Latest news with #OklahomaSooners'
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman named to freshman All-American team by On3
The Oklahoma Sooners' offensive line has been one of the more talked-about positions this offseason after a 2024 season that dealt with injuries and inconsistencies up front. There's a lot more stability in Bill Bedenbaugh's unit as it returns four players who started games for Oklahoma last year and a number of talented transfers and blue-chip prospects. On a unit that is looking to remind everyone what Oklahoma football looks like, one player has stood out since his arrival as part of the 2025 recruiting class: former five-star offensive tackle Michael Fasusi. Fasusi was named to On3's preseason freshman All-American team ahead of the 2025 season. Fasusi was one of the more sought-after players in the cycle. Fasusi has received a lot of praise since joining the Sooners and could be in line for some significant snaps in 2025. As offensive tackles Jacob Sexton and Derek Simmons have been dealing with concussion symptoms during fall camp, Fasusi has received a ton of first-team snaps up front. He may not start the season running with the first-team offensive line when Sexton is back at left tackle, but as happy as offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh has been with Fasusi's progress in his first year in the program, it wouldn't be surprising to see the five-star freshman taking a starting role at some point this year. 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.
USA Today
04-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma's Ben Arbuckle pleased with young wide receiver's offseason work ethic
It's no secret that one of the most significant factors in the Oklahoma Sooners' going 6-7 in 2024 was the poor play of their offense. They couldn't put enough points on the board with any consistency to help out what was a really good defense. Additionally, one of the many factors that hindered OU's offense last year was the numerous injuries it faced. One position that was extremely hampered by injuries was wide receiver. Oklahoma's top five projected wideouts at the beginning of the season missed either the entire season or the vast majority of it. That led to plenty of snaps against SEC competition for depth pieces and true freshmen from the 2024 recruiting class. One such player was Ivan Carreon, a 6-foot-6 WR from Odessa (Texas) High School. He wasn't projected to play for the Sooners as a true freshman in 2024, but saw spot action during the season. His biggest performance came in the Armed Forces Bowl loss against Navy, where Carreon had 72 yards on seven catches against the Midshipmen. He'd caught just three passes through the first 12 games of 2024. Carreon came back for his second season in Norman in 2025, one that will come in a new offensive system with a new offensive play-caller. In new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle's Air Raid scheme, the Sooners are looking for wide receivers to go out and take key roles within the offense. The OC raved about what Carreon has done this offseason last week in his pre-fall camp press conference. "He's put in the work to change his body to be able to go out there and be able to be a guy for us," Arbuckle said. "My favorite thing about Ivan is how much I've seen his body change over the last eight months. He's really invested himself in the weight room and the nutrition room, and it shows in his numbers too. I'm not just talking about his body weight and stuff like that; it shows in his numbers in the weight room, out on the field." Arbuckle grouped a couple of wideouts in the '24 class together that he was impressed with, praising sophomore Zion Kearney along with Carreon. Both had their best games of the season in the bowl game, which could be a sign of things to come. "I've been really pleased with those two guys, the work that they've put in," Arbuckle said. "They've kind of done it in a quiet manner, just put their head down and gotten after it, but I'm excited about those two guys. I'm excited to see them over the next couple of weeks." Carreon was a star at the Texas 6A level while at Odessa, set in the heart of West Texas and Friday Night Lights country. By the end of his high school career, he was the Bronchos' all-time leader in receptions (192), receiving yards (3,315), and receiving touchdowns (40). He wasn't just a red zone threat; Carreon was a force in catch-and-run situations as well. He was originally a Texas Tech commit, but decommitted when WRs coach Emmett Jones left Lubbock to come to Norman. The Sooners have plenty of interesting options in their wide receiver room. If Carreon can continue to improve and produce like he did in the Armed Forces Bowl, it'll be tough to keep him off the field. 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 Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
USA Today
23-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma Sooners running back room among the best in the nation
There's a lot to like about the Oklahoma Sooners' offense heading into 2025; at least on paper. They have one of the more exciting backfields in the nation after adding John Mateer and Jaydn Ott through the transfer portal. But it goes beyond Ott, who was voted to the All-SEC second team; the Oklahoma running back room is deep. Pro Football Focus college football analyst Max Chadwick believes the Sooners have one of the top 10 running back rooms in the nation going into 2025. It starts with Ott. He had a 1,300-yard season back in 2023 and has the game-breaking ability to create big plays for the Sooners' offense. The running back workload won't be completely on Ott as Oklahoma brings back Jovantae Barnes, Xavier Robinson, and Taylor Tatum as well. Barnes had 700 total yards and six touchdowns for the Sooners last season. His effort and energy gave Oklahoma a boost in the second half of the season, leading the way for an offense that was mostly stagnant last year. The Sooners have high expectations for their second-year running backs Xavier Robinson and Taylor Tatum. Both showed flashes of being big-time producers at the collegiate level despite an offensive line that struggled for much of the 2024 season. Then there's true freshman Tory Blaylock, who was a four-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class. He's just a true freshman, but his speed, agility, and balance could force the Sooners to put him on the field. Fall camp is going to provide some interesting competition for the running back hierarchy, but it looks like DeMarco Murray and the Oklahoma Sooners have a lot of talent to work with. 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.
