Tag: SEC

Longhorns recruit Lance Jackson earns top ten ranking in On3’s update

Rankings are also being rewritten, which has helped some Longhorns recruits, including Lance Jackson

With the end of the high school football season drawing closer, coaches nationwide are making their final pushes for some of the country’s top prospects. Rankings are also being rewritten, which has helped some Longhorns recruits, including Lance Jackson. In On3’s updated rankings, released Monday, Jackson saw his stock rise.

The Texas native was listed as the eighth-best five-star recruit.  Due to his size and strength, Jackson has been a human highlight reel over the last few years. During his time at Pleasant Grove High School, the talented edge rusher showed good quickness.

While Jackson could outgrow his current position, he has the skills to thrive regardless of the role he is asked to play. That is something that On3 emphasized in its list.

https://twittr.com/justinwells2424/status/1857295227867824391

“Ultimately, he may outgrow the EDGE position given his current size, but would be one of the more athletic defensive linemen in the class as well,” said On3 National Scout Cody Bellaire.

Although his collegiate debut is still months away, many Austin are excited about how Jackson will help improve the defense. They have been one of the better units in the nation this year and should continue to frustrate offensive coordinators next year with Jackson in the lineup.

On Monday, On3 showed why the Longhorns’ future with Jackson in the mix is bright.

Where does the Oklahoma Sooners defense rank in stop rate this season?

The Oklahoma Sooners are among the nation’s best in defensive stop rate.

The Oklahoma Sooners boast the best defense they’ve had in a long time this year. It may not be the elite unit that head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and defensive coordinator [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] are shooting for, but it’s still the best in years. Unfortunately, OU’s offense has fallen off a cliff, and the Sooners are just 5-5 in 2024 with two regular season games left.

One metric that shows how well the Oklahoma defense has played this year is stop rate. ESPN and staff writer Max Olson compiled all 134 FBS defenses in 2024, ranking them by their defensive stop rate.

What is stop rate? It’s a basic measurement of success: the percentage of a defense’s drives that end in punts, turnovers or a turnover on downs. – Olson, ESPN

Heading into the final two weeks of the regular season, Oklahoma ranks 18th in the country in stop rate, stopping the opposition 70.8 percent of the time. It’s one spot below Tulane and one spot about Northern Illinois. Remarkably, that’s only the sixth-best mark in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

Even more remarkable is that the Sooners have faced five of the top 17 defenses by this metric in the country: Texas (fourth), Tennessee (fifth), Ole Miss (seventh), South Carolina (15th), and Tulane (17th). OU’s next opponent, Alabama, actually has a higher stop rate than the Sooners as well, as they sit at ninth.

Oklahoma allows just 1.50 points per drive, which is impressive considering the fact that the Sooners have defended the most drives in the country this season, according to Venables, and they’ve been forced to play with a lot of short fields due to turnovers on offense.

The job Venables and Alley have done with the defense this season has been excellent, especially considering the woeful place it was in when the head coach found it three years ago. No one can argue that he’s improved that side of the ball mightily.

However, it’s what he does on the other side of the ball that will determine whether or not the Sooners get back to the place they want to be alongside the elites of college football.

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Oklahoma-Alabama gets ESPN’s lead broadcast crew on Saturday

Fowler, Herbstreit and Rowe will make their second trip to Norman in 2024.

The Oklahoma Sooners will play just their seventh game all-time against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday. Two of the undeniable blue bloods in college football will square off in Norman in front of a primetime, national TV audience in Week 13. ABC will broadcast the game as part of an “SEC on ABC” tripleheader, that concludes with the Sooners hosting the Crimson Tide at 6:30 p.m. central time.

Though ESPN’s “College GameDay” won’t be making a return trip to Norman, the network’s lead announcing crew will. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, and Holly Rowe will call their third OU game this season and second game on Owen Field.

The trio was in Norman when the Sooners hosted Tennessee in Week 4, OU’s first conference game in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. The Volunteers won 25-15, as Oklahoma struggled offensively in front of the entire country.

They were also in Dallas at the Red River Rivalry in Week 7, as the Sooners fell against the top-ranked Texas Longhorns by a score of 34-3. In the first edition of the rivalry in the Southeastern Conference, Oklahoma again fell flat in front of the nation against their biggest rivals.

Here’s hoping that the third time’s the charm for the Sooners in front of the top broadcast crew for ESPN.

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Alfred Collins ranked as top defensive tackle in Week 12 by PFF College

While the Longhorns got contributions from everyone, Alfred Collins stood out and was rewarded for his efforts

In the Longhorns win over Arkansas on Saturday, the defense continued to thrive. The Razorbacks were held to 231 yards of total offense and only recorded five first touchdowns. While the Longhorns got contributions from everyone, Alfred Collins stood out and was rewarded for his efforts.

Following the Longhorns’ victory, Collins earned a 91.6 grade from PFF College, the highest grade for a defensive lineman in Week 12. The talented senior recorded seven tackles, including two for loss. He finished the afternoon tied for second on the team in tackles, trailing only Michael Taaffe. In his best game of the season, Collins was a human highlight reel and hard to keep off the field.

