Tag: Brian Asamoah

Oklahoma projected to have the best Linebacker unit in the Big 12 in 2022 by Bleacher Report

Led by DaShaun White, Oklahoma’s linebacker corp was picked to be the best in the Big 12 in 2022 by Bleacher Report.

Much is going to look different for an Oklahoma Sooners defense that was supposed to be the best unit they’d deploy under former defensive coordinator Alex Grinch.

A lot of the defensive front that helped produce sacks and tackles for loss is gone to the NFL, and so is [autotag]Brian Asamoah[/autotag], the linebacker that led the Sooners in tackles in 2021. While they’ve experienced a bunch of turnover, one spot where they have good experienced depth is at linebacker with the return of [autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag], [autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag], [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], and [autotag]Shane Whitter[/autotag]. That was already a solid unit with the chance to be Oklahoma’s best defensive group, and then they added [autotag]T.D. Roof[/autotag] in the transfer portal and a good young trio of linebackers in the 2022 recruiting class with [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag], [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag], and [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag].

But even with the talent and the depth that the Sooners have at linebacker, potentially the most important addition to the linebacker group was head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag].

Venables’ experience at the position, tenacity, and drive will bring out the best versions of the returning Oklahoma Sooners. With Venables and the experience returning at the position, the Oklahoma Sooners were picked by David Kenyon of Bleacher Report to be the best linebacker unit in the Big 12 for the 2022 season.

Most importantly, Oklahoma has the players. DaShaun White notched 61 tackles last season, while David Ugwoegbu made 48 stops. Danny Stutsman added 38 in his injury-shortened year, and Shane Whitter contributed 27 more as a rotational player. For good measure, Appalachian State transfer T.D. Roof brings four seasons of experience and recorded 68 tackles last year. Similar to Cincinnati, the head coach is another positive. Brent Venables played linebacker in college and has coached the position for nearly three decades, building a reputation for strong development that figures to continue in Norman. – Kenyon, Bleacher Report

Much of the optimism surrounding the Oklahoma Sooners on defense stems from the addition of Brent Venables and what he’s been able to accomplish as a defensive coordinator for more than two decades. Venables was a part of three national championship-winning teams and played for several more because of the defensive prowess he brought to the field.

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Former Sooner Brian Asamoah named Vikings ‘Surprise offseason standout’ by ESPN

Brian Asamoah named Minnesota’s “surprise offseason standout” after strong minicamp.

Brian Asamoah’s time at OU can be summed up in five words: “man, that guy is fast.” The speedy linebacker was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings and has already gotten some attention.

Unsurprisingly, Asamoah’s speed is what’s getting the former Sooner a bit of buzz. During Minnesota’s mandatory minicamp, Asamoah shined during non-contact drills.

ESPN picked one surprise offseason standout from each NFL team and Asamoah was chosen to represent the Vikings in this article.

There isn’t much said here, but this blurb is pretty on brand for Asamoah and his game.

Asamoah’s sideline-to-sideline speed was plainly evident in non-contact practices, as was his confidence. He joked with an assistant coach that he wanted $5 every time he ran past someone. “I’m a rich man now,” he said, “because I keep passing them.” – Kevin Seifert, ESPN

Any article written about Asamoah during his time in Norman will mention his speed. He will be a force against the run, and in a division with Aaron Jones and David Montgomery in it, that’s a very good thing for the Vikings.

Of the teams ESPN has gone through so far for this list, Asamoah is the only 2022 Sooners draft pick on it to this point. That’s nothing to be concerned about for Sooners fans, or anything like that. Asamoah’s speed and athleticism are just that good.

It’s just non-contact so far, so we will have to wait and see if Asamoah and his fellow rookies can truly make the jump to the next level.

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LB Brian Asamoah signs rookie contract with Vikings

Asamoah is locked into his first NFL contract

The Minnesota Vikings have locked up their seventh rookie from their 2022 NFL draft class with the announced signing of linebacker Brian Asamoah.

According to the Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson, it’s a four-year, $5.49 million deal with a $1.17 million signing bonus for the third-round pick out of the University of Oklahoma.

Even in his first year on the team, Asamoah will be an intriguing option for the Vikings behind Eric Kendricks and Jordan Hicks. The 22-year-old defensive player is chiseled physically like a Marvel superhero, and he lives up to the look on the football field with a perfect blend of power and athleticism.

