Tag: billy bowman

‘We have a lot more cohesion now,’: Oklahoma Sooners’ star linebacker on Year 3 in Brent Venables’ defense

Year 3 in Brent Venables’ system is usually when you see the biggest jump and that shouldn’t be any different at Oklahoma.

Coming into the 2024 college football season, there might not be a more experienced group than the Oklahoma Sooners’ defense. Now, they have to take the step many think they can which has been common in year three under [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag].

Historically, year three is when his defenses have taken the biggest jumps. Getting guys like [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag], and [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag] to decide to come back for their final seasons was huge for Oklahoma to continue the growth they’ve made.

Stutsman spoke about what it’s been like for him now that he’s in his third year running the show. “We have a lot more cohesion now,” Stutsman said. “We’re not really trying to explain so much. Just trying to tweak everything out.”

That’s what we’ve seen from Venables’ defenses in the past. They eventually get to the point where the players are able to be coaches on the field. It helps the players learn it faster and limits a lot of the confusion with his already complex defense.

That’s a big reason why people think Oklahoma can have a top 20-30 unit in 2024. Knowing the defenses they’ve had in the past, that would be a major jump and improvement.

There isn’t much question the defense is the better unit at this point and is expected to lead the Sooners in 2024 this upcoming season. It’s been a long time since Oklahoma has relied on their defense to be the catalyst for their success. But with a first-year starter at quarterback and the turnover they’re facing on the offensive line, the Sooners defense will need to be a their best for Oklahoma to contend this season.

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Marcus Wimberly raves about the Oklahoma culture after committing to the Sooners

4-Star safety Marcus Wimberly recently committed to the Oklahoma Sooners and he talks about why Oklahoma made the most sense.

The Oklahoma Sooners got a surprise commitment this past weekend from 4-Star safety [autotag]Marcus Wimberly[/autotag]. Wimberly hadn’t previously made a commitment date announcement or even really hinted one was coming but he ultimately decided Oklahoma was the place to be and announced his commitment on April 6, 2024.

Wimberly made it 11 commits for Oklahoma. It’s also a huge win for safeties coach [autotag]Brandon Hall[/autotag] once again. Wimberly is 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds. He’s also ranked as the No. 9 safety in the class according to Rivals. He was up this past weekend on an unofficial visit and that’s when he decided to commit to the Sooners.

The Sooners ultimately beat out the Michigan Wolverines and the Arkansas Razorbacks whom he was once committed. Wimberly did an exclusive interview with OUInsider’s Brandon Drumm and Parker Thune about his recruitment journey and how he ended up committing to Oklahoma.

“It kind of goes to a phrase that I live by, ‘don’t talk the talk but walk the walk,'” Wimberly said. “Coach Hall would tell me all of these great things about Oklahoma and the team and this great culture that they have there and the family feeling. A lot of universities will say all of these things, but really, when you get there, it’s the polar opposite. So, when I got there, he meant what he said, and it showed.”

Wimberly went on to say he got that feeling after watching the team practice. He mentioned how [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] was helping coach the other guys, but everyone was holding each other accountable. He then ate with some of the players and got their take on the culture.

“They were like, ‘Dude it’s awesome, you have a brotherly bond with everybody that you wouldn’t think you’d have in college,'” Wimberly said. “That’s what really stuck out to me and the [autotag]SOUL Mission[/autotag] stuff. I’m super strong in my faith, and I want to use my platform to reach as many souls for God that I can. And with the SOUL Mission stuff, I think it’s great, and they do a great job at doing outreaches.”

Since Brent Venables took over at Oklahoma, one constant review of the program from families and prospects is just how great the culture is. It’s a big reason why prospects commit and sign with Oklahoma.

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‘I don’t think that’s going to happen to Oklahoma’: On3’s J.D. PicKell on if OU will get dominated in the trenches

The Oklahoma Sooners are heading into a new conference but one person from On3 says they will be just fine up front.

The Oklahoma Sooners are about to wrap up spring ball with just under two weeks to the Spring game. Still, there are a lot of question marks that need to be answered. The same is true for every team in the nation.

One of the biggest question marks for Oklahoma is how well will they hold up in the trenches in the SEC. The offensive line has been a major question mark since losing five starters from a year ago. The interior of the defensive line is talented but very young.

On3’s J.D. PicKell said he doesn’t think Oklahoma will have any problem holding up inside.

