Tag: 2024 recruiting class

Offensive lineman Darius Afalava signs with the Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma Sooners add 2025 interior offensive lineman Darius Afalava during the early signing period.

The Oklahoma Sooners hope to improve their offensive line play in 2025 after injuries and inconsistency hindered the group in their first season in the SEC. Joining the ranks during the [autotag]early signing period[/autotag] is three-star interior offensive lineman [autotag]Darius Afalava[/autotag] out of Lehi, Utah.

ESPN and Rivals consider Afalava a top 25 interior offensive line prospect in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag]

Afalava had 23 Power Four offers and chose the Sooners over Utah, Washington, and Michigan State, who were in his final four.

He’s got great size and moves well in space, allowing the Utah product to be effective as a puller in the running game.

Afalava is a true guard in every sense. He could slide out to right tackle in a pinch, but with his strength, hand placement, and base, he seems like a seamless fit as a guard who can handle the size in the SEC and make a difference in the trenches. – Bryant Crews, Sooners Wire

Afalava joins an interior offensive line group that includes returning starters Heath Ozaeta and Febechi Nwaiwu and [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag] standouts Eddy Pierre-Louis and Eugene Brooks.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKQeQ8xHxV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Film

Hudl

Rating

Stars Overall Position State
ESPN 3 — 21 2
Rivals 4 — 25 2
247Sports 3 — 44 6
247 Composite 3 515 36 4
On3 Recruiting 3 — 90 8
On3 Industry 3 577 50 4

Vitals

Hometown Lehi, Utah
Projected Position IOL
Height 6-5
Weight 320 pounds

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3 Oklahoma Sooners true freshmen to watch against LSU

Who are three freshmen to watch when the Oklahoma Sooners visit the LSU Tigers?

The Oklahoma Sooners and the LSU Tigers will meet in the final game of the regular season on Saturday night. OU is coming off a 24-3 upset win over the Alabama Crimson Tide last week, and they’re looking to get back-to-back high-level wins.

As [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and the Sooners hit the road to Baton Rouge, they’ll once again be turning to plenty of true freshmen to step up. Because of all of the injuries Oklahoma has faced this year, there have been plenty of members of the [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag] who have played a ton of meaningful snaps. It’ll be no different against the Bayou Bengals, and here are three names to keep your eye on in Death Valley in Week 14.

1. Xavier Robinson, RB

In a matter of weeks, running back [autotag]Xavier Robinson[/autotag] has gone from buried on the depth chart and an afterthought to an integral piece of the present and future of the OU offense.

Robinson carried a big load against Alabama last week, and he’s in line to do so again against LSU this week. His bruising run style means he’s always falling forward, and it’s hard for the first tackler to bring him down.

The Carl Albert High School product didn’t look like a freshman against the mighty Crimson Tide, and OU will need that to be true against the Tigers this week as well.

2. Eddy Pierre-Louis, OL

Offensive lineman [autotag]Eddy Pierre-Louis[/autotag] didn’t play against Missouri, but he got some very good reps against Alabama, in a game where OU’s offensive line was able to control the action up front. He’s another player who figures to factor into this team’s future plans on the O-line.

Pierre-Louis plays a lot of right guard, a key spot with OU’s inside runs or gap scheme outside runs with pulling linemen. He played well against a very talented defensive front and will need to do so again if his number is called versus LSU this week.

3. Eli Bowen, DB

Cornerback [autotag]Eli Bowen[/autotag] did an excellent job against Alabama’s Ryan Williams a week ago. Now, he’s got another tough challenge matching up against LSU’s Kyren Lacy. Bowen has become inarguably the best corner on this football team, and his future in Norman is so bright.

Oklahoma’s secondary has been hit or miss for most of the 2024 season, but they were on last week, with Bowen playing a big role. The Tigers boast a dynamic passing attack that will test the Sooners vertically, meaning that the secondary will have to play very well again this week.

Sooners defensive tackle among PFF’s best true freshmen from week 8

After his strong performance against South Carolina, Jayden Jackson earned the best interior defensive lineman grades from Pro Football Focus.

The Oklahoma Sooners spent the first couple of years on the recruiting trail working tirelessly to fortify their defensive line. It all culminated in a strong [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag] upfront.

