying to play, yet succumbing to a nagging knee injury. He finished with 4,956 rushing yards while at Chicago. Sayers was a two-time NFL rushing champion, plus three-time Pro Bowl MVP. He was named a member of the NFL 75th Anniversary Team.

Aug. 31, 2008; Louisville, KY, USA; The Kentucky Wildcats mascot leads his team out on the field before his team takes on the Louisville Cardinals at Papa Johns Stadium in Louisville, KY. Kentucky defeated Louisville 27-2. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-US PRESSWIRE

The Elite 11 attendee is still looking for his first offer, and strong camp showing at Kentucky could help further that. Skyler Windmiller has a high amount of interest in three major programs in Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska.

Ron Powlus and the Kansas Jayhawks have been recruiting him, and Oklahoma State and Tennessee are two other notable programs recruiting Skyler Windmiller. The Mill Valley Jaguars QB has also received interest from Northern Illinois and Tulsa. He has Kansas State, Iowa State, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma on his list of schools.

Skyler Windmiller led his team to a 7-3 record after tossing 25 touchdowns compared to just four picks with an average of 8.6 yards per attempt. He has been the star of his team and is a major reason for his high school team’s success. Windmiller is gaining some steam in the region and has interest from both Big 12 and SEC programs.

Scout.com rates Windmiller has the 89th best quarterback in the 2013 class, and he is right around there. A mobile QB, Windmiller runs a 4.9 forty and once had 77 rushing yards in a game last season.

The 6’2″, 180 pound pro-style QB is a legitimate prospect and can provide good depth and be an interesting project player. Going to Kansas would allow him to stay in state and work with a top QB tutor in Charlie Weis, but there are programs higher up on the totem pole and could be better fits.

It is still relatively early in his recruitment, but the UK camp could be big for Skyler Windmiller in supplementing his strong 2011 high school season and bringing in his first offer. He may be a two-star QB, but he has potential and is receiving interest from solid programs like Tennessee.

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