Tag: Billy Bowman Jr.

Mock Draft Monday: Vikings get new defensive pieces from PFF

The focus of the mock draft by PFF was on the Vikings secondary which seems to be a popular trend for the team’s draft plan projections. 

Mock draft Monday is going to look a little different here, in part because PFF dropped their latest piece on Monday. Trevor Sikkema published a three-round mock draft, so we are going to discuss those picks made by him.

PFF focused its mock draft on the Vikings’ secondary, which seems to be a popular trend for the team’s draft plan projections.

With the 28th pick in the mock draft, the Vikings landed Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos. In recent weeks, he has been a popular name and riser who has quickly made his way into the first-round discussion. On Amos, he writes, “Amos deserves more recognition in the 2025 cornerback class. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, the aggressive outside cornerback combines long arms with physicality in coverage, earning an 81.7 coverage grade and tying for the eighth-most forced incompletions (13) in the FBS. . .”

The final two mock draft picks have the Vikings landing Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman Jr., who could be a long-term play with Harrison Smith getting older. They also land explosive, yet physical, running back Bhayshul Tuten out of Virginia Tech.

Mock drafts are going to be coming in more and more over the next couple of weeks, including every Monday here on Vikings Wire.

Oklahoma Sooners captains against Alabama Crimson Tide

The Sooners will be represented by some of their veterans on Senior Day in Norman.

The Oklahoma Sooners will be back at home this week for their final home game of the 2024 season against the Alabama Crimson Tide. It’ll be Senior Day in Norman, as plenty of veteran stalwarts will be playing their final game on Owen Field.

OU head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] announced his game captains for this [autotag]SEC[/autotag] tilt. Quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], offensive lineman [autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag], defensive lineman [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and defensive backs [autotag]Billy Bowman Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag] will represent the Sooners for this key contest.

Arnold will be a captain for the second straight game after a dismal performance against Missouri. His fumble at the end allowed the Tigers to win a comeback on their home field. Arnold’s standing as a captain would seem to indicate that he’s still Venables’ starter at quarterback.

Everett has become OU’s starting center, taking control of the job after getting healthy in the middle of the season. He’s one of the few veterans still healthy on the offensive line, surrounded by portal acquisitions and youth up front.

Downs is a steady presence at defensive end for the Sooners. He isn’t the flashiest player, but he’s always in the right place. He’s grown into a solid leader and clutch player for Venables over the last three seasons.

Stutsman is the heart and soul of this team. He’s the vocal leader and the enforcer at inside linebacker in the middle of the defense. He’ll play one more game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, and his career in the crimson and cream has been excellent.

Bowman Jr. is another player who decided to return to school this past offseason, turning down a chance at the pros. If Oklahoma is makes a bowl game, it’ll likely be Bowman making a pivotal play to get them there. His scoop and score against Mizzou should have given the Sooners their sixth win two weeks ago.

Washington is the longest-tenured player on the team, having been a Sooner since 2019. He’s seen it all over his six years in Norman and is a respected veteran voice in a young locker room.

The senior group of Downs, Stutsman, Bowman and Washington are the only four defensive players that remain from the Lincoln Riley-Alex Grinch era at Oklahoma. They have been here for the transformation of OU’s defense over the last three seasons and have a huge hand in what that side of the ball looks like today.

As the season winds to a close for the Sooners, the coaching staff will clearly be looking to Arnold and the veterans to pave the way for Oklahoma to try to upset Alabama.

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Oklahoma Sooners captains against Missouri Tigers

The Sooners will be led by some of the biggest names on the team as captains against the Tigers.

The Oklahoma Sooners take the road this week, heading to Columbia, Missouri as they jump back into [autotag]SEC[/autotag] play. The 5-4 Sooners will look to win their second straight game, as they’ll visit the Missouri Tigers for a primetime battle away from home.

OU head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has announced his game captains for this conference tilt, and his team will be represented by some of the biggest names on the roster in a pivotal contest. Quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], tight end [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag], defensive linemen [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and defensive back [autotag]Billy Bowman Jr.[/autotag] will lead Oklahoma into battle as captains in week eleven.

Arnold has gone from the heir-apparent, to the no-doubt starter, to being benched, to being re-inserted in the lineup, and now back to captain status in a whirlwind month and a half. The sophomore has looked more comfortable since regaining his starting spot, and his play will go a long way toward deciding this week’s game.

Sharp has shown some positive things at tight end, but there’s still plenty to work on for a player still new to the position. The coaching staff clearly trusts him to get the lion’s share of the reps, and he’s been more effective since the offensive coordinator change.

Williams was a big offseason addition for this team, and has been been reliable in the interior of the defensive line. He hasn’t been spectacular, but he’s helped one of the strongest units on the team consistently shut down the inside run game week after week.

