Tag: Danny Stutsman

3 Oklahoma Sooners make ESPN’s true freshman All-America team

Quarterback Caleb Williams, wide receiver Mario Williams and linebacker Danny Stutsman all made ESPN’s true freshman All-America team.

Three Oklahoma players made the cut on ESPN’s true freshman All-America team. Here’s a look at who those players were and what ESPN’s analysts had to say about each.

Caleb Williams, quarterback

It’s no surprise. Williams has to be included in any list honoring true freshman in the 2021 season.

The Washington, D.C., native finished his regular season passing for 1,670 yards and 18 touchdowns against just four interceptions.

In the Sooners’ most recent game against Oklahoma State, Williams finished with 252 passing yards and three touchdowns. He also flashed his dual-threat ability again, racing 56 yards in the game’s final minute before OU was stopped on downs.

Williams recorded touchdown runs of 66, 41, 40 and 74 yards against Texas, TCU, Kansas and Iowa State, respectively.

ESPN’s Tom Luginbill wrote this about Williams.

Williams beat out a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate midway through the season, and while he was inconsistent at times, his overall level of play at a marquee position was fantastic. He can beat defenses with his arm or legs, is very dynamic and has amazing leadership qualities. Williams has an extremely bright future in Norman. – Luginbill, ESPN

ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren had this to say about Williams’ play in his first season starting.

Williams replaced then-starter Spencer Rattler early in the season and never looked back. He finished the season with 1,670 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also had 408 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Rattler has since entered the transfer portal, and Williams is the starter going forward. – VanHaaren, ESPN

After Lincoln Riley’s departure to become USC’s head coach, there’s been plenty of speculation about whether or not Williams will in fact be the Sooners’ starting quarterback in the future.

There’s no update yet on what Williams’ future plans are, but he’s shown he can be a star in college football and Oklahoma’s immediate future under new head coach Brent Venables shines brighter if Williams elects to stay in Norman.

Mario Williams, wide receiver

Mario Williams finished his true freshman season with 347 receiving yards on 33 receptions and four touchdown grabs. The Tampa, Fla., product entered Oklahoma as a four-star recruit and his inaugural season has not disappointed.

The 5-foot-9, 186 pound wide receiver had his best performance of the season against Texas Tech. Williams pulled in five receptions for 100 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown grab versus the Red Raiders.

Luginbill reflected on Williams’ first season in Norman.

Though his projection dipped the last few games, Williams lived up to our preseason selection and projection. His intangibles have played the biggest role in his early success. He was fourth on the team in receptions and is effective underneath, thanks to excellent awareness as a route runner and quickness after the catch. – Luginbill, ESPN

Danny Stutsman, linebacker

Danny Stutsman played in nine of the Sooners’ 12 games this season and finished the regular season with the 11th-most tackles on the team. The 6-foot-3, 229 pound linebacker registered 31 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack and a pair of forced fumbles.

The Windermere, Fla., linebacker figures to be a big part of Oklahoma’s future defensively under new head coach Brent Venables.

Luginbill broke down what he saw from Stutsman during his freshman season.

The former three-star prospect was a strong contributor for the Sooners despite battling through an injury. Stutsman has shown strong instincts and good range in sideline-to-sideline production. – Luginbill, ESPN

Stutsman has also become a fan favorite and social media phenom off the gridiron for Oklahoma.

With Asamoah opting out of the Valero Alamo Bowl, Stutsman might earn his first start at Oklahoma.

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9 Oklahoma Sooners named to All-Big 12 teams

Jeremiah Hall and Michael Turk earned All-Big 12 First Team honors, while seven other Sooners earned All-Big 12 Second Team recognition.

Tight end/H-back Jeremiah Hall and punter Michael Turk earned All-Big 12 First Team honors, while seven other Oklahoma Sooners were recognized on the All-Big 12 Second Team.

Hall finished the 2021 regular season with 30 receptions for 320 yards with four receiving touchdowns. The Charlotte, N.C., native also had a rushing touchdown against Kansas State.

Turk averaged 51.3 yards per punt and downed 15 of his 33 punts inside the 20-yard-line. Nineteen of Turk’s 33 punts traveled at least 50 yards and eight went for at least 60 yards. Turk recorded five of the top 14 single-game punting averages in Oklahoma history, including the best and third-best marks against TCU (59.7) and Texas (58.0).

