Tag: Danny Stutsman

Oklahoma Sooners hang on to beat Houston Cougars

Oklahoma Sooners hang on to beat Houston 16-12 behind a strong performance from the Sooners defense.

The Oklahoma Sooners dealt with a much different Houston Cougars team than the one that lost to UNLV last week.

Houston had a much better gameplan than last week to help support quarterback Donovan Smith. The Sooners were marred by miscommunication and inefficiency in the passing game, lack of a consistent run game. and an uncharacteristic lack of discipline. But they got enough breaks, and the defense made enough stops to come away with a 16-12 win over Houston.

The Oklahoma Sooners took advantage of a ball tipped by the Houston Cougars return man to get great field position after a rough first possession. On the very next play, Jackson Arnold found Brenen Thompson to put Oklahoma up 7-0.

Houston then went on a 12-play drive that spanned 8:25 but had to settle for a field goal on their second drive of the game.

On Oklahoma’s first drive of the second quarter, Jackson Arnold led the offense on an eight-play, 81-yard drive, culminating in a touchdown pass to tight end Jake Roberts.

And that’s where the highlights ended for an offense that struggled to move the ball with much consistency in the second half. The Sooners only had 110 total yards and averaged just 2.1 yards per carry after halftime.

The defense had a communication breakdown on the first drive of the second half, which led to Houston’s lone touchdown and cut the lead to 14-12. But the Sooners defense came up with the stop on the two-point conversion.

Oklahoma had an opportunity to ice the game with a long drive, but after getting to midfield, Houston’s defense stymied Oklahoma on first and second down run plays, and then [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] was sacked on third down.

Luke Elzinga buried Houston at the five-yard line with a great punt and on Houston’s first play from scrimmage, defensive tackle Gracen Halton came up with the play of the game, burying Stacy Sneed at the goalline and earning the safety for the Sooners.

Oklahoma had visions of running out the clock, but an unsportsmanlike penalty on Joshua Bates gave Houston a little more time for one final desperation drive. Houston made a few plays, but the Sooners defense got one more stop in the game to close out the win and move to 2-0.

The Sooners offense struggled throughout, recording just 249 yards of total offense, including zero points in the second half.

Jackson Arnold finished the night 19 of 32 for 174 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also carried the ball 11 times for 28 yards.

[autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] had nine receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown.

But this was a game that was about the defense. Though Houston was able to move the ball at times, Oklahoma’s defense held the Cougars to just 12 points and just five yards per play. OU held Houston to just 4 of 15 on third down and 1.7 yards per carry.

[autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] was an absolute monster for the defense, recording 15 total tackles, including 12 solo, and one for a loss. Robert Spears-Jennings came up big with five total tackles, a tackle for loss, and an interception in the second half that set up Oklahoma with great field position. Samuel Omosigho earned some extended playing time and came up with five total tackles and two tackles for loss.

Halton’s safety was the second tackle for loss he recorded in the game. [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] recorded two tackles and a sack.

The Oklahoma Sooners now hope to regroup and get ready for a Tulane team that took Kansas State to the brink of an upset on Saturday.

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Bauer Sharp answered the question at tight end for the Sooners

Bauer Sharp impressed in this first game as a Sooner. Can he step up in the passing game?

Coming into the 2024 season, the Oklahoma Sooners had some questions at the tight end position.

Two years ago, [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag] was one of the best players on the team, combining his ability as a receiver with his excellent blocking skills to have a very productive season. Though OU went just 6-7, the senior had a career year in his final collegiate season, catching 39 passes for 514 yards and seven touchdowns while opening up holes in the running game.

Last year, the Sooners expected similar contributions from [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag], who returned to Norman after a year in South Carolina. But the tight end production dipped, as Stogner caught just 17 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown. He also struggled to match Willis’ effectiveness as a blocker. Too often last season, it felt like OU was playing 10-on-11 when running the ball with a tight end in the game.

But that’s where Southeastern Louisiana tight end [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag] comes in. After serving as a game captain, he ended the night as OU’s leading receiver with 47 yards on five catches with a touchdown. He seemed to be the only option aside from Burks that could consistently create separation and catch the ball.

Though he came from an FCS school, Sharp looked the part of a Power Four tight end. He and [autotag]Jake Roberts[/autotag] got the initial snaps at tight end, with the latter serving in more of a blocking role. Sharp, who started the game, has been earning high praise since the spring, with one player in his corner being superstar senior linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag].

