Two powerhouses take each other on in the Alamo Bowl as the Arizona Wildcats square off against the Oklahoma Sooners. However, each team is expected to be without a handful of players. Who will be out for both programs and how big of an impact will they have on the Alamo Bowl?
Top Arizona, Oklahoma Players Not Playing the Alamo Bowl
Thanks to the College Football Network Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know just who is set to sit out the contest between Arizona and Oklahoma easily enough.
For the full game preview and prediction: Alamo Bowl Prediction: Arizona vs. Oklahoma Odds, Spread, DFS Picks, and More
Arizona Players To Miss the Alamo Bowl
Former starting quarterback Jayden de Laura hit the transfer portal from Arizona in a less-than-shocking bit of news. The rise of Noah Fifita was ultimately going to force de Laura out and he’ll make for a highly-coveted pickup in the portal.
The rest of the stays intact while the defense has a few hiccups to overcome. Of their eight defensive portal athletes, only Isaiah Taylor (8 games) and Orin Patu (2 games) played any meaningful snaps for the Wildcats. Taylor recorded a few forced incompletions, but it was largely in spot duty.
They’ll be a near-complete roster when they take on Oklahoma.
- Jayden de Laura, QB (transfer portal)
- Stevie Rocker, RB (transfer portal)
- Snoop Leota-Amaama, OT (transfer portal)
- Orin Patu, EDGE (transfer portal)
- Jason Harris, EDGE (transfer portal)
- Ammon Allen, LB (transfer portal)
- Daniel Heimuli, LB (transfer portal)
- Manny Moss, CB (transfer portal)
- Canyon Moses, CB (transfer portal)
- Cruz Rushing, S (transfer portal)
- Isaiah Taylor, S (transfer portal)
Oklahoma Players To Miss the Alamo Bowl
Unlike their opponent, the Oklahoma depth chart will look a lot different in the Alamo Bowl. Gone is Dillon Gabriel and Davis Beville from the QB room, setting the stage for true freshman Jackson Arnold to begin his journey as the starting quarterback. Though highly recruited, this game will mark his first start and first set of meaningful snaps in a game so far in 2023.
Tawee Walker’s emergence saw him hit the portal and the Sooners will also be without depth receivers D.J. Graham and LV Bunkley-Shelton, but should have a full receiving corps for Arnold to utilize.
Their offensive line, however, was hit hard when Cayden Green hit the portal. The fabulous true freshman started at left guard in 10 games and will force a replacement in his place for the Alamo Bowl.
As different as they’ll look on offense, only S Key Lawrence played meaningful snaps for the Sooners on defense that will be missing in action in the Alamo Bowl. Lawrence recorded two interceptions and two pass breakups this past season at safety.
- Dillon Gabriel, QB (transfer portal)
- Davis Beville, QB (transfer portal)
- Tawee Walker, RB (transfer portal)
- Marcus Major, RB (transfer portal)
- Daylan Smothers, RB (transfer portal)
- D.J. Graham II, WR (transfer portal)
- LV Bunkley-Shelton, WR (transfer portal)
- Jason Llewellyn, TE (transfer portal)
- Marcus Hicks, OT (transfer portal)
- Nate Anderson, OT (transfer portal)
- Aaryn Parks, OT (transfer portal)
- Cayden Green, iOL (transfer portal)
- Kelvin Gilliam, EDGE (transfer portal)
- Reggie Grimes II, EDGE (transfer portal)
- Key Lawrence, S (transfer portal)
Miss any action from the top college QB Rankings during the 2023 football season? Want to track all the movement with the college football’s transfer portal? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!