He’s exactly the kind of player the Vikings had in mind when bringing in Ed Donatell to help reshape the defense.

It won’t be easy to get on the field right away with so much veteran talent at the linebacker position.

But assuming Asamoah’s development goes according to plan, he’ll be in a position to take on a more prominent role in the defense in the coming years with both Kendricks and Hicks slated to be 30 years old this season.

The Vikings can now turn their attention towards signing their last three remaining rookie draft picks Andrew Booth Jr., Akayleb Evans and Ed Ingram.

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Former Sooner DL Perrion Winfrey sounds off on Alex Grinch via social media

The former Sooners DL took to Twitter to share his thoughts on former Oklahoma Sooners defensive coordinator Alex Grinch.

Former Oklahoma Sooners star defensive lineman Perrion Winfrey hasn’t been afraid of being vocal about his feelings towards the coaches that departed OU for USC last season. Former Sooners defensive coordinator Alex Grinch is perhaps at the top of Winfrey’s hit list.

Lincon Riley has notably been spared from Winfrey’s wrath, and I think I know why. While Riley is a phenomenal recruiter, he apparently doesn’t spend much time with the defensive players.

While there are many former and current Sooners who will bash Riley, Winfrey doesn’t appear to be one of them. His target for now seems to be Alex Grinch. These tweets went out on Saturday afternoon.

Firstly, yes these are hilarious. Winfrey definitely has a future in trolling his opponents on social media, I’ll give him that.

Here’s what I think:

Winfrey is a very talented football player, and he thinks that Alex Grinch held him back during their time together at OU. While the “Speed D” has received praise in the past from players, It did seem to limit the larger players such as Winfrey during Grinch’s tenure.

In case you’re curious, this is what Winfrey had to say back in November about Lincoln Riley:

The much-experienced Joe Woods is the current DC for the Cleveland Browns and will be the coach tasked with unlocking Winfrey’s potential at the NFL level.

It would’ve been interesting to see how the stocks of Winfrey, Brian Asamoah and Nik Bonitto could’ve been affected by new head coach Brent Venables and his new scheme on defense. Perhaps another year in Norman would’ve benefited all three of them on draft board, but I digress.

Who does Athlon Sports believe to be the favorites in the Big 12 heading into 2022?

Three out of four Athlon Sports analysts believe the Oklahoma Sooners to be the favorites in the Big 12 in 2022.

After a spring that left many observers feeling positive about the Sooners, Oklahoma has emerged once again as the favorites to win the Big 12. Not really a surprise considering they’ve won the conference more than anyone since its inception. Even after they depart for the SEC, it will take decades for anyone to match the 14 conference titles Oklahoma has won since 1996.

Oklahoma has as many conference titles as the other eight teams to win the Big 12. Remove Texas A&M, Colorado, and Nebraska who left in the last round of realignment and the Sooners have four more conference championships than the nine remaining members of the Big 12 combined.

Three out of four analysts over at Athlon Sports picked the Oklahoma Sooners as the favorites to win the Big 12. Here’s what Allen Kenney had to say about the Sooners. Allen Kenney, Ben Weinrib, and Mark Ross feel good about the Oklahoma Sooners’ chances of winning the conference in 2022.

The confidence they have in a team that lost a ton this offseason comes from their confidence in Brent Venables as a football coach and Dillon Gabriel at quarterback. Here’s a snippet of what Weinrib had to say about the Sooners.

Brent Venables was about as strong of a hire as the Sooners could have hoped for, as he’s intimately familiar with the program. And for all that the team lost through the transfer portal, they did bring in potentially the best quarterback in the conference in Dillon Gabriel. – Weinrib, Athlon Sports

In addition to their new quarterback and their new head coach reinvigorating a program that was “close” but seemingly drifting further from national title contention, the schedule plays out in the Sooners’ favor in 2022.

OU also has a favorable schedule in ’22 that will bring Baylor, Kansas State and Oklahoma State to Norman. It all points to a spot in the conference championship game for the Sooners, at minimum. – Kenney, Athlon Sports

The lone dissenting opinion comes from Steve Lassan who thinks the Baylor Bears should be the favorites.

