Happy Hump Day, friends and fans!

The Oklahoma Sooners are well-represented in Sporting News’ latest mock 2020 NFL Draft. Using current standings to create the order of the picks, SN projects the following:

• No. 7, WR CeeDee Lamb — Denver Broncos
• No. 17, QB Jalen Hurts — Tennessee Titans
• No. 26, DT Neville Gallimore — Dallas Cowboys
• No. 27, LB Kenneth Murray — Kansas City Chiefs
• No. 31, OL Creed Humphrey — San Francisco 49ers

Five first-round draft picks for Oklahoma would be major for the program, but of course it’s way too early to feel good about the chances of that happening. Also, while Humphrey is eligible to declare after this season, he has up to two more years left remaining with the Sooners should he so choose. Still, it’s not difficult for me to envision at least three of these names going off the board on Day One come April.

Now onto today’s Hot Links! Nick Basquine’s long-winding OU journey is coming to a close, Lee Morris is a silent assassin, PSU’s QB was sent death threats over a damn football game and more.

OU Links

• Jalen Hurts was named the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week after his 411-yard, four TD performance that helped lead Oklahoma to a historic comeback over Baylor.

• With the Week 13 College Football Playoff rankings being released on Tuesday night, Tulsa World’s Guerin Emig detailed the murky path to the promised land that the Sooners must navigate. Unfortunately for Oklahoma, it looks like it’s going to take a lot more than style points this time around.
• Speaking of rankings, SB Nation’s Week 13 FanPulse Top 25 has been calculated and released, and it looks like the majority of voters around the nation were impressed with Oklahoma’s comeback win over Baylor. Now the Sooners sit at No. 6 in the national poll, and No. 5 in the OU fans’ poll.
• Sixth-year senior and Norman native Nick Basquine has been around the Oklahoma Football program longer than any of his teammates and many of his coaches. On Saturday, he’ll play his final game on Owen Field. OU Daily’s George Stoia wrote about the emotional roller coaster of a journey the last six seasons have been for the former walk-on receiver and his mother. Also, check out this incredible tidbit. I’m surprised they’re not calling him old St. Nick.

• Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World wrote about why Jalen Hurts referred to Lee Morris as a silent assassin and more in this week’s OU Football notebook.
• Speaking of Morris, Tyler Palmateer of the Norman Transcript wrote about his path to Oklahoma as a walk-on. Not only is he on scholarship now, he’s making plays in some of the most important moments of games.
• SB Nation’s Morgan Moriarty explained why Kyler Murray deserves more attention than he’s already getting in his rookie season with the Arizona Cardinals. For those who have been paying attention, he’s becoming visibly better with each passing week.
• On Thursday, the 4-0 Oklahoma men’s basketball team will host Maryland Eastern Shore. You can catch all the action on FSOK. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT.

• Make sure you check out this week’s Oklahoma Breakdown Podcast with Jack and Kamiar. The guys discuss the wacky happenings in Waco, news on the recruiting trail and more! Plus, they preview the TCU Horned Frogs with Frogs O’ War’s Jamie Plunkett. As our usual word of warning, there is some NSFW language on the pod.

Around the Sports World

• On Tuesday night, LeBron James became the first player to record a triple-double against all 30 current NBA franchises. I have a feeling Russell Westbrook will join him soon enough as he continues to finally play against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

• Phillip Rivers has had all the physical tools to be an all-time great QB in the NFL, but his severe lack of a clutch gene will ultimately define his career.
• Penn State QB Sean Clifford recently explained why he deleted his social media accounts. Apparently, some Nittany Lions “fans” sent him some extremely uncalled for messages following the team’s loss to Minnesota, including death threats. I hate people most of the time sometimes.
• Los Angeles Lakers fan Maxx might only be 10 years-old, but his jumper is undeniably pure. Somebody sign the little guy already!

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