(by Jesse Crittenden) If there's one position group that can challenge OU's wide receivers as the deepest unit on the team, it resides on the defensive side of the ball. That'd be the defensive ends. In fact, the Sooners might have a good problem on their hands. Despite the departure of Rondell Bothroyd — who led the defensive line in snaps last season,,,read more from the OUInsider
Oklahoma Players Already Building Dynasties, Legends in 'College Football 25'
(by John E. Hoover) Preseason training camp opens next week, and the 2024 college football season will kick off one month later. Meanwhile, Oklahoma players are already scoring touchdowns, already snagging interceptions, already executing their celebration dances. Virtually speaking, of course. EA Sports’ “College Football 25” is all the rage...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
SEC Players Give Oklahoma Preview of Road Games in New Conference
(by Randall Sweet) DALLAS — With Oklahoma making its jump to the SEC this offseason, many national media members and observers have pondered how the Sooners will hold up in college football's toughest conference. The talent level in the SEC will certainly be a step up from what OU faced in the Big 12, as Brent Venables' team is set to meet six of ...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Bartlesville Family Makes Historic Donation to Oklahoma Athletics
(by OU Media Relations) NORMAN — Brian and Kim Kimrey of Bartlesville, OK, have pledged an historic $20 million gift to the University of Oklahoma baseball and football programs, OU Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione announced Monday. The $20 million Kimrey pledge marks the largest single commitment in OU Athletics history and...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Oklahoma's Defense 'Confident' in Further Growth Under New DC Zac Alley
(by Ryan Chapman) DALLAS — Oklahoma may have changed defensive coordinators this offseason, but you would never know there’s been major changes. Zac Alley, a Brent Venables protege from his time at Clemson, replaced Ted Roof. He knows exactly how Venables wants to run the defense, and Alley has a host of returning veterans to ease the transition...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Jackson Arnold confident about Sooners' rebuilt OL, finds comfort in addition of Branson Hickman
(by Tom Green) DALLAS — Jackson Arnold was introduced to Branson Hickman shortly after the Oklahoma quarterback walked off the field at the end of the Sooners' spring game in April. The two hung out that night, and less than 24 hours later, Hickman — the offensive line transfer from SMU — was committed to OU. That was the start of a relationship...read more from Sooners Illustrated
Why Oklahoma Teammates Call P.J. Adebawore a 'Freak of Nature'
(by John E. Hoover) DALLAS — In December’s Alamo Bowl, Oklahoma defensive end P.J. Adebawore was listed at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds. Not bad for a true freshman. Sooner Nation recently got excited, however, when the team's summer roster was released and Adebawore was officially listed at 251 pounds. But last week at SEC Media Days, OU coach...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Brent Venables, Sooners have transformed defensive line recruiting
(by John Williams) Talk to anyone around the SEC, media, coaches, or players, and there’s one constant about the Southeastern Conference. Teams that want to compete for a conference title and in the College Football Playoff need to have good defensive line play. Consistent play up front will make the biggest difference to the Oklahoma Sooners...read more from the Sooners Wire
Febechi Nwaiwu is Oklahoma's best offensive lineman entering 2024
(by Brandon Self) Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 339 pounds, Febechi Nwaiwu plays is a redshirt junior poised to be a dominant figure on the Sooner offensive line this season. Nwaiwu transferred to Oklahoma from the University of North Texas, where he had a notable career over two seasons, including a Freshman All American award in 2022...read more from Stormin' in Norman
Paul Finebaum calls Brent Venables 'very underrated'
(by Aaron Gelvin) SEC media days have come and gone for the Oklahoma Sooners, their first go-around participating in media days in their new conference. Brent Venables and the Sooners had a successful week in Dallas, showing they won’t back down from the challenge that the SEC presents. One of the most influential voices in the SEC has...read more from the Sooners Wire
Sunday Offering: Oklahoma Lands 4-star DL in 2025, Still in the Mix for 5-star OL
(buy Randall Sweet) This week, SEC Media Days in Dallas, TX, kept Brent Venables and the Oklahoma football team busy. While the Sooners' head coach and four members of the team made the trek to the Metroplex for their first time at SEC Media Days, OU's coaching staff managed to keep the team's momentum going on the recruiting trail...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Horning: Finishing eighth should never work for Sooners
(by Clay Horning) You know the story about Steve Perry? Why he left Journey? Or why he let himself leave Journey, stealing decades of great music from ever being made because he left Journey? He said, after so much success, he still felt like the new guy. “I was the new kid on the block with them,” he told GQ in 2008, “I was the new kid in town.”...read more from The Norman Transcript
Oklahoma Beats Out USC and Miami to Land 4-star DL Floyd Boucard
(by Randall Sweet) On Saturday afternoon, 4-star Miami Central (FL) defensive lineman Floyd Boucard announced his commitment to Oklahoma. "The loyalty, they've been here locked in with me since January," Boucard said of the Sooners. "They've got a plan for me." The decision comes just nine days after Boucard revealed his top four schools, with USC...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Why National Media is Confident Oklahoma Will 'Figure It Out In the SEC'
(by John E. Hoover) DALLAS — The results of this week’s preseason SEC football poll seem to align with the broadly held perspective that Texas is more ready for the SEC than Oklahoma is. The Longhorns received the second-most votes to win the 2024 championship behind heavy favorite Georgia. Oklahoma was picked to finish eighth in the...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Why Jeff Lebby Believes Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold Will Play at a 'Really High Level' in 2024
(by Ryan Chapman) DALLAS — Jeff Lebby may no longer be at the helm of Oklahoma’s offense, but he has full faith the unit will still score plenty of points in 2024. These days, Lebby is worried about fielding his first team at Mississippi State. But he did spend a few moments backing the next generation of the offense he built in Norman...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning coming to Norman for Tennessee game
(by Aaron Gelvin) One of the most anticipated games on the 2024 schedule for the Oklahoma Sooners comes on September 21. It’s the first conference game in the SEC for OU and one of the most storied programs in college football comes to town. The Tennessee Volunteers will be in Norman, and one of their most famous alums will apparently be there as well...read more from the Sooners Wire
OUInsider staff 2024 Preseason SEC Poll
(by Bryan Clinton) With SEC Media Days officially concluded, the o 2024 preseason SEC poll released on Friday morning in another step towards the start of football season. SEC media members have cast their ballots, and the Oklahoma Sooners have been picked to finish eighth in the program's inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference...read more from the OUInsider
Sooners Illustrated Podcast Ep. 97 | SEC preseason poll & teams reaction + Full SEC Media Days recap
(by Josh Callaway) With SEC Media Days in the books and fall camp just around the corner, the Sooners Illustrated Podcast is back with a brand new episode. Sooners Illustrated's Josh Callaway and Tom Green begin the show by reacting to and breaking down the preseason SEC poll and all-conference teams, which were released on Friday morning...read more from Sooners Illustrated
Sooners finish 8th in SEC preseason poll
(by Jesse Crittenden) Oklahoma now knows the outside expectations heading into its new conference. The Sooners landed at No. 8 in the official SEC preseason poll that was released on Friday. The conference also announced its All-SEC Preseason teams, with three OU players making an appearance. Texas finished at No. 2 in the preseason poll, seven...read more from the OUInsider