While the Longhorns 2024 campaign is far from over, PFF’s recognition is another example of how good Collins has been this season. He has set career highs in total tackles with 35, solo tackles with 17, and pass deflections with four. If he can continue his recent play, more awards could be on the horizon.

As the Longhorns chase a national championship, Collins should continue to see plenty of snaps. He has proven that he can be an impactful player and is finally receiving national recognition. On a team full of talent, he is starting to stand out.

With Collins playing the best football of his college career, the Longhorns defense has another weapon to rely on.

Talaysia Cooper earns two weekly basketball awards

Tennessee redshirt sophomore guard named SEC and USBWA Player of the Week.

Tennessee redshirt sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper was named SEC Player of the Week and United States Basketball Writers Association Player of the Week.

Cooper transferred to Tennessee from South Carolina.

She averaged 25.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game in Tennessee’s victories over Middle Tennessee State and Liberty. Cooper recorded a .556 field goal percentage, a .333 three-point field goal percentage and a 100 percent free throw percentage.

She recorded her first collegiate double-double against the Blue Raiders, totaling 18 points and a career-high 10 rebounds in Tennessee’s, 89-75, win.  Cooper also totaled four assists, four steals and one block.

The 6-foot guard totaled 33 points and nine rebounds in a, 109-93, victory against Liberty.

Saul Young/USA TODAY Network

Longhorns to host 5-star recruit during Kentucky game

In the Longhorns’ final home game of the season, he will headline a talented group of recruits that features players from the 2025 and 2026 classes.

As the Longhorns look to improve their 2025 class, their next target is five-star offensive tackle and Oklahoma Sooners commit Michael Fasusi. While Fasusi is a Sooner at the moment, that hasn’t stopped the Longhorn’s pursuit. The five-star recruit will be in Austin on Saturday for a visit when Texas takes on Kentucky.

While Fasusi’s recent visit has made headlines, it is not his first trip to Austin. He made multiple unofficial visits to Texas last fall and made an official visit over the summer. In the Longhorns’ final home game of the season, he will headline a talented group of recruits that features players from the 2025 and 2026 classes.

If the Longhorns are able to flip Fasusi, they would be adding a future star to their already talented incoming class. At the moment, their 2025 class has five offensive linemen, led by four-star Nick Brooks. While he has a bright future, Brooks doesn’t have the same ceiling as Fasusi.

Currently, the Texas native is ranked as the sixth-best player in the state and 17th-best player in the nation by 247Sports. That has made Fasusi one of the most popular prospects at his position.

Although the Longhorns’ goal will be to wrap up their home schedule with a win, they will also be looking to show Fasusi that his future should be in Texas over Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Sooners captains against Alabama Crimson Tide

The Sooners will be represented by some of their veterans on Senior Day in Norman.

The Oklahoma Sooners will be back at home this week for their final home game of the 2024 season against the Alabama Crimson Tide. It’ll be Senior Day in Norman, as plenty of veteran stalwarts will be playing their final game on Owen Field.

OU head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] announced his game captains for this [autotag]SEC[/autotag] tilt. Quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], offensive lineman [autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag], defensive lineman [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and defensive backs [autotag]Billy Bowman Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag] will represent the Sooners for this key contest.

Arnold will be a captain for the second straight game after a dismal performance against Missouri. His fumble at the end allowed the Tigers to win a comeback on their home field. Arnold’s standing as a captain would seem to indicate that he’s still Venables’ starter at quarterback.

Everett has become OU’s starting center, taking control of the job after getting healthy in the middle of the season. He’s one of the few veterans still healthy on the offensive line, surrounded by portal acquisitions and youth up front.

Downs is a steady presence at defensive end for the Sooners. He isn’t the flashiest player, but he’s always in the right place. He’s grown into a solid leader and clutch player for Venables over the last three seasons.

Stutsman is the heart and soul of this team. He’s the vocal leader and the enforcer at inside linebacker in the middle of the defense. He’ll play one more game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, and his career in the crimson and cream has been excellent.

Bowman Jr. is another player who decided to return to school this past offseason, turning down a chance at the pros. If Oklahoma is makes a bowl game, it’ll likely be Bowman making a pivotal play to get them there. His scoop and score against Mizzou should have given the Sooners their sixth win two weeks ago.

Washington is the longest-tenured player on the team, having been a Sooner since 2019. He’s seen it all over his six years in Norman and is a respected veteran voice in a young locker room.

The senior group of Downs, Stutsman, Bowman and Washington are the only four defensive players that remain from the Lincoln Riley-Alex Grinch era at Oklahoma. They have been here for the transformation of OU’s defense over the last three seasons and have a huge hand in what that side of the ball looks like today.

As the season winds to a close for the Sooners, the coaching staff will clearly be looking to Arnold and the veterans to pave the way for Oklahoma to try to upset Alabama.

