The Departed: 2016
The Sooners senior class of 2016 finished their career with back to back Big 12 titles, the first class to do so since 2008. The group of departing Sooners, both seniors and in NFL early entrants, had wildly varying contributions to the program from the 2012 season forward. Take a look as we break down departing players and compare their arrival ranking to what it might have been if done after the completion of their college career.
NOTE: Any player that finished out his collegiate career will be given at least two stars, for that in and of itself is a significant accomplishment that not every player achieves. Also included are any early entrants into the NFL draft.
Junior College Ranking: **
College Re-Ranking: **
Career Keys: Baxter's four-catches as a senior were some of being passed up and, undoubtedly, born somewhat of some comments made publicly. However, Baxter was always going to struggle to be an elite playmaker after averaging less than 12 yards per catch in his career.
Reason Behind the Ranking: Baxter had a few moments here and there and may be a bit hard done by a two-star ranking but in the end he had four catches as a senior, hard to make much more of that.
High School Ranking: ***
College Re-Ranking: ***
Career Keys: Can there be any question it was the four interceptions of his senior year? When people look back and talk about Evans' career his interceptions and returns against West Virginia and Baylor are two things everyone will be talking about.
Reason Behind the Ranking: This one is a tough call as Evans did end up as an all-conference pick as a senior and really down the stretch played like a four-star player with serious NFL potential. However for most of his career he was simply a steady player.
High School Ranking: ***
College Re-Ranking: **
Career Keys: Grant had his big moment in the sun with his one-yard touchdown catch against Kansas in 2015.
Reason Behind the Ranking: Grant seemed to bounce back and forth between tight end and offensive tackle and never really found a home at either.
High School Ranking: N/A
College Re-Ranking: **
Career Keys: Can there be any question that his career key was in October of 2015 against Kansas when he caught a touchdown pass from his brother Trevor Knight?
Reason Behind the Ranking: Knight ended up being a useful player for Oklahoma, particularly through his first four years, with the Sooners getting his work for free.
High School Ranking: ****
College Re-Ranking: ***
Career Keys: Mr. Third down for the Sooners in 2016, Lewis may not have had the biggest numbers on the roster but when you look at his three catches for 28-yards and a touchdown against Oklahoma State it forgets how key some of those catches were for the Sooners.
Reason Behind the Ranking: Lewis, as a sophomore at Penn State, seemed on his way to being an elite receiver for the Nittany Lions but he never again really approached that level. However, as a senior for Oklahoma he had a very strong year and became one of Baker Mayfield's most trusted options.
High School Ranking: *****
College Re-Ranking: *****
Career Keys: It's hard to nail it down to just one thing for Mixon but can a one-handed catch be a career key? There are so many moments in Mixon's career that will stand out, and obviously not all are on the field, but that catch against Texas Tech is still one of the more amazing things recently seen on a football field.
Reason Behind the Ranking: Without question one of my real debates. From the 'is he a five-star talent' side of things, there can be no question. But from production and notoriety did Mixon do enough in two seasons - with one of those just being a steady, but not great, 2015? I'd say no but balancing the two out and the respect I have for Mixon's natural gifts forces him into a five-star role.
High School Ranking: ****
College Re-Ranking: ****
Career Keys: How do you even pick one? Perine is the school's all-time leading rusher but it's hard to say that anything will ever stick out as much as his 427-yards rushing against Kansas as a freshman in 2014. Oklahoma needed someone to carry that struggling offense and the true freshman did the work.
Reason Behind the Ranking: This is one that will anger the masses and it's probably a reasonable complaint. Perine, in terms of pure yardage accumulated, is the most productive back in Oklahoma football history. However, when I look at him as an elite talent I have some questions that remain.
High School Ranking: ***
College Re-Ranking: ***
Career Keys: Roberts may not have had a lot of moments that people will remember but go back and watch his few weeks in 2016 against TCU and Texas and you'll see a guy playing at a surprisingly high level.
Reason Behind the Ranking: If Oklahoma's numbers didn't take some strange hits this year I'm not sure this ranking comes together for Roberts. However when pressed he played a solid role for the Sooners and, at times, was a difference maker.
High School Ranking: ****
College Re-Ranking: **
Career Keys: Still such a surprising situation to now look back on. Taylor was a starter in the third game of his career and had three tackles and a pair of pass breakups.
Reason Behind the Ranking: Taylor has to be one of the all-time mysteries. From playing early as a freshman and looking like a player set to be an impact guy Taylor never again saw any meaningful snaps. The big-time athlete out of East Central, for whatever reason, just never became the player most everyone expected.
High School Ranking: ***
College Re-Ranking: ***
Career Keys: There can't be any doubt that Thomas' hit on Auburn running back Kamryn Pettway will go down as a truly lasting memory for Oklahoma fans.
Reason Behind the Ranking: Though a three-year starter, Thomas had something of a turbulent career at Oklahoma, at times he had the look of a true difference-maker. Then he would have other times where coverage was an issue.
High School Ranking: ****
College Re-Ranking: ***
Career Keys: Go back and watch his performance against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and be amazed by him playing every snap of the game.
Reason Behind the Ranking: This year's Don Key award winner may go down as one of the more under appreciated Sooners in recent years. Wade wasn't always flashy but it's hard not to look back on his career and see a guy that answered the bell for Oklahoma time and time again.
High School Ranking: ****
College Re-Ranking: *****
Career Keys: His October of 2016 may go down as the greatest month of any receiver in college football history, in that month Westbrook combined for 40 receptions for 881-yards and 11 touchdowns.
Reason Behind the Ranking: This one is a case much like Mixon's, is Westbrook's short time, and one true year of greatness enough to warrant a boost beyond four-stars? We're going to say that it is, Westbrook's senior season is almost undoubtedly the best in school history. As the school's first Fred Biletnikoff award winner, how could it not be a five-star?