Linebacker Brian Asamoah, outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, kicker Gabe Brkic, offensive lineman Marquis Hayes, defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas, safety Delarrin Turner-Yell and defensive lineman Perrion Winfrey represented the seven OU players chosen to the All-Big 12 Second Team.

Asamoah leads the Sooners with 89 tackles and has recorded four tackles for loss to go along with one sack.

Bonitto has recorded 39 tackles and owns the Sooners’ team-lead with 15 tackles for loss. The redshirt junior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., also has seven sacks.

Brkic has connected on 18-of-24 field goal tries, including five from 50-plus yards with a pair from 56 yards out against Tulane and Western Carolina.

Hayes helped anchor an Oklahoma offense that averaged a Big 12 best 38.4 points per game and has started all 36 games in which he has played over the past three seasons.

Thomas ended his regular season by leading Oklahoma in sacks with eight. The Tulsa native also has 11.5 tackles for loss and 38 tackles overall.

Turner-Yell had a team-high three interceptions. He also recorded 47 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Winfrey was the final All-Big 12 Second Team selection from Oklahoma. The Maywood, Ill., product has 11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and notched a pair of quarterback hurries.

Safety Pat Fields, defensive back Key Lawrence, wide receiver Marvin Mims, offensive lineman Chris Murray, offensive lineman Tyrese Robinson, wide receiver Drake Stoops, linebacker Danny Stutsman, quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Michael Woods earned honorable mention recognition.

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Best Pro Football Focus Grades from Oklahoma’s win over Texas Tech

How did Pro Football Focus grade the Oklahoma Sooners in their 52-21 win over Texas Tech?

With their win on Saturday, the Oklahoma Sooners moved to 9-0 on the season and are well situated to make their annual “Championship November” run to the Big 12 championship.

With their toughest games on the schedule still to be played, Oklahoma will need to come out of the bye ready to play their best football of the season. If their performance vs. Texas Tech was any indication, they might be on the verge of streaking into December, a trip to Arlington, and hopefully a chance at the national title in the College Football Playoff.

The Sooners played a complete game in their 52-21 win over the Red Raiders and received standout performances from several players on both sides of the football.

Like we do each week, let’s take a look at how Pro Football Focus graded the Oklahoma Sooners in the win.

7 Bold Predictions for the Oklahoma Sooners matchup with the Kansas Jayhawks

As the Oklahoma Sooners look to extend their 16-game winning streak over the Kansas Jayhawks, here are 7 Bold Predictions for Saturday.

Heading into the Oklahoma Sooners matchup with the Kansas Jayhawks, the most important question has been answered. The Sooners know who they’re quarterback is and based on the way Caleb Williams has played in his first extended run leading the way for Oklahoma, it’s unlikely he’ll cede that spot anytime soon.

That said, there are still questions for Oklahoma as they work through the 2021 season.

With injuries in the secondary and an unknown timetable for the return of Woodi Washington and Delarrin Turner-Yell, someone will need to answer the bell as defensive playmaker for the Sooners.

Offensively things have gone as well as can be expected the last two weeks as Caleb Williams has helped Oklahoma rediscover its big-play ability.

As the Sooners get set to take one the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kansas this Saturday, let’s take a look at 7 Bold Predictions for this week’s game.

3 Sooners land on ESPN’s midseason All-True Freshman Team

Just after the midway point of the season, 3 Oklahoma Sooners land on ESPN’s midseason all-true freshman team.

Jumping out to a 7-0 record in 2021 hasn’t been an easy task for the Oklahoma Sooners. Five of their wins have come in one-score games. They’ve won defensive battles (Nebraska and West Virginia), held on to win (Tulane), won a back and forth matchup with Kansas State, before winning in comeback fashion against Texas. Their win over TCU wasn’t their largest point differential, but it is the most convincing win on the Oklahoma Sooners resume through the first five games of 2021.

At times it’s taken a total team effort and has required several true freshmen to step up and contribute, possibly before anyone expected.

Just after the midway point of 2021, ESPN’s Tom Luginbill and Tom VanHarren selected their all-true freshman team for the first half of the season. Oklahoma had three players selected to the squad.

Let’s take a look at who makes the team.

Up Next: A possible Heisman contender?

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4 defensive players to watch as Oklahoma takes on TCU

Oklahoma is in need of a bounce back defensive performance and to get it, these four Sooners are vital against TCU.

