Tag: Sam Bradford

Oklahoma Sooners name captains for Week 12 against the BYU Cougars

The Oklahoma Sooners have announced who the captains will be for this week’s game against the BYU Cougars.

The Oklahoma Sooners head to Provo, UT for the first time in program history to take on the [autotag]BYU Cougars[/autotag]. The Sooners and Cougars have met only two times before.

The first meeting came in the 1994 Copper Bowl, which saw a 31-6 Cougars win in a decade that was one of the worst in program history. The other matchup occurred at the start of the 2009 season in Arlington, TX. It’s a game many Sooner fans remember. That 2009 team had a ton of national hype before the season, but Heisman winner [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag] got injured in that game and essentially missed the rest of the season. The Cougars won 14-13.

Now the Sooners head to Utah for their one and only meeting as conference foes. In the build up to the game, the Sooners have announced their captains as Oklahoma attempts to get on the board in the all-time series.

This week’s captains will be [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag], [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag], [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag], [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag], [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag] and [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag].

It’s a young group with three freshmen and a sophomore. You also get a true freshman in that group.

Green has become a mainstay at guard since coming into the game in the Sooners Red River win in the Cotton Bowl.

Terry has been a force for the Sooners defensive line, eating up blocks to allow the linebackers to fly around. He’s been a key player in the Sooners’ goal-line stand success this season.

Thomas is someone who came in to the season with a lot of hype but has battled injuries for much of the season. He seems to finally be healthy getting his footing. [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] mentioned Thomas was their best EDGE defender in the offseason before getting injured.

Sexton has played as a role player on the offensive line since coming back from injury. But last week, with the injury to [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag], Sexton got the start and played really well. Guyton’s status is one of the key injuries to watch this week, but Sexton could be in line for another start.

Sawchuk has really found a rhythm the last few weeks and has given Oklahoma stability at the running back position. He’s rushed for more than 100 yards in back-to-back games.

Dolby has been one of the mainstays on the defensive side of the ball. He’s taken over Justin Harrington’s role as the defensive back version of the cheetah and become an impact player as one of the Sooners’ best cover guys.

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.

Josh Dobbs wins NFC Offensive Player of the Week award

Dobbs won the award after his Sam Bradford esque performance on Sunday

Once again, a Minnesota Vikings player was honored with an award. After playing Madden against the Atlanta Falcons, quarterback Josh Dobbs wins the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award.

We can talk about it for days upon days with Dobbs, as his performance against the Falcons is one that will sit in Vikings lore forever.

Dobbs’ play was similar to that of Sam Bradford in week two against the Green Bay Packers in 2016. Bradford had 13 days to get the playbook down and led the Vikings to an impressive victory.

Dobbs did something very similar in throwing for 150 yards, rushing for 68 yards and three total touchdowns. Imagine what he could do with time in the playbook. He will have a chance to do that on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

This is the second player of the week award with inside linebacker Jordan Hicks having won after the week six win against the Chicago Bears.

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Dillon Gabriel named a finalist for two prestigious awards

Dillon Gabriel has had a great season for the Sooners so far and that has landed him as a finalist of two awards.

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] has been as good as advertised this season for the Oklahoma Sooners. He’s currently completing a career-high 71.4% of his passes for 2,302 yards, 19 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

His play this season has earned him a spot as a finalist for two prestigious awards; the [autotag]Davey O’Brien[/autotag] QB Class of 2023 and the Unitas Golden Arm Award.

Gabriel is a member of the 35-player Davey O’Brien QB Class making him an official candidate for the 2023 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, which will be presented on Dec. 8, 2023.

A Sooner has won the Davey O’Brien award six times. [autotag]Billy Sims[/autotag] won the first one in 1978 when it was given to the most outstanding player and not just the most outstanding quarterback. [autotag]Jason White[/autotag] won the award twice, in 2003 and 2004. [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag] won the award in 2008. [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] in 2017, and [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] in 2018.

He was announced as a top-10 finalist for the [autotag]Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[/autotag] on Tuesday. That award is given to the top quarterback who is a college senior or fourth-year junior on schedule to graduate with their class. White is the lone Sooner to win the award.

Gabriel is certainly deserving of both of those awards. Per a release from the University of Oklahoma, He ranks in the top 10 nationally in points responsible for per game (20.2; third), total offense (324.5 yards per game; fifth), pass completion percentage (.714; eighth), passing efficiency rating (169.6; ninth) and passing touchdowns (19; 10th). He also leads the Big 12 in passing offense (278.8 yards per game; 13th nationally) and yards per pass attempt (9.1; 14th nationally).

