This season is a big one for the Oklahoma Sooners football program. They are set to embark on their maiden voyage to the SEC after years of dominance in the Big 12. They return many players from last year's team that went 10-2 but did lose a few key contributors like quarterback Dillon Gabriel. However, a strong recruiting class and a group of transfers should keep the winning coming in Norman. One transfer, Branson Hickman, can make the biggest impact among that group for Oklahoma football in 2024.

Improved center play

Branson Hickman was one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal. The former SMU Mustang initially committed to the University of Arkansas after entering the portal, but flipped to Oklahoma. He also considered TCU. There's a reason why many programs wanted him. He has been one of the best centers in all of college football over the last two seasons.

He's only allowed one sack and two quarterback hits in that time while in Dallas with SMU. Though the competition in the American Athletic Conference was not overly fierce, those are still very impressive numbers. Hickman showed out in both the pass and the run game, which will be pivotal for Oklahoma's offense.

Hickman was a big reason why SMU's offense was as great as it was last season. The Mustangs were third in the American in yards per game with 454.9, which also ranked 16th nationally. They also were 23rd in the nation passing yards per game and (278.4). A big reason why was their ability to keep their quarterback upright. SMU relinquished only 16 sacks in 2023. Only 15 teams in the country gave up fewer.

Now, Hickman isn't the one throwing, running, or catching the ball, but he's helping SMU's skill position players be able to do all of those things.  Everything starts up front with the offensive line, and Hickman elevated the Mustangs' line tremendously last season.

Boomer Sooner

It's great that Hickman can help catapult a team's offensive line because Oklahoma football could use someone to do that with their unit. Their offensive line wasn't as sturdy as SMU's last season, but it was still solid. They allowed 20 sacks a year ago compared to the 16 the Mustangs gave up.

Their offensive line helped Oklahoma's offense become one of the best units in the country as well. The Sooners ranked third in the nation in yards per game (507) and sixth in passing yards per game (324.8). A lot of that was because of veteran quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel, the former UCF Knight, was one of the best passers in the nation a year ago and used his legs frequently to extend plays as well.

However, he transferred to the University of Oregon in the winter, which means Oklahoma football will have a new quarterback under center. It remains to be seen who that will be, but a competition for that job will take place before the season starts. Jackson Arnold is seen as the favorite to get that job but will have to earn it.

But even if Arnold plays well, it's unlikely that he will replicate the numbers that Gabriel put up last season. That just puts an even bigger premium on Oklahoma's offensive line holding up, especially in a better conference.

That's where Hickman comes in. He is an experienced center who can help his new quarterback with protections and seeing the field presnap. He will make life easier for Arnold, which will in turn make life easier for Oklahoma's offense. Hickman was a big addition in the portal who will make a big impact on the team this season.