Sharp displayed sound chemistry with [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], often acting as a safety valve over the middle of the field for his quarterback as pressure closed in. With the struggles of the offensive line and the running game, he’ll be asked to provide more in the passing game, especially until the bigger names get healthy.

Of course, it’s only been one game. Maybe the running game will get on track in the next couple of weeks. Maybe the offensive line gets healthy and in sync. Maybe [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag], [autotag]J.J. Hester[/autotag] and the other depth options at wide receiver just had a rough night and will be just fine. Maybe [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] gets back to his pre-injury self much earlier than expected and [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] is able to stave off any other injuries. .

But in the meantime, Bauer Sharp will need to build on his strong first game in a Sooner uniform to take some of the load off of Arnold and [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag]. Oklahoma has a struggling Houston squad on the schedule next, before a sneaky non-conference game against Tulane. The Sooners need to use the next two weeks to find a rhythm and an identity running and throwing the ball in [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag]’s offense before the Tennessee Volunteers and conference play arrive on their doorstep on September 21st.

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SEC Network features Oklahoma in X-Men intro to 2024 season

The SEC Network released an X-Men styled animated intro to the 2024 season and an Oklahoma Sooners star was prominently featured.

The SEC is embarking on a new adventure in 2024, welcoming the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns to the conference. With the season kicking off, Oklahoma and Texas were featured in a video released by the SEC Network’s social media account on X formerly known as Twitter.

In a play on the 1990s animated “X-Men The Animated Series”, the SEC featured a number of teams, including the Red River Rivals.

[autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and Quinn Ewers can be seen flying the X-Wing, the jet that had stealth properties into SEC country. The video featured a number of players as X-Men.

  • Jalen Milroe, Alabama, as Cyclops.
  • Carson Beck, Georgia, as Storm.
  • Harold Perkins, LSU, as Wolverine.
  • Quinn Ewers, Texas, as Jubilee.
  • Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss, as Gambit.
  • Luther Burden, Missouri, as Nightcrawler.
  • James Pearce, Tennessee, as Magneto.
  • Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma, as The Beast.

https://twitter.com/SECNetwork/status/1829584490143809902

Danny Stutsman as The Beast is fitting, considering he matches a physical play style with an intelligence garnered from years of experience. The preseason All-SEC and All-American selection will lead the Oklahoma Sooners defense into the SEC as they hope to make a run at a conference title in year one in the league.

The Sooners open year one in the SEC Friday night at 6 p.m. CT against the Temple Owls. Their first SEC game comes in Norman on September 21.

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Where does Oklahoma land in the ‘JP Poll’ before Week 1?

The Sooners are days away from kicking off the 2024 season against the Temple Owls, but where do they land in the week 1 JP Poll rating system from Josh Pate?

The Oklahoma Sooners have almost made it through another long offseason. They’ll kick off the regular season on Friday night against Temple, when the Owls come to Norman for a 6 p.m. game on ESPN.

OU is ranked No. 16 in both the US LBM Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25 to begin the 2024 season. The Sooners were picked to finish eighth in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag] by the SEC media. However, one college football expert has [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ team a bit higher in his power ratings.

247Sports’ Josh Pate, the host of “Josh Pate’s College Football Show” unveiled his “JP Poll” power ratings as we head into Week 1 of the college football season, which begins Thursday evening. The Sooners ranked No. 12, the seventh-highest mark in the SEC.

Pate clarifies that his model is not a ranking, rather that it is a power rating as to which teams would win on a neutral field right now. The JP Poll always has some curious inclusions and omissions, but clearly his model is high on OU.

The Sooners return a bevy of talent and production on defense, led by [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag]. Offensively, new starting quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] will have plenty of weapons at his disposal, led by running back [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and wide receivers [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag].

As the Sooners enter the SEC, head coach Brent Venables has done an excellent job of building up the roster, but this season will be telling in Norman, as OU faces a brutal season in their inguaral season in the conference.

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Oklahoma Sooners announce captains for week one vs. Temple

Oklahoma names Jackson Arnold, Billy Bowman, Danny Stutsman, and Bauer Sharp captains for week one vs. Temple.

The first game week of the season is at hand and the Oklahoma Sooners have announced their first set of captains for their week on matchup vs. Temple.

The Sooners select captains for each game during the regular season and then will select season captains when they get to the postseason.

Leading the Sooners into the game against Temple and into 2024 are the guys you’d expect to get a captain nod. Quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], and safety [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] represented the Sooners at SEC Media Days in July. They’ll be joined by transfer tight end [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag], who has impressed this offseason with his work ethic, attitude, and physicality.