He has a big opportunity to build upon his stellar season with a rivalry game this weekend.

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.

Three Stars: Dillon Gabriel shines bright and leads the way as Sooners dispatch of Iowa State

Oklahoma dominated Iowa State. Take a look at our three-stars from the game.

Oklahoma is one win away from matching their entire win total from last year. If they win their next game, the dialogue about what this Oklahoma team can achieve this year may shift significantly.

Next up is a game against their rivals, Texas. But that game wouldn’t mean nearly as much if they laid an egg against Iowa State.

The Sooners won decisively, beating the Cyclones 50-20 in front of a packed-out Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Saturday night.

The game never felt out of the Sooners’ control despite a couple of busts in coverage leading to two Iowa State touchdowns. Those two touchdowns allowed the Cyclones to cut the Sooners lead to one at 21-20. But with about nine minutes left in the second quarter, the Sooners took control of the game.

Oklahoma reeled off 29 unanswered points to put the game to bed.

The passing offense continues to hum, and while Gabriel didn’t complete 90 percent of his passes, he looked in command and played with an edge on Saturday night.

The defense pitched a second-half shutout and cleaned up some costly miscues that led to scores in the first half.

Here are this week’s 3 Stars from the win.

Up Next: Three Stars

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No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners vs Tulsa Golden Hurricane: How to Watch, key players, weather forecast for gameday

The Sooners take on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and here is how you can watch the game, the key players to watch and the weather forecast.

Fresh off an up-and-down game last week against the SMU Mustangs, the Oklahoma Sooners are set to take on another [autotag]American Athletic Conference[/autotag] member, the [autotag]Tulsa Golden Hurricane[/autotag].

Tulsa, led by former Oklahoma offensive coordinator [autotag]Kevin Wilson[/autotag] brings an offense that hopes to give the Sooners defense fits this week. Tulsa has the No. 56 ranked offense in the nation.

While most people remember Wilson for his impressive passing attack led by [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag] when he was in Norman, his Tulsa team is different this year. While they don’t excel in the passing game, they do in the running game, ranking No. 26th in the country.

But if you are wondering how you can watch the game, what key players to look for, or what the weather will be like, we’ve got you covered.

Every season-opening game for Eagles since 2010

With Philadelphia heading to New England to face the Patriots on Sunday, we look back at every season opener for the #Eagles since 2010.

Detroit defeated Kansas City and the NFL’s opening matchup, and it’s officially game week for the Eagles and 29 other teams around the NFL.

Philadelphia will hit the road for a matchup against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, and it’ll be a celebration of retired quarterback, Tom Brady.

Over the years, the Eagles have had great success in Week One, and a strong start on Sunday could again catapult the team to postseason success in late January.

With preparation for New England underway, here’s a recap of every season opener since 2010.

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.

 

Cardinals involved in 3 Week 1 games with 1st-round QBs making debuts

They have never lost these games, beating Sam Bradford and Cam Newton and having Kyler Murray’s debut end in a tie.

Since 2002, 22 quarterbacks drafted in the first round opened their rookie season in Week 1 as a starter, according to Mark Lane, writing for Touchdown Wire.

The Arizona Cardinals have been involved in three of those games, twice as the opponent and once with the rookie quarterback.

They have not lost any of those games.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Former Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham makes the Athletic’s All-EA Sports NCAA Football Team

Former Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham makes the Athletic’s All-EA Sports NCAA Football Team.

It’s been almost a decade since you had the friends over, turned on your gaming console, put in the newest NCAA football game, and battled it out to the early morning hours the following day.

The college football game was a mainstay at many households across the country, with NCAA Football 14 with former Michigan QB Denard Robinson donning the cover of the final game… or so we thought.

That was until nearly two years ago when EA Sports announced the game would finally be returning after NIL was passed, which allowed athletes to get paid for their name, image, and likeness.

But gamers have to wait at least one more year before the new game releases.

So, to get us in the mood, The Athletic released its All-EA Sports NCAA Football Team (subscription required), and a former Sooner made the squad.

TE Jermaine Gresham had an impressive career at the University of Oklahoma from 2006-2009. He would ultimately miss the 2009 season due to an injury, but before that, he totaled more than 1,600 yards and more than 25 touchdowns during his career.

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Gresham’s best season was undoubtedly the 2008 season, when the Sooners’ offense set multiple offensive records.

