Brent Venables says OT Jake Taylor will play vs. Houston; C Branson Hickman 'looked good,' but availability TBD (2024)

Oklahoma offensive tackle Jake Taylor will make his 2024 season debut against Houston on Saturday night, Sooners head coach Brent Venables announced on his weekly coach's show Monday evening.

Taylor, who was listed as the starting right tackle on OU's initial depth chart for the season, did not play in the season opener against Temple due to a minor injury.

Venables also said that injured starting center Branson Hickman "looked good today, but I don't know if he'll be back this week or not, but he actually looked remarkably good today."

Hickman, an SMU transfer, sprained his ankle in the first quarter against Temple and did not return to the game.

When he went out, OU had to shift its offensive line almost entirely, with Geirean Hatchett moving from left guard to center, Jacob Sexton going from left tackle to guard, plus Michael Tarquin moving from right to left tackle and Spencer Brown entering at right tackle. Only Febechi Nwaiwu at right guard remained unmoved.

Given the situation, how did Venables feel about the line's performance?

"There was some that was good," Venables said. "I think we averaged— not including the three sacks, and that's not all on the offensive line when that happens, contradictory to popular belief. Sometimes it's the quarterback and sometimes it's the back. But without those three sacks, we averaged over seven yards a carry.

"So it was actually a pretty efficient day, but we left a lot of meat on the bone. When it's all said and done, we left a lot of meat on the bone. We easily could have run for over 300 yards. Just gotta clean up some basic things and finish some blocks."

Venables again lamented the injury to starting wide receiver Jalil Farooq, who broke his foot against Temple, needs surgery that includes having a screw put in, and will be out six to eight weeks.

"You hate that for anybody that's invested so much and going into his senior year. He's been the best version of himself in regards to his leadership and just overall accountability and just had an excellent out of season," Venables said.

"So the good thing for him is he'll be back and that's not gonna effect him long term. So could have been a lot worse, and for us, it just gives another opportunity. It's not just man up, but we do feel... that's a good position to choose from when it comes to replacing him."

Venables said he expects someone among freshmen Zion Ragins, Zion Kearney, Ivan Carreon, KJ Daniels and Jacob Jordan, as well as redshirt freshman Jaquaize Pettaway, to step up in Farooq's absence.

He also noted that OU has the flexibility to play slot starter Deion Burks outside some. And he was pleased with what he saw from Andrel Anthony in his first game back from an ACL injury.

"It's good just to get him back in— it's really good for the confidence," Venables said. "And again, anybody that's ever come off an ACL injury, that's never easy. They give you (a recovery timetable) based on all the imaging and whatnot. You've seen guys come back in four months, you've seen 'em come back in six months, and then sometimes it takes 'em a little over a year to gain their confidence and their explosiveness and things of that nature.

"But that was an important step for him and expect him just to get more and more ready. And of course he is 'released' and we don't have any limits on him, but to get back to his old form, I don't think we're that far away."

A real positive would be if Nic Anderson returned at full strength. The Sooners' leading receiver of 2023 missed the season opener with a minor injury. Will he be back against Houston?

"We're hoping," Venables said. "There's a chance he'll be back this week."

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