Brent Venables provides update on injured OU center Troy Everett
Troy Everett injured his right knee on March 27 and underwent surgery a week later. He’s expected to miss the start of the 2024 season for Oklahoma.
Venables’ update gave us a more precise timeline on when to expect Everett back in the fight. After confirming on April 2 that Everett had sustained a serious injury requiring surgery, Venables projected that the redshirt junior would be cleared to play again by the conclusion of fall camp.
Even with that original schedule, it didn’t seem likely that Everett would be back for the season opener on August 30 versus Temple. It is now official that his expected return date is after the season begins.
Although Everett’s injury put Oklahoma in a difficult position at centre during an offensive line remodel in the offseason, the Sooners’ prospects in the trenches—and especially at center—have improved in the two months since.With Everett out, Oklahoma had no experience at centre and decided to use redshirt freshman Josh Bates to handle first-team reps for the rest of spring practice.Despite Bates’ excellent response to the challenge and his ongoing development at the position—he was especially effective in the spring game on April 20—Oklahoma brought SMU transfer Brandon Hickman into the mix the following day.
Before the program’s first-ever SEC season, Hickman, a three-year starter at SMU and one of the best-graded centres in college football last season, gives Oklahoma plenty of experience and leadership at centre.The Sooners now have the luxury of not pressuring Everett to return sooner rather than later. Additionally, since Hickman is likely to maintain his starting centre position, Oklahoma can potentially use Everett at guard when he does return.
Though he has spent much of his career at centre, Everett also boasts guard experience. He concluded the previous season as Oklahoma’s starting centre in the Alamo Bowl and was the team’s presumptive starter going into the spring. After joining the Sooners from Appalachian State, where he appeared in 13 games and started six at centre over two seasons, he made three starts at left guard last season and played 247 of his 398 snaps at the position.
Troy is still a fantastic leader, according to Venables. “And Troy will be back.”
247Sports national reporter Brandon Marcello contributed to this article.
Brent Venables: SMU transfer added OU becomes ‘better’ under Branson Hickman.
While at the SEC spring meetings this week in Destin, Florida, Brent Venables talked about centre Branson Hickman, one of Oklahoma’s newest signings.
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