Tag: Landry Jones

What happened last time Oklahoma Sooners played Missouri?

OU and Mizzou last squared off 13 years ago in Norman. The rematch comes on Saturday in Columbia.

The Oklahoma Sooners jump back into [autotag]SEC[/autotag] play this Saturday when they face the Missouri Tigers on the road. [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ team looks to become bowl eligible with a victory. The Sooners go on the road as slight underdogs in the conference tilt.

The Sooners and the Tigers were once conference foes in both the Big Eight and the Big 12. Oklahoma owns a 67-24-5 lead in the all-time series. Mizzou has gone 2-10 in the last 30 years against OU, and just one of those wins came since [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag] took over in Norman in 1999.

Oklahoma and Missouri have played in some big clashes among some of their most recent matchups. They faced off twice in 2007. On both occasions, the Tigers were the No. 1 team in the country. The Sooners handed them their only loss of the regular season, 41-31, before meeting again in that season’s Big 12 championship game. OU once again knocked off the top-ranked team in the nation, denying Mizzou a berth in the national title game with a 38-17 rout.

The schools met again in the Big 12 title game in 2008. The Sooners once again rolled, 62-21. OU made the BCS national championship game that season behind Heisman trophy winner Sam Bradford.

The most recent matchup came in 2011. Oklahoma was ranked atop the AP Poll when Missouri came to town. The Tigers jumped to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter, before OU scored the game’s next 28 points. The Sooners were led by the offensive trio of [autotag]Ryan Broyles[/autotag], [autotag]Landry Jones[/autotag] and Dominique Whaley.

Broyles was magnificent in the game, catching 13 passes for 154 yards and three touchdowns, while Jones threw for those three scores and 448 yards. Whaley had 150 all-purpose yards while touching the ball 21 times. Venables was serving as Stoops’ defensive coordinator at the time, and his defense snuffed out the Missouri attack after surrendering the two early scores.

The Sooners built a 31-14 lead and held off a rally by the Tigers to win 38-28. Oklahoma avenged the prior year’s loss against Missouri in the final meeting of the teams until this year. Mizzou joined the SEC in 2012, and with OU’s entry into the conference this season, they’ll pick up where they left off in 2024.

Kickoff in Columbia, Missouri, is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. and the game will carried on the SEC Network.

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Former Sooners OL Lane Johnson makes NFL’s Top 100 Players list

Lane Johnson has been a force in the NFL for almost a decade.

The National Football League is right in the middle of revealing their list of the Top 100 Players of 2024 as training camps begin. But the [autotag]NFL[/autotag] puts a unique twist on their list, revealing players in increments of ten and allowing the athletes to vote to make up the list.

On Friday, the first former Oklahoma Sooner made his way onto the list. Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman [autotag]Lane Johnson[/autotag] checks in at No. 41 in the rankings.

Here’s what NFL Network’s Coral Smith had to say about Johnson, who has spent his entire career in Philly.

“Johnson has been a model of consistency over his 11 seasons, as shown by the tackle’s identical Top 100 ranking to last year’s, emphasizing his steady nature on the Eagles’ powerful offensive line,” Smith said. “After earning a pay bump and extension heading into the year, Johnson proved he remains one of the premier tackles in the game, allowing just three sacks while recording a 80.9 player grade, per PFF, on his way to a fifth Pro Bowl.”

Johnson was selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, and he started his college football career at Kilgore College in Texas, playing quarterback and tight end. He transferred to OU before the 2009 season, and initially served as a practice squad quarterback during his redshirt season. He transitioned to the tight end position in 2010, before switching again to defensive end in 2011.

The pivotal moment in Johnson’s Oklahoma career came early in the 2011 season. Injuries had ravaged the offensive line unit, and he was asked to try out as a backup. His tryout went so well that he was promptly switched to offensive tackle, eventually earning the starting job. Johnson was a natural at right tackle and started twelve games in 2011.

Johnson was moved to left tackle for the 2012 season, helping lead the way for an offensive line that protected starting quarterback [autotag]Landry Jones[/autotag] extremely well in the pocket. That same offensive line paved the way for the “Belldozer” package featuring backup quarterback [autotag]Blake Bell[/autotag], which was very effective in both 2011 and 2012.

Since being chosen by the Eagles, Johnson has started every game he’s played in for Philadelphia. The right tackle has made five Pro Bowls and has been a first-team All-Pro twice. He was an integral part of the 2017 Eagles squad that won Super Bowl LII.

One of the finest players of the [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag] era in Norman, he’s been a steady force for eleven seasons in Philadelphia.

Can Jackson Arnold be the next great Oklahoma quarterback?

Being the quarterback at Oklahoma brings a lot of pressure and Jackson Arnold is ready to live up to the hype.

Being the starting quarterback at a blue-blood program brings a lot of pressure. Being the starting quarterback at a place like Oklahoma with all of its recent success is another animal all on its own.

