3 key Oklahoma Sooners vs. the Tennessee Volunteers

The Oklahoma Sooners and Tennessee Volunteers are set for a big-time matchup on Saturday night and these three players will be key to victory.

The stage is set Saturday for a terrific ball game between the No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers and the No. 13 Oklahoma Sooners.

The storylines are plentiful, with Josh Heupel’s return to Norman leading the way.

Oklahoma and Tennessee are in a spot where this game is the first serious test for either team this year. It also begins the conference slate for both squads.

Media and betting pundits have the Sooners as the underdog, with Tennessee the overwhelming favorite to win the game. With that in mind, which players will be the difference makers for Oklahoma and help them pull off the first major home upset for the Sooners since 2008 versus Texas Tech?

Danny Stutsman, LB

Picking [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] as a player to watch feels shallow, but there’s a specific reason. He is the team’s leader, and this is the season’s biggest game.

Tennessee’s running game is potent. They are currently the nation’s No. 3 rushing attack. Stutsman is at the center of the nation’s No. 22 run defense, and as a linebacker, he will be tasked with flowing to the ball and making tackles.

Da’Jon Terry, Damonic Williams, and Jayden Jackson will all play pivotal roles as well, but a team captain and the vocal leader of this defense needs to show up in a big way in what is a monumental game.

Nic Anderson, WR

Saturday is expected to be [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag]’s first game of the season. He fought injuries all offseason and is finally ready to contribute to an Oklahoma offense deprived of consistent playmakers.

He immediately slots back in as a starter, and play-caller Seth Littrell will open things up with a proven threat like Nic Anderson for Jackson Arnold to depend upon. How he responds to his first bit of game action will be vital, but if Anderson can provide one or two big plays, they could go a long way in helping the Sooners pull off an upset.

Jacob Sexton, LT

Jacob Sexton may have the single most challenging matchup on Saturday as he will likely be the tackle opposite of projected first-round pick James Pearce for most of the evening on Saturday.

It will not be easy, but Sexton will have to give Jackson Arnold a chance on Saturday. Tennessee boasts a ferocious and deep defensive line, so Sexton will face challenges regardless of who lines up across from him on Saturday night.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on X @thatmanbryant.

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.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

Steelers go way off script in new 2025 mock draft

This new mock draft misses the mark for the Steelers.

Every year, the first round of the NFL draft is like the Wild West. Unpredictability is the most predictable thing about it. One team that typically doesn’t subscribe to this philosophy is the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Typically by the time the draft gets here, the Steelers have it down to a couple of players and it’s no secret to anyone. Knowing this, it’s why we struggled with this new one-round mock draft from Pro Football Network.

They have the Steelers selecting Tennessee edge defender James Pearce Jr. with the No. 15 overall pick. Here’s what they had to say about the selection:

The Pittsburgh Steelers find a gift at pick No. 15 and further bolster an already strong edge group, bringing in a defensive heat-seeking missile in James Pearce Jr.

While slightly undersized at 242 pounds, his burst off the end and dominant length at 6’5″ should earn him early-round capital. Landing in Pittsburgh allows him to develop while surrounded by talented and experienced rushers to learn from.

While we appreciate that Pearce is a value at No. 15, the Steelers have obvious needs at cornerback and wide receiver, and there are some great ones still on the board.

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James Pearce signs with Tennessee

James Pearce signs with the Vols.

The football early signing period is taking place Dec. 15-17 for the 2022 recruiting class.

James Pearce has signed with Tennessee.

The 2022 signing period is the first full class under head coach Josh Heupel.

The Vols were 7-5 (4-4 SEC) in 2021 under Heupel. Tennessee will play in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl against Purdue on Dec. 30 (3 p.m. EST, ESPN).

2022 early signing period: Tracker for Vols’ signees

James Pearce

  • Julius L. Chambers High School (Charlotte, North Carolina)
  • Edge — 6-foot-5, 220 pounds
  • Committed on Dec. 15, 2021

Tennessee’s 2022 football commitment tracker

Big board: Tennessee’s 2022 football recruiting class by position

Follow us at @VolsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of University of Tennessee athletics.

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