How’s it going, everyone?

Around these parts, most fans of the Oklahoma Sooners would argue that OU is college football’s true Running Back U. A strong case could certainly be made for the QB position as well, but either way, those kinds of debates are a lot of fun to have.

Now check out these rankings from ESPN, which order teams position by position in regards to the depth and quality of players they’ve produced over the years. Of course, Oklahoma is prominently featured throughout.

Here’s how the Sooners look in these rankings: 2nd for QB, 4th for RB, 6th for WR, 6th for TE, 3rd for OL, 10th for DB, no ranking for DL, and 6th for LB.

Take these entire rankings with a massive grain of salt, because it’s clear that not a tremendous amount of research was put into each individual position group. For one, neither Joe Mixon nor Damien Williams was listed at running back, and Kenny Still was not mentioned at wide receiver. I’m sure there are a lot more oversights, and likely for other schools as well, but those were the ones that stood out to me the most.

I do think Oklahoma will be nationally regarded as QBU in time. Baker Mayfield is well on his way to becoming one of the biggest names in the game, and Kyler Murray has as much potential as anybody to take over. Historically, I still believe the Sooners are unmatched when it comes to tailbacks. The list of greats is forever long, and there are no signs of OU slowing down their production of sending backs to the league.

Now onto today’s Hot Links! Oklahoma is looking at a top five preseason ranking, Bobby Evans continues to establish himself in L.A., OKC drops a classy new uniform commemorating the bombing in ‘95 and more!

OU Links

• Senior DT Neville Gallimore and redshirt sophomore C Creed Humphrey have been named to the 2019 Outland Trophy watch list, which is given to the nation’s top interior lineman on either side of the ball. A big year from both of these players would be a major thing for the Sooners.

• Kenneth Murray was named to the Nagurski Award watch list, which is an honor given to the top overall defensive player in the nation. Award season could be especially fun for K9 with a big year.

• With about one week remaining for the month of July, the preseason AP poll should be released during early or mid-August. Where in the rankings might Oklahoma begin the season, and how many of their opponents could also open the year among the top 25?
• OU Insider’s RJ Young caught up with junior LB Kenneth Murray and discussed the new-look defense Oklahoma is implementing under Alex Grinch. The third-year starter believes “the sky is the limit” for the Sooners’ D this season.
• College football guru Phil Steele wouldn’t be shocked if Oklahoma wins it all this season, despite having to replace Kyler Murray and four of five starting offensive linemen.
• Kevin Flaherty from OU Insider offered his game-by-game predictions for Oklahoma’s 2019 regular season. The Sooners will likely be favored in every contest, but an upset or two can and usually does happen.
• Former OU offensive lineman Bobby Evans, now with the Los Angeles Rams, is poised to become a solid building block up front after being drafted in the third round this past April.
• New Oklahoma Football gear has ben dropping this week for fan consumption. Check out these new Sooner tees that are throwing it back to the Barry Switzer era with a more modernized look.

Around the Sports World

• Check out this incredible new uniform alternate for the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was created as a tribute for the victims as well as the survivors of the Murrah federal building bombing in 1995. I’m a really big fan of this look for OKC.

• San Antonio Spurs legend and future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan has been added to the team’s coaching staff as an assistant. Depending on how the former power forward takes to the position, I could definitely envision Timmy leading the Spurs, post-Pop.

• The Atlantic League — an independent American professional baseball league — has been using “robot umpires” to call balls and strikes, and after a successful run at the league’s All-Star game, the plan is to continue using the computerized system for the remainder of the season. How neat.
• Former New York Jets QB Mark Sanchez has officially retired from the NFL and will be joining ESPN’s college football studio of analysts on ABC this fall. Mack Brown previously held the position last season before accepting the head coaching job at North Carolina.

• According to Forbes, the Dallas Cowboys are the world’s most valuable sports team. I can’t say I’m surprised. Congrats, Jerry Jones.

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