Stutsman and Bowman are going into their fourth season with the Sooners. They were a part of Lincoln Riley’s final recruiting class in Norman but have become two of the most valuable pieces of the first three years of the Brent Venables era.

Stutsman and Bowman turned down an opportunity to go to the NFL for one more year at Oklahoma and a swim through the SEC. SEC media and coaches have taken note of the development of Oklahoma’s defensive stars, voting the dynamic duo to the preseason All-SEC first team.

They’ll be relied upon as the Sooners enter the SEC. Their experience and playmaking ability is a part of what has so many optimistic about the potential of Oklahoma’s defense in 2024.

Arnold is entering his first year as a starter. The former five-star prospect and Gatorade National Player of the Year has all the tools to be one of the next great quarterbacks to wear the crimson and cream. Venables has praised Arnold’s leadership and work ethic this offseason as the Denton Guyer product takes over for [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag].

More: Takeaways from Oklahoma’s official 2024 depth chart release

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Where does Oklahoma land in ESPN’s tier rankings?

Oklahoma has their work cut out for them in 2024 with a touch schedule.

The 2024 college football season is underway. Week Zero served up an appetizer platter on Saturday before Week 1 has wall-to-wall football from Thursday to Monday on Labor Day weekend.

With less than a week before the Oklahoma Sooners begin their season, the anticipation is palpable for the first season in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Third-year head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] thinks he has OU ready to excel on defense, and he hopes the offense can show out as well.

Nationally, the Sooners were ranked No. 16 by both the US LBM Coaches Poll and the Associated Press to begin the season. That number should rise with No. 10 Florida State‘s upset loss against Georgia Tech to open up the college football season. OU was picked to finish eighth in the SEC media poll.

ESPN took on the challenge of ranking all 134 FBS teams into 24 different tiers (ESPN+) before most schools kick off the year.

Oklahoma landed in Tier 4, with ESPN staff writer David Hale saying that either a berth in the [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag] or a 7-5 record is possible. The Sooners were grouped with Arizona, Kansas State, Missouri, Tennessee, and Utah. A total of five SEC teams were placed in the three tiers above the Sooners, Tigers, and Volunteers.

Consider Oklahoma’s 2023 season. A 10-win campaign. A win over a playoff team. One loss came on a touchdown with less than a minute to play. The other, by three, when the offense was stuffed on a fourth-down try at midfield. The Sooners were ranked ninth in the final FPI and were top 10 in offensive and defensive efficiency. Now consider that Oklahoma returns 86% of its defensive snaps from last season and will feature a former five-star recruit at QB. Why is it, exactly, that so many folks seem to think Oklahoma is in for a tough transition to the SEC? – David Hale, ESPN

Hale would go on to take an overview of the strength of the SEC, stating that nine teams in the league have legitimate playoff aspirations. Each of those nine teams is inside the top 16 of ESPN’s SP+ rating, meaning one of those teams could likely finish in ninth in its own league, but among the top 25 best teams in the nation. Teams in the SEC that normally have very high expectations may have to settle for feeling lucky to make a bowl game, which doesn’t mean the team wasn’t good. That’s how strong the conference is. The toughest conference in the sport got even more difficult when Oklahoma and Texas joined.

“The bottom line is that some SEC fanbases that have long viewed eight wins as a failure might now be living in a world where it’s a best-case scenario,” Hale said.

That reality will likely happen to at least one of the top teams in the SEC. The Sooners have to do their best to make sure it’s not them. With [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] returning to lead the defense and [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] stepping into the spotlight on offense, the expectations are high once again in Norman, even with the brutal realities of their new conference.

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Coaches vote Sooners defensive stars to All-SEC first team

Billy Bowman and Danny Stutsman voted to the Coaches preseason All-SEC first-team.

The Oklahoma Sooners may have a lot to prove as a team heading into the SEC, but there are a pair of Sooners defenders getting a ton of respect heading into their senior season.

Senior linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and senior safety [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] were selected to the All-SEC first team by the league’s coaches. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players. They were the only players voted to any of the three All-SEC teams.

Bowman showed out as one of the best safeties in the game in 2023. He recorded six interceptions, including three returns for touchdowns. Bowman also had 63 total tackles and four passes defended. He set program highs in interceptions, interception yardage, and interceptions returned for a touchdown.

Stutsman led the Sooners with 106 tackles and 16 tackles for loss in a breakout year of his own.

