Tag: Justin Harrington

How did EA Sports rate Oklahoma’s defense in ‘College Football 25?’

When “College Football 25” drops, the Oklahoma Sooners will open with one of the best defenses in the country.

EA Sports is releasing “College Football 25” on July 19, and fans are excited for the return of the college football video game series.

On Thursday, EA released its defensive ratings for the 25 best defenses in the game, and Oklahoma is just outside the top 10.

“College Football 25” has OU as the No. 12 defense ahead of the launch of the highly anticipated video game. It’s the No. 4 best defense in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. This comes following the mutual parting of ways between the program and former defensive coordinator [autotag]Ted Roof[/autotag] and the hiring of his replacement, [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag].

On the field, the Sooners have plenty of experienced talent returning on the defensive side of the ball. The secondary is led by [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] at safety and [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag] at cornerback, but features plenty of young talent as well.

[autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Kani Walker[/autotag] will battle for the spot opposite of Washington. [autotag]Robert Spears-Jennings[/autotag] and [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] will see an increase in snaps this year with the departures of [autotag]Key Lawrence[/autotag] and [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag].

The defensive line sees some change but still has [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] leading the way up front. [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag] and [autotag]Trace Ford[/autotag] are veterans who will aid in the development of younger players like [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag], [autotag]Adepoju Adebawroe[/autotag] and [autotag]David Stone[/autotag]. The defensive line is in a solid place moving forward even after losing [autotag]Jordan Kelley[/autotag], [autotag]Isaiah Coe[/autotag], [autotag]Jonah Laulu[/autotag] and [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag]. The Sooners also saw [autotag]Jermayne Lole[/autotag] flip his commitment from OU to Texas in the spring portal window.

The strength of the defense is the talent and depth at linebacker. At the inside spots, [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] returns as the heart and soul of the unit. [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag], [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag], [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag] and [autotag]Lewis Carter[/autotag] will all see plenty of snaps alongside Stutsman. The loss of [autotag]Justin Harrington[/autotag] at the cheetah position stings, but [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag], [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag] and [autotag]Samuel Omosigho[/autotag] provide Alley will plenty of options at that spot.

The Sooners open with an 88 overall defense in “College Football 25,” tied with Texas, Penn State, Utah, Florida State and Iowa.

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 Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.

Dasan McCullough battled through injuries in 2023 but now close to 100%

Dasan McCullough says he’s nearly 100% after battling injuries late in the 2023 season.

Last season was a learning curve for [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag]. In addition to making the transition to the wide open pace of Big 12 football, he had to learn a new position.

At Indiana, McCullough was strictly used as an edge rusher but at Oklahoma, he played the cheetah position. In that position, he had to drop in pass coverage as well as play like a linebacker.

You could tell he was never completely comfortable in pass coverage. That is to be expected when you haven’t done it at the collegiate level. Justin Harrington’s loss hurt the Sooners cheetah depth and possibly overextended McCullough’s role. Harrington was probably going to be the one they relied upon on passing downs.

McCullough also dealt with injuries at the end of the year. He said he should be 100% by the end of spring practice.

“Both of my knees got injured against Oklahoma State while I was getting cut blocked a couple of different times during the game,” McCullough said. “So, they kind of messed both of them up during that game. So, I finished the rest of the season. I had meniscus surgery after the season on my left knee. Then I had quad tendonitis on my right, so rehabbing both of those. But we’re back feeling good though.”

McCullough said it was frustrating when that happened because it happened on back-to-back series. McCullough is undergoing another position switch, moving to WILL linebacker.

That’ll allow him to rush the passer more and cover tight ends more. He is still doing a lot of cheetah but has been doing more at the inside linebacker spot.

Just another piece of versatility for this defense to use.

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

Best photos from latest Oklahoma Sooners spring practice

Spring ball is heating up and here are the best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners latest spring practice.

Spring practice is in full throttle as the Oklahoma Sooners prepare for the 2024 college football season. There are a number of intriguing storylines to watch this spring with [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] taking over at quarterback and the turnover along the offensive line.

The newcomers are making a strong impression on the media in attendance. [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] and [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag] have stood out in the passing game as Arnold gets acclimated to life as the starting quarterback.

Defensively, true freshmen [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag], and [autotag]Reggie Powers[/autotag] have mixed in with the first-team defense and looked good in the early going.

There are a number of players that the team is taking precautions with on the injury front, so it’s hard to know who exactly is leading the way in the most high-profile position battles.

What we do know is that this is a deeper team than what the Sooners took into the spring a year ago, especially at wide receiver, defensive back, and linebacker. The competitive depth across the board is better this spring than in any year of the [autotag]Brent Venable[/autotag]s era at Oklahoma, which should serve the team well as they try to work out their depth chart.

Here’s a look at the best photos from the Sooners most recent spring practice.

