Tag: Mark Clayton

Mark Clayton, 3 other ex-Dolphins take step closer to Hall of Fame

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is whittling down its list of Senior nominees and four ex-Dolphins remain.

Former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mark Clayton advanced to become one of 60 Senior nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025.

Three other former Dolphins players — offensive lineman Bob Kuechenberg, defensive end Bill Stanfill, and safety Dick Anderson — are also among the 60 candidates.

Senior nominees must be at least 25 years removed from their playing careers, meaning any player who participated in the 2000 season or later isn’t eligible yet.

Clayton, 63, was a five-time Pro Bowler and twice led the NFL in touchdown receptions during his time with the Dolphins. After finishing his career with one season as a member of the Green Bay Packers, Clayton retired with 8,974 receiving yards and 84 touchdown receptions.

Kuechenberg, Stanfill, and Anderson each played their entire NFL careers in Miami and collectively earned 14 Pro Bowl nods.

The list of 60 Senior nominees will continue to be whittled down until just three names remain. That trio will be presented to the Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee prior to Super Bowl LIX where each must receive a minimum 80 percent vote for induction.

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Oklahoma lands commitment from 2026 four-star TE Ryder Mix

Oklahoma lands second prospect for 2026 recruiting class, earning a commitment from four-star tight end Ryder Mix.

Oklahoma is knee-deep hosting official visits for the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag] this month, but that hasn’t stopped this staff from broadening their horizons and scouting talent for the classes to come. Brent Venables’ Football Camp is all about exposure for a lot of prospects from across the country and one of the camp’s standouts saw enough to hop in the boat.

Ryder Mix, a talented four-star tight end out of Frisco, Texas announced his commitment to the Oklahoma Sooners Saturday afternoon. 247Sports has Mix as the No. 21 tight end in the country and a top-60 prospect in the state of Texas. Mix chose Oklahoma over offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Miami, Florida State, and Oregon.

The layers to the Mix commitment run deep.

Mix plays his high school ball at Lone Star High School, which also gave the Sooners, [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag].

Mims starred at OU before being drafted in the third round by the Denver Broncos. Mix’s offensive coordinator is former OU football player [autotag]Travis Wilson[/autotag], a member of multiple Big 12 title-winning teams. He was part of a loaded receiving core that featured [autotag]Mark Clayton[/autotag] and [autotag]Brandon Jones[/autotag].

The Sooners offered in February and after an unofficial visit Mix made the decision to come down to camp this summer. Mix clocks in at 6-foot-4 and over 210 pounds. He was named an All-District selection and looks to take on a much larger role for his high school team this year.

With Mix committed Oklahoma now has two commits for its [autotag]2026 recruiting class[/autotag], both being on the offensive side of the ball. Running back Jonathan Hatton Jr. surprised everyone during the season last fall by committing to Oklahoma out of nowhere. Mix’s commitment is somewhat out of the same playbook.

Oklahoma is building some nice early momentum for their 2026 class. With two commitments already, the summer may be fun for the Sooners’ 2025 recruiting and 2026 recruiting alike.

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Top 20 Oklahoma Sooners of all-time in receiving yards

Top 20 Oklahoma Sooners in career receiving yards.

Since the turn of the century, the Oklahoma Sooners have recruited, developed, and produced some of the best wide receivers in college football. The air-raid revolution, combined with Oklahoma’s ability to recruit allowed wide receivers to put up monster numbers in Norman.

Of the top 20 players in receiving yards in Oklahoma history, 17 of them played for the Sooners during the [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag] or [autotag]Lincoln Riley[/autotag] eras. The four that didn’t were [autotag]Stephen Alexander[/autotag], [autotag]Corey Warren[/autotag], and [autotag]Eddie Hinton[/autotag].

Considering how little the teams threw the football when Hinton played, it’s pretty incredible they were able to put up the numbers they did. With Drake Stoops career year in 2023, legendary tight end Keith Jackson fell out of the top 20. Jackson played at a time when they didn’t throw the ball a ton, but his athleticism and speed allowed him to make the most of his opportunities.

Who knows what his numbers would look like in a modern offense. Imagine Brock Bowers but with even bigger numbers.