USA Today
21-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Social media reacts to Bowe Bentley's commitment to the Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners' 2026 recruiting class has its quarterback after four-star prospect Bowe Bentley committed to OU on Friday evening. Bentley is one of the ten best quarterbacks in the 2026 cycle and has been a rising star over the last six months. After starring in the Navy All-American Bowl in January, Bentley's recruitment took off, and he received offers from Ohio State, Georgia, Missouri, and more over the last few months. The Celina, Texas native attended the Elite 11 finals and had a standout performance on night two, earning praise from a number of recruiting outlets. The commitment is the first big high school quarterback pledge earned by offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Arbuckle offered Bentley less than two months after his arrival to Norman and was able to beat an LSU football program that boasts two Heisman Trophy winners since 2019, a Heisman front runner for 2025, and a strong wide receiver recruiting class. It's a huge win for the Sooners and it's given them a big boost ahead of one of the most important recruiting weekends of the year with the ChampU BBQ happening June 20-22 in Norman. Bentley's commitment had social media buzzing on Friday evening, and here are some of the best reactions to the news. Home Run from Arbuckle Oklahoma got their guy He's Home Let's Goooo!!! Ben Arbuckle effect Sooner DNA is Real Director of Player Personnel reacts An impressive talent Oklahoma added one of the best in the class Timing is impeccable Ready to Work Bowe Bentley brings the juice Oklahoma's QB plan comes together Big win for Ben Arbuckle Blue Chip U 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.
USA Today
11-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma recruiting strategy more important than ever amid Nico Iamaleava saga
Oklahoma recruiting strategy more important than ever amid Nico Iamaleava saga Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners' approach to recruiting is more relevant than ever in today's college football world. Name, image, and likeness and the transfer portal aren't going anywhere. Revenue sharing and salary caps are on the way. College football has been about the money for a long time. But now, the players are able to benefit from the billions in revenue created by the product on the field. Money is going to be a part of the equation. However, there's a lot to be said for the way a program like Oklahoma wants to operate. The saga surrounding Volunteers starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava in Knoxville, Tennessee, is putting the Tennessee football program to the test this week. On Thursday, Pete Nakos of On3 reported that Nico Iamaleava and his representatives were seeking an increase in his name, image, and likeness deal, which was originally worth $8 million when he signed with the Volunteers out of high school. ESPN's Chris Lowe reported on Friday that not only has Iamaleava and his representatives been seeking a raise this week, but that they've been seeking a raise dating back to December. Lowe also reported that Iamaleava sat out of Tennessee's practice Friday, which surprised the coaching staff. Josh Heupel has some drama on his hands. It's reminiscent of the Matthew Sluka saga at UNLV last fall. But this is Tennessee—a Tennessee team coming off a College Football Playoff berth. And this is potentially the first hold-out of the modern era, something we're used to seeing only at the NFL level. How the relationship between the Volunteers and Iamaleava goes from here could shake the entire college football and name, image, and likeness landscape. That is why Oklahoma's recruiting priorities are so important. When Brent Venables was hired as the Oklahoma Sooners' head coach in 2021, he made it clear that Oklahoma would be active from a name, image, and likeness standpoint. Still, he was looking for players and families who took a more holistic look at their future. "I'm all for players that have the opportunity to have the brand, if you will," Venables said in 2021 via The Oklahoman. "They have the stage. They have those opportunities to create maybe a short-term, better quality of life for both them and/or their families. I don't see anything wrong with that." "I believe you need to use (NIL) to your advantage in every way you possibly can within the rules," Venables said back in 2021. "But that shouldn't be the focus of your program. We want to attract players and families that want all of it — the holistic piece. If (NIL) is where all the focus is, then maybe those values don't align." Oklahoma's been active from a name, image, and likeness perspective. They've used it to both recruit and retain players over the last several years. But Oklahoma has worked to position itself as more than that. They want to be more than a short-term solution for players looking for a home. Through S.O.U.L. Mission, the Sooners have created a holistic approach to player development that speaks to the heart, soul, and mind of the individual in addition to developing the football player. Have they lost players to the portal? Yes. Have some left for name, image, and likeness opportunities elsewhere? Probably. It would be naive to think otherwise. At the same time, the Oklahoma coaching staff has done a great job at player retention over the years. Some of that is due to investments in name, image, and likeness, but it's certainly not all about that. Venables reinforced that idea when he spoke with Josh Pate of the Josh Pate College Football Show last week about setting players up for life beyond football. Venables has been consistent with his core values of recruitment, retention, and development during his time at Oklahoma. Even as the Sooners come off of a 6-7 season, Venables and the Oklahoma Football program haven't deviated from the path. In fact, the addition of general manager Jim Nagy will make it easier for the coaching staff to pour into the players. Will they still be recruiting and evaluating high school and transfer prospects? Absolutely, but the addition of Nagy and his staff will streamline the process and give the assistants more time to forge relationships with their player and prospective players. Although money has become a significant part of the recruitment process, relationships still matter. There's no telling where the Nico Iamaleave saga with Tennessee will end. The spring transfer portal window opens next week, but it will be the top story in college football until there's a resolution. 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.