While the offense continues to find itself and find its quarterback, the Oklahoma Sooners defense will have to continue to show up. After a very poor performance in the first half of the Sooners win against the Texas Longhorns, Speed D found its footing and was absolutely lights out in the second half to hold up their end of the bargain in the team’s improbable comeback effort.

Timely stops, better coverage, and better tackling all led to better results in the second half of the Sooners’ win.

Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch will be hoping they can carry that second-half finish with them as they return home.

They now turn their attention to TCU, who’s offense has been pretty good in 2021.

They are led by Max Duggan and lining up in the backfield with him is former five-star running back Zach Evans and another solid running back in Kendre Miller. Out wide Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis, and Taye Barber are their main threats.

Who are the key Oklahoma defenders in this match-up? Here are four Sooners that are vital to Oklahoma’s chances of slowing down the Horned Frogs offense on Saturday night.

Up Next: It all Starts Upfront

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What can the Oklahoma Sooners do to defend Texas running back Bijan Robinson?

Slowing Texas running back Bijan Robinson is priority No. 1 for the Oklahoma Sooners. What will it take from the Sooners defense to limit his impact?

Oklahoma entered last week trying to solve a Deuce Vaughn problem. It emerged victorious, but it would be a stretch to stay the Sooners solved the Kansas State running back. If they thought that was hard, they’re going to hate what they have to do this weekend when they travel to Dallas, Texas, to take on the Texas Longhorns.

The Red River Rivalry has featured some amazing talents and this next iteration proves no different. The Longhorns no longer are dependent on quarterback Sam Ehlinger to throw and run them to wins. Instead, they have an offense centered around Bijan Robinson, a sophomore running back from Tucson, Arizona.

Robinson, a former five-star recruit, is quite the player. He can lower his pads and get the tough yards between the tackles. He can run the outside zone and stretch plays and beat you to the corner. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, too. Simply put, he can do it all.

He’s north of six feet and more than 200 pounds. A stark difference to Deuce Vaughn, who stood at 5 feet, 6 inches and less than 185 pounds. Robinson offers a different challenge.

Oklahoma’s efforts to stop Robinson will start with the interior defensive line. Without the versatile Jalen Redmond, the Sooners will have to rely upon Isaiah Coe, Josh Ellison and LaRon Stokes. All three have played quite a bit of football and have been a part of this game multiple times.

Challenging them will be a Texas offensive line that has struggled with protections and had to shuffle some new players in after losing Denzel Okafor to a season-ending lower leg injury. Oklahoma’s veteran front will have to impose its will. Expect the rotation of bodies to continue as Alex Grinch’s “Speed D” relies on max effort on every play. Pass protection and consistency sustaining run blocks have been issues as Texas has shuffled its offensive line in the absence of Okafor.

Texas will double Perrion Winfrey and hope it’s enough to spring Robinson into the second level. Awaiting him will be linebackers Brian Asamoah, DaShaun White, David Ugwoegbu, Shane Whitter and maybe Danny Stutsman. These linebackers have looked much better playing downhill and filling gaps in the run game than in pass coverage. However, filling the gaps is one thing. Tackling is another. Robinson will not go down via arm tackling or getting caught flat-footed as they did against Vaughn in space. Contact, wrap up and finish. A team effort. Robinson led the NCAA in missed tackles forced in Week 5 and leads all of the Football Bowl Subdivision this season in missed tackles forced.

DaShaun White or Shane Whitter on tape looks like Oklahoma’s better coverage linebackers. In man coverage, they’ll likely be tasked to follow Robinson on outs, wheels, or the “Texas” route.

Robinson will get his touches whether Texas is winning or losing. He’s their best offensive player. Making Robinson accept tough yards and not giving the chunk plays is where Oklahoma should focus their efforts. If the Sooners cannot contain Robinson, there’s a real chance that Texas walks out the victors.

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Lincoln Riley updates injury situation on several Sooners ahead of Kansas State matchup

As the Oklahoma Sooners get set to play the Kansas State Wildcats on Saturday, Lincoln Riley provided an injury update on several Sooners.

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The Oklahoma Sooners made it through their win against West Virginia relatively unscathed. Delarrin Turner-Yell was a major loss from the game after his leg was landed on inadvertently by a West Virginia player. Key Lawrence would come in and provided a solid performance in this stead, but facing recent nemesis Kansas State, the Sooners could use their veteran safety.

