logo
Oklahoma Sooners add transfer portal defensive tackle

Oklahoma Sooners add transfer portal defensive tackle

USA Today23-04-2025
Oklahoma Sooners add transfer portal defensive tackle
The Oklahoma Sooners picked up another commitment out of the transfer portal, this time adding redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Siolaa Ricky Lolohea.
Lolohea joins the Sooners after spending one season at Utah State in 2024. The former three-star prospect originally committed to Oklahoma State as a part of the 2023 recruiting class and redshirted that season with the Cowboys. He also held offers from SMU, Texas Tech, San Diego State, and North Texas.
He played just under 150 snaps for the Aggies in 2024 under Oklahoma linebackers coach Nate Dreiling. Dreiling was the interim head coach and defensive coordinator for Utah State last season. In eight games, Lolohea recorded 10 total tackles and tackle for loss. Pro Football Focus credited him with two total pressures.
His season high snap count last season came against Washington State, so Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer. From Dreiling's experience coaching Lolohea and the new Sooners offensive tandem's experience playing against him, Oklahoma is well acquainted with what the nose tackle out of Euless Trinity brings to the table.
Lolohea is a legit nose tackle, coming to the Sooners at 6-foot-3 and 330 pounds.
He'll join a defensive tackle depth chart that's one of the deepest positions on the roster. However veterans Damonic Williams and Gracen Halton will likely be off for the NFL after this season, making Lolohea's addition vital to the Sooners now and in the future.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pair of Oklahoma Sooners included on The Athletic's 'Freaks List'
Pair of Oklahoma Sooners included on The Athletic's 'Freaks List'

USA Today

time9 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Pair of Oklahoma Sooners included on The Athletic's 'Freaks List'

The Oklahoma Sooners have a roster ready to climb the SEC mountain in 2025. Less than four weeks out from the start of the 2025 season, Oklahoma has a lot to prove, but they have a group of talented players ready to rewrite the narratives surrounding Oklahoma football. A couple of those players will be leaders for the Sooners in running back Jaydn Ott and safety Robert Spears-Jennings. The pair were featured on Bruce Feldman's annual "Freak List" (subscription required), where he highlights players from across the country who were off the charts in physical testing this offseason. Starting off, Ott came in at No. 55 on Feldman's list. Ott tested incredibly well in the squat (485 pounds), bench (370 pounds), and power clean (315 pounds), and the Oklahoma strength and conditioning staff measured his max velocity at 21.6 mph and max acceleration at 12.1 mph. All important numbers for a running back. Running backs have to be able to get going in a hurry and his lifting numbers display a player with the leg strength to be difficult to bring down in the open field. Ott was a big spring portal addition for the Oklahoma Sooners. Though they had a talented running back group, Jim Nagy and Brent Venables didn't hesitate to add the former Cal star. His explosiveness jumps off the screen. He's a big-play threat every time he touches the football and will add a dynamic element to the Sooners' offense. Arbuckle plans to put Ott in a number of situations to succeed this season, including lining him up in the slot and out wide to take advantage of his explosiveness. Ott's going to be a nightmare for opposing defenses. The other player that landed on the list is former four-star safety out of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Robert Spears-Jennings. He was ranked No. 82 on Feldman's Freak List. Spears-Jennings matched Ott in max velocity at 21.6 mph but bested the star running back in max acceleration at 12.8 mph. The Oklahoma product showed big gains in the strength department as well, squatting 510 pounds and benching 330 pounds. He's a force in every facet of the game, but showed a prowess to blitz off the edge in Oklahoma's defense, recording 2.5 sacks last season. It takes a special type of accelration and speed to explode off the line of scrimmage and get to the quarterback before an offensive lineman even knows you're coming. Robert Spears-Jennings has been with the Oklahoma Sooners since arriving in the 2022 recruiting class. In his time with the Sooners, he's flashed speed and explosiveness from his safety spot. Even when he was seeing just rotational snaps, he'd flash his potential with his big-time athleticism. Now he's one of the leaders of a defense expected to take another big step in 2025. That explosiveness and athleticism will lead the way for a disruptive Sooners defense. Oklahoma has several other players who are big-time athletes who could be featured on this list down the road. Taylor Wein, Peyton Bowen, Elijah Thomas, Jayden Jackson, David Stone, Eddy Pierre-Louis, and more. Especially with the way Jim Nagy is evolving the scouting approach at Oklahoma, the Sooners will continue to build a roster with elite athletes. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

Notre Dame places two players on The Athletic's top-101 Freaks List of college football
Notre Dame places two players on The Athletic's top-101 Freaks List of college football

USA Today

time9 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Notre Dame places two players on The Athletic's top-101 Freaks List of college football

A 6-7, 366-pound left tackle who vertical jumped as high or more than five of the wideouts who were at this year's combine?!? A 6-3, 338-pound DT who clocked almost 21 MPH? A 6-4 1/2, 208-pound WR who broad-jumped 11-9? Meet the 2025 Freaks List: Every year The Athletic drops a list of its top-101 college football freaks (subscription required), players who might not be the best across the nation, but have incredible testing numbers and this season Notre Dame saw two of its players being included. First it was defensive end Bryce Young, who during his freshman season flashed multiple times, most notably on special teams where he blocked three kicks. The legacy checked in at No. 44, as Bruce Feldman wrote that despite adding 'almost 30 pounds since arriving last year, but still managed to vertical jump 35 1/2 inches and broad jump 9-5. He benched 335 pounds and cleaned 355.' Young has the look of a second-year breakout player, and many, including myself believe that is the case. The second Irish player to make the list was tight end Eli Raridon at No. 85. While he hasn't been healthy enough to stay on the field for extended periods, the junior is a physical specimen. Feldman says that Raridon 'displayed plenty of explosiveness this offseason, vertical jumping 34 inches and broad jumping 9-10. He's also quite strong, benching 350 pounds, power cleaning 335 and squatting 535.' While offensive tackle Anthonie Knapp didn't make the list, Feldman still mentioned that he 'made a compelling case for a spot.' With a 30 inch vertical and benching 425 pounds, it looks like the 6-foot, 5-inch and 300-pound tackle just barely missed the cut. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

Michigan State football poaches Texas staff member for recruiting department
Michigan State football poaches Texas staff member for recruiting department

Yahoo

time17 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Michigan State football poaches Texas staff member for recruiting department

Michigan State football has poached a staff member from one of the prominent programs in the sport, with Jonathan Smith adding a new member to his support system. Michael Morales has been hired as a Player Personnel Analyst with the Spartans. Morales brings a background in player evaluation, football operations and data analysis. Prior to joining the MSU program, he has spent three years with the Texas Football program. A big player in the data analytics, Morales spent time working for Pro Football Focus, where he honed in different facets of statistical analysis. He will bring that analysis background to the Michigan State recruiting department. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Michigan State football hires Texas staff member to join program

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store