One of the key figures in that recruiting class was defensive tackle [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag]. Seven games into his Sooners career, he’s already meeting expectations. The four-star prospect out of IMG Academy was a week one starter for Oklahoma, becoming the first true freshman to start at defensive tackle since Tommie Harris.

And he keeps getting better each week. Against South Carolina, he had arguably his best game of the season, posting his highest defensive grade from Pro Football Focus. He had four total tackles, including a sack, two total pressures, and three stops, which PFF defines as a play that constitutes a loss for the defense.

He was the highest-graded true freshman defensive tackle from Week 8 and was among the 10 highest-graded true freshmen from the week.

Through seven games, Jackson ranks among PFF’s 10 highest-graded Sooners, coming in at No. 9.

On the season, Jackson is tied for 10th on the Sooners with 16 total tackles. He’s recorded one tackle for loss and one sack in 2024. And he’s just scratching the surface.

So much of what Jackson’s been able to do for the Sooners doesn’t show up on the stat sheets. He’s been difficult to move off the ball and his quickness has been a challenge for opposing offensive linemen.

Even with Damonic Williams, Da’Jon Terry, and Gracen Halton all playing well, it’s hard to keep Jackson off the field. With that four-man rotation in the middle, the Sooners have become one of the best run defenses in the nation, surrendering just 2.9 yards per carry in 2024, which ranks ninth.

Just seven games into his Sooners career, Jayden Jackson has been everything Oklahoma could have hoped for. And the scary thing is he will only continue to get better.

3 freshmen to watch for Oklahoma Sooners against South Carolina Gamecocks

Three Oklahoma Sooners Freshmen that will be key against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

The Oklahoma Sooners return home this week, looking to bounce back after a humbling loss against Texas. OU will host the South Carolina Gamecocks in a game that is suddenly much bigger than previously anticipated.

[autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and his coaching staff will once again be relying on plenty of members of the [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag] to play big roles in this game. These true freshmen may not be ready yet, but they’re being asked to step up and help the team get victories in the mighty [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

Here are three freshmen to keep your eye on as the Sooners try to take down the Gamecocks.

1. Eli Bowen, DB

One of the few bright spots in the loss against the Longhorns last week was the play of [autotag]Eli Bowen[/autotag]. The undersized cornerback showed plenty of heart and technique on the outside. If it weren’t for him, Texas may have scored even more points than they did.

Bowen will be asked to play extremely well once again, as there’s essentially no margin for error for this OU defense right now. One busted coverage or lost jump ball could spell doom for Oklahoma with the way the offense looks right now.

2. Michael Boganowski, DB

Another young member of OU’s secondary, [autotag]Michael Boganowski[/autotag] gets the nod here because of the physicality he brings to the table. No, he won’t start in this game behind the excellent trio of safeties the Sooners have, but if Venables wants his team to be more physical, few on this team lay the hammer like Boganowski.

As Oklahoma tries to win games without the aid of their offense, there’s no substitute for stopping the run and being physical. That’ll be paramount against a Gamecock offense that is also struggling, and depth will certainly play a role, as the Sooners will have to play plenty of snaps on defense.

3. Michael Hawkins Jr., QB

The last spot could go to defensive tackle Jayden Jackson or running back Taylor Tatum, but we’ll include quarterback [autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr.[/autotag] here.

Hawkins will make his third career start in this game, Venables confirmed on Monday night. He did enough to get the win over Auburn before the bye week, but struggled against Texas last week. He certainly isn’t getting any help from anyone calling the offense or the injury situation at wide receiver, but there is definitely room to improve.

The true freshman needs to take care of the ball yes, but he should also be encouraged to sling it and trust what he sees. He’s likely still in the game because of his poise and athletic ability, and because Venables believes he’s the best man for the job. He needs to prove his head coach right by taking a step forward on Saturday against the Gamecocks and by taking a firm hold of the starting gig under center.

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3 freshmen to watch for Oklahoma Sooners against Houston

Oklahoma’s true freshmen stood out in a big way in week one can these three freshmen have another strong performance?

The Oklahoma Sooners look to improve to 2-0 on Saturday night. They’ll welcome the Houston Cougars to Norman at 6:45 p.m. after defeating the Temple Owls, 51-3, last Friday.

OU’s younger players received plenty of playing time in Week 1, as the home team was in control from the beginning. While Houston is a more talented team than Temple, the Sooners are expected to win in convincing fashion again.

