What’s up, everybody?

The Oklahoma Sooners are proud to boast some of the most upstanding student-athletes, and linebacker Caleb Kelly deservedly belongs at the front of that conversation, especially after being named to the 2018 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his contributions in community service.

Kelly is known for what he does on the field, but his actions off the field have made him one of 22 football players to make the Good Works squad. The Fresno, California native has traveled to Haiti to help with rebuilding efforts, participated in local food drives, and volunteered at camps for youth with special needs. For all the exemplary young men on the Sooners’ football team, Kelly is somebody we can all admire.

Past Sooners to receive the prestigious honor include Jacob Gutierrez (‘06), Nic Harris (‘07), Gerald McCoy (‘08) and Quinton Carter (‘10). Congratulations, Caleb! You’ll fit right in with the best of the best for all that you do for the community and beyond.

Now let’s get started on some Hot Links! Backup QB Austin Kendall could return from his Week 1 knee injury this weekend, Justin Broiles and the defense are determined to change the culture at Oklahoma, Ric Flair is still the coolest guy in the room and more!

OU Links

• In case you missed it, don’t forget to check out the latest episode of Oklahoma Breakdown. On this week’s pod, Jack Shields and Matt Ravis catch up with OU Daily’s George Stoia and Iowa State SB Nation site Wide Right Natty Lite’s Levi Stevenson to preview the upcoming conference opener between the Sooners and the Cyclones. They cover other topics, such as conspiracy theories, cheap beer and more!
• Oklahoma’s equipment is going to be rolling up to the games in style with this ride’s new and improved look. Peep the Jumpman logo on the front. Nicely done.

• The guy replacing a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback generally struggles to produce at the same clip as his award-winning predecessor, but Kyler Murray is showing how it can be done.
• Austin Kendall could be good to go as the backup this week after suffering a knee injury in the season opener that looked worse than it turned out to be.
• Through two games, Shane Beamer has breathed life into Oklahoma’s special teams, and it’s only a matter of time before the talented up-and-comer is in charge of his own program.
• Starting safety Justin Broiles said the defense as a whole wanted to change the culture on the team. They were sick and tired of the narrative that Oklahoma was only good for offense, and so far the defense has shown tremendous improvement.
• Creed Humphrey, a Shawnee native, figures to be the first Oklahoma-grown Sooner in five years to be a regular staple along the offensive line.
• Sass Balzer is a big fan of the Sooners, and she’s currently battling brain cancer. Lincoln Riley gave her a call to wish her well and to offer some words of encouragement. Great stuff.
• Future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees recently said he believes Baker Mayfield could be better than him. Brees followed Mayfield’s college career and has been thoroughly impressed with what the No. 1 overall pick has accomplished.
• After one game with the Washington Redskins, Adrian Peterson’s cleats have been sent to Canton, Ohio to be memorialized on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame after reaching 100 career rushing touchdowns and cracking the NFL’s top 10 all-time rushers. All Day.

• Former Sooner great Courtney Paris and the Seattle Storm defeated the Washington Mystics for the 2018 WNBA title. Congrats, Courtney!

Around the Sports World

• Russell Westbrook underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Wednesday, making it unlikely for the former MVP to return to the court before the end of the preseason. The recovery time could also force him to miss the first few games of the regular season.
• Starting Texas A&M linebacker Anthony Hines III will miss the remainder of the 2018 season after reaggravating a previous “lower body” injury against Clemson. The sophomore was expected to be a significant contributor for the Aggies’ defense this season.
• Florida running back Adarius Lemons announced his intentions to transfer less than an hour after the Gators lost to Kentucky for the first time in 32 years.
• Georgia State head coach Shawn Elliot suffered a torn bicep that will require surgery. How did the injury happen? Well, Coach was celebrating with his players, and one aggressive fist-bump later, his arm was out of commission. C’mon, dude.
• Ric ‘Nature Boy’ Flair isn’t in the wrestling ring any longer, but he’s still squarely in the spotlight. He recently married, and what was his walk-up music? It had to be ‘Ric Flair Drip’, of course. It’s a popular rap song by Offset and Metro Boomin. Looks like Flair’s still got it.

Stick to Sports!

• Former ‘Mad Men’ star Jon Hamm has expressed interest in becoming the next Batman, should Ben Affleck step away from the role. Filmmaker Matt Reeves is currently in the midst of constructing a team for his upcoming film The Batman, and while Hamm has not yet been approached with an offer for the role, he would be open to the idea. Perhaps the biggest factor working against the 47 year-old Hamm is his age. Reeves reportedly would prefer to go with an actor 15-20 years his junior.

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