Half of the players in the top 20 in receiving yards averaged 15 or more yards per reception.

No player with at least 75 receptions in their Sooners career averaged more yards per reception than [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] 19.5 per catch. His first 1,000-yard season in 2022 helped him reach eighth all-time in receiving yards at the University of Oklahoma.

[autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag]’s 1,571 receiving yards puts him 20th all-time.

Nic Anderson looks like the next player to enter the top 20, if he’s able to recreate his breakout 2023 season in 2024. By the end of his Sooners career, he could be flirting with the top 10 in career receiving yards at the University of Oklahoma.

Here’s an updated look at Oklahoma’s top 20 Sooners in receiving yards all time.

WATCH: Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert sets two franchise single-season records for TDs

Raheem Mostert sets two franchise records on one score.

Entering Sunday, Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert had 16 rushing touchdowns and 18 total touchdowns on the season, both were tied for team records.

Against the New York Jets, Mostert scored on a two-yard rush, eclipsing both marks (set by Ricky Williams in 2002 and Mark Clayton in 1984).

The 31-year-old running back is having an incredible season, as he’s scored more this year than in eight previous seasons combined.

If he can continue this pace, he’ll certainly help Miami in their playoff run.

Miami Dolphins fan cruise set to sail in April

A chance to enjoy the Caribbean with a number of former Dolphins.

In the same year that the franchise celebrates the 50th anniversary of their 1972 perfect season, the party extends to sea in a memorable experience waiting for Miami Dolphins fans of all ages.

Not only will the cruise allow you to embark from Miami, but you will also be welcomed on the industry’s newest ship the MSC Seascape! In addition to some amazing amenities, ship features and activities, onboard will be a slew of 1972 Dolphins from the 17-0 “Perfectville” team.

Of course, when you see that word, you know the mayor of that town, Mercury Morris, will be on the cruise. The running back will be joined by his backfield-mate, the great Hall-of-Fame fullback Larry Csonka. Fellow champion Larry Little, another Dolphins Hall of Famer, will be on the Seascape as well.

In addition to the 1972 team, the most prolific Dolphin of them all, Dan Marino, will be there, as well as his top four all-time targets. The Marks Brothers, Clayton and Duper, as well as O.J. McDuffie and Nat Moore will all represent the aqua and orange on board. And, just in case anyone tries to get too, too close to No. 13, Richmond Webb and Dwight Stephenson will be there, so you know he’ll be protected from more than the sun.

If you’re of a certain age, and your Dolphins clock started in the 1990s, you’ll be thrilled to know that players like Louis Oliver, Terry Kirby, Shawn Wooden and Troy Drayton will be joining in the experience.

Fan favorites like special-teamer Larry Seiple and an original swiss-army-knife type in Jim “Crash” Jensen are among the 35 Miami Dolphin legends scheduled to be on the seven-night cruise. There will even be a Wildcat sighting with Ronnie Brown joining the fun.

Remember the famous “hook-and-lateral” play against the San Diego Chargers in 1981? You can watch Tony Nathan score in highlights, or you can get a chance to talk to him about it directly.

With outstanding food onboard, the culinary critics will be there making sure of it, as restauranteurs, Kim Bokamper and Bob Baumhower will be approving the menus. Bokamper and Baumhower are a few of the “Killer Bee” defensive players from the Dolphins’ 1980s teams, and throw in Bob Brudzinski, yet another owner of a sports restaurant, who’ll be taste-testing from deck to deck.

With the number of exclusive activities scheduled for the Dolphins Fan Cruise guests, on-ship and at certain destinations, you’ll have the opportunity to talk and vacation with heroes from players across the history of the Miami franchise that has seen five Super Bowls and two Lombardi Trophies.

Certainly, a likely pair to document parts of this trip will be Dolphin players turned broadcasters, Jimmy Cefalo and Joe Rose. Both were former receivers for Miami and are now popular media figures in South Florida. Rose is the host of “The Joe Rose Show” on WQAM 560 as well as the color man next to Cefalo, who’s the Dolphins’ play-by-play man on the radio. Bokamper is also part of the Dolphins broadcast team.