‘A lot of anxiousness’: Justin Harrington describes waiting for his waiver approval

One of the most athletic players on the team is back for 2024, but Justin Harrington and the Sooners had to wait on the decision of his injury waiver.

Since his arrival, Oklahoma Sooner fans have been waiting on a breakout season from uber athlete [autotag]Justin Harrington[/autotag]. 2023 finally seemed like the year fulfill that potential, earning the opening week start at cheetah.

If you look at his physical gifts, Harrington is the perfect cheetah. He’s typically played defensive back, so he covers well, but he’s big enough to fit run plays well like a linebacker. But during the second game of the season, Harrington injured his knee and missed the rest of the season.

Harrington and the Oklahoma Sooners had to wait for a ruling from the NCAA on his injury waiver. He talked to reporters about what it was like waiting for that answer.

“I had to wait for a little bit,” Harrington said. “A lot of anxiousness, a lot of anxiety built up but just kept the main thing the main thing. Just kept praying, kept talking to my family and my coaches. Just staying ready, whether it be get ready for the league, get ready for next year’s combine, or get ready for next season. I was ready for (either).”

Harrington said he initially tried to play through the injury because he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to get another season or not. But as long as he can stay healthy this season, his athleticism and versatility will provide a big boost to the defense.

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

Oklahoma Sooners defensive backs in for a battle in spring ball

If the Oklahoma Sooners secondary can find more consistency, the defense will take another big step in 2024.

Last year, by and large, was a solid year for Oklahoma’s defensive backs. If there’s a knock against them, it was their inconsistency.

[autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] was a bright spot for the Sooner. He recorded 63 tackles, six interceptions, three pick-sixes, four pass breakups, and three tackles for loss last year and should have been an All-American.

Elsewhere, guys made plays but struggled to string together the caliber of performances that Bowman had.

There were moments when [autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag] was excellent but never sustained his level of play due to a shoulder injury he dealt with for most of the year. His inability to stay on the field had a negative impact on the defense.

[autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag] had moments, in particular at cheetah. So did [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag]. Former five-star freshman [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] also flashed at moments but lacked consistency.

So what have we learned? Talent won’t be an issue in 2024. Consistency is the name of the game. And as the Sooners get deeper into spring practice and summer preparations for the season, we’ll be on the lookout for more consistency.

According to reports, coaches have Washington working at cornerback, nickel corner, safety, and cheetah. San Diego State transfer [autotag]Dez Malone[/autotag] is working to acclimate himself, giving Oklahoma length and another veteran option out at corner. He tallied 90 tackles, three for loss, one sack, four interceptions, and 12 pass breakups from 2022-2023.

In-house, the Sooners need leaps from multiple guys. [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag] is gone, and [autotag]Key Lawrence[/autotag] transferred to Ole Miss. Pair that with the need for depth at all secondary spots, and things will get interesting. Billy Bowman and Peyton Bowen are likely your starting safeties but don’t be surprised if Robert Spears-Jennings gets significant playing time at safety as well.

Spears-Jennings is looking to take a big step forward in year three. He feels like a guy we could see much of when Oklahoma goes into three safety looks. After that, Oklahoma will depend on youth. Four-star freshmen Reggie Powers and Jaydan Hardy will likely have to contribute somehow.

Woodi figures to be a starter somewhere on this defense, and barring health issues, Williams is a starting corner, too.

At cornerback, [autotag]Makari Vickers[/autotag], [autotag]Jasiah Wagoner[/autotag], and [autotag]Jacobe Johnson[/autotag] offer a lot of talent and saw time on the field last year. If they come along, Oklahoma’s depth would be outstanding.

Who is the cheetah? [autotag]Justin Harrington[/autotag] is recovering from the injury he suffered early season against SMU and isn’t participating in spring practices. [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag] is working full-time as a linebacker right now.

[autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag] is an option, and sophomore now sees reps at the versatile spot too. Maybe four-star prospect [autotag]Michael Boganowski[/autotag] will join the mix as he finds a positional home.

Ultimately, there are a ton of question marks about Oklahoma’s secondary heading into the spring. There’s good potential, but a lack of experience on the depth chart. It’s a group that has to get more consistent for the Sooners to contend in the SEC.

Cornerbacks coach [autotag]Jay Valai[/autotag] and safety coach [autotag]Brandon Hall[/autotag] have their work cut out for them as the Sooners prepare for 2024.

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

‘It’s a really tough group of guys’: Brent Venables impressed by the early enrollees

Brent Venables has been impressed by the class of 2024 early enrollees.

Spring football is finally here in Oklahoma. Head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] kicked things off with a media session on Wednesday along with all of the newcomers both from the portal and the 2024 recruiting class.

Spring practice starts on Monday with the spring game coming in April 20, 2024.

Still, there is a lot of work to be done from now until the start of the season. Whether that’s getting some guys back who were injured last season like [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag], [autotag]Casey Thompson[/autotag] or [autotag]Justin Harrington[/autotag] or if it’s replacing someone who had to call it a career in Jacob Lacey. There are also a ton of position battles still to go through as well.