Halton has improved so much over the last couple of seasons, and is really coming into his own as another great interior line option on this defense. He’s found a knack for getting into the backfield and making big plays, none bigger than his game-changing safety against Houston all the way back in week two.

Stutsman is the unquestioned leader of this team, and one of the best inside linebackers in college football. He hasn’t seen as many wins in his senior season as he’d like, but he continues to excel no matter how far back against the wall the offense puts the defense this year.

Bowman Jr. hasn’t matched his unbelievable production from a year ago, but he’s still a very good veteran player in the back end of OU’s defense. If he can return to his ball-hawking, turnover-causing 2023 form, it’ll help this team immensely over the final four weeks of the regular season.

The Sooners are putting some of their biggest stars front and center for this game. The noteworthy names, especially Stutsman, Bowman Jr. and Arnold will have to play like stars on Saturday, and the rest of the season, for Oklahoma to begin stacking wins in the SEC.

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Chiefs scouting report: Oklahoma Sooners DB Billy Bowman Jr.

The Kansas City #Chiefs should look to add a playmaker like Oklahoma Sooners safety Billy Bowman Jr. in the 2025 NFL draft.

Several Kansas City Chiefs safeties hit free agency over the next two years, including starters Bryan Cook and Justin Reid. Instead of only pumping money into long-term deals for veterans, the Chiefs should consider investing in a mix of mid-level veteran contracts and cheap rookies to maintain the versatility of their secondary.

Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Billy Bowman Jr.’s high school track background translates to the football field. His speed and range make him a turnover machine. Since the start of 2022, he has ten interceptions, including three pick-sixes. Bowman’s experience returning kicks comes in clutch on his interception returns.

Bowman’s vision in coverage is excellent. He reads the quarterback’s eyes to anticipate and jump routes. Very few defensive backs in the 2025 class match Bowman’s downhill trigger and closing burst. He deciphers route combinations to pick through the offense’s window dressing and lock onto the quarterback’s intended target.

Bowman is an undersized 5 foot 10 inch, 194-pound safety who offers limited value in run defense. He’s not afraid to come downhill and challenge the run, but he takes poor angles, whiffs on tackle attempts, and lacks the play strength to shed blocks. He projects best as a third or fourth-round pick who operates in deep alignments.

The Sooners are set to play their most important game of the season on Oct. 12 at 2:30 p.m. CST. They will welcome the No. 1 Texas Longhorns to Oklahoma Memorial Stadium for the latest edition of the Red River Rivalry. Oklahoma beat Texas on the road last year.

Where does Oklahoma land in ESPN’s preseason power rankings?

Where are the Oklahoma Sooners in ESPN’s preseason Power Rankings?

The Oklahoma Sooners are just over a week away from kicking off the 2024 season. Third-year coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and a talented roster, especially on defense, has generated a great deal of excitement for Year 1 in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

As the college football season draws closer, ESPN released its preseason power rankings, which factor in all of the changes that have taken place since January. While Oklahoma was ranked No. 16 by the US LBM Coaches Polls and the Associated Press Top 25, the staff at ESPN has the Sooners a bit lower.

OU checked in at No. 17 on ESPN’s list. Here’s what ESPN had to say about the Sooners:

On offense, pressure rests on the shoulders of first-year quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and an offensive line down four starters from a year ago. Around them, the Sooners carry optimism in running back depth that includes [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag], [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] and freshman [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag], and a deep wide receivers group headlined by Purdue transfer [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag]. Initial conference meetings with Tennessee (home), Auburn (away) and Texas (neutral) will provide early tests for Oklahoma, while trips to Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU, and a visit from Alabama await in a daunting back half of the season. – Eli Lederman, ESPN.

That grueling conference schedule has been quite the topic of conversation this offseason. Venables and his coaching staff will have to make sure the players take things one game at a time, not looking forward or backward.

Oklahoma was picked eighth in the SEC by the post-SEC media day poll and the two major polls. The home game with the Volunteers looms large as OU’s first conference game in its new league.

The Sooners will begin their season against Temple in Norman on Friday, Aug. 30. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN.

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Oklahoma’s Billy Bowman Jr. with 100-yard pick-six against BYU

Oklahoma got a 100-yard pick-six against BYU

BYU was driving for a go-ahead touchdown against Oklahoma in Big 12 play on Saturday.

Jake Retzlaff looked for a receiver and threw a pass that quickly backfired.

Billy Bowman Jr. was on the spot, collecting the interception, and off he went.

One-hundred yards later, Bowman had a pick-six and the Sooners had a lead.

This was the third interception return of 100 yards in OU history. The prior ones: Julian Wilson in 2014 against Tennessee and in 1945 Al Needs against Kansas State.

One other interception nugget about Oklahoma, the school leader with 18 interceptions is Darrell Royal. Yes, the Darrell Royal who went on to become a legendary head coach at Texas.