UPDATE: False alarm. Contrary to what was reported, the Oklahoma/Alabama combo helmet was just a gift. It’s actually being auctioned by Special Spectators on Thursday night, which is outstanding.

Jalen Hurts is every bit a son of the Oklahoma Sooners as he is of the Alabama Crimson Tide. He became a national champion while playing for Nick Saban, and if it wasn’t for a certain LSU superstar, he might’ve won himself a Heisman under Lincoln Riley. His legendary story will forever be one of the most amazing in college football history, and now he’s preparing to write a new chapter in the NFL.

As an invitee to the Reese’s Senior Bowl, he and all other players in the annual pre-draft event will wear the helmet of the school they played for. However, that’s a bit tricky for Hurts because he played the bulk of his career at Alabama, but he also accomplished a tremendous amount at Oklahoma in 2019. Something has to give, right? Well, instead of wearing one or the other, why not both?

A couple things to note about this unique helmet — the makers got the different crimson hues right, as well as Hurts’ No. 2 on his ‘Bama side. If you recall, he changed his jersey number to No. 1 when he transferred to Oklahoma.

Now onto today’s Hot Links! Neville Gallimore is already turning heads ahead of the Senior Bowl practices, Brock Vandagriff announces his new commitment, the Thunder upend the Rockets in unlikely fashion and more!

OU Links

• In keeping on the subject of Jalen Hurts, he recently discussed his decision to transfer to Oklahoma, as well as his time as a Sooner. For anybody who is familiar with how he operates, it should come as no surprise to know he has no regrets about how his collegiate career panned out.
• Despite fielding another Heisman Trophy finalist, winning a fifth consecutive Big 12 title, and reaching the College Football Playoff for a third consecutive season, Lincoln Riley completely understands that there is a sizable leap that his program needs to take in order to accomplish its ultimate goals. The Tulsa World’s Eric Bailey has more.
• Pro Football Hall of Famer Gil Brandt is intrigued with DT Neville Gallimore and is looking forward to seeing him practice this week at the Senior Bowl. I, for one, can hardly wait to see him in action at the NFL Combine.

• Speaking of ‘Big Canada’, check out Gallimore’s measurables from Mobile. From many reports out of Oklahoma over the years, he’s a bonafide physical freak. Now pro scouts are about to find out just how impressive he is compared to the competition.

• On the way to a dominant win over Arkansas on Monday, OU’s all-everything gymnast Maggie Nichols landed her second perfect 10 in as many weeks! You have to see this greatness for yourself.

• It appears that CB Parnell Motley did his thing at the East-West Shrine Game. He’s showing that he has the ability to become a lockdown defender. Keep on rising up those draft boards, P-Mot!

• Former Oklahoma offensive tackle and first round draft pick Lane Johnson has really carved out a strong career for himself with the Philadelphia Eagles. After winning Super Bowl LII over the New England Patriots, he’s continuing to shine as a now three-time Pro-Bowler. Boomer!

• Brock Vandagriff, a former OU verbal commit and five-star QB prospect in the class of 2021, has decided to stay close to home by announcing his commitment to Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Around the Sports World

• The Oklahoma City Thunder are the comeback kids of the NBA season after rallying on the road from down 17 to upset the Houston Rockets. Not only did OKC pull off its fourth-largest comeback of the season, it did so without Steven Adams for practically the entire game. Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook has now officially recorded a triple double against all 30 NBA franchises, and teammate James Harden couldn’t shoot better than 1-17 from deep.

• Former Houston Cougars QB D’Eriq King announced his decision to transfer to the Miami Hurricanes after choosing to sit out the final eight games of the 2019 season and retain an opportunity to redshirt.
• Former Florida Gators QB Feleipe Franks announced his decision to transfer to the Arkansas Razorbacks this spring, where he will be immediately eligible to play as a graduate transfer.
• The Ohio State Buckeyes are welcoming back Kerry Coombs from the Tennessee Titans as their next defensive coordinator. Before he went to the NFL, he spent six seasons (‘12-’17) at OSU under Urban Meyer, where he built an impressive track record of producing pro-level cornerbacks.

• ESPN’s Bill Connelly is moving along in his top 100 college football games of the 2019 season, and now he’s released Nos. 80-61.

Stick to Sports!

• On Feb. 7, a psychological drama titled ‘Horse Girl’ will premier on Netflix. Written, produced and directed by Jeff Baena, and starring SAG Award winning actress Alison Brie alongside Molly Shannon and Debby Ryan, this film focuses on “a sweet misfit with a fondness for crafts, horses and supernatural crime shows that finds her increasingly lucid dreams trickling into her waking life.” I’ll be honest, the title had me thinking one way, but this trailer took me in a more intriguing direction.

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