Venables talked about how impressed he’s been with the 22 early enrollees. “It’s a really tough group of guys,” Venables said. “The mental toughness that I watched the last eight weeks is exemplary. It’s fantastic. Nobody shied away. These guys were prepared for the challenge that this entails. It was never easy for any of them but these guys were fearless.”

This class is arguably the best in the Venables era with the elite defensive players they were able to sign along with some stellar offensive guys as well. This only adds to that belief.

Now, the question is how many of those guys will be ready to make an impact in Year 1? Only time will tell.

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

Sooners Justin Harrington granted extra year, returning for 2024 season

Oklahoma Sooners get Justin Harrington back for the 2024 season.

The Oklahoma Sooners are getting set to kick off spring ball, and they’ve already received some great news for the 2024 season.

[autotag]Justin Harrington[/autotag] was granted a medical redshirt for 2023 and will return for another season with the Sooners in 2024.

Harrington played just two games for the Oklahoma Sooners, primarily at Cheetah. And in that short stint, he was off to a strong start to the 2023 season with six total tackles and an interception.

Though he’ll sit out spring ball, as will wide receiver Andrel Anthony, who also suffered a knee injury, Harrington will be a factor for the Oklahoma Sooners defense.

“They’re coming along well,” Venables said of not only Harrington and Anthony. “It’s big. Justin is a highly invested guy. He’s talented and can do a lot of impressive things. … He understands what commitment is and how we do what we do.”

Harrington joins [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag], [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag], and [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag], who all played significant snaps for the Sooners at Cheetah in 2023. Another veteran presence, the Sooners take an experienced defense into the SEC in 2024.

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

Midseason positional review: How have the Oklahoma Sooners looked at the midway point?

How have each position group done so far for the Oklahoma Sooners at the midway point?

The Oklahoma Sooners have hit the midway point of the 2023 college football season. The Sooners are undefeated at 6-0 in year two under [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. Venables is now 13-7

Offensively they’ve been pretty good. They rank No. 6 in total offense, No. 9 in 3rd down offense, No. 2 in 1st down offense, and No. 4 in scoring offense.

The defense has also been pretty good and shown vast improvement. They rank No. 50 in total defense, No. 12 in 3rd down defense, No. 31 in rush defense, and No. 2 in turnovers forced.

There is still much improvement that needs to be made for both units, but so far, they’ve made significant strides.

Prior to the season, I broke down each position group, so let’s go through and see how they are doing at this point and give them a midseason grade.

Justin Harrington out for the season after season-ending injury

It is official the Sooners have lost its starting cheetah for the season.

It’s been speculated for a few weeks but it is now official as Oklahoma Sooners’ starting cheetah [autotag]Justin Harrington[/autotag] has been lost for the season. Harrington suffered an injury to his ACL in the game against the [autotag]SMU Mustangs[/autotag].

He finished the game but hasn’t played since. Dasan McCullough took over at his spot. Harrington was having a solid start to the season with six tackles and an interception.

It’s also been a great story to follow. He was someone who came to Oklahoma with high expectations but, due to injuries and other things, never lived up to it. He ended up quitting the team in 2021.

[autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] took over in December of 2021 and after a lot of conversations with Harrington and other members of the team, Venables would let him back. Harrington ultimately earned the starting role at cheetah, giving the Sooners versatility they didn’t have in their starting lineup a year ago.

Harrington underwent ACL surgery on Thursday of last week and, per Brent Venables, will be working to get another year of eligibility due to a medical hardship. That acts as a redshirt if the player hadn’t played in four games.

If the Sooners are able to get Harrington back, that would be a big boost for their first year in the SEC. He brings experience and leadership but most importantly, “competitive depth” to the position. Something that will be much needed in 2024.

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

No. 14 Sooners vs Iowa State Cyclones: How to Watch, key players, weather forecast for gameday

Here’s how you can watch the game, key players and the weather forecast for the Oklahoma Sooners vs. Iowa State Cyclones in Norman.

The Oklahoma Sooners return to Norman for a matchup against the [autotag]Iowa State Cyclones[/autotag] in their [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] home opener. Oklahoma has historically dominated this rivalry, owning a 79-7-2 advantage.

But two of those wins by Iowa State have come since coach [autotag]Matt Campbell[/autotag] took over in 2016. The Cyclones have been a thorn in the Sooners’ side. A big reason is the great defense they play.

Defensive coordinator [autotag]Jon Heacock[/autotag] runs a 3-3-5 defense that allows teams to throw stuff underneath but takes away the big plays. No matter if it was Lincoln Riley’s historic offenses or Jeff Lebby’s offense a year ago, Heacock has had success shutting down Oklahoma.

This year might not be any different: The Cyclones bring in the 19th-ranked defense nationally. They also rank 22nd in pass defense. So, the Sooners will have their work cut out for them again this year.