Tag: Billy Sims

Dillon Gabriel named a finalist for two prestigious awards

Dillon Gabriel has had a great season for the Sooners so far and that has landed him as a finalist of two awards.

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] has been as good as advertised this season for the Oklahoma Sooners. He’s currently completing a career-high 71.4% of his passes for 2,302 yards, 19 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

His play this season has earned him a spot as a finalist for two prestigious awards; the [autotag]Davey O’Brien[/autotag] QB Class of 2023 and the Unitas Golden Arm Award.

Gabriel is a member of the 35-player Davey O’Brien QB Class making him an official candidate for the 2023 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, which will be presented on Dec. 8, 2023.

A Sooner has won the Davey O’Brien award six times. [autotag]Billy Sims[/autotag] won the first one in 1978 when it was given to the most outstanding player and not just the most outstanding quarterback. [autotag]Jason White[/autotag] won the award twice, in 2003 and 2004. [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag] won the award in 2008. [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] in 2017, and [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] in 2018.

He was announced as a top-10 finalist for the [autotag]Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[/autotag] on Tuesday. That award is given to the top quarterback who is a college senior or fourth-year junior on schedule to graduate with their class. White is the lone Sooner to win the award.

Gabriel is certainly deserving of both of those awards. Per a release from the University of Oklahoma, He ranks in the top 10 nationally in points responsible for per game (20.2; third), total offense (324.5 yards per game; fifth), pass completion percentage (.714; eighth), passing efficiency rating (169.6; ninth) and passing touchdowns (19; 10th). He also leads the Big 12 in passing offense (278.8 yards per game; 13th nationally) and yards per pass attempt (9.1; 14th nationally).

He has a big opportunity to build upon his stellar season with a rivalry game this weekend.

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10 of the greatest running backs in Texas high school football history

Here are 10 of the greatest high school running backs in Texas history.

Some of the most outstanding performers in the history of the sport got their start playing high school football in Texas. That tradition is especially rich at the running back position, where the state has produced several all-time special athletes. Some of them went on to win Heisman trophies, others had prestigious awards named after them and some even played in the NFL and became Pro Football Hall of Famers.

Here are 10 of the greatest high school running backs in Texas history. All high school stats are courtesy of MaxPreps.

Kyler Murray to be honored in Heisman Park at Oklahoma Sooners’ Spring Game

Athletic Director Joe Castiglione revealed to 94.7 The REF in Norman that Kyler Murray will get his Heisman statue unveiled at the 2023 Oklahoma Sooners Spring Game.

[autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] will be getting his statue added to Oklahoma’s Heisman Park this April at the OU Football Spring Game, Athletic director Joe Castiglione told The REF on Thursday.

Castiglione confirmed the news while on the “T-Row in the Morning Show” with the voice of the Sooners, Toby Rowland. Murray’s likeness being added to Heisman Park will, for now at least, complete the collection of OU’s Heisman Trophy winners outside of [autotag]Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial[/autotag] Stadium.

Last year’s “Pack the Palace” campaign for the 2022 spring game, which involved the unveiling of Baker Mayfield’s statue, was a huge success. Giving Murray his statue a year later as Brent Venables tries to build momentum for his program is a no-brainer.

The 2022 spring game was a good get-right moment for both the football program and its fans. Both of which were still feeling the effect of Lincoln Riley’s departure for USC. That game was the first time a lot of OU fans became reacquainted with Venables since his return to Norman.

Mayfield was on the verge of being traded during his statue unveiling, and Kyler Murray will still be recovering from an ACL tear sustained last December while playing for the Arizona Cardinals.

A former two-sport star at Oklahoma, Murray attended last year’s spring game in an OU Baseball jersey. Murray will be immortalized alongside past Heisman winners Mayfield, [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag], [autotag]Jason White[/autotag], [autotag]Billy Sims[/autotag], [autotag]Steve Owens[/autotag], and [autotag]Billy Vessels[/autotag].

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A look back at Oklahoma-Nebraska through the years in fantastic still images

A look back at the Oklahoma-Nebraska matchup through some fantastic still photos.