I could make a case for a couple of teams here, but at the end of spring practice, I’d go Baylor over Oklahoma and Oklahoma State for the top spot. Texas and Kansas State are intriguing wild-card teams that could push for a trip to the conference title game if things break right. The Bears aren’t without concerns, however. Coach Dave Aranda’s team lost defensive standouts Terrel Bernard (LB) and Jalen Pitre (DB), while the offense lost its top three statistical receivers and running back Abram Smith. Also, Baylor had a plus-12 turnover margin and won four games by one score last season. Those numbers tend to hint at regression the next year. However, Oklahoma is in transition under its new staff, and Oklahoma State loses quite a bit of talent on defense and has a few gaps to fill up front and at the skill spots on offense. Texas doesn’t lack for talent, but can coach Steve Sarkisian find the right answers along the offensive line and on defense? This is a wide-open conference, and with uncertainty running high, I’ll trust Aranda to push the right buttons once again this year. – Lassan, Athlon Sports

While Oklahoma may be considered the favorites by many to win the Big 12, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and Texas will have their say in the conference title race as well. As Lassan points out, Baylor may experience some regression, but they’re still a good team and may have an upgraded quarterback situation going from Gerry Bohanon to Blake Shapen.

Oklahoma experienced a lot of turnover from a defense that wasn’t as good as it should have been in 2022. Namely, the losses of [autotag]Nik Bonitto[/autotag], [autotag]Isaiah Thomas[/autotag], [autotag]Perrion Winfrey[/autotag], [autotag]Brian Asamoah[/autotag], and [autotag]Delarrin Turner-Yell[/autotag], who will be playing on Sundays this fall. Throw in the transfer of [autotag]Pat Fields[/autotag] to Stanford and that’s a ton of experience and production out the door.

That’s not to say the Sooners can’t improve upon a defense that finished 76th in yards per game and 60th in points per game in 2022. If the potential is matched with production, the Sooners’ defense will be as good as any in the Big 12 this season.

Marcus Stripling, Ethan Downs, and Reggie Grimes will be tough to stop off the edge. Jalen Redmond will be a force in the middle. The Sooners still have a strong secondary with [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag] and [autotag]D.J. Graham[/autotag], [autotag]Key Lawrence[/autotag], and [autotag]Justin Broiles[/autotag] coming back. Throw in a scheme that won’t sit back and let quarterbacks get comfortable, and the Sooners’ defense should be able to answer all the questions in Venables’ first year in Norman.

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POLL: Which rookie will make biggest impact for Vikings in 2022?

Who will make the biggest impact right out of the gates?

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The Minnesota Vikings approached the 2022 NFL draft with the thought of winning right away.

They already signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a one-year extension, restructured a few contracts and brought in key veteran additions to the roster. The Vikings are basically a new coat of paint on the same car because they’re convinced they already have the foundation in place to compete for a Super Bowl.

Part of that belief stems from the hope that their incoming rookies are capable of stepping up and contributing right away. It’s everyone from first-round draft pick Lewis Cine to lauded undrafted rookie free agent Luiji Vilain.

First-year general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah finessed his way up and down the draft board to maximize the number of bites at the apple the Vikings had this season. In total, their actual draft class consists of 10 players, and they also agreed to deals with at least nine undrafted players in the immediate aftermath.

Which rookie will make the biggest impact for the Vikings in 2022?

We’ve listed the entire draft class and Vilain as the options above. But if there’s another undrafted rookie you think belongs here—like Gabe Brkic or Ryan Wright—let us know in the comments section here or on our Facebook and Twitter page.

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Sights and Sounds from Vikings rookie minicamp

The future arrived at the Vikings’ rookie minicamp

The rookies hit the NFL field for the first time at the Minnesota Vikings’ rookie minicamp last weekend.

Everyone from drafted players and undrafted free agent signings to invite-only players looking to be signed showed up at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center in Eagan for a series of workouts and drills.

The Vikings are dependent on a youth movement, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, to help end their three-year playoff drought. Players like safety Lewis Cine and cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. are hoping to play a big role for the team right out of the gates.

But there are possible surprise players in there as well like former Wake Forest edge rusher Luiji Vilain, who could be looked back on as one of the biggest undrafted free agent steals in 2022.

