Tag: The Associated Press

Oklahoma’s Nik Bonitto nabs second team All-America honors from Sporting News

Oklahoma outside linebacker Nik Bonitto earned second team All-America honors from Sporting News.

Oklahoma outside linebacker Nik Bonitto was named a second-team All-America selection by Sporting News after a fabulous regular season that saw him lead the Sooners in tackles for loss with 15.

It’s been a parade of accolades for Bonitto over the past week.

Bonitto picked up second-team All-America status from USA TODAY Sports and earned third-team All-America recognition from the Associated Press.

During Oklahoma’s regular season, Bonitto recorded 39 tackles and also finished second on the team with seven sacks.

The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., product registered a team-high nine quarterback hurries, recovered three fumbles and forced another fumble over the course of this season.

In 10 games in 2020, Bonitto finished tied for second on Oklahoma with 10.5 tackles for loss, second on the team with eight sacks and first with 10 quarterback hurries.

Bonitto announced on Dec. 6 that he was opting out of Oklahoma’s bowl game against Oregon and declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft.

“The last 4 years in Norman have been some of the best times of my life. I have made some unforgettable memories and made some long time friends. I would [like] to thank God, my family, my coaches, teammates, and most importantly you Sooner Nation.

“Although this place has always been my home, I’m excited for this next chapter of my life. With that being said I have decided to opt out of the bowl game and declare for the 2022 NFL Draft. Although my time is done I will always have that OU DNA,” Bonitto wrote in his NFL Draft declaration.

Bonitto ends his Oklahoma career with 117 total tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, 24 quarterback hurries and eight pass breakups. He started in 29 of the 39 games he played in over the past three seasons.

Bonitto ranks third in OU history in career sacks by a linebacker, trailing only Eric Striker (23 sacks from 2012-15) and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (21.0 sacks from 2014-17).

Bonitto’s 18.5 career sacks ranks 13th overall in career sacks at any position.

Three other Sooners defensive starters have opted out of the Valero Alamo Bowl, too. Linebacker Brian Asamoah, defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas and defensive lineman Perrion Winfrey.

Against the Ducks, OU will be looking to replace its leading tackler in Asamoah and its top three tackles for loss and sacks producers in Bonitto, Thomas and Winfrey.

The Valero Alamo Bowl against Oregon kicks off at 8:15 on ESPN on Dec. 29.

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Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey, Gabe Brkic named AP Preseason All-Americans

Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey and Gabe Brkic were named AP Preseason All-Americans

Center Creed Humphrey and kicker Gabe Brkic were named to The Associated Press’ Preseason All-American teams on Tuesday.

A redshirt junior, Humphrey was named to the first team. Humphrey took 877 snaps as a redshirt freshman in 2017 and 858 snaps as a sophomore in 2018, and has now earned himself the status of one of the top linemen in college football.

He has also been named to both the Walter Camp and Sporting News first-team preseason All-American teams, as well as the Big 12 preseason All-American squad.

Humphrey finished as a finalist for the Remington trophy last season, and will be Oklahoma’s best shot at a first round draft pick.

Brkic, a sophomore, is accumulating his own list of preseason awards as well. He was named to AP’s second team.

A finalist for the Lou Groza award in 2019, Brkic finished his freshman campaign a perfect 17-for-17 on field goals, as well as 52-for-52 on extra points. He was the only kicker in 2019 to make every attempt.

The redshirt sophomore was also named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team, as well as the Sporting News preseason team.

Oklahoma is currently still schedule to take on Missouri State on Sept. 12 for their season opener.

Promoter Bob Arum confirms target restart date of June 9

Promoter Bob Arum confirmed plans to stage a five-fight show behind closed doors on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on ESPN.

June 9. Mark it in your calendar.

Promoter Bob Arum confirmed to The Associated Press plans to stage a five-fight show behind closed doors on that date — a Tuesday — at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on ESPN, the first  boxing card in the U.S. since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in March.

And that would be only the first show to come in quick succession. Another card is set for June 11, also on ESPN. Arum plans to stage two shows a week through July.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission has yet to approve the cards but Arum has worked closely with state officials in his planning. The regulatory body is scheduled to meet next week to rule the Top Rank shows and two UFC cards scheduled for Las Vegas.

Arum’s plans also are contingent on the opening of the MGM Grand and other hotels in Las Vegas, which is expected to take place the week of June, according to The Associated Press.

“Once we get those fights in and UFC gets its initial fights in, both of us will ask for additional dates,” Arum said. “The key was getting enough testing, and we’ve got plenty of testing in Nevada to hold our events.”

Who will be fighting on the cards? Featherweight titleholder Shakur Stevenson, who was scheduled to fight on a Top Rank card in March that was later canceled because of the pandemic, is expected to fight on the first show. No opponent has been selected.

“These will be the same guys we were going to have before to the extent possible,” Arum said. “Guys like Shakur Stevenson and others who would have been fighting on our cards.”

Arum said fighters and cornermen will be tested for COVID-19 twice a day and will stay on what he called a “bubble” floor at the MGM Grand. They will be allowed to leave only to eat at specified restaurants in the hotel and train at the Top Rank gym.

The goal of the twice-a-day testing is to avoid a positive test the night before the event, which occurred with UFC 249 on May 9 in Jacksonville, Florida.

“Our protocols will be much more stringent than UFC had in Florida,” Arum said. “In ours you would’ve have fighter testing positive the day of the fight or the day before.”

Golden Boy Promotions officials have mentioned a possible restart date of July 4 but they haven’t worked out the details. Promoter Eddie Hearn is shooting for a July restart in the U.K.