It’s a rivalry that, at one point in time, was as big as any in college football. Though conference realignment put a damper on the once-great matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and Nebraska Cornhuskers, the fervor and excitement are still strong.

The two teams, along with several other Big 8 members, joined forces with the Texas Longhorns and a contingent from the old Southwest Conference to form the Big 12. The Sooners and Cornhuskers went from playing annually (from 1921 to 1997) to a rotating schedule as the two teams were placed in different divisions.

The Sooners and Cornhuskers renew a rivalry that dates back to the first matchup, a 12-9 Nebraska win in 1912. From 1919 to 1941, the Cornhuskers held a commanding edge in the rivalry with a record of 15-3-3. Oklahoma’s gone 42-23 since 1943, which happened to be the start of the longest win streak in the series. Overall, Oklahoma holds a 46-38-3 record.

2021 saw the renewal of one of the great rivalries in all of college football with Oklahoma’s 23-16 win over the Cornhuskers. Now, Oklahoma makes its first trip to Lincoln since a 10-3 loss in Bo Pelini’s second season as the Cornhuskers head coach.

Get set for Oklahoma’s return trip to Lincoln as we go Behind Enemy Lines with Cornhuskers Wire to learn more about Nebraska and take a look through these fantastic photos below.

Oklahoma football all-time roster: Offensive starters and backups

See which legends made the cut in our all-time Oklahoma Sooners football roster, starting with the offensive starters and backups.

When you have as illustrious a history as the Oklahoma Sooners with their seven national championships, the longest winning streak in college football history, seven Heisman Trophy winners, and 50 conference championships, picking an all-time team can be a difficult task.

Oklahoma has some legendary figures in the world of college football. It’s a program that’s had incredible success dating back to Bennie Owen in the program’s early days. For more than 100 years, the Oklahoma Sooners have created a program that’s synonymous with winning.

Here’s our crack at Oklahoma’s All-Time offense.

For more coverage on the Oklahoma Sooners, visit Sooners Wire.

Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel named to Walter Camp Player of the Year award watch list

In addition to the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien, Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel was named to the Walter Camp award watch list.

When you’re the quarterback at the [autotag]University of Oklahoma[/autotag], the expectations are high. In addition to being named to the Davey O’Brien and Maxwell award watch lists, Oklahoma Sooners quarterback [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] was added to the Walter Camp Player of the Year award watch list.

Oklahoma is tied for second all-time in Walter Camp Player of the Year awards with four. USC is No. 1 in the country with six, including inaugural award winner O.J. Simpson.

Former Sooners who’ve won the award are [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] (2017), [autotag]Josh Heupel[/autotag] (2000), [autotag]Billy Sims[/autotag] (1978), and [autotag]Steve Owens[/autotag] (1969).

Garbiel is joined by eight other players from the Big 12 and a few familiar faces at quarterback on the Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list.

ChampU BBQ: Who’s coming to Norman for the Oklahoma Sooners mega recruiting event?

The ChampU BBQ is right around the corner and with the Oklahoma Sooners hosting several top prospects, here’s a running list of who will be coming to Norman.

The ChampU BBQ has been extremely kind to the Oklahoma Sooners these last few years and it figures that as long as they keep hosting it, it will always remain that way. Generally, the Sooners’ have an absolutely elite collection of talent in Norman during the summer at a time when school is no longer a factor and prospects are focusing on recruiting.

Last year, the Sooners had flashy luxury cars and every notable Oklahoma player of the past that they could find in attendance. Adrian Peterson was there. Kyler Murray was there. CeeDee Lamb was in attendance. Sam Bradford and Lane Johnson were in the building. Roy Williams was there. Marquise Brown and Billy Sims joined the party. Kenneth Murray and Trent Williams were in attendance.

The event serves as the Sooners’ premier recruiting event of the calendar year and every year it seems to deliver as commitments follow shortly after.

Will this year under a new regime bring the same results? We don’t know but what we do know is who will be in attendance for this mega event.

We’ve taken the liberty of chronicling every confirmed ChampU BBQ visitor below.