You bring back 79% of the production on defense from a year ago, which is massive. Brand new quarterback in Jackson Arnold. The thing about Oklahoma, I really think the defense is going to be okay. I think the defense is going to be more than fine to hold up their end of the bargain going into the SEC. I know that’s kind of the punchline for a lot of folks. ‘Ah, get ready for the SEC trenches. Get ready for those big boys up front, they are going to take you to the woodshed.’ I don’t think that’s going to happen to Oklahoma. – On3 Sports

PicKell went on to say he feels Oklahoma’s success will be directly tied to [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag]. We obviously saw the good and the bad from Arnold in last year’s bowl game. He’s going to have to take care of the football.

I get where PicKell is coming from, but that’s too much optimism that I’m not ready to buy into just yet. I want to see it vs. SEC teams. I think the offensive line has talent but they have to gel. That’s the most important part. If they can be an average SEC offensive line, I think Oklahoma can have a big season.

But we haven’t seen that just yet. Also, if it’s a weakness of the team, the offensive coordinators can scheme up ways to cover it up so it’ll be interesting to see if they can do that.

I love the optimism from Pickell, but I’m not ready to buy stock in that just yet.

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Oklahoma Sooners defense continues to develop in year three with Brent Venables

The defense will be one of the most experienced in college football next year and it’s time for them to take that massive leap.

Spring practice number seven is officially in the books for the Oklahoma Sooners. We are now a little more than two weeks away from the spring game on April 20, 2024.

Once again, a big topic for the Sooners this offseason has been the competitive depth. Brent Venables mentioned it in his post-practice press conference on Tuesday and there have been a number of reports about how deep this team looks compared to teams in the past.

One of the groups with the most experience returning is the defense. It should be one of the more experienced groups in the country. While it is never perfect, Venables believes it’s getting to where he wants it.

“At spots it is,” Venables said. “Overall, we do have another year in the system. I just look at all of the systems, and I think it’s important, starting with the excitement that you need to have, the passion that you need to have, the focus intensity that you need to have whether you are in segment meetings, team meetings or you come to this practice field. Whether it’s a walkthrough or it’s a two-minute drill to win the game. All of it should have the same level of passion, intensity and focus. Having a group of guys that are obsessed with the physical toughness, that are obsessed with developing our team, that are obsessed with the details, obsessed with having the right mindset every single day.”

Venables mentioned the linebacker and cornerback rooms as two groups he feels are in the best shape since he’s gotten here. Both positions are full of depth and it has many wondering how they are going to figure out who to play.

In the era of the transfer portal, you worry about guys transferring if they aren’t getting enough playing time, but you would rather have that issue of too many talented guys than not enough. Especially heading to the SEC.

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More experience with the defensive coaches could be the biggest difference in Year 3

Brent Venables believes the experience of the Sooners defensive staff making a difference this spring.

It is crazy to think just three years ago, Brent Venables was gearing up for his first season as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners. It feels like yesterday we were watching him get off a plane at Max Westheimer airport.

His first year showed his inexperience as a head coach. No, he didn’t have a great roster but his game management wasn’t what it needed to be. Year two showed a ton of growth as a head coach. His game management was much better, and his roster was better, too. They developed players well but also found gems in the portal and in high school recruiting.

So, what has Venables noticed about Year 3 so far?

He spoke about it with reporters after practice Tuesday. “I think there is more depth from an experience standpoint of myself, Zac (Alley) and our other defensive coaches than maybe what we had before. So, there is a different level of trust and understanding. Zac thinks more like me and does a good job no matter what it is. Whether it’s the fundamentals, if it’s areas of weakness, if it’s development drills, or if it’s scheme-wise and situationally. We work through a lot before we come out to practice.”

Combine the experience of the coaches with the experience of the defensive players, and you can see why so many are excited about how good the defense can be next season. They still have areas of weakness, like every team, that will need to be addressed. But if they turn their bring their weaknesses along, they could be a special group in 2024.

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Best photos from latest Oklahoma Sooners spring practice

Spring ball is heating up and here are the best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners latest spring practice.

Spring practice is in full throttle as the Oklahoma Sooners prepare for the 2024 college football season. There are a number of intriguing storylines to watch this spring with [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] taking over at quarterback and the turnover along the offensive line.

The newcomers are making a strong impression on the media in attendance. [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] and [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag] have stood out in the passing game as Arnold gets acclimated to life as the starting quarterback.

Defensively, true freshmen [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag], and [autotag]Reggie Powers[/autotag] have mixed in with the first-team defense and looked good in the early going.

There are a number of players that the team is taking precautions with on the injury front, so it’s hard to know who exactly is leading the way in the most high-profile position battles.

What we do know is that this is a deeper team than what the Sooners took into the spring a year ago, especially at wide receiver, defensive back, and linebacker. The competitive depth across the board is better this spring than in any year of the [autotag]Brent Venable[/autotag]s era at Oklahoma, which should serve the team well as they try to work out their depth chart.

