While the greater impact of OU’s conference relocation to the SEC has to do with Oklahoma football, it is a move that will affect all OU athletics. It is sure to provide a greater competitive challenge for the Sooners in softball, baseball and women’s gymnastics, two of which are premier sports for Oklahoma nationally, but […]
It’s no secret that redshirt sophomore QB Spencer Rattler will be one of the most talked about players in college football this season. Even with a number of individual accolades likely destined to come his way, he’s maintained that his primary mission is to lead the Oklahoma Sooners to the program’s eighth national championship.
Speaking of Rattler, OU Daily’s Mason Young recently penned this fantastic piece about the growth in maturity shown by the talented Phoenix, Arizona product.
Who is #Sooners QB @SpencerRattler? Once the confident kid who told his youth coach “I got this,” before winning their state title game, he’s now matured physically and mentally into a Heisman candidate focused on winning the national championship.https://t.co/V2ROKQ8q9U
Stories like this help shape how we perceive the star power before us. By now it should be clear to all that Rattler is who is he is today because he’s always been confident in his abilities as an athlete. Those who have had the privilege to be around him as either a young quarterback or the face of a blue blood have an true understanding of the heights he’s capable of reaching as he continues to combine his natural born talent with his ever-evolving work ethic.
Once again, many props to Mason Young for putting together this insightful story about one of the top players in the game today.
Now onto this week’s Friday edition of Hot Links! Austin Stogner is back to his full strength, Perrion Winfrey has his eyes set on a big season, RGIII has joined ESPN as an analyst and more!
OU Links
On Friday afternoon, 2023 four-star TE prospect Luke Hasz announced his verbal commitment to play for Oklahoma. The Bixby product is currently rated as the No. 1 overall player in the Sooner State and second best recruit at his position according to the 247 Sports Composite Rankings.
After missing a significant stretch of time during the 2020 season, H-back Austin Stogner is back to full health heading into his junior season. OU Daily’s Chandler Engelbrecht has more.
After a respectable Oklahoma debut a year ago, senior DT Perrion Winfrey believes he is primed for a monster 2021 season. From both a mental and physical perspective, he and his teammates are expecting big things from the terror on the inside. SI Sooners’ Ryan Chapman has more.
Cornerback coach Roy Manning may be entering his third season at OU, but he has the energy of a brand new hire. These videos will never not fire me up. Let’s go!
Former Baylor Bears Heisman Trophy winner and first round pick QB Robert Griffin III has reportedly struck a multiyear deal with ESPN as an analyst for both college football and the NFL.
New York Giants offensive lineman Zach Fulton has reportedly called it a career after recently announcing his retirement from playing professional football. Fulton is the third veteran to hang it up since training camp started for Big Blue.
Today marks the unofficial start to the 2021 Oklahoma football season, as the Sooners open preseason training camp in quest of a seventh straight Big 12 title. The Sooners’ 114-member roster and coaches assembled on the practice field in Norman for the first day of preseason practice leading up to the 2021 season-opening game at […]
Riley touched on realignment, health and more on Thursday.
Happy Thursday, friends and fans!
Entering his fifth season as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, Lincoln Riley addressed the media in a press conference on Thursday to mark the official start of preseason fall camp at OU.
On Thursday, Riley said that nearly every player is coming out of summer workouts healthy, including sophomore wideouts Jadon Haselwood (missed most of 2020 with knee injury) and Theo Wease (missed spring camp). Also, sophomore WR Trevon West is reportedly back with the team after entering his name into the Transfer Portal this past February.
#Sooners Lincoln Riley says virtually everyone is healthy entering camp and says Trevon West is back with team
It remains to be seen if Bedlam will be part of the Sooners’ future non-conference schedules when the dust finally settles on this round of conference realignment, but now you can add Lincoln Riley to the list under AD Joe Castiglione and OU president Joe Harroz as those who are on record in hoping to see the rivalry with the Oklahoma State Cowboys continue.
Lincoln Riley reiterates what Joe Harroz and Joe Castiglione said last week: He hopes that Bedlam can continue, even after the #Sooners head to the SEC. “Our intention and hope is that it can continue.”
It’s no secret that on average, teams from the SEC generally recruit at a higher clip than those from other leagues, especially when it comes to prospects on the defensive side of the ball. Riley touched on the potential this development has for his team now that a move to the Southeastern Conference is officially imminent.
