Oklahoma names captains for Week 1 vs. Arkansas State

A big season kicks off for Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables on Saturday. After finishing with a losing record in 2022, the Sooners need to get back to winning ways before leaving the Big 12 in favor of the SEC. Thankfully, a winnable game is on the Week 1 schedule, with Arkansas State rolling into Norman.

Even against an opponent Oklahoma is expected to beat, Venables will need some leadership out on the field. On Monday, he announced who would be the Week 1 captains, totaling five players. Maybe to no surprise, three of them come from the defensive end.

At the very least, all five players have experience in the program. Having a veteran presence inside the locker room is going to be huge for Oklahoma as they look to get back to winning ways.

Here are the five captains Oklahoma will trot out to the midfield logo before looking for their leadership once the ball is kicked off.

• Defensive back Billy Bowman
• Defensive back Justin Harrington
• Offensive lineman McKade Mettauer
• Wide receiver Drake Stoops
• Linebacker Danny Stutsman

Week One Captains 🫡@Billy2Bowman @showw_3 @Mckade64 @Drake_stoops @FbStutsman #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/o9KSU4pB4o

— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) August 28, 2023

There is a feel-good story involving Harrington being named a captain for Saturday’s game. During the 2021 season under Lincoln Riley, the defensive back entered the NCAA transfer portal. It came before the portal windows were a thing, occurring a day before the Kansas State game.

Harrington spoke to the media on Monday after being named a captain, wanting to prove something on the field. He will be doing so in front of family, with the Harrington clan migrating to Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

“Said he’s very appreciative of Brent Venables giving him a second chance to play for the #Sooners,” George Stoia of On3’s Sooner Scoop said of Harrington via Twitter. “Wants to prove a lot this season. He’ll have a lot of family in town this weekend to watch him.”

Elsewhere, Stoops is going to be a name Oklahoma fans obviously recognize. Drake has been a staple in the wide receiver room over the past few years, being a legit option for the slew of quarterbacks to come through Norman. Stoops will be entering his second season of working with quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

Of course, his father, Bob, has a lot of name recognition around the program too. The leadership trait is something that has been passed down from father to son. A fun family affair for Oklahoma to begin the 2023 season.