The cruise sails April 2-9, and, throughout the week, there will be countless activities, events and competitions with fellow fans and the Dolphins as you sail the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. The ticket price includes all the special events with the Dolphins players, activities and competitions.

Some of the features include a welcome aboard party, player introductions and highlight reels, photo opportunities, basketball shootouts, quarterback competition, karaoke competition, trivia contests, a Talent show, and more. There’s even an ambassador program that can gain you access to super-VIP events with exclusive time and access to the players.

With a private island stop at MSC’s exclusive Ocean Cay beach in the Bahamas, as well as a private beach party with the Dolphins at another port-of-call in Nassau, you’ll also have destinations to look forward to in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

More legends are set to be announced in the coming days, so check the Dolphins’ website for the latest information.

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Oklahoma football all-time roster: Offensive starters and backups

See which legends made the cut in our all-time Oklahoma Sooners football roster, starting with the offensive starters and backups.

When you have as illustrious a history as the Oklahoma Sooners with their seven national championships, the longest winning streak in college football history, seven Heisman Trophy winners, and 50 conference championships, picking an all-time team can be a difficult task.

Oklahoma has some legendary figures in the world of college football. It’s a program that’s had incredible success dating back to Bennie Owen in the program’s early days. For more than 100 years, the Oklahoma Sooners have created a program that’s synonymous with winning.

Here’s our crack at Oklahoma’s All-Time offense.

For more coverage on the Oklahoma Sooners, visit Sooners Wire.

2 former Dolphins named semifinalists for Hall of Fame senior vote

Miami had no contributor or coaches make the semifinalist list.

While the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022 is set to be enshrined in less than a month, the Hall of Fame’s senior committee has started to pare down the list of senior nominees for the Class of 2023.

On Thursday, the 25 semifinalists for the senior vote were announced along with 29 coaches/contributors. The Miami Dolphins didn’t have any coaches or contributors nominated, but they did have two semifinalists for the senior vote in wide receiver Mark Clayton and offensive lineman Bob Kuechenberg.

Clayton spent 10 seasons with the Dolphins, making the Pro Bowl five times in his career. He finished his tenure in Miami with 550 receptions (first) in Dolphins’ history) for 8,643 yards (second) and 81 touchdowns (third) before finishing off his career in Green Bay. He was inducted into the Dolphins’ Honor Roll in 2003.

Keuchenberg spent 14 years as a Dolphin from 1970-83, making six Pro Bowls during that span. He was part of the Super Bowl VII and VIII teams and was inducted into the Honor Roll in 1995.

From here, the selection committee will select 12 finalists, and those names will be announced on July 27. Then, they will meet on August 16 to pick up to three Seniors.

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Brent Venables, Dillon Gabriel steal the show in front of record-breaking crowd for Oklahoma’s Spring Game

In front of more than 75,000 fans, the Oklahoma Sooners put on a strong performance in the first Spring Game of the Brent Venables era.

After a mountain of hype, the Oklahoma Spring Game delivered on many fronts for the Oklahoma Sooners. The loyal fans of the Crimson & Cream packed out The Palace on the Prairie with just over 75,000 fans for the start of the Brent Venables era.

The game showcased what the new regime in Norman has been cooking up as they prepare the Sooners for the 2022 season. While there were many familiar faces from the past few years, the Sooners had new faces donning Oklahoma jerseys for the first time. The roster was split into two teams led by defensive ends coach [autotag]Miguel Chavis[/autotag] for the white squad while running backs coach [autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag] led the red team.

New quarterback [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] did exactly what you want your veteran quarterback to do. He looked calm and poised under duress and stepped up and made some nice throws to a plethora of receivers. The tempo of the offense was indeed as fast as advertised and gave Sooners fans a glimpse of what the offense can look like under offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby.

Gabriel was 19 of 28 for 250 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He looked sharp in his first appearance for the Sooners.

The anticipation of seeing running back [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] did not disappoint. Barnes carried the ball 17 times for 60 yards and two touchdowns. He looked explosive, physical and decisive.

Presumptive starter [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag]’s biggest highlight came when he broke out for a huge run for the white team that is certain to have people salivating about his upcoming season. Gray carried the ball four times for 53 yards, including the 50-yard run.

[autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag] didn’t participate but [autotag]Tawee Walker[/autotag] ran the ball well in his absence. Walker has turned heads in practice and capped off an eye-opening spring with a solid performance in the spring game.

The offensive line play was solid, considering the likely starters were split between the two sides. They opened up some lanes for the backs and gave time for the quarterbacks to throw the ball.

The only notable player missing was [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag] who didn’t participate. [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag], one of the transfer offensive linemen the Sooners landed looked pretty comfortable at guard as he made a key block that sprung Gray loose for his big gain.

[autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] and true freshman [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] scored touchdowns out wide for the receiver group. [autotag]Theo Wease[/autotag], who returned from an injury-filled 2021 also made a nice grab for a 48-yard gain that led to a touchdown early in the game. [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] saw his number called quite a few times and has a chance to be a major contributor on the heels of his electric performance to end the season in 2021. Farooq would finish with two receptions for 17 yards.

Jayden Gibson’s 95-yard touchdown helped him lead the way at receiver on the afternoon. He finished with 113 yards on three receptions and a touchdown. Marvin Mims picked up right where he left off the 2021 season with two receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, guys like defensive end [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] and defensive back Kendall Dennis stood out as both forced turnovers during the game. Downs would punch out a fumble and Dennis intercepted a pass in the second half of the game. There wasn’t too much to be made of the Sooners’ new defensive system as [autotag]Ted Roof[/autotag] kept things largely vanilla for good reason.

However, guys like [autotag]Jeffery Johnson[/autotag] and Jordan Kelley made plays from the defensive interior while [autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag] roamed at the second level making their impact felt. On the back end, Woodi Washington, Joshua Eaton made some plays on the ball. Eaton recovered the Downs forced fumble and broke up a possible touchdown in the end zone too. In the end, the red team led by DeMarco Murray got the win as they won 21-17.

Though they weren’t taking quarterbacks to the ground, Ethan Downs and [autotag]Marcus Stripling[/autotag] were credited with two sacks apiece and [autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag] added a sack for the red team. Johnson, Kelley, White, Jonah La’ulu, and [autotag]Reggie Grimes[/autotag] combined for five sacks for the white team.

While the football was the main focus, it was incredible to see the alumni turnout as the Sooners did everything in their power to get every Sooner to Norman that they could. Big names like [autotag]Adrian Peterson[/autotag], [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag], [autotag]Mark Clayton[/autotag], and [autotag]Jamelle Holieway[/autotag] were all in the building. [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag]’s Heisman statue ceremony took place at halftime with the unveiling in Heisman Park.

The pageantry, emotion and the excitement of the day delivered in spades and with no significant injuries to report, the first spring game of the [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] era can be considered a huge success.

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Oklahoma Sooners with the ninth-most players selected in the NFL draft since 2000

Highlighted by a trio of quarterbacks selected first overall, the Oklahoma Sooners rank ninth in the nation in draft picks since 2000.

The Oklahoma Sooners have been arguably the most consistent team in the country since they won their national championship in 2000. Though they haven’t been able to add that eighth national title, their run of success in the Big 12 conference and consecutive seasons with a winning record is unmatched throughout college football.

One of the reasons is the talent they’ve found through recruiting that they’ve developed for the next level.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Oklahoma Sooners rank ninth in draft picks since 2000. The Sooners will have a great chance to climb these rankings with 12 players declared for the 2022 NFL draft. It’s not likely that all of them will be selected in the seven-round draft, but it has a chance to match the 2019 class who had eight players selected.

The Sooners have had 11 players selected in the first round, highlighted by first overall picks Sam Bradford, Baker Mayfield, and Kyler Murray. In addition to the quarterbacks, they’ve had another five players taken inside the top 10 of the draft since 2000.

Their best draft class was the 2010 class that saw Bradford go No. 1, Gerald McCoy was selected third overall, Trent Williams went fourth, and Jermaine Gresham was the 21st overall pick to the Cincinnati Bengals. No other draft class has had more than two first-round picks since 2000.

The 2005 class had the most players selected with 11. That group was highlighted by Jammal Brown and Mark Clayton, who went in the first round.