Even if the opponent were a tougher one, Oklahoma would still need contributions from the youngest players on their depth chart. [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and his coaching staff did an excellent job in the [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag]. Now they hope their hard work continues to pay off, beginning with a strong showing against the Cougars. Here are three freshmen players on OU’s roster to watch in Week 2.

1. Jayden Jackson, DT

Making history last week as the first true freshmen starter at defensive tackle since Tommie Harris in 2001, [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] starts again up front for Venables and Co.

Jackson’s size and strength on the interior of the defensive line will be tested more once the Sooners reach [autotag]SEC[/autotag] play, but against Houston, he should once again have a chance to make some noise.

He wasn’t the player up front that popped the most last week against Temple, but the defensive line dominated the game when he was in. Watch for Jackson to make plays stuffing the run against a porous Cougars offensive line while rotating with [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag], and [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag].

Up Next: Freshmen Playmakers Need More Snaps

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Final thoughts on Oklahoma Sooners vs. Temple Owls

The Oklahoma Sooners get set to open the season against the Temple Owls and here are this week’s final thoughts.

It’s football time in Oklahoma, and the Sooners are stepping into a monumental season in college football. The Sooners enter 2024 in unfamiliar territory as a team with something to prove.

No longer are they the conference powerhouse, but instead will fight to earn their place at the SEC’s grown-up table alongside Georgia and Alabama. But that’s what this program has been about throughout its existence. The Sooners are one of the big boys of college football, a blue blood that’s had as much success as anyone.

But, like anything in life, the Sooners will have to earn the respect of their new conference brethren. And that’s the way Brent Venables wants it.

As the Sooners get set to kick off the 2024 season, here is this week’s final thoughts.

Offensive Line Time

So much has been said about the Oklahoma Sooners offensive line. Sure, they don’t return a primary starter from a year ago. But no reason to fret. The Sooners have had productive offensive line play for a long time and are coached by one of the best in the business in [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag].

It will come together and this week against Temple provides the first opportunity to see the unit begin to gel. [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag], [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag], [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag], [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag], and [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag] have a nice mix of blue-chip talent and experience.

Believe in Bedenbaugh.

Need for Speed

The Oklahoma Sooners will start two legitimate speedsters this week against the Temple Owls when [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag] and [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] take the field. Burks showed off his big-play ability in the spring game and Thompson, though in a limited role, averaged more than 34 yards per reception on his seven catches last season because of his track speed.

The Temple defense is going to have a difficult time keeping track of Burks and Thompson, who will blow down the field like an Oklahoma wind on the prairie.

Welcome Back JoBa

[autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] got off to a great start to his collegiate career when he emerged as the backup to [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag] during the 2022 season. He ran for over 500 yards and looked headed for a jump in production as a true sophomore in 2023. However, injuries kept Barnes from getting going and last season was pretty much a wash.

In 2024, Barnes has stayed healthy and looks primed to reprise his role from the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl, where he and fellow 2022 four-star signee [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] operated in the lead running back tandem.

Sawchuk may get the start, but Barnes is going to get a lot of work in 2024 and the two will complement each other well in the Sooners rushing attack.

Jackson Arnold Show

The former five-star quarterback, Elite 11 winner, and Gatorade National Player of the Year is set to take the stage for his first season as a starter, and the anticipation has reached a fever pitch. [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] has all the talent in the world to be Oklahoma’s next great quarterback.

With an entire offseason to work with his wide receivers and to familiarize himself with [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag]’s offense, look for a much more comfortable and decisive heading into his second career start. Though the level of competition isn’t quite what Arnold faced in the Alamo Bowl, there’s still a lot to be gleaned from this game against Temple.

Defensive Dominance

The Oklahoma Sooners’ defense will lead the way for the Sooners in 2024. And that starts against Temple. The Owls are one of the worst teams in the country in SP+ offensive ranking and don’t have a settled situation at quarterback.

Oklahoma’s depth and talent are so much greater on the defensive side of the ball. The Sooners should be able to dominate the line of scrimmage, making life incredibly easy for the back seven. Look for this game to resemble what OU did to Arkansas State last year.

Brent’s Guys

It’s year three of the [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] era. All but a handful of guys on the roster committed and signed to play for Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners after his arrival.

This team has his fingerprints all over it on both sides of the ball. It’s a team marked by energy, intensity, and determination. They may not be the most talented team in the country, but they’ll be one of the hardest working and toughest teams in the nation.