Here’s a look at the best photos from the Sooners most recent spring practice.

Oklahoma Sooners defensive backs in for a battle in spring ball

If the Oklahoma Sooners secondary can find more consistency, the defense will take another big step in 2024.

Last year, by and large, was a solid year for Oklahoma’s defensive backs. If there’s a knock against them, it was their inconsistency.

[autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] was a bright spot for the Sooner. He recorded 63 tackles, six interceptions, three pick-sixes, four pass breakups, and three tackles for loss last year and should have been an All-American.

Elsewhere, guys made plays but struggled to string together the caliber of performances that Bowman had.

There were moments when [autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag] was excellent but never sustained his level of play due to a shoulder injury he dealt with for most of the year. His inability to stay on the field had a negative impact on the defense.

[autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag] had moments, in particular at cheetah. So did [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag]. Former five-star freshman [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] also flashed at moments but lacked consistency.

So what have we learned? Talent won’t be an issue in 2024. Consistency is the name of the game. And as the Sooners get deeper into spring practice and summer preparations for the season, we’ll be on the lookout for more consistency.

According to reports, coaches have Washington working at cornerback, nickel corner, safety, and cheetah. San Diego State transfer [autotag]Dez Malone[/autotag] is working to acclimate himself, giving Oklahoma length and another veteran option out at corner. He tallied 90 tackles, three for loss, one sack, four interceptions, and 12 pass breakups from 2022-2023.

In-house, the Sooners need leaps from multiple guys. [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag] is gone, and [autotag]Key Lawrence[/autotag] transferred to Ole Miss. Pair that with the need for depth at all secondary spots, and things will get interesting. Billy Bowman and Peyton Bowen are likely your starting safeties but don’t be surprised if Robert Spears-Jennings gets significant playing time at safety as well.

Spears-Jennings is looking to take a big step forward in year three. He feels like a guy we could see much of when Oklahoma goes into three safety looks. After that, Oklahoma will depend on youth. Four-star freshmen Reggie Powers and Jaydan Hardy will likely have to contribute somehow.

Woodi figures to be a starter somewhere on this defense, and barring health issues, Williams is a starting corner, too.

At cornerback, [autotag]Makari Vickers[/autotag], [autotag]Jasiah Wagoner[/autotag], and [autotag]Jacobe Johnson[/autotag] offer a lot of talent and saw time on the field last year. If they come along, Oklahoma’s depth would be outstanding.

Who is the cheetah? [autotag]Justin Harrington[/autotag] is recovering from the injury he suffered early season against SMU and isn’t participating in spring practices. [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag] is working full-time as a linebacker right now.

[autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag] is an option, and sophomore now sees reps at the versatile spot too. Maybe four-star prospect [autotag]Michael Boganowski[/autotag] will join the mix as he finds a positional home.

Ultimately, there are a ton of question marks about Oklahoma’s secondary heading into the spring. There’s good potential, but a lack of experience on the depth chart. It’s a group that has to get more consistent for the Sooners to contend in the SEC.

Cornerbacks coach [autotag]Jay Valai[/autotag] and safety coach [autotag]Brandon Hall[/autotag] have their work cut out for them as the Sooners prepare for 2024.

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‘We need to have a commissioner’: Bob Stoops calls for a college football commissioner

Former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops says college football needs a commissioner.

One thing I think most college football fans can agree on is how poorly the NCAA is run. There is no consistency, and several teams have been rumored to be doing corrupt things without punishment.

You combine all of that with the NIL and transfer portal eras and it’s a recipe for chaos.

The transfer portal is probably the worst thing in college football right now. The immediate eligibility and unlimited ability to transfer has become an issue that plagues every team. Especially with it opening at the end of the regular season. A lot of players enter and leave instead of finishing bowl season with the team they are on.

Don’t get me wrong. It can also be a big help as it helps teams fill some of the holes in their rosters to make a run.

One person who is not a fan of how college football is being handled right now is legendary Oklahoma head coach, [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag].

“It’s not very good. I don’t think it’s very good for anybody,” Stoops said last week on 92.3 The Fan’s Afternoon Drive. “Is it sustainable? In my eyes, it’s not.”

Another person who has been outspoken about it is [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag]. He’s even spoke about it being a reason he retired.

So, what is the answer? Stoops thinks it’s time to add a commissioner to oversee everything.

“It’s a pro model right now with college football,” Stoops said.”It’s a pro model. So, the NCAA isn’t governing it. We need to have a commissioner. We have to have salary caps on what you can spend. You have to have contracts, on and on. I don’t see how you cannot if it’s going to continue this way.”

