Oklahoma football 2017: Projected Sooners depth chart

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 10: Offensive Coordinator Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners laughs after a touchdown against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks on Saturday September 10, 2016 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Jackson Laizure/Getty Images) /

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DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 08: linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (31) during the Oklahoma Sooners 45-40 victory over the Texas Longhorns in their Red River Showdown on October, 2016, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Defense

Notable losses: The biggest loss was linebacker Jordan Evans. He went to the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2017 NFL Draft, one season after leading the Sooners with 98 total tackles. Add in the four interceptions, and Evans was the defensive force at Oklahoma. Can he be replaced?

DE: DJ Ward, Redshirt Senior

DT: Matthew Romar, Redshirt Senior

DT: Neville Gallimore, Redshirt Sophomore

DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Redshirt Senior

Obbonnia Okoronkwo may not have been the leading tackler for Oklahoma football, but he got to the quarterback like no other player on the team. He finished with 9 sacks, 6.5 more than the player with the second most, a number tied by three players. Another strong season could do wonders for Okoronkwo’s draft stock.

OLB Emmanuel Beal, Senior

Emmanuel Beal is the top tackler returning for the Sooners. In his junior season, he racked up 81 tackles and 2 sacks. A leadership role should be in store for Beal in the fall, but will it result in an even higher level of production?

ILB: Jon-Michael Terry, Redshirt Freshman

OLB: Caleb Kelly, Sophomore

CB: Jordan Thomas, Senior

FS: Will Sunderland, Junior

SS: Steve Parker, Senior

Senior Steve Parker will be one of the top players returning in the Sooner secondary. He finished last season with 63 tackles, 4 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery. Look for Parker to take on an even bigger role in the defensive backfield.

CB: Jordan Parker, Sophomore

KR: Mykel Jones, Sophomore

PR: Mykel Jones, Sophomore

PK: Austin Seibert, Junior

P: Austin Seibert, Junior

Austin Seibert controlled the kicking and punting duties for the Sooners in 2016. He made 11 of 16 field goals and had a 41.1 punting yards per punt average. Seibert should be able to keep this multi-role position for 2017.

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The Oklahoma football depth chart should develop as the season nears. Who will take over critical starting spots?

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