Spring practice officially kicks off on Monday for the Oklahoma Sooners.

The expectations heading into 2021 are sky high after finishing the 2020 campaign with the team’s sixth-straight conference championship and 50th overall. The team will be led by Redshirt sophomore quarterback Spencer Rattler who is viewed as the Heisman Memorial Trophy front-runner.

Defensively, the Sooners had one of the best units in the conference and return their top pass rush threat in Nik Bonitto. He was named the top returning edge defender per Pro Football Focus. The team has their fair share of questions in the secondary after losing three starters from last year’s team.

A full position by position breakdown of each group heading into spring ball on Monday:

The Quarterback: Spencer Rattler, Caleb Williams, and Micah Bowens

(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

The most important position on any football team is the quarterback. Fortunately for the Sooners, they return one of the most talented passers in all of college football with Spencer Rattler. He is viewed as the top choice to win the Heisman Memorial Trophy in 2021. Behind him is another No. 1 quarterback in Caleb Williams. OU added another quarterback in the portal with Penn State’s Micah Bowen. – Patrick

Our Quarterback Preview:

The Running Backs: Kennedy Brooks, Eric Gray, and Seth McGowan

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The running back position is going to have somewhat of a different feel in 2021. No longer will there be a T.J. Pledger or Rhamondre Stevenson in the backfield but they do see the return of Kennedy Brooks to the roster. Brooks took 2020 off due to the coronavirus pandemic. He is slated to be the starter along with a new addition in Tennessee transfer Eric Gray and the returning freshman running back Seth McGowan at the top of the depth chart. – Patrick

Our Running Back Preview:

The Wide Receivers: Marvin Mims, Theo Wease, Drake Stoops, and Jadon Haselwood

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Spencer Rattler’s supporting cast will look a little different in 2021 with Charleston Rambo and Theo Howard’s departure via transfer portal. Familiar faces will return including Marvin Mims, Theo Wease, and Drake Stoops along with talented newcomers- Mario Williams and Cody Jackson. – Brianna Dix

Our Wide Receiver Preview:

The Tight Ends/H-Back: Austin Stogner, Jeremiah Hall, Brayden Willis, and Mikey Henderson

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki).

The tight end/h-back position will have a similar look in 2021 with Austin Stogner, Brayden Willis, Jeremiah Hall, and Mikey Henderson. Stogner missed 4 1/2 games late in the 2020 season after suffering a knee injury against Kansas that turned into a staph infection on his quad muscle. Despite the injury, he had a breakout campaign ranking third on the team with 26 receptions for 422 receiving yards (16.2 average). – Brianna

Our Tight End Preview:

The Offensive Tackles: Wanya Morris, Erik Swenson, and Anton Harrison

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Last season Oklahoma deployed the tackle duo of Adrian Ealy and Erik Swenson. After one game, Ealy and Swenson swapped sides putting the former at the right tackle spot. Ealy is now heading to the NFL through the draft meaning there would be at least one new starter on the offensive line, turned out there would be more.- Patrick

Our Offensive Tackle Preview:

The Offensive Guards: Marquis Hayes and Tyrese Robinson

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For the Sooners, Bill Bedenbaugh returns both starters at guard from a season ago. That is the positive news with the team replacing offensive tackles and the center. Adrian Ealy and Creed Humphrey both head to the NFL. Marquis Hayes and Tyrese Robinson would likely resume their starting roles in 2021. – Patrick

Our Offensive Guard Preview:

The Center: Chris Murray and Robert Congel

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma’s elite centerpiece the previous three seasons is headed to the NFL. He anchored the offensive line and was effectively protecting three different quarterbacks in Spencer Rattler, Jalen Hurts, and Kyler Murray. UCLA transfer, Chris Murray will fill the vacant role in Bill Bedenbaugh’s offensive line. The heavily sought-after transfer landed in Norman after starting two years for the Bruins playing both center and guard.- Brianna

Our Center Preview:

The Edge Rushers: Nik Bonitto and Isaiah Thomas

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An area the Sooners were very strong in 2020, and will be again in 2021, is at the edge rusher spots. Obviously, quarterback is the most important position on a team, but having guys who can get after the passer is quite arguably next in line – and Alex Grinch’s defense returns a couple of great ones in defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas and linebacker Nik Bonitto. There are some quality options behind them, but these are two of the premier defensive players in the conference going into next season and a lot will be expected of them. – Josh Callaway

Our Edge Rushers Preview:

The interior defensive line: Perrion Winfrey, LaRon Stokes, and Jalen Redmon

Oklahoma defensive lineman Perrion Winfrey (8) defends during an NCAA college football game against TCU, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. Oklahoma won 33-14. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

As strong as the Oklahoma Sooners defense was on the edge, Alex Grinch also deploys a strong group in the interior. The defensive tackles are led by Perrion Winfrey, who joined the team last year as a JUCO transfer. He made an immediate impact on the interior. With Ronnie Perkins gone, Isaiah Thomas is likely to see more time on the edge than on the interior as a pass rusher. LaRon Stokes, Jalen Redmon and Winfrey should be key impact players. – Patrick

Our Interior Defensive Line Preview:

The Linebackers: Brian Asamoah, DeShaun White, and David Ugwoegbu

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The linebacker corps is up next. The unit will look similar in 2021 with DaShaun White and David Ugwoegbu as the MIKE (middle) linebackers and Brian Asamoah, Bryan Mead, Shane Whitter, and Jamal Morris as the WILL (weak side) linebackers. – Brianna

Our Linebackers Preview:

The Safeties: Pat Fields and Delarrin Turner-Yell

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Alex Grinch’s last line of defense will look the same in 2021 with the return of intended starters taking the field: Delarrin Turner-Yell and Pat Fields. Keshawn Lawrence and Bryson Washington provide valuable depth options. – Brianna

Our Safety Preview:

The Cornerbacks: Woodi Washington, D.J. Graham, and Jeremiah Criddell

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With the departure of Tre Brown and Tre Norwood for the NFL draft, Oklahoma’s cornerback group will look different in 2021. The Bown-Norwood tandem combined for eight interceptions. Nickel back Brendan Radley-Hiles transferred to Washington following the 2020 season. The vacant roles in the secondary have to be replaced. – Brianna

Our Cornerback Preview: