Tag: Trejan Bridges

Member of Oklahoma radio crew is ‘very, very confident’ Ronnie Perkins plays against Texas Tech

Who knows what’s going to happen on Saturday with some players that Oklahoma has been missing. But maybe there is something happening.

Who knows what’s going to happen on Saturday in Lubbock, Texas, with some players that Oklahoma has been missing.

The Sooners have been without starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson, wide receiver Trejan Bridges and star defensive end Ronnie Perkins for their last six games dating back to the 2019 season. The three players have been suspended, stemming from testing positive for marijuana in a drug test prior to the College Football Playoff in 2019.

Head coach Lincoln Riley has yet to comment fully on the three players status. Even on Monday, Riley said he doesn’t have anything new despite the players already missing the required six games for failing a drug test for marijuana.

Almost a month ago, Perkins had received a special NCAA appeal that was set to lift his suspension. Then, he didn’t travel for the last two games despite doing so for the Iowa State.

Maybe there is something we don’t know.

Former Oklahoma stars Teddy Lehman and Gabe Ikard are members of the Oklahoma radio crew during the Sooners’ games. They also have a podcast called The Oklahoma Breakdown.

On Sunday night, they released their latest episode, where Lehman exuded confidence that at least Perkins would play against Texas Tech this week after all.

“He’s going to play in Lubbock? Are we sure? Do we know? Do we feel good about it?” Ikard asked Lehman.

“With Perkins right now, I don’t know you feel certain about it until the ball is snapped on the first play,” Lehman responded. “I don’t even care about warmups. As of right now, I feel about as certain as I could the week before the game starts. Does something pop up throughout the week? I can’t say that it doesn’t, but as of today, I’m very, very confident that he’s playing.”

To add on to the intrigue, the mother of Stevenson said she will be in Lubbock, Texas, this weekend to cheer on Oklahoma.

Again, Oklahoma has yet to officially comment on the status of the three players.

The Sooners travel to play Texas Tech on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.

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Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley on 3 suspended players status: ‘I don’t have one’

The NCAA rules are the NCAA rules. Well, maybe. There is still no update on the suspended players from the end of the last season.

The NCAA rules are the NCAA rules. Well, maybe.

Oklahoma hasn’t been able to use starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson, wide receiver Trejan Bridges or star defensive end Ronnie Perkins stemming from a suspension at the end of the 2019 season. The three missed the Sooners’ biggest game of the year in the College Football Playoff.

Stevenson, Bridges and Perkins failed a drug test for marijuana at the end of last season and prior to the LSU game. Per the NCAA rules, anyone who fails  a drug test for substance in the cannabinoid class is subject to being withheld from 50 percent of the season in which the sport is played.

The three suspended players have missed six games already, which would have been the end of the suspensions. That may or may not be the case.

“I don’t have one,” Riley said about an update on the suspended players on Monday’s Big 12 teleconference. This process is not as clear-cut as you guys think it is or as I thought it was going to be. So, I’m not trying to play games. I’m not trying to do any of that. I do not know what their status is right now. It has not been decided.”

Perkins received a special NCAA appeal two weeks ago and traveled to Ames, Iowa, and was on the sidelines. He has not traveled and been on the sidelines the last two weeks.

Oklahoma will take on Texas Tech Saturday at 7 p.m. CT.

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Lincoln Riley has no update on the 3 players suspended from end of 2019 season

Oklahoma desperately missed the presence of Ronnie Perkins and Rhamondre Stevenson in the 2019 Peach Bowl. OU also missed Trejan Bridges.

Oklahoma desperately missed the presence of Ronnie Perkins and Rhamondre Stevenson in the 2019 Peach Bowl. The Sooners were also missing Trejan Bridges.

The three players were suspended for the game due to a failed drug test at the end of the season. Lincoln Riley has been asked about the three’s suspension as an appeal process has been going on, but no update has been provided all offseason.

That hasn’t changed just days before the first game.

“The three, guys that were previously out, no new update on that right now, could come at any point but certainly no update on that right now,” Riley told the media on Tuesday during a zoom conference call.

As it stands today, the three would miss ’50 percent of competition’ dating back to the one game they missed in 2019 according to NCAA legislation. Oklahoma appealed the suspensions, but according to Riley, the Sooners have yet to find out a final answer to that appeal.

Oklahoma will kickoff the 2020 season on Saturday against Missouri State at 6 p.m. CT against Missouri State at home.