I think Stoops is right on the money. It’s time for this stuff to be governed. NIL and the transfer portal don’t seem to be going anywhere and that’s fine. We can discuss if players should or should not be paid on a different day. But one thing is for certain: it’s out of control right now and should be managed.

I said when Saban retired he’d make a good commissioner for college football if he wanted to but another great choice for the job would be Stoops. In my opinion, it needs to be someone who either coached or played the sport. Preferably a former coach who coached during this era would be the best answer in my opinion because they know what’s going on and the difficulties it causes.

But for now, college football will continue to be the “Wild Wild West.”

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Oklahoma Sooners are being overlooked, per 247Sports’ Josh Pate

Could teams be sleeping on the Oklahoma Sooners in 2024? One national sports show host thinks so.

It is a new era of college football for the Oklahoma Sooners. They are no longer in the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] conference but instead are off to the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

That means new teams, new rivalries and some old rivalries will be on Oklahoma’s schedule going forward. After going 10-3 last season, there are still many who think Oklahoma has no clue what it’s getting itself into. The SEC is considered the best conference in football and it’ll definitely be a tougher task week in and week out than what they are used to.

There have even been some predictions that have Oklahoma winning only seven or eight games in Year 1. So, are the Oklahoma Sooners being overlooked heading into next season? 247Sports’ Josh Pate thinks so.

“Everyone pays attention to what you lose in college football and they don’t pay enough attention to what you have,” Pate said. “Oklahoma did lose a lot on the offensive line. Oklahoma did lose a starter at quarterback but they also have the former Elite 11 MVP, Jackson Arnold, who is two years in. He’s not a true freshman. They have recruited at what has them at a top 10 talent roster status. So, it’s not like they are going to put potato sacks out there on the offensive line. You don’t know their names so you automatically think they’re going to be subpar. So do the odds makers. That over/under, 7.5. Is Oklahoma being overlooked? I think they are.”

More: SEC win projections ahead of spring ball

I also think Oklahoma is being overlooked.

Pate brings up a great point. It’s valid to talk about all of the things Oklahoma has lost but why aren’t we talking about what they return? Yes, they lost [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], but there were people before the season last year who wanted Arnold to be the starter. We know he’s more talented. He just has to clean up the mental mistakes that plagued him in the bowl game like it would just about any true freshman.

The offensive line is a fair and valid worry. It has work to do. But on the flip side, this is arguably the best and deepest wide receiver room since maybe 2018. At running back, [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] has to stay healthy because when he is healthy, he’s a very good running back.

Then, on defense, this might be the most experienced defense in college football. It’s the best secondary Oklahoma has had in over a decade. It’s the deepest the linebacker room has been in probably over a decade as well. The defensive ends are deep and just need a star to emerge. The interior defensive line is the worry. [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag] is a very good player but he’s the only proven one in there. So, someone else is going to have to step up.

I’m not saying Oklahoma is going to win 11 games and compete for a championship in Year 1. I get that’s the standard but that’s unrealistic going into next year. I’m just saying as soon as I saw the over/under at 7.5 wins, I would have happily and quickly bet the over.

More: SEC quarterback rankings ahead of the 2024 season

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NCAA issues a blanket waiver to increase the number of players on rosters for 2024

The Oklahoma Sooners and other FBS and FCS schools can now have 10 more players on their roster thanks to a new NCAA waiver.

More players could soon suit up for the Oklahoma Sooners and other Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision schools across the country.

There was a limit of 110 student-athletes who may engage in practice activities before the school’s first day of classes or before the fifth day before the school’s first game, whichever occurs earlier.

But that will change for the 2024 season.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the NCAA is issuing a blanket waiver for FBS and FCS teams to increase the preseason practice/fall camp roster from 110 to 120 players. The temporary waiver will be in effect for this season, and the Football Oversight Committee and D1 Council will consider a permanent policy this summer.

In addition to that change, the NCAA said, the waiver will start the process of removing the rule that allows the replacement of a student-athlete. Spring practice is underway across the country as teams prepare for the 2024 season. There’s also a transfer portal window set to open in April, and the expectation is there will be plenty of movement when that time comes.

It’s unclear why this change was implemented now and if it means more scholarship players or 10 additional walk-ons. I would assume it’s more walk-ons but it isn’t clear if that is the case.

For Oklahoma, this could mean it gets very active in the transfer portal. If it can get guys to help on the field, that would be preferred, but I could see Oklahoma going after good veteran locker room guys. Maybe that’s a former captain or something of that nature.

It could also mean some guys you thought would hit the portal or that Oklahoma was going to push toward the portal due to a numbers crunch, no longer will. For now, we have to wait and see.

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