Gilliam, a 2021 signee, will arrive in Norman this summer.

Happy Thursday, friends and fans!

Oklahoma Sooners 2021 four-star signee DE Kelvin Gilliam out of Highland Springs, Virginia was recently named the Gatorade Football Player of the Year in the state of Virginia for his outstanding performance on the field and in the classroom in addition to his exemplary character.

In 10 games as a senior, the 6’3, 250 pound Gilliam racked up 48 tackles, 16 tackles-for-loss, 11 sacks and a pair of safeties while leading the Springers to the Class 5A state championship title game. Off the field, he served as a peer tutor and was involved with volunteer groups that provided meals for the homeless, all while maintaining a 4.16 GPA.

Gilliam is expected to arrive at OU at some point this summer. Now I don’t know what the immediate future holds for him, but I sense absolute greatness from this young man before his time at Oklahoma is done.

Now for today’s Hot Links! Ice Trae is playoff bound, Bryce Thompson makes his decision, KU’s revamped football staff rounds into shape and more!

OU Links

• On Thursday, infielder Tiare Jennings and outfielder Jayda Coleman were named finalists for the NFCA/Schutt Sports National Freshman of the Year award. Both Sooners are deserving of this high honor, and with each of them sticking around Norman for presumably the next three years, the future of Oklahoma Softball looks awfully bright. Boomer!

• The Athletic’s Jason Kersey recently took a look at the state of OU’s football program entering the 2021 season. With a highly skilled Spencer Rattler embarking on his second season as the starting QB, and a defense that has shown rapid improvement, breaking through in the postseason is the logical next step. You must be subscribed to The Athletic to read this article in full.
• SI Sooners’ Ryan Chapman scrolled through Oklahoma’s illustrious history of standout defensive linemen to rank the program’s top 10 DLs of all-time. Of course, Lee Roy Selmon tops the list, but who else made the list?
• According to multiple reports on Wednesday, former Sooners RB Seth McGowan has pleaded not guilty to several counts in Cleveland County district court following his alleged involvement with a robbery in April. OU Insider’s Parker Thune has more.
• Trae Young and his Atlanta Hawks have officially punched their ticket to the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2017. Congrats, Mr. Young, now keep it going!

• Former Kansas Jayhawks guard Bryce Thompson has chosen to transfer to the Oklahoma State Cowboys over OU and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. That’s a small bummer, but I still believe in what Porter Moser is building in Norman.

Around the Sports World

• On Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers finally unveiled the team’s championship banner for winning the 2019-20 NBA Finals. Can LeBron James and company repeat the feat this season outside of the Orlando bubble? Stick around and find out.

• The Kansas Jayhawks recently announced the completed coaching staff for newly hired head coach Lance Leipold. The group consists of a mix of coaches from the Buffalo Bulls as well as some retained assistants that were formerly under Les Miles.
• Amid the ongoing Aaron Rodgers drama, the Green Bay Packers have reportedly signed former Jacksonville Jaguars QB and first round pick Blake Bortles to a one-year deal.
• Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo has decided to undergo surgery on his right quadriceps tendon, effectively sidelining him for the remainder of the 2020-21 NBA season.
• On Wednesday, the Seattle Kraken officially signed the team’s first player in center Luke Henman. The brand new NHL organization will make its debut in the 2021-22 season.

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