Happy Monday, friends and fans!

Over the weekend, former Oklahoma Sooners lightning-in-a-bottle Mr. Marquise Brown used some of his NFL money to surprise his mom with a new house and a new ride. Hollywood is both flash and heart, and he showed both of those qualities with this touching gesture.

Brown’s story from where he began his football journey to the heights he’s living in now is nothing short of remarkable. It’s the stuff normally seen in storybooks, but for him and his family it’s all a reality. His mother’s reaction is priceless, too, and beyond her excitement is pride, because she’s clearly raised a loving and appreciative son. Great content.

Not onto this week’s Monday edition of Hot Links! Jalen Hurts impresses at QB camp, DeMarco Murray is finding his groove as a coach, Kevin Durant is teaming up with Kyrie Irving and more!

OU Links

• Jalen Hurts was recently at the Elite 11 QB camp as a counselor, and while there he went through his own throws and progression drills. Many of those who were also in attendance came away impressed at his better-than-expected ability as a passer.
• Not all teams in the Big 12 are created equally, obviously, which means expectations differ depending on the program. Oklahoma’s dream scenario for the upcoming season is easy. Winning it all is typically the goal, and lately it’s been a realistic one to have. So what about the dream scenarios for the rest of the conference?
• If CeeDee Lamb continues on the trajectory he’s been heading in since he was a true freshman, he should be on the shortlist for All-American honors by season’s end.
• Oklahoma’s all-purpose yards and touchdowns leader DeMarco Murray is entering his first season as the running backs coach at Arizona. Check him out as he coaches up the Wildcat backs and discusses his fundamental approach to the game.

• In case you missed it, three-star in-state LB Brynden Walker flipped his verbal commitment from Oklahoma State to OU. With this latest addition to the 2020 recruiting class, Alex Grinch welcomes another defensive commit with athleticism and length.

Around the Sports World

• The biggest splash of NBA free agency has sent ripples throughout the sport, as Kevin Durant has agreed to sign with the Brooklyn Nets. There, he’ll team up with the likes of Kyrie Irving and Deandre Jordan. Even with KD missing most if not all of the upcoming season, the future looks awfully bright for that organization.
• NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is planning to meet with Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliot to address an incident with a security guard that happened in Las Vegas months back.
• Which college football teams have the toughest non-conference schedules in 2019? Win or lose, playing multiple Power Five programs will likely bode well for postseason resumes.
• If you didn’t already know this, Hafthor Bjornsson aka ‘The Mountain’ from HBO’s Game of Thrones is actually one of the strongest human beings in the world. Want to see him deadlift a car? No? Okay, how about two? My goodness, my back and knees just exploded while watching this.

Stick to Sports!

• With today being July 1, we have officially entered the second half of 2019. It’s already been a major year for some blockbuster films, but what does the latter stage of the calendar have in store for your moviegoing pleasure? I know I’ll personally be starting off this next act with Spider-Man: Far From Home!

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