This is not the first — nor will it be the last — preseason honor for Rattler.

Happy Tuesday, friends and fans!

On Tuesday morning, Oklahoma Sooners QB Spencer Rattler was named to the 2021 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List.

During the condensed 2020 college football season, Rattler proved himself worthy of carrying the mantle as OU’s starting QB. After a rough 1-2 start to the campaign, the Phoenix, Arizona product led his team to eight consecutive wins to close out the year. Over that stretch, he completed 145 of 223 (.650) passes for 2,054 passing yards, 18 touchdowns while throwing only three interceptions. Additionally, he accounted for 144 rushing yards and five more scores on 60 carries across that same span.

In program history, four Sooners have received the coveted O’Brien Award. That group includes legends like Jason White (‘03, ‘04), Sam Bradford (‘08), Baker Mayfield (‘17) and Kyler Murray (‘18). Obviously, if Spencer Rattler goes on to win the award this season, he’ll be joining some prestigious company.

Now onto today’s Hot Links! Expectations for the OU defense continue to climb, Oklahoma’s recruiting momentum hums along and more!

OU Links

• The offseason is winding down as Oklahoma Football inches ever closer to the start of fall camp. With what the Sooners are working with, 2021 is arguably the most highly anticipated season in Norman in a decade. Fortunately for the rest of us, the wait is almost over!

• Going into the 2021 season, Pro Football Focus rates OU with the top pass rushing unit in the nation. Considering who all is returning, that’s honestly not a farfetched claim to make.

• Sooners Wire’s Matt Hubbard recently took a stab at how Oklahoma should use its stable of running backs. Eric Gray and Kennedy Brooks look like they’ll receive the bulk of the carries, but other players will undoubtedly see some meaningful reps this fall.
• Sooner Scoop’s Bob Przybylo covers OU recruiting as closely as anyone, and recently he wrote about the roll that the coaches have been on this summer when it comes to landing the commitments of some of the nation’s most coveted prospects.
• If you’d like to watch Sydney Romero and Nicole Mendes do work on the Olympic diamond, check out Team Mexico as they take on Team Canada this Wednesday (tonight) at 1 a.m. CT on NBCSN.

Around the Sports World

• While training earlier this week, Los Angeles Rams RB Cam Akers suffered a torn Achilles tendon, which will cause him to miss the entire 2021 NFL season.
• Some time this offseason, the Green Bay Packers apparently offered Aaron Rodgers a contract deal that would have made the star gun slinger the highest-paid QB in the league. Interestingly enough, details have now emerged, reporting that he ultimately declined said offer.
• The Texas Rangers are discovering new lows with each passing day. Including their latest 14-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers, their losing streak has now reached six straight games. Now here’s where it gets really sad. In the last three games, the team has been outscored by a grand total of 29-0. Just how bad is that? Well, the MLB hasn’t seen such a stretch in 115 years. Yikes.
• After 30 years, Las Vegas Raiders team president Marc Badain has reportedly resigned from his position, effective immediately. Longtime executive VP Dan Ventrelle is set to take over as interim.

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Lincoln Riley and odd-year QB prospects are a match made in heaven.

Happy Monday, friends and fans!

It was a tremendous weekend for the Oklahoma Sooners on the recruiting trail, picking up an elite running back to kick-off the 2023 class in addition to landing one of the top tight ends for the class of 2022. If that wasn’t enough, OU also secured a verbal commitment from 2023 five-star QB Malachi Nelson out of Los Alamitos, California.

Currently, the 6’3 Nelson is rated as the No. 1 player from the Golden State in 247 Sports’ Composite Rankings of the 2023 recruiting class, as well as the No. 2 QB in the nation and No. 5 overall prospect. His pledge on Sunday, along with RB Treyaun Webb’s commitment on Saturday, momentarily gives Oklahoma the second-highest rated class with still another year and a half remaining before National Signing Day.

From watching his film highlights, there’s no question that the kid has the kind of supreme arm talent that Lincoln Riley has been known to do wonders with. If that’s not enough, he’s also well-versed in the art of throwing the horns down. Welcome to the Sooners, Malachi. Boomer!

Malachi Nelson 2020 Highlights

Now onto this week’s Monday edition of Hot Links! Awards Watch List season is here, OU hoops hero Austin Reaves is set to meet with the Sixers this week, Coco is a no-go for the Olympic Games and more!

OU Links

• On Monday, redshirt sophomore QB Spencer Rattler and true sophomore WR Marvin Mims were each named to the 2021 Maxwell Award Watch List. This annual individual honor goes to the nation’s best all-around collegiate player as per the Maxwell Football Club.

• In related news, senior DE Isaiah Thomas and junior EDGE Nik Bonitto have each been named to the 2021 Bednarik Award Watch List. This honor is annually given to the top defensive player in the nation.

• With the 2021 NBA Draft set to go down on July 29, former Oklahoma men’s basketball star Austin Reaves reportedly plans on visiting with the Philadelphia 76ers this Wednesday.
• Heartland College Sports’ Ray Dozier recently wrote about OU’s current streak of six consecutive Big 12 Championships and where that ranks among the program’s history of conference title runs.
• After one season at Oklahoma, former Sooner softball infielder Zaida Puni has officially transferred to SEC country, where she’ll join the Tennessee Lady Vols.

Around the Sports World

• American tennis star Coco Gauff will unfortunately miss the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after she recently tested positive for COVID-19.
• Speaking of COVID-19, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey opened media days with an announcement that conference game forfeits are in play for the 2021 season rather than postponements if a team is unable to compete due to a COVID-depleted roster in a given week.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly signed former Los Angeles Chargers DE and three-time Pro Bowler Melvin Ingram to a one year contract.
• A New York Yankees fan has been banned for life from every MLB park after throwing a baseball at Boston Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo on Saturday.
• A vehicle belonging to Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo was recently stolen, along with all of his personal items inside the vehicle at the time of the theft. The NFL pro has since taken to social media, asking for the return of his football cleats if nothing else.

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