Young Guns

The [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag] has already made a name for themselves with the way they’ve worked this offseason to get ready for OU’s first year in the SEC. [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] earned a starting spot on the defensive line. Venables praised David Stone’s work ethic. [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag] and [autotag]Eddy Pierre-Louis[/autotag] received rave reviews for the work they put in after arriving this summer.

We still need to see that group on the field. What they look like in year one isn’t a finished product. But from what we’ve seen, the Sooners coaching staff won’t have to wonder if this crew is going to work for what they want.

Tonight, we get our first glimpse of what this class is made of.

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Five-star freshman Khaman Maluach explains why he chose Duke basketball

Khaman Maluach, the five-star seven-footer from South Sudan, explained why he chose the Duke Blue Devils on The Brotherhood Podcast on Tuesday.

It’d be easy to assume that [autotag]Khaman Maluach[/autotag], the five-star center from South Sudan, chose the Blue Devils in part because of his relationship with Luol Deng.

Deng, the president of the South Sudanese Basketball Federation, played his college ball with the Blue Devils in 2003-04. Maluach played for South Sudan, and by extension Deng, at the most recent Olympic Games in France this summer.

However, despite having a good relationship with Deng, Maluach said on a Tuesday episode of The Brotherhood Podcast that the former Duke star isn’t why he ended up in Durham.

“I wouldn’t say he played a big role,” Maluach said. “I really came to Duke because I love this place and I wanted to tell my story at Duke. That’s one of the main reasons I came here.”

Maluach said he did ask Deng some questions about his Duke experience during the recruiting process, mostly about the environment and his time with the team. Deng, of course, had nothing but rave reviews.

“He really told me, ‘It’s a real brotherhood,’ and then I came here and I saw it myself when I visited,” Malauch said. “I really loved Duke.”

Maluach, a projected lottery pick in the 2025 NBA draft, is expected to be one of the best defensive players in the country this season. He’ll make his Blue Devils debut on October 4 at the Countdown to Craziness.

Nebraska women’s basketball signs Croatian star Petra Bozan

Head coach Amy Williams announced that the team signed Croatian star Petra Bozan to the lineup.

The Nebraska women’s basketball team added another player to its 2024-2025 roster just three months before the start of the season. Head coach Amy Williams announced that the team signed Croatian star Petra Bozan.

Bozan, a 6-foot-3 forward/center from Split, Croatia, joins the Huskers after competing for the KAZL Split in Croatia’s Premier League. Across 22 games, she averaged 15.6 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.7 blocked shots per game.

She finished the season with a shooting percentage of .545 and recorded 17 double-doubles. She scored a season-high 31 points against Zagreb in October 2023 and hauled in a season-high 19 rebounds against Brod Na Savi in November 2023.

Bozan also represented Croatia in the FIBA European Championships for the last three years. She arrives at Nebraska following her recent outing in the FIBA U18 Women’s Eurobasket in Portugal.

Bozan led Croatia in both points (113) and rebounds (70) across seven tournament games. She ranked sixth among all players in the 16-team tournament in scoring, averaging 16.1 points per game, and third in rebounding, averaging 10.0 per game.

Bozan is one of four freshmen on Nebraska’s roster and one of two centers, the other being senior Alexis Markowski. Bozan plans to major in business at Nebraska.

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Sooners duo named to ESPN’s true freshman All-America team

A pair of Oklahoma Sooners made ESPN’s list of the best true freshmen in the nation.

The Oklahoma Sooners kick off their 2024 season in less than two weeks. Talking season is almost over, and fall camps are beginning to wrap up across the country.

But before the season begins, ESPN unveiled their true freshmen All-America team (ESPN+). All of the players included were high schoolers last year and members of the [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag].

OU had two players make the team: offensive lineman [autotag]Eugene Brooks[/autotag] and defensive tackle [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag].

Brooks was the No. 145 player in ESPN’s 300 rankings coming out of high school. Here’s what ESPN staff writer Tom Luginbill had to say about the young offensive lineman.

Brooks is currently running with the second team at guard. The former Under Armour All-American has had his ups and downs during training camp, but he has also shed close to 60 pounds off his frame to help aid his quickness and agility. With that type of discipline and work ethic, clearly Brooks is serious about getting on the field this fall. – Luginbill, ESPN

Brooks was a solid acquisition for offensive line coach [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] in the most recent class out of Sierra Canyon High School in California. 247Sports ranked him as a four-star prospect and their third-ranked interior offensive lineman.

