Tag: All-American Honors

Oklahoma linebacker earns All-American honors

Oklahoma Linebacker Danny Stutsman earns Walter Camp All-American first-team selection.

The Oklahoma Sooners defense took another big step in 2024, finishing the season by allowing just 21.6 points per game, good for 34th in the nation. In each of Brent Venables’ three seasons at Oklahoma, they’ve improved in points per game allowed as a defense. The tip of the spear for the Sooners’ defensive resurgence has been senior linebacker Danny Stutsman.

Stutsman was named a Walter Camp All-American first-team selection on Thursday evening at the ESPN College Football Awards show. That’s his second first-team selection after being named to the CBS Sports All-American team. Stutsman also earned second-team All-American honors from USA TODAY Sports.

In 2024, Stutsman became just the second Oklahoma linebacker to record 100 tackles in three consecutive seasons, joining former star Travis Lewis, who accomplished the feat from 2008-2010.

It’s been a banner year for Stutsman, who was also a finalist for the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation’s top linebacker. Georgia’s Jalon Walker earned that distinction.

Stutsman was a leader for the program, on and off the field. His steady hand in the middle of the Sooners’ defense helped OU become one of the best-run defenses in the country.

Now, Danny Stutsman will head off to the NFL with a chance to be selected in the top two rounds in the 2025 NFL draft.

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Danny Stutsman selected to USA TODAY Sports preseason All-American team

Oklahoma’s leader on defense adds another preseason accolade ahead of his senior year.

It was a breakout season for [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] in 2023. He was so good that he could have declared for the NFL draft and would have likely been a top 100 pick in 2024. However, Stutsman opted to forgo the draft and return to Oklahoma for his senior season, providing the Sooners defense with playmaking and leadership as OU heads into the SEC.

As Stutsman prepares for his senior season, he’s considered one of the best defenders in the country. The Sooners linebacker was named to the Walter Camp preseason All-American team and was a first-team All-SEC selection by the media. Stutsman has been named to a number of watch lists ahead of the 2024 season and can now add one more accolade to his preseason resume.

On Monday, Stutsman was named to the first team of USA TODAY Sports All-American team. LSU‘s Harold Perkins and Iowa‘s Jay Higgins were the other linebackers named to the first team.

Stutsman’s hoping to build upon a 2023 season in which he racked up 104 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception. If the Sooners are going to realize their potential on defense in 2024, Danny Stutsman will be leading the way.

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5 Oklahoma Sooners earn NFCA All-American honors

Led by Tiare Jennings fourth first-team selection, five Sooners earned NFCA All-American Honors.

The Oklahoma Sooners head into the Women’s College World Series with one of the most talented teams in the nation. On Wednesday, five Sooners were selected to the Natioinal Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American Teams.

[autotag]Tiare Jennings[/autotag] and [autotag]Alyssa Brito[/autotag] earned first-team selections. For Jennings, it was her fourth first-team honor and is the sixth Sooner to earn that distinction. Jennings joins a who’s who of players in Oklahoma history. Norrelle Dickson, Keilani Ricketts, [autotag]Lauren Chamberlain[/autotag], Paige Parker, and [autotag]Jocelyn Alo[/autotag] also earned four first-team selections in their Sooners career.

Jennings is hitting .372 on the year with 21 home runs and 64 RBIs. It’s been a historic season for the Sooners infielder, who’s climbed into the top three in career home runs.

It’s the second consecutive first-team selection for Brito who had another phenomenal season for the Sooners. Brito is hitting .406 with 18 home runs, 13 doubles, and 59 RBIs this season and has been phenomenal at third base.

Centerfielder [autotag]Jayda Coleman[/autotag] joined Jennings with her fourth All-American selection, earning a nod for the second team. Coleman was arguably the biggest snub from the first team as the game’s best centerfielder. In 2024, she’s hitting .394 with 12 home runs, 42 RBIs, and has scored 68 runs. She leads the Sooners with a .532 on-base percentage.

[autotag]Kinzie Hansen[/autotag] also earned a second-team selection with nine home runs and 35 RBIs and was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. This is Hansen’s third All-American selection.

After a phenomenal first year in Norman, [autotag]Ella Parker[/autotag] earned a third-team All-American pick, which is Oklahoma’s first for a freshman since Coleman and Jennings earned selections back in 2021. Parker is hitting .419 with 12 home runs, 14 doubles, and 57 RBIs.

Oklahoma was one of five teams to earn multiple first-team selections, joining Florida, Duke, Virginia Tech, and Tennessee. The Sooners also tied with the Gators with the most All-American selections.

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