That season Gresham was a first-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 selection. He had the most TDs (14) and receiving yards (950) by a TE.

Those numbers lead him to garner a 99 overall rating in the 2009 edition of the video game, putting him as The Athletic’s choice for the TE position.

Some honorable mentions were Miami’s Greg Olsen and Notre Dame’s Tyler Eifert.

Both of those would have been good selections, but the gamers out there know Gresham was the clear choice. He was a cheat code to play with due to his incredible catching ability, route running, speed, and how easily he broke tackles.

There’s no doubt about it, Gresham and that Oklahoma offense led to a lot of arguments and probably a lot of broken controllers as well.

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Jalen Hurts among Pro Football Focus’ top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL

Pro Football Focus ranked each starting quarterback in the NFL for the 2023 season and Jalen Hurts landed in the top 10.

No university has produced quarterback play at the level of the University of Oklahoma since the turn of the century.

Look no further than ESPN’s list of the 75-best quarterbacks in college football since 2000. Six Sooners were ranked by Bill Connelly, with [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] taking the top spot. [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] was No. 7 and [autotag]Sam Bradford[/autotag] was No. 15. The Sooners were the only school with two quarterbacks in the top 10 and three in the top 15.

Among those ranked was [autotag]Jalen Hurts[/autotag], who came in at No. 25. his progression from Alabama quarterback to Oklahoma to helping Philadelphia get to the Super Bowl last season is one of the more remarkable stories we’ve seen in football over the last decade.

It’s a credit to his work ethic and how he’s been able to continually improve each offseason. With an MVP-type season in 2022, Hurts earned a spot among Pro Football Focus’ top 10 starting quarterbacks heading into the 2023 season. PFF’s Sam Monson had at No. 7 behind only Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Aaron Rodgers, and Lamar Jackson.

Here’s what Monson had to say.

Hurts was phenomenal in 2022, but the hardest part of that kind of play in the NFL is sustaining it. Lamar Jackson one spot above him is a great example of that. Hurts has taken big steps forward every season of his career, and if he has another one in the tank, then he is ranked too low at No. 7. Hurts averaged 8.0 yards per attempt last season and added almost 800 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. – Monson, PFF

Jalen Hurts made a huge leap in his passing production in 2022 and it helped the Philadelphia Eagles take the next step and reach the Super Bowl. As Monson discusses, quarterbacks who predicate a large amount of their production off of the running game can have a difficult time sustaining it due to the wear and tear nature of running the football in the NFL.

But Hurts has improved every year of his quarterbacking life. So there’s reason to believe he can continue to evolve as a passer and rely less on his running ability.

On the flip side, there’s a difference between Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson. In the type of body style and their style of running. Hurts will take on more hits, but he’s built to better withstand the pounding.

Another quarterback worth discussing is Baker Mayfield, who made the move from the Los Angeles Rams to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looking for another opportunity to start.

It’s difficult to argue that Mayfield’s 2022 season was easily predictable, but it’s equally difficult to maintain any kind of lofty expectations for him going forward after witnessing it. His 50.6 PFF grade on the year was 13 grading points lower than his previous career-worst mark (which involved a torn shoulder), and it speaks volumes that the Rams were happy to let him walk after he led the team to a remarkable win just after stepping off the plane after they traded for him. Mayfield has very good play on his NFL resume, but it’s getting harder and harder to see it in the rearview mirror. – Monson – PFF

It hasn’t been linear growth for Mayfield at the NFL level. At the same time, he hasn’t been in the most stable situations either. One could argue that his time with Los Angeles and now in Tampa Bay are far better situations for the former No. 1 overall pick than the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers.

Mayfield will get to work with one of the best and most consistent wide receivers in the NFL in Mike Evans, the former Texas A&M product. In nine seasons, Evans has nine 1,000-yard seasons and has never played fewer than 13 games in an NFL season. Evans also has four seasons with double-digit touchdown receptions.

Additionally, Mayfield will have Chris Godwin on the other side of the field to throw to. Godwin has five straight seasons of at least 800 yards receiving and has three 1,000-yard seasons in that same span.

Easily, this is the best group of wide receivers that Mayfield has worked with since he was slinging the ball to CeeDee Lamb and Marquise Brown. If he can put together a year in which Tampa Bay contends for the playoffs, he may have found his new home.

As for Kyler Murray, because he won’t be ready for the start of the 2023 season, Monson has Colt McCoy listed as the Cardinals starting quarterback.

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.