5 Oklahoma Sooners make ESPN’s list of the top 100 Running Backs of the last 60 years

5 Oklahoma Sooners running backs were featured inside ESPN’s top 100 running backs of the last 60 years with Adrian Peterson coming in at 46(?).

Lists are fun. They can be quite the undertaking, especially when you want to try and rank 100 of anything. Especially something as subjective as the top 100 running backs of all time or of a certain time period. But that’s what Bill Connelly of ESPN attempted.

Over at ESPN, Connelly selected the top 100 running backs of the last 60 years (ESPN+). It’s not a perfect list by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s a strong attempt.

In particular, Connelly has four Wisconsin Badgers in his top 20. Not providing much context that Wisconsin has generally had elite offensive line play and has been a run-first team for, basically forever.

No. 1 on the list was Oklahoma State’s Barry Sanders. The only running back to have played in the last 20 years to make the top 10 was USC’s Reggie Bush. Yes, Adrian Peterson was left out of the top 10. Worse yet, he was left out of the top 20. But more on that later.

Oklahoma had five Sooners featured on the list and there’s a decent argument that several more could have been included.

Caleb Williams among USA TODAY Sports’ top 10 contenders to win the Heisman Trophy in 2022

Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams was listed as one of the top-10 contenders for the 2022 Heisman Trophy by USA TODAY’s Paul Myerberg.

Alabama sophomore quarterback Bryce Young captured the Heisman Trophy after passing for 4,322 yards and 43 touchdowns. Young led the Crimson Tide to an SEC championship and a 12-1 season thus far.

He and Alabama will square off in one of the College Football Playoff’s semifinal games against Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31. Young will have the rare opportunity next season to join Ohio State running back Archie Griffin as the only two-time winners of the Heisman Trophy.

Oklahoma true freshman quarterback Caleb Williams will be a popular pick to capture college football’s coveted individual crown in 2022 as well. USA TODAY Sports listed Williams as one of the top 10 contenders to win the Heisman Trophy next season.

USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg wrote this about Williams’ chances.

Williams will enter next season with enormous name recognition after spending a few midseason weeks as the talk of college football. Being a household name may only get him so far. There are some major questions about the future of Oklahoma’s offense without coach Lincoln Riley and just how strong his supporting cast will be given the rash of transfers and lost verbal commitments since Riley left for Southern California. – Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

Of course, Oklahoma has since hired Brent Venables as its new head coach and announced Jeff Lebby as the Sooners’ offensive coordinator for next season.

Oklahoma wide receivers Jadon Haselwood and Theo Wease each entered their names into the transfer portal following Riley’s departure to USC. Tight end Austin Stogner did as well.

Haselwood is transferring to Arkansas, Stogner to South Carolina and Wease’s future is still uncertain.

Still, finding skill players to come join Lebby and Williams in Norman shouldn’t be a problem fans have much to worry about with.

Two other Big 12 players made Myerberg’s top-10 Heisman Trophy contenders list for the 2022 season. Texas running back Bijan Robinson and Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn.

Here’s what Myerberg wrote about the Longhorns’ Robinson.

Robinson was one of only a few bright spots during coach Steve Sarkisian’s miserable debut season. Whether the sophomore factors into the Heisman race depends on what sort of growth Texas and the offense makes during a crucial offseason. If Sarkisian can identify a permanent starting quarterback and take the next step in a roster rebuild, Robinson has the ability to run for 1,500 yards with another 500 as a receiver. – Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

Myerberg discussed Vaughn’s prospects, too.

Robinson may not be the best option at running back coming out of the Big 12, however. The one reliable piece of Kansas State’s offense in each of the last two seasons, Vaughn went over 1,000 rushing yards during the regular season and is leading the Wildcats in receptions for the second straight year. There’s a matter of getting his team into New Year’s Six consideration, but Vaughn’s numbers may speak for themselves. – Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma has seven Heisman Trophy winners in its program’s history: Billy Vessels in 1952; Steve Owens in 1969; Billy Sims in 1978; Jason White in 2003; Sam Bradford in 2008; Baker Mayfield in 2017; and Kyler Murray in 2018.

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