The NFL combine is right around the corner, with pro day to follow, it’s still up in the air as to who will be the Sooners’ top pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Perrion Winfrey, Nik Bonitto, and Brian Asamoah have been the names considered in the second round in some of the latest mock drafts.

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Recent wide receiver offers by the Oklahoma Sooners signal a shift in philosophy

The Sooners recent WR offers reveal a shift in philosophy on the recruiting trail.

Oklahoma has had its fair share of talented wide receivers over the years. CeeDee Lamb, Sterling Shephard, Ryan Broyles, Mark Clayton, Malcolm Kelly, Dede Westbrook, and Tommy McDonald were all stars for the Crimson & Cream. They came in different shapes and sizes, but one thing remained true: They produced year after year. They showed up and showed out for the Sooners and earned the right to be considered one of the best wide receivers in Sooners history.

The Sooners have never really had a mold for what makes a wide receiver great, which is unique.

CeeDee Lamb was a skinny rail-thin kid from Foster, Texas, that was explosive and would catch almost anything in his radius. He’d go up and get jump balls but also take a drag route to the house after 65 yards. Broyles was highly effective in the intermediate areas as a first-down conversion machine, while Dede Westbrook could take the top off any defense with his speed. Malcolm Kelly made acrobatic catch after acrobatic catch.

As we look at this current group of Sooners, we see many different types of receivers. Those are all receivers brought in and recruited by Lincoln Riley, who had no set type of build he liked at receiver. Riley was reasonably simple in evaluating his receivers. He wanted guys who could simply play. It’s hard to fault him considering what his offenses did in his time at Oklahoma, but things have changed, and he’s left the prairies for the fast life of L.A., where he coaches the Trojans of USC.

Jeff Lebby, a Sooner alum and an up-and-coming offensive coordinator in his own right, has now assumed the offensive duties of the Crimson and Cream. With him, he brings an entirely new outlook on offense and personnel.

His offense doesn’t mirror Riley’s, but the biggest contrast comes with how Lebby has attacked personnel so far.

Upon his arrival as the Sooners’ new OC, Lebby offered wide receiver, Jayden Gibson. Gibson was at the time a Florida commit, and eventually, he’d flip from Florida to Oklahoma. Gibson stands at 6-foot-4. He’s enrolled and working out as an early enrollee.

That started a significant and noticeable trend of offers being shipped out to other wide receivers of the 2023 and 2024 classes. Lebby primarily likes his receivers big with long frames.

Here’s where we can draw this conclusion: Jaden Greathouse (6-foot-2), Jalen Hale (6-foot-2), and Aidan Mizell (6-foot-3) have taken precedent over guys like DeAndre Moore Jr, who recently decommitted from the Sooners.

There’s speculation that they weren’t impressed with Moore’s junior year tape and a knee injury also played a part. While both things could be true, Moore is a top 50 talent, and they still could’ve had him in the class if they wanted due to his relationship with DeMarco Murray.

The recruitment isn’t over but casting Moore while pursuing guys like Greathouse, Ashton Cozart, and Hale signals they are content moving in a different direction.

2023 Top100 recruit Jacobe Johnson from Mustang, Okla. has also been targeted by the Sooners. Johnson stands 6-foot-3.

Lebby wants big athletes out wide and will likely get those with the pool of talent he can recruit from while at Oklahoma.

The Sooners will still recruit smaller receivers, and Lebby will use them. Just look at former Ole Miss star turned early second-rounder for the New York Jets, Elijah Moore. He was a monster for them and was no bigger than Drake Stoops. Under Lebby, Moore posted 86 catches for 1,193 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. The reception yards were the most by an SEC player through the first eight games of a season.

However, it remains painfully apparent that Lebby will recruit outside receivers with length, long speed, and big frames and fill the slot with smaller, shiftier guys.

In a way, the Sooners could resemble the Clemson teams that Venables was a part of. Lately, on offense, they had big receivers like Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross and had smaller guys like Hunter Renfrow and Armani Rodgers in the slot.

It’s a fascinating change from seeing receivers of all sizes playing all over the field for the Sooners. Still, if the recent offers are any indication, the Sooners are heading toward a “big” shift at wide receiver.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

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