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Oklahoma 2020 player card: No. 8 Trejan Bridges

Sooners Wire will be creating player cards for readers to be introduced to the 2020 roster. Here is No. 8: Trejan Bridges

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There is a ton of momentum to having a 2020 college football season these days. No definite signs, yet, but the season would start three and a half months from now.

Sooners Wire will be creating player cards for readers to be introduced to the 2020 roster.

Here is the No. 8 on Oklahoma’s roster.

Name: Trejan Bridges

Number: No. 8

Year: Sophomore

Position: Wide receiver

Hometown: Carrollton, Texas

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 184-pounds

After a slow freshman season from Trejan Bridges, he should have an opportunity to shine as a sophomore.

Bridges was apart of the trio of five-star receivers that came along with Spencer Rattler in the 2019 class. Out of Hebron high school, he was the No. 4 overall receiver in the class according to Rivals.

Bridges’ first year with Oklahoma was up-and-down.  He saw some action in his first few games at WR, even catching a touchdown in the second game, but explored a move to DB midway through the season.

In 2020, Bridges will have his chance to earn the starting H-receiver role for Oklahoma, something he excelled at in his time at Hebron. He’s extremely versatile, and his ability to get yardage after the catch could be well used by Lincoln Riley. In 2019, he grabbed seven receptions for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Bridges will most likely sit out the first five games of the season due to a late 2019 suspension, along with Ronnie Perkins and Rhamondre Stevenson.

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Lincoln Riley still has no update on the status of the 3 suspended Oklahoma players

The status of OU’s best defensive player for the first five games of the season is still unknown, as well as two others that are suspended.

The status of Oklahoma’s best defensive player for the first five games of the season is still up in the air.

Ronnie Perkins was suspended for the Peach Bowl due to failing a marijuana drug test after the regular season. Trejan Bridges and Rhamondre Stevenson also received the same suspension.

A suspension for a failed drug test is 50 percent of team competition. That means the three are set to miss the first five games of 2020 after missing the one game in 2019. Oklahoma applied for an appeal, but Lincoln Riley told members of the media on Thursday that there is still no update on their status for the first five games of 2020.

“I think that’s fair to say, that all of this has probably slowed this process down,” Riley said. “It’s still being discussed. I don’t think it’s going to get left unattended to, but I do believe it’s fair to say that has slowed it down. There’s obviously other priorities that are a lot higher right now for the people that make those decisions.”

Oklahoma has a major hole at defensive end and depth problems at running back and wide receiver—where each of the three suspended players play.

The Sooners are still scheduled to begin the

Lincoln Riley says Shane Beamer will ‘take a bigger role with special teams’

Lincoln Riley named Shane Beamer his special teams coordinator at his press conference on Wednesday.

Lincoln Riley named Shane Beamer his special teams coordinator at his press conference on Wednesday.

The vacancy came open due to Jay Boulware’s departure to Texas. Boulware spent seven seasons with the Sooners, acting as Oklahoma’s running backs and special teams coach.

Riley has not given the special teams coaching role to anyone yet. Along with Beamer, cornerbacks coach Roy Manning has spent time coaching special teams in his lone season at UCLA. New running backs coach DeMarco Murray also returned kickoffs for Oklahoma during his playing days starring for the Sooners.

Beamer was initially hired on as Oklahoma’s assistant head coach and tight ends coach in 2018. He spent the previous year as the tight ends and special teams coach for Georgia. Before that he had stints at South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Georgia Tech.

Demarco Murray replaced Boulware as the Sooners running backs coach.

The Sooners begin spring practice on March 10, and will play their annual Spring Game on April 18. Their first game of the 2020 season will be against Missouri State on Sep. 5.

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Oklahoma plans to begin spring practice prior to spring break

Lincoln Riley announced at his Wednesday press conference that Oklahoma football will begin spring practice on March 10.

Lincoln Riley announced at his Wednesday press conference that Oklahoma football will begin spring practice prior to spring break.

The University of Oklahoma’s spring break commences on March 14 and lasts through March 22.

A lot is up in the air with this Sooners team, but one thing is certain—there will assuredly be a quarterback battle. This year’s contest features freshman Spencer Rattler and junior Tanner Mordecai. While Mordecai saw a majority of the backup role behind Jalen Hurts last season, Riley opted to go with Rattler at the end of the game in last year’s loss to LSU in the Peach Bowl. Both have plenty of arm talent.

This will be Alex Grinch’s second spring season with the Sooners. After losing several key players to the NFL draft, including linebacker Kenneth Murray and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore, a lot is left to be desired for Oklahoma’s defense. With a full season under his belt at Oklahoma, Grinch should continue to help the unit improve.

Oklahoma’s spring game will kick off on April 18. The time has not been announced.

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Lincoln Riley provides no update on suspended players, says ‘process is ongoing’

Lincoln Riley gave a post-signing day press conference prior to introducing Jamar Cain and DeMarco Murray.

Lincoln Riley gave a post-signing day press conference prior to introducing outside linebackers/defensive ends coach Jamar Cain and running backs coach DeMarco Murray.

Prior to the Peach Bowl, Ronnie Perkins, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Trejan Bridges were all suspended for failing an NCAA drug test. The trio was suspended for the Peach Bowl and the national championship game if the Sooners would have made it that far.

NCAA rules state that a player failing a drug test must sit out for half the regular season, regardless of the sport. With the trio already serving one game, that leaves five games for them left to serve if their appeals do not lessen the punishment.

Looking forward, Oklahoma opens the season against Missouri State on Sept. 5. The Sooners play host to Tennessee before playing against Army on the road following a BYE week. To open Big 12 play, Oklahoma squares off against Baylor and Texas in their first two conference games.

If the appeals process does not pan out for the trio, they will not be available to play until Oct. 17 when the Sooners head to Ames, Iowa in Week 7.

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Oklahoma a consensus top-10 team in way-too-early rankings

Yet another star quarterback is out the door for Oklahoma, as well as defensive standouts Kenneth Murray and Neville Gallimore. But all hope is not lost, as the Sooners will be looking to host another high-powered offense next season.

Yet another star quarterback is out the door for Oklahoma, as well as defensive standouts Kenneth Murray and Neville Gallimore. But all hope is not lost, as the Sooners will be looking to host another high-powered offense next season.

Pro Football Focus has Oklahoma ranked No. 7 in the way-too-early Top 25 rankings for next season. Their primary reason for placing Oklahoma among the top teams in the nation will yet again be Lincoln Riley’s dangerous offense.

With Jalen Hurts gone to the NFL, Spencer Rattler will likely step in at quarterback for the Sooners. The highly touted freshman hailing from Pinnacle, Arizona will stand behind an offensive line that returns five of it’s six core members from last season, and should have plenty of talented receiving threats next season.

The five-star trio of Jadon Haselwood, Theo Wease and Trejan Bridges all have games under their belt now, and PFF has Charleston Rambo listed as a top 25 returning receiver in the country.

On top of their established talent, Oklahoma has taken on UCLA’s Theo Howard as a graduate-transfer. Howard saw 51 receptions last season, and is sure to see production with the Sooners.

If their passing game was enough, PFF has three of the Sooners running backs, Rhamondre Stevenson, Kennedy Brooks, and Trey Sermon, rated in the top 25 of the country next year. Brooks and Sermon round out the top-10 at No. 6 and 8 respectively, with Stevenson making the cut at No. 25.

Not much was said of the Sooner’s defense, but with Alex Grinch in his second year, and another patented Lincoln Riley offense full of weapons, the Sooners should be in good position for next season.

Lincoln Riley confirms Ronnie Perkins, Rhamondre Stevenson, Trejan Bridges will not play in College Football Playoff

Oklahoma will in fact be without three players for the College Football Playoff at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against LSU. 

Oklahoma will in fact be without three players for the College Football Playoff at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against LSU.

It was reported on Dec. 18 that Ronnie Perkins, Rhamondre Stevenson and Trejan Bridges would miss the game due to a suspension. Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley confirmed Monday at his initial Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl press conference that the three won’t play in the game.

Perkins finished the year as one of Oklahoma’s premier defensive linemen, accounting for 28 solo tackles, 13.5 of which were for loss, and six sacks. He finished with 38 tackles in total for the year.

In total, Stevenson carried the rock 65 times for 516 yards for the Sooners, an average of 7.9 yards per carry. He was a solid backup to Kennedy Brooks, and had just began to find his groove, rushing for 16.7 yard per carry against Oklahoma State and 6.0 yards per carry with a touchdown in the game against Baylor in the Big 12 title game.

Just one of the five-star 2019 receiver trio for the Sooners, Bridges was a special teams mainstay for Oklahoma, but showed flashes at the Z-Receiver position. The highlight of his season came against South Dakota when he recorded 3 catches for 43 yards and a touchdown. His last catch was a 7-yard touchdown reception against Iowa State.

Here is what those guys absence means for Oklahoma.

The Sooners and LSU will kickoff the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl from Atlanta at Mercedes Benz Stadium on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT.

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