Oklahoma Football’s Top 3 Returning Players for 2024

Oklahoma football is a team in transition for the 2024 season. The Sooners are taking on a new challenge by entering the SEC after years of dominance in the Big 12. A solid recruiting class and assortment of newcomers from the transfer portal help, but more important than that are players returning to Oklahoma.

A few players who fit that mold are linebacker Danny Stutsman, wide receiver Nic Anderson and quarterback Jackson Arnold. Those three, and others, could help Oklahoma get back to the College Football Playoffs in 2024.

Danny Stutsman the wrecking ball

Danny Stutsman is not only one of the best players returning to Oklahoma football in 2024, but he’s also one of the best linebackers in the entire country. He recorded 104 total tackles last season, which ranked fifth among SEC players. Only Mississippi State’s Nathaniel Watson and Jett Johnson, South Carolina’s Debo Williams and Alabama’s Caleb Downs had more.

Stutsman did that even when he missed a game last year. He’s not only a tackling machine, but also an all-around player. He can hold his own in coverage and add some pop as a pass rusher. He has three sacks in each of the previous two seasons. Stutsman also has three interceptions in that span.

Stutsman could have entered the 2024 NFL Draft if he wanted to, but he returned to Oklahoma for his senior season. The Sooners should be grateful he did. He’s the captain of head coach Brent Venables’ defense, which should help organize the rest of that unit. Stutsman is one to watch closely for Oklahoma in 2024.

A sleeping receiver in Nic Anderson

The NFL wide receiver class of 2025 figures to be another one, and that group should include Oklahoma’s Nic Anderson. Anderson really broke out in 2023. He didn’t play much as a freshman, but his wait for playing time paid off big time. Anderson hauled in 38 receptions for 798 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first real season of play for the Sooners.

There’s a lot to like about Anderson’s game and frame. He’s a huge receiver at 6’3” and 215 pounds, and he uses that size to his advantage. Anderson averaged 20 yards per reception, which ranked third in college football among players with at least 35 receptions. Only UCF’s Javon Baker and UTEP’s Kelly Akharaiyi averaged better.

In addition to his on-field performance, Anderson’s size makes him a real threat in the red zone. He looks like a future NFL receiver. Another solid season in Norman could help him get there as early as 2025.

The quarterback of the future in Jackson Arnold

Dillon Gabriel did a great job leading the Sooners last season. However, he chose not to return to Oklahoma and transferred to Oregon over the winter. While that is a big loss, it is compensated by the quarterback the Sooners have waiting in the wings. That would be Jackson Arnold.

Arnold was the No. 3 quarterback and overall high school prospect in 2023. He was mostly relegated to mop-up duty as Gabriel’s backup, but he did get a chance to show what he can do in the Sooners’ bowl game. He threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns against the contending Arizona Wildcats, though he also threw three interceptions and completed 57.8 percent of his passes.

While the numbers weren’t great, he did make some great throws that will likely have Oklahoma fans excited about his return in 2024.

There could be some initial hiccups with Arnold’s first season as a regular starter. That’s fine. But he has the talent to lead the Sooners to a special season. He, along with Anderson and Stutsman, will be crucial to Oklahoma as returnees for the 2024 season.