‘Three quarterbacks taking reps’: Sooners QB situation a mystery heading into Red River Rivalry
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With Dillon Gabriel recovering from a concussion he suffered during the game against TCU, the Oklahoma Sooners are in a bit of a pickle. There isn’t another QB with starting experience at the division one level on the roster.
Given the current feelings on concussions in football and the lack of confirmation on Gabriel’s status, starting him just a week after sustaining a concussion doesn’t seem likely.
Brent Venables has not named a starting quarterback for this weekend.
“We’ll have three quarterbacks taking reps this week,” Venables said.
With so little experience on the depth chart, this is how it needs to be. Davis Beville didn’t look good against the Horned Frogs, but coming off the bench on the road is very difficult. With more reps in practice this week, Beville would be in a better position to run the offense should he be given the nod to start.
JUCO transfer General Booty is an interesting option. He put up great numbers at the JUCO level but has not thrown a pass this season. He’s an unknown quantity, even more so than Beville.
And then there’s Nick Evers. The four-star true freshman out of Flower Mound, Texas. Venables didn’t say much during his press conference, but he did speak highly of Evers’ improvement since coming to OU.
“We saw all that potential: throwing, running, decision making really come to fruition over the last several weeks.”
Evers improving so much is a very good thing, but making your first career start at the Cotton Bowl for Red River is a big ask. The same goes for Booty, who would also be making his first career start at the FBS level.
Beville, who would also be making his first career start, has been the No. 2 QB on this roster throughout the regular season. He has the most experience, albeit not very much. Unless Booty or Evers outperforms him in practice this week, which is very possible, Beville will be making the start in Dallas.
Neither Venables nor Lebby gave a concrete answer on whether or not Gabriel will be ready to go by Saturday, but even if Gabriel does clear concussion protocol before then, it would seem unlikely that he plays.
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