That’s what [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] is stepping into. He’s following [autotag]Josh Heupel[/autotag], [autotag]Jason White[/autotag], [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag], [autotag]Landry Jones[/autotag], [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag], [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag], [autotag]Jalen Hurts[/autotag] and [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag].

That doesn’t even include the guys pre-2000 or even guys like [autotag]Spencer Rattler[/autotag] and [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag]who were extremely talented but finished their careers elsewhere.

Arnold spoke about how much that played into his decision to come to Oklahoma.

“It definitely impacted my decision,” Arnold said. “Just knowing the caliber of QBs that came before me and just knowing that I wanted to be a part of that group really stood out to me. Being in the lineage of Heisman winners is obviously something I want to join and follow those footsteps. This is the place that I wanted to be.”

The thing for Arnold is for him not to try to be too much like them and let that pressure get to him. Instead, he just needs to be himself. That’s what earned him five-star status. It’s why the expectations are so high for Arnold.

He’s got all the talent in the world to be a successful college quarterback. But so much of what goes into playing the position goes beyond the scouting report or the box score. But early in his career, Jackson Arnold has shown he’s capable of overcoming adversity. He’s made up of the right stuff. 2024 is the season we see Arnold have a breakout year.

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.

Top 20 Oklahoma Sooners all-time in career passing yards

A look at the top 20 passers in Oklahoma Sooners history in career passing yards.

The Oklahoma Sooners have had their fair share of quality quarterback play over the years. That play has earned numerous All-American awards and four Heisman trophies.

Oklahoma has had success with a variety of offensive styles and quarterback play. That shows up when you look at the Sooners’ all-time leaders in career passing yards. Sure you have [autotag]Landry Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag], who threw for more than 10,000 yards in their career with the Sooners. Then you have a player [autotag]Jamelle Holieway[/autotag] who is top 20 in both career passing yards and career rushing yards. Holieway and [autotag]Jack Mildren[/autotag] had more rushing touchdowns in their career than they did passing touchdowns.

There is one quarterback inside the top 10 all-time in career passing yards that didn’t play in the last 20 years and that guy is still with the Oklahoma Sooners: wide receivers coach [autotag]Cale Gundy[/autotag]. Gundy is No. 6 in career passing yards. Makes you wonder what kind of damage he could have done in a modern spread offense.

After two seasons in Norman, Dillon Gabriel was productive enough to enter the top 10 in career passing yards at the University of Oklahoma. His 55 passing touchdowns ranks fifth all-time and he finished tied for 17 in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Gabriel had a prolific career with Oklahoma and now will hope to have continued success with the Oregon Ducks.

Here’s a look at the top 20 Oklahoma Sooners in career passing yards.

Where does Dillon Gabriel rank among the best quarterbacks in Oklahoma history?

Dillon Gabriel was only in Norman for two seasons but where does that put him in OU history?

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] wrapped up his final season as an Oklahoma Sooner a couple of weekends ago because he is entering the transfer portal to pursue other options. Gabriel finished his Oklahoma career with 6,828 yards, 55 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on 66% passing.

His yardage and touchdown total put him in the top six in OU history. So, where does he rank among the greats that played this prestigious position in Norman? Keep in mind, the Sooners have had four Heisman-winning quarterbacks. Gabriel also only played two seasons in the Crimson and Cream.

So where would he rank among Oklahoma’s best quarterbacks all time? Let’s take a look.

Dillon Gabriel joins former Sooner legend in historical performance

Dillon Gabriel joined some elite company after his performance against West Virginia.

What a career it has been for Oklahoma Sooners quarterback [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag]. Just last week, Gabriel entered into the top 10 all-time in passing yards in NCAA history.

He joined two other Sooners, [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] and [autotag]Landry Jones[/autotag]. Depending on how his career finishes, he has an opportunity to pass Mayfield and Boise State Broncos’ quarterback Kellen Moore to move into No. 7 all-time. Also, last weekend Gabriel accounted for eight touchdowns which broke Mayfield’s single-game touchdown record.

That’s not all Gabriel did this past weekend. Gabriel’s 50 yards rushing put him over 1,000 yards for his career, making him just the second player in NCAA history to throw for more than 14,000 yards and run for 1,000 yards joining Mayfield.

Oregon Ducks‘ Bo Nix has a chance to join the group this weekend if he throws for just 21 yards. They take on the Arizona State Sun Devils.

There’s no question it’s been an incredible career for Gabriel, and yet he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. Many before the season were hoping Jackson Arnold would take over the reins, but Gabriel kept working.

He’s having a career year and a Heisman-type season. If Oklahoma didn’t slip up twice, he’d probably be right in the Heisman race. Also, he led one of the greatest drives in program history to knock off Oklahoma’s biggest rival.

