This summer, ESPN.com is taking a closer look at each scholarship player on the Oklahoma Sooners' roster in our Crimson Countdown series. Each day, we analyze each player’s impact on the program since arriving on campus, his potential impact this fall, and his long-term projection. Starting with No. 1 Dominique Alexander, the series follows the roster numerically through No. 98 Chuka Ndulue.
No. 93 Jordan Wade, defensive tackle, 6-foot-4, 314 pounds, Sophomore
Impact thus far: After a redshirt season in 2012, Wade was arguably the most overlooked contributor to Oklahoma's Allstate Sugar Bowl championship campaign. Wade was thrown into the fire after Jordan Phillips was lost for the season after four games. Wade ended up starting eight games, finishing with 17 tackles including 1.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman.
Impact in 2014: He should continue to be a key contributor for the Sooners, particularly if Phillips suffers any setbacks with his back. Wade is one of the stronger defensive linemen on the squad and got better as the season progressed a year ago.
Long-term upside: Wade has the ability to become an all-conference performer during his time in crimson and cream.
Evaluation grade for Wade: A. As the No. 103 player in the ESPN150, Wade arrived in Norman, Oklahoma, as a highly regarded defensive prospect. He went a long way to meeting those expectations with his eight starts as a redshirt freshman. Wade had games where he was disruptive and dependable in the middle, allowing his teammates to shine.
Development grade for Wade: A. No complaints here. Wade’s redshirt season helped prepare him to make an impact in 2014, and there is no guarantee he will leave before his fifth season in the program. Thus it’s very possible the Sooners get four productive seasons from Wade, which would not be the case if they had let him see spot duty as a true freshman in 2012.