Speaking with the media on Tuesday, Lincoln Riley said that Turner-Yell should be back for their trip to Manhattan this Saturday. The Sooners’ safety had an impressive interception against West Virginia that helped set the tone for the Sooners’ defense after giving up a touchdown on the Mountaineers’ first drive of the game.

Riley also said that linebacker Danny Stutsman is a game-time decision for their matchup with Kansas State. Stutsman injured his elbow in the blowout of Western Carolina but otherwise had been playing really good football in his first couple of games with the Sooners. Though the linebacker unit is playing well for Oklahoma, Stutsman’s energy and speed off the bench could prove useful to slowing down Kansas State’s read-option game and running back Deuce Vaughn.

Cody Jackson, who has been a real bright spot in the passing game as a depth option in the wide receiver rotation won’t play against Kansas State due to an undisclosed “medical issue.”

Woodi Washington is still out of action as is Jalen Redmond. As of last week, both were expected to miss significant time.

The Sooners’ depth across the board continues to be a real strength for them as they’ve had to rely upon it this season with several players forced to miss time in a game or games altogether. They’ll need their depth to continue to perform well with a tough matchup against the Kansas State Wildcats on the horizon.

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Lincoln Riley provides injury updates ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Nebraska

The Oklahoma Sooners may be without a couple of key starters on defense heading into week three against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Heading into the 50th anniversary of the “Game of the Century,” the Oklahoma Sooners are riding high after a 76-0 throttling of Western Carolina, where everything was going their way. Unfortunately, they’ll also be riding without wide receiver Brian Darby who has already been ruled out for this week’s game with Nebraska and could be without starting cornerback Woodi Washington, who Lincoln Riley listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game.

Billy Bowman and Danny Stutsman were the other notable injuries from Saturday’s win, but no specific update was given on those players. Lincoln Riley did mention several other players were questionable but didn’t mention anyone by name.

Latrell McCutchin, who made his first start last week against Western Carolina, looks to be in line for another start this week against Nebraska. At slot corner, more of Jeremiah Criddell should be expected if Billy Bowman is unable to play.

Brian Darby wasn’t high on the wide receiver depth chart, but he’s figured into each of the first two wins for the Sooners and has totaled four receptions for 42 yards through two games.

Stutsman was one of the standout defensive players from the shutout win in week two and figured to earn more opportunities, but if he’s unable to play, look for Shane Whitter to get some opportunities in his stead.

Cody Jackson worked with the starters in the second quarter, turned three receptions into 31 yards receiving, and helped set up one of the Sooners’ scores late in the second quarter.

In week three, the Oklahoma Sooners’ depth will be tested if they’re forced to play without Woodi Washington or Billy Bowman against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. But every team has to deal with injuries, and it will be interesting to see if the Sooners experience any drop-off without arguably their best cornerback in Woodi Washington.

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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Sooners 76-0 win over WCU

The Oklahoma Sooners dominated the Western Carolina Catamounts in week two and here’s The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from the 76-0 win.

The Oklahoma Sooners did exactly what they were supposed to against a vastly inferior opponent in Western Carolina. They got out to a huge lead and dominated the Catamounts from start to finish.

The Sooners got a chance to play a lot of their younger players and get them valuable in-game repetitions. Those players rewarded the coaching staff with a dominant effort from start to finish.

Let’s take a look back at The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Sooners 76-0 week two win over the Catamounts.

The Good: Scoring Touchdowns

After settling for five field goals in their narrow win over Tulane in week one, the Oklahoma Sooners only kicked two field goals in their 76-0 win over the Western Carolina Catamounts.

They were 9 for 9 in the red zone during the game and Spencer Rattler led them on seven touchdown drives in the first half and each ended with a red zone touchdown.

While last week, the Sooners struggled to finish drives and finish the game, albeit against a much better Tulane team, OU accomplished both of those feats throughout this week two matchup. Excluding the kneel down at the end of the first half, the Sooners scored touchdowns on 10 of their 13 drives. They kicked just two field goals and punted once.

Against Tulane, they scored touchdowns on just four of their 11 drives, again, excluding the final drive before halftime and the drive where they were simply trying to run out the clock at the end of the game.

As the competition steps up with Nebraska coming to Norman followed by the start of Big 12 conference play, the Sooners can’t afford to settle for five field goals like they did against Tulane. If they can be as efficient at scoring touchdowns as they were on Saturday, they’ll have a great shot at going undefeated.

Next: The Bad.

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