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Where do the Oklahoma Sooners land in USA TODAY Sports’ 1-134 rankings?

Where did the Oklahoma Sooners land in the most recent 1-134 rankings from USA TODAY Sports?

Following their second and final bye week of the 2024 season, the Oklahoma Sooners are preparing for a battle against the Alabama Crimson Tide. It’ll be the final home game of the year for OU, and it could be the penultimate game of the season if the Sooners can’t find a way to split their last two contests.

A 5-5 record overall and a 1-5 mark in Southeastern Conference play in head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ third season is a far cry from what is expected from this program. Year 1 in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag] has been a disaster, and there are a multitude of questions surrounding the program going forward.

One area where the fall of Oklahoma can be seen is in USA TODAY Sports’ weekly 1-134 rankings of each team at the NCAA Division I FBS level of college football. A team regularly in the top five or ten in the past quarter-century has fallen completely out of the top 25.

Staff writer Paul Myerberg ranks the Sooners as the No. 44 team in the country, up one spot from a week ago, with OU on an open date in Week 12. That’s good for twelfth in the SEC, behind Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M, South Carolina, LSU, Missouri, Vanderbilt and Florida. There are 13 of the 16 SEC teams in the top 50, with Arkansas at No. 46.

Oklahoma is, interestingly enough, listed between two programs who had coaches on the hot seat, before confirming that they will indeed return next year. No. 43 Florida will be retaining head coach Billy Napier and No. 45 Baylor will stick with head coach Dave Aranda.

It’s a generous ranking from Myerberg to say the least, as Oklahoma has looked like one of the worst teams in the Power Four at multiple points this season. It’s not a pretty sight to see yourself suddenly looking up at the Gators, who have struggled mightily for the last four years. The Bears, meanwhile, have cratered over the last three years before a bit of an uptick midway through this season.

That’s not where you want to be if you’re the Oklahoma Sooners. It’s just one more signal that things have to get moving in the right direction again, or else OU will fall dangerously behind the curve in the SEC.

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2024 SEC rushing yard leaders after Week 12

A look at SEC rushing yard leaders after Week 12 in 2024.

Week 12 of the 2024 college football season has concluded.

Tennessee (8-2, 5-2 SEC) will next host UTEP (2-8, 2-5 C-USA) at Neyland Stadium in Week 13 after losing at Georgia, 31-17. Kickoff between the Vols and Miners is slated for 1 p.m. EST (SEC Network +).

Following Week 12 games, Vols Wire looks at statistical leaders in the Southeastern Conference. Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson ranks first in the SEC for rushing yards.

Below are the top five rushing yards leaders in the SEC entering Week 13.

  1. Dylan Sampson, Tennessee (1,230)
  2. Jarquez Hunter, Auburn (1,015)
  3. Le’Veon Moss, Texas A&M (765)
  4. Raheim Sanders, South Carolina (749)
  5. Nate Noel, Missouri (684)

2024 SEC football power rankings after Week 12 can be viewed here.

Dylan Sampson. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

What did Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer have to say about the Oklahoma Sooners?

Kalen DeBoer and Brent Venables will meet for the first time when Alabama visits Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Sooners look to gain bowl eligibility on Saturday when they host the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday. OU is 5-5 and has the Tide coming to Norman for the final home game of the 2024 season.

This game has lost some of its luster due to the Sooners being as bad as they are, but it’s a measuring stick to see how far [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ team has to go if it wants to hang with the best of the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

The Crimson Tide have a new coach this season for the first time since 2007. Kalen DeBoer replaced Nick Saban after the legendary coach retired after last season. So far, it’s been an 8-2 season for ‘Bama with losses on the road against Vanderbilt and Tennessee.

Alabama is still right in the mix to play in the SEC Championship game and they can’t afford a loss against Oklahoma. DeBoer has had the tough task of stepping in for an icon, but he’s done well in his first season in Tuscaloosa. He gave his initial thoughts on OU during his Monday press availability.

“It’s going to take a great week of preparation,” DeBoer said. “A physical football team all around. Their defense is, I think, an extremely tough defense, always just what they do with their scheme and then their personnel and the way they fly around. We’ll have to get ready for their offense with a couple of quarterbacks, potentially, just some skilled players.”

DeBoer went on to highlight the number of close games the Sooners have been in this season, specifically their last loss against the Missouri Tigers.

“You look at the games they’ve played, a lot of close games going into the second half and even the fourth quarter,” DeBoer said. “The Missouri game obviously was a crazy ending and some plays made both ways just in the final two minutes. Each and every game takes on its own life and for us, we’re focused on the next play and for us, the next game and everything that goes into being our best and that’s what our recipe for success has been here over the last month.”

DeBoer and Bama will have a great deal of confidence as they swagger onto Owen Field this week. It’ll be up to Venables and OU to halt their momentum to get win No. 6 on the season.

Kickoff between Oklahoma and Alabama is set for 6:30 p.m. Central. The game will be broadcast on ABC.

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