Brooks isn’t in line to start in 2024, but he represents part of the future of the offensive line that has been a major talking point this offseason. While the Sooners had to replace the entire unit with some portal additions this offseason for 2024, it will be paramount to recruit and develop players on the o-line, especially heading into the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

Jackson was just a three-star prospect coming out of high school, according to ESPN, but has a chance to be special in Norman.

Jackson started the Oklahoma spring game but likely will be in the rotation at defensive tackle with fellow freshman [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], among others. With the move to the SEC, Oklahoma needs upgraded defensive front personnel, and Jackson has impressed. He will need to grow up quickly as the rise in the level of competition in the trenches from the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] to the SEC will be steep. – Luginbill, ESPN

Jackson was part of an excellent 2024 defensive line haul by defensive tackles coach [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] and defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis. He hails from IMG Academy and was the 23rd-best player in the state of Florida, according to 247Sports. He was extremely impressive in the spring, and like Brooks on the other side of the ball, he won’t be starting right away, but he represents part of the defensive line’s future.

He’s been one of the standout performers in spring and fall camp and has a chance to earn playing time early and often due to his size, quickness, and strength.

Defensive tackle improved dramatically in the post-spring portal window with the addition of [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], but Jackson, Stone, and others will need to be ready to take up the mantle of leadership inside soon.

As third-year head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and the Sooners enter a conference where games are won and lost in the trenches, they look to be in good hands with their 2024 class on both sides of the ball.

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Who steps up at wide receiver with Jayden Gibson out?

With Jayden Gibson set to miss the 2024 season, which wide receivers could step up for the Oklahoma Sooners?

Anytime you lose a player, it’s going to put the depth chart to the test. With Jayden Gibson set to miss the 2024 season, the Sooners will need to rely on their depth at wide receiver more than they anticipated.

Gibson was one of those players expected to have a huge breakout season. As part of the rotation in 2023, Gibson caught 14 passes for 375 yards and five touchdowns. As Andrel Anthony (knee) and Jalil Farooq (toe) were working their way back from injuries, Gibson was getting a great deal of run with the first team and was taking advantage of it.

Now that he’s out, who will step up in his place?

“You hate that for anybody when a season comes to an end prematurely,” Brent Venables said. “But that’s a group that we feel really good about.”

If everyone’s healthy, it’s likely Nic Anderson, Deion Burks, Farooq and Anthony are your top four wide receivers. Farooq is back and Anthony is expected to be ready for the season. In the event they’re not, the Sooners will need to go deeper into the wide receiver well.

One of the more unheralded figures on the wide receiver depth chart is former Missouri transfer and Tulsa native J.J. Hester. Hester arrived in Norman during the 2022 offseason, but dealt with injuries for much of his time with the Sooners. Those injuries limited his development. However, with a healthy offseason, Hester looks primed for a breakout season of his own.

He has great size and speed to be a difference-maker at every level of the offense. He can win in the intermediate part of the field with his size to box out defensive backs. Hester can also stretch the defense deep with legitimate 4.4 40-yard dash speed.

In addition to Hester, two other speedsters, though smaller in stature, have a chance to earn a significant role out of fall camp. Another transfer addition, Brenen Thompson, made an impact in a limited role, but he hasn’t seen many snaps with the Sooners. [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag], a four-star wide receiver in the 2023 recruiting class has the ability to work at several spots. He has the speed to threaten teams deep and the quickness to be a threat out of the slot.

Beyond the veterans on the roster, the Sooners have a nice group of prospects from the [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag]. [autotag]Ivan Carreon[/autotag], [autotag]Zion Kearney[/autotag], [autotag]Zion Ragins[/autotag], and [autotag]K.J. Daniels[/autotag] provide a diverse range of abilities.

Though there may not be an answer right now as to who fills Jayden Gibson’s role in the offense, the Oklahoma Sooners have a number of options for [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag], [autotag]Emmitt Jones[/autotag], [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag] to choose from.

Projected Wide Receiver Depth Chart

X WR Nic Anderson Andrel Anthony Zion Kearney
Slot WR Deion Burks Jaquaize Pettaway Brenen Thompson
Y WR Jalil Farooq J.J. Hester Ivan Carreon

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