Riley on how SEC move helps in recruiting: “some of that remains to be seen…. It’s still out in the distance for us… I still think it will be a positive for us.” #Sooners
After Creed Humphrey was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, a significant hole needs to be filled at the center position. Riley named Chris Murray, Andrew Raym, Ian McIver, Nate Anderson and Robert Congel as guys who are in competition to take over that key spot that anchors OU’s offensive line.
More Riley on center spot: We’re going to look at Murray, Raym, McIver, Anderson, Congel … we’ll see where we stand. We have 4 guys who have played and done it. #Sooners
According to Riley, most of the team (coaching staff and players) have received their COVID-19 vaccinations during this offseason, but he is also fully aware of the rising concern surrounding the Delta variant.
#Sooners Lincoln Riley says “high, high percentage” of players, staff, vaccinated. Doesn’t give percentage but says Delta variant is a concern
With Spencer Rattler having the starting QB job on lock, the backup roles are not as definite, although Riley did admit that five-star 2021 signee Caleb Williams is in the lead going into fall camp.
Lincoln Riley says Caleb Williams was “clearly our second guy” at QB in the spring. “Really looking hard for a third guy right now,” says Micah Bowens, Ben Harris, others in the mix there #Sooners
Now for today’s Hot Links! Initial pay-per-view details are revealed for OU’s home opener, Gerald McCoy is headed to Sin City, the NFL preseason kicks off tonight and more!
OU Links
On Thursday, redshirt sophomore QB Spencer Rattler was named to the 2021 Manning Award Watch List. This honor is the only national quarterback award that factors a player’s postseason performance into consideration before naming its recipient.
SI Sooners’ John Hoover recently expounded on three things he’s watching for during OU’s fall camp, including a couple key players as well as the growing concern surrounding the COVID-19 Delta Variant.
Also from SI Sooners, Josh Callaway wants to use this preseason camp to gain a clearer picture on OU’s backup QB situation, the running back pecking order, and the potential impact of the late transfer additions.
It’s official. Oklahoma’s 2021 home opener (second game on the schedule) against the Western Carolina Catamounts is set for a pay-per-view broadcast. The Sept. 11 kick-off will be available for Cox cable subscribers for $39.95. A start time is still to be determined.
Oklahoma’s home opener against Western Carolina on September 11 will be available to Cox Communications customers, per release. The game will be available on a dedicated pay-per-view channel at a cost of $39.95.
On Thursday, Sooners Wire’s John Williams provided his list of Oklahoma’s top 10 pass catchers going into the 2021 season. Keep in mind, not everyone listed is a wide receiver, and that should be some very exciting news for Heisman hopeful QB Spencer Rattler.
Redshirt senior H-back Jeremiah Hall plans on having surgery after the upcoming season to correct the alignment in one of his fingers, but first he’s focused on finishing his Sooner career on a high note. The Oklahoman’s Ryan Aber has more.
On Wednesday, the Las Vegas Raiders signed former OU standout and six-time Pro Bowl DT Gerald McCoy. Let’s go, GK!
Less than two months ago, Patty Gasso hoisted her fifth national championship following a remarkable, record-breaking run with her historic softball team. This week, the Hall of Famer returned to her original home out west where she tossed the first pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Like I always say, it’s never too early for gift shopping. If you’re out here looking for ideas, look no further than this Sooners themed bobblehead from FOCO to commemorate Oklahoma’s 2021 Softball Championship. Boomer!
In case you missed it, former OU men’s basketball guard Austin Reaves signed a two-way player deal with the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this week. Currently, he’s competing in Summer League play for LA. Congratulations, AR-12!
Tonight, the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers kick-off the 2021 NFL Preseason in Canton, Ohio’s Hall of Fame Stadium. You can catch all the action starting at 7 p.m. CT on FOX.
ATTENTION ️ ️ ️ There is a football game on TONIGHT.
When the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox go head-to-head on Aug. 12, they’ll each be wearing special uniforms to commemorate this unique ‘Field of Dreams’ event. The game is set to get underway at Dyersville Ballpark in Iowa, and the first pitch is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. CT on FOX.
The 2020 Summer Olympics have been anything but ordinary for everyone involved. In the middle of it all has been Dr. Cody Commander, the Director of Psychological Resources for the University of Oklahoma Student-Athletes (PROS) and the first-ever mental health officer for Team USA.
