Ahead of the spring transfer portal window, I wanted to start priming articles about the state of the Oklahoma Sooners' roster, taking a look at the top players, players who I expect to take a step forward, breakout starters, and the like. 

There were some disappointing performances through the 2024 season, either due to injury or poor play, that played a part in the Sooners' 6-7 season.  

Who needs to take a step forward in 2025 if the Sooners want to turn things around?

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1. WR Deion Burks

Deion Burks started off the season on fire, but caught the injury bug that plagued the Sooners' receiver room in 2024. His injuries coincided with Oklahoma's worst stretches offensively. 

He is still the most talented offensive player on Oklahoma's roster, but they need him to stay healthy if the Sooners' offense wants to rebound next season.

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2. CB Gentry Williams

Gentry Williams missed virtually all of the 2024 season battling a shoulder injury and needed offseason surgery to correct it. Many speculated he might transfer in the fall, but he's stuck around to help anchor a young cornerback room. 

The Sooners are talented, but unproven across the board at corner behind Eli Bowen. If Gentry Williams is healthy and returns to his 2023 form, that would give the Sooners a talented starting tandem outside and ease some nerves about the inexperience of that room. 

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3. DE PJ Adebawore

PJ Adebawore has all of the talent in the world to be one of the most disruptive players to ever put on a Sooners uniform. Unfortunately, he's battled nagging injuries that have limited his playing time in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.

However, he is fully healthy this spring and is looking to put together his best season. If he can take a step forward and stay healthy, he can slide right in as the base end opposite of R Mason Thomas and give the Sooners another dynamic pass rusher on their defensive line.

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4. RB Taylor Tatum

Taylor Tatum flashed as a playmaker as a freshman, but was snakebitten by injury and had a fumbling issue throughout the year that limited his potential impact. 

If he can fix his ball security in his first full offseason with the team and stay healthy, Tatum can be the dynamic rusher the Sooners need in their backfield. 

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5. SAF Peyton Bowen

After a standout freshman season in 2023, Peyton Bowen had a sophomore slump in 2024 as the rest of the defense took a step forward. I believe most of this was trying too hard to be perfect and not make mistakes, instead of trusting his instincts.

If he can return back to form, he'd be the perfect replacement to Billy Bowman in the secondary and would solidify the secondary for Oklahoma.