Both players had the opportunity to go to the NFL and would have likely been taken in the top 100 of the 2024 NFL draft. However, the two defensive leaders opted for one more year of development and to make a run through the SEC before heading off to the NFL.

The Oklahoma Sooners defense is on a strong trajectory heading into the 2024 season, but nothing will be given to them. Getting Stutsman and Bowman back for one more year provides the Sooners with front-line talent to go along with what [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] have been building through the transfer portal and on the recruiting trail.

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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 duo makes AP preseason All-American team

OU will be lead on defense by two returning seniors who came back to show their stuff in the SEC.

The Oklahoma Sooners enter the [autotag]SEC[/autotag] in 2024, and OU fans are as excited about the defensive side of the ball as they’ve been in a long time. Under third-year head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag], that unit looks capable of playing up to the standard in Norman.

Star power and veteran leadership are certainly part of the reason why. Linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and safety [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] both could have gone pro this past winter, but opted instead to stay in school and help lead the Sooners into the SEC. The seniors have already received plenty of offseason recognition, but as the season draws closer, they were recognized again on Monday.

Both players were named to the preseason Associated Press All-America team that was released less than a week before Week Zero marks the beginning of the college football season. Both Stutsman and Bowman made the second team-defense on AP’s team.

Stutsman was 15th in the nation in tackles for loss last season, averaging 1.3 per game. He was Oklahoma’s lifeblood, the team’s leader and tallied over 100 tackles for the second straight year. He was joined at the linebacker position on the second team by Oklahoma State’s Nick Martin and Old Dominion’s Jason Henderson.

Bowman was a nightmare in the secondary for opposing offensive coordinators. Three pick-six touchdowns accompanied his six total interceptions last year, making him one of the most dangerous defensive backs in all of college football. He was joined at the safety position on the second team by Dillon Thieneman of Purdue.

The duo was also named finalists for the Nagurski and Bednarik Trophies.

Stutsman and Bowman give Venables and new defensive coordinator [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] plenty of experience and talent at two important spots on the defense as the Sooners move into the SEC. Their returns meant that Oklahoma didn’t have to reload on the defensive side of the ball and they have a chance to take another step forward in 2024.

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Where did Oklahoma Sooners land on CBS Sports’ top 151 players in college football?

Where did Oklahoma Sooners stars land among CBS Sports top 151 players for the 2024 college football season?

The Oklahoma Sooners have increased the talent on the roster during each year of the Brent Venables era. It’s not that it wasn’t a talented team under Lincoln Riley. It was. But what Venables has done with a more holistic recruiting approach has created a roster far more capable of playing complementary football.

As we approach the 2024 college football season, all eyes are on Oklahoma as it makes its way into the SEC. Much of the concerns about the Sooners’ potential in 2024 falls on the offensive side of the ball, which is a far cry from what this team has been over the last decade.

Typically, analysts have wondered if the defense would be good enough for the Sooners to contend. While the questions on offense are warranted, the Sooners have a defense that can help mitigate some of those concerns if they can live up to expectations.

Blake Brockermeyer of CBS Sports released his top 151 players entering the 2024 season. Six Sooners made the list, including four from the defensive side of the ball, signaling a shift in what this team is about under Venables.

Here’s a look at the Sooners who made the top 151.

28. Danny Stutsman, LB

[autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] returning for the 2024 season was a monumental moment of the Oklahoma Sooners offseason. He sets the tone for everything the Sooners want to be about on the field. Confidence, toughness, physicality, and a defensive mindset. He was missed in the Sooners’ two regular-season losses last year. Stutsman believes there’s unfinished business for the Sooners and hopes to have OU in contention this season.

Stutsman flirted with going to the NFL but will be back and looking to improve even further on a very productive season: 100 tackles, 16 TFLs, three sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. He’s perfect for Brent Venables. Stutsman is an excellent box backer who has the ability to roam sideline to sideline and is solid in coverage, only allowing 21 catches for 242 yards. Oklahoma is glad to have him ahead of a brutal SEC schedule. – Brockermeyer, CBS Sports

68. Deion Burks, WR

[autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] has a chance to put together a phenomenal season. The Sooners are going to get the former Purdue wide receiver the ball in a variety of ways to maximize his game-breaking speed and ability to make plays in space.

The explosive slot receiver turned a ton of heads this spring after transferring from Purdue. His spring breakout comes as no surprise if you’re a Purdue fan. Burks is a weapon with excellent speed and the ability to create space and hit the home run. – Brockermeyer, CBS Sports

Up Next: A pair of Veteran Defenders

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