It’s all coming together for the Vikings, as they continue to put in the work preparing for kick-off in September. Here are a few of the sights and sounds from rookie minicamp.

Watch Brian Asamoah get dream face-to-face meeting with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

Those Ghanaian roots run deep.

Long before Brian Asamoah had his name called off the draft board—and even longer before he was in a Minnesota Vikings practice jersey at a rookie minicamp—he was hoping he’d have an opportunity to shake Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s hand.

“The first thing [Asamoah] said when I met him at his pro day was how much he was looking forward to meeting Kwesi. He’s from Ghana, and he just really wanted to shake his hand,” Vikings director of college scouting Mike Sholiton said at a media conference. “I think when the call finally came through, my first thought was Brian is going to get a chance to do more than shake Kwesi’s hand.”

A tearjerker of a phone conversation ensued between Adofo-Mensah and Asamoah after the Vikings used the No. 66 overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft to select the Oklahoma linebacker.

It all culminated into a face-to-face meeting on the football field to kick-start minicamp. Asamoah got a handshake, a hug and an opportunity to fulfill his dream of being a professional football player.

Dreams come true when you have the desire and put in the work to turn them into reality.

Adofo-Mensah’s long journey to being selected as the Vikings’ general manager is a testament to that point. And the same can be said about Asamoah, the kid from St. Francis DeSales that made it to the NFL.

Buckle up, this journey is going to be a fun one.

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Try not to cry when watching Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s draft day phone call to Brian Asamoah

Brian Asamoah gets two wishes granted: getting drafted and meeting Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

As is often the case, the NFL draft was full of many tearjerker moments. It’s an event honoring the realization of a dream for young men that have dedicated their entire lives to reaching football’s pinnacle.

For linebacker Brian Asamoah, it was made even more special when receiving a phone call from Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

In many ways, the draft selection almost felt like fate considering the conversation Asamoah had earlier with Vikings director of college scouting Mike Sholiton.

“The first thing [Asamoah] said when I met him at his pro day was how much he was looking forward to meeting Kwesi. He’s from Ghana, and he just really wanted to shake his hand,” Sholiton said at a media conference. “I think when the call finally came through, my first thought was Brian is going to get a chance to do more than shake Kwesi’s hand.”

You can hear the emotion welling up in Asamoah’s voice when Adofo-Mensah makes the phone call he’d been waiting for what probably felt like an eternity.

Adofo-Mensah said, “You know this one hits different, right? You ever think you’d be called by a guy named Kwesi for your NFL dream?”

“From one Ghanaian to another Ghanaian, man—let’s do it,” Asamoah responded.

The moment hits right in the feels.

Asamoah joins a Vikings linebacker room that already has Eric Kendricks and Jordan Hicks, but he is talented enough to push for reps on the field, even if it’s initially as a special-teamer.

There’s obviously the raw potential for him to be so much more, which is an added bonus with the Vikings’ aging, yet talented, linebacker corps.

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USA TODAY Sports NFL Wire sites said about Oklahoma Sooners and their new teams

Taking a look at what USA TODAY Sports NFL Wire sites had to say about each of the Oklahoma Sooners 2022 NFL draft picks.

The Oklahoma Sooners had a great draft weekend with seven players selected in the 2022 NFL draft. Though they didn’t have a first round pick, the seven selections are the most they’ve had since the 2019 NFL draft when eight Sooners were selected.

Nik Bonitto was the first player selected at No. 64 by the Denver Broncos. Joining him in the Mile High City is safety Delarrin Turner-Yell, who was taken in the fifth round at pick No. 152.

Brian Asamoah was the second-highest selection for the Sooners this year, coming off the board two picks after Bonitto at No. 64 to the Vikings.

The Cleveland Browns were also in the business of adding Oklahoma Sooners to the roster. They drafted three players in Perrion Winfrey, Isaiah Thomas, and Michael Woods. Winfrey was one of the biggest surprises, lasting until the fourth round. In the build-up to the draft, it was felt he was a second-round prospect.

Marquis Hayes, who was a steal for the Arizona Cardinals joins forces with Marquise Brown and Kyler Murray. Brown was sent to the Cardinals after a draft-night trade in the first round.

USATODAY Sports provides coverage for all 32 NFL teams in addition to the number of college sites like this one. Let’s look at what they had to say about the Oklahoma Sooners’ seven draft selections.