Key Oklahoma athletes will be absent from the Alamo Bowl match against Arizona.
The Alamo Bowl, scheduled for Thursday at 9:15 p.m. ET on ESPN, will witness a fierce competition between the 12th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners and the 14th-ranked Arizona Wildcats. Despite their readiness for battle, the Sooners will be missing some key players for various reasons.
Let’s delve into the Oklahoma roster to identify the players who will be absent from the Alamo Bowl.
Notable Absences from the Oklahoma Roster in the Alamo Bowl:
1. Dillon Gabriel, Quarterback:
– Senior quarterback Dillon Gabriel won’t be participating in the Alamo Bowl as he has entered the transfer portal and joined the Oregon Ducks. Throughout his time with the Sooners, Gabriel served as the starting quarterback, delivering an impressive season that ranked him fourth in the nation with an 87.4 QBR.
– Gabriel’s statistics include a 69.3 completion percentage, 3,660 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, six interceptions, 93 rushing attempts for 373 yards, and 12 rushing touchdowns. His contributions spanned two seasons with the Oklahoma Sooners after transferring from the UCF Knights, where he quarterbacked from 2019-2021.
2. Marcus Major, Running Back:
– Senior running back Marcus Major is also absent from the Alamo Bowl, having entered the transfer portal. Major, a valuable asset for the Sooners, accumulated 78 rushing attempts for 308 yards (3.9 yards per carry) with one rushing touchdown, along with 12 receptions for 75 yards (6.3 yards per catch) and one touchdown reception.
– Major’s five-season tenure with the Oklahoma Sooners showcased his strength as a running back, recording 194 rushing attempts for 833 yards (4.3 yards per carry), eight rushing touchdowns, and 23 catches for 177 yards (7.7 yards per reception) with two touchdown catches.
3. Key Lawrence, Defensive Back:
– Senior defensive back Key Lawrence, a reliable player in the Sooners’ secondary, is officially out after entering the transfer portal. Lawrence’s noteworthy season included 44 total tackles (29 solo, 15 assisted), a forced fumble, two interceptions, and three pass deflections.
– Lawrence’s contributions extend beyond the current season, with a total of 156 tackles (94 solo, 62 assisted), 11 pass deflections, one sack, six forced fumbles, and three interceptions. He played the 2020 season with Tennessee before transferring to Oklahoma for the last three years.