He might not be better than Mayfield, [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] or [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag], but he’s very good, and Oklahoma fans should be thankful once [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag] decided to enter the portal, Gabriel came to Norman.

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 is ‘QBU’ but where do they stand in ESPN’s ‘Position U’ rankings?

The Sooners have been spoiled with a ton of elite players at just about every position, here is how they stack up all-time, according to ESPN’s “Position U” rankings.

Let’s face it, Oklahoma fans have been spoiled by the quarterback place since the turn of the century. From [autotag]Josh Heupel[/autotag] to [autotag]Jason White[/autotag] to [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag] to [autotag]Landry Jones[/autotag] the Sooners have witnessed some fantastic quarterback play..

Arguably, the best of the bunch came recently with [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag], [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag], [autotag]Jalen Hurts[/autotag], and [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag] for a season.

It’s one of the reasons [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] has been so heavily criticized. Sure, he has his flaws, but he’s a very good quarterback who should end up top 10 in the NCAA in career passing yards. He could even pass Mayfield at No. 7 if he has a decent year.

While he’s a good college quarterback, he’s not all-time great like his predecessors. But it is all of the success that has Oklahoma holding onto the top spot as “QBU” in ESPN’s updated position U rankings (ESPN+)

Dillon Gabriel was a solid addition to Oklahoma’s QB legacy, which includes Heisman Trophy winners Jason White, Sam Bradford, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, along with runner-up Jalen Hurts, but it’s hard not to consider the one who got away. When Lincoln Riley left for USC, he took Caleb Williams with him, and the Trojans’ new star won the Heisman last season. That cut Oklahoma’s lead at QBU in half from 2022, setting up a potentially huge swing next year, should Williams go No. 1 overall in the NFL draft, as many pundits expect. – David Hale ESPN

That last line however is key. The USC Trojans are No. 2 on the list. They have a guy who could win a second Heisman or, at the very least, go first in next year’s draft.

 

Six Oklahoma Sooners included in ESPN’s top 75 QB’s of the 2000’s

Six Oklahoma Sooners were included among ESPN’s top 75 quarterbacks since 2000.

Oklahoma’s history of quarterback play is well known at the college football level. Oklahoma and Notre Dame are the only schools with four Heisman trophy winners at the QB position.

The end of the century saw football as we know it change from a run-first style to a game that emphasized balance and explosive plays generated by the passing game. The late Mike Leach brought the air raid to Oklahoma, and it has permeated throughout college football.

Oklahoma’s offensive identity since the turn of the century has been dynamic and explosive. At the core was innovative play calling and extraordinary quarterback play. It should be no surprise that six Oklahoma quarterbacks are ranked in ESPN’s top 75 quarterbacks of the 2000s rankings (ESPN+).

ChatGPT ranks the top 10 Big 12 quarterbacks of all time

Open Source AI ChatGPT ranked the top 10 Big 12 quarterbacks of all-time. Four of them were Oklahoma Sooners.

Over the life of the Big 12 conference, it’s become synonymous with high-scoring offenses and high-level quarterback play.

There have been Heisman trophy winners and first-overall picks, and the conference that’s been at the forefront of the aerial assault that’ taking college football by storm.

We’ve all spent time ranking quarterbacks, but for this version, we thought it’d be fun to let the computers do it. Using Open AI’s ChatGPT, we simply asked, “Who are the best Big 12 quarterbacks of all time?”

Its response?

These quarterbacks have all made significant contributions to their respective teams and have impressive statistics and accomplishments. However, it’s important to note that there have been many other great quarterbacks in the Big 12 who could also be considered for this list. – ChatGPT

Their top 10 is pretty solid. There are certainly arguments to be made for several others that made significant impacts or even won a Heisman trophy, but not bad from a computer-generated AI.

Here’s a look at the rankings.

Updated FBS all-time passing leaders after 2022 campaign

Sam Hartman and Holton Ahlers climbed the all-time list after the 2022 campaign.

Following the 2022 college football season, our look back at the record books showed two new passers joined the top 25 in FBS history.

Eastern Carolina’s Holton Ahler threw for 3,708 yards to jump all the way to No. 11. He missed out on the top 10 by 146 yards. Likewise, Wake Forest’s Sam Hartman joined the top 20. He checked in at No. 19 with 12,967 yards knocking Ryan Lindley out of the top 25.

Hartman completed his fifth year at the collegiate level and will return for a sixth, but will suit for Notre Dame in 2023. In five seasons, Hartman has averaged 2,593 yards per season. That output in the upcoming season would move him up to No. 5 overall.

Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel is another quarterback to observe this upcoming season. Gabriel checks in at No. 69 with 11,205 yards. If he can reproduce his 2022 outcome, the southpaw could climb into the top 25 and land at No. 9.

The top 25 career passing yardage leaders are courtesy of Sports-Reference.