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Happy Thursday, friends and fans!
Sooner Summit is here! During this recruiting dead period, Oklahoma Sooners 2021 five-star QB commit Caleb Williams has organized a gathering of his fellow OU pledges to meet right here in Norman, along with several other high-profile targets.
So far, the Oklahoma commits that are confirmed to be joining Williams either today or later this weekend are four-star DE Clayton Smith, three-star OL Cullen Montgomery and three-star LB Danny Stutsman. There’s a chance more 2021 commits could also make an appearance, so stay tuned.
#Soonersummit It’s about that time...
— Cullen Montgomery (@_manchild99) August 20, 2020
According to RufWriters founder and CCM recruiting contributor Stephen Brown, non-committed Sooner targets that are expected to show up to the summit include five-star OL Tristan Leigh and four-star OL Savion Byrd. Additionally, five-star RB Camar Wheaton and 2022 five-star athlete Gentry Williams could potentially join them, so keep your eyes and ears open for more news on that front. There’s a lot of buzz around four-star WR Jalil Farooq joining, as well.
#soonersummit pic.twitter.com/RMXWSlucZh
— Tristan Leigh (@Leigh71Tristan) August 20, 2020
There are players in every recruiting class who take the lead in bringing other prospects with them, but if this Sooner Summit goes how Williams has planned, this could become the single greatest recruiting haul of its kind the program has seen in memory. No matter how this plays out, there’s no doubt he and his family are all in for Oklahoma.
Now for today’s Hot Links! OU’s defense has been putting in that work in the gym this offseason, a couple Sooner commits have been named preseason All-Americans, the Big Ten is done entertaining the idea of playing football this fall and more!
OU Links
- Check out this edit of some of the highlights from OU’s first team scrimmage held earlier this week. Man, Spencer Rattler throws a pretty ball. We need you back, football!
Stay ready so you don't have to get ready.#OUDNA pic.twitter.com/uNw7eSE8ia
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) August 20, 2020
- Redshirt sophomore RUSH LB Nik Bonitto is poised for a breakout year after coming on strong in the second half of the 2019 season. I can hardly wait to see what No. 11 has in store for opposing quarterbacks this fall. Boomer!
Post-practice with @nikkkkbonitto#OUDNA pic.twitter.com/qesjsE5VAy
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) August 20, 2020
- CBS Sports updated their Preseason All-America First and Second Teams to exclude any players from teams who will not be competing this fall, and Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey made First Team at center, while Gabe Brkic made Second Team at kicker.
- On Wednesday, second year DC Alex Grinch shared an interesting stat from the defensive players’ offseason workouts. I’ll admit, this sounds very Tom Herman-ish, but it’s content and Grinch is awesome so I’m not complaining.
Alex Grinch says that the defensive players, cumulatively, were able to bench press 102 more reps of 225 pounds in July than they were in February. Grinch cited this as an example of how his players appropriately attacked the strange offseason. #Sooners
— Jason Kersey (@jasonkersey) August 19, 2020
- In a recent Zoom call, wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons discussed Oklahoma’s WR room, including the unit’s current depth situation, the state of the newcomers, and the kind of leadership that needs to step up following the departure of guys like CeeDee Lamb and Lee Morris. OU Daily’s Mason Young has more.
- Two 2021 Oklahoma commits — five-star QB Caleb Williams and four-star CB Latrell McCutchin — have been named USA Today Preseason High School All-Americans. Sooners Wire’s Kegan Reneau has more details.
- Nike’s latest OU-themed shoe is finally here! I will say, I think this is one of the better designs I’ve seen for a Sooner-specific shoe in some time. Very clean. Check out the new Air Zoom Pegasus 37 as soon as possible so you don’t miss out on these exclusive kicks!
Nike drops the new Air Zoom Pegasus 37 Oklahoma #Sooners shoe! Secure a pair here: https://t.co/csetNv991z pic.twitter.com/TYgWNhtub6
— C&C Machine (@CCMachine) August 20, 2020
Around the Sports World
- On Wednesday, Big Ten Conference commissioner Kevin Warren reiterated the league’s ruling to cancel fall athletics in 2020, and closed the door on revisiting the decision. Sorry, Nebraska, we tried to tell ya.
- Georgia State Panthers freshman QB Mikele Colasurdo will not play football this fall upon receiving a diagnosis for a heart condition he developed after overcoming the coronavirus earlier this summer.
- Kansas City Chiefs CB Bashaud Breeland’s four-game suspension to start the upcoming season is being upheld according to the seventh year pro himself. KC begins their Super Bowl title defense against the Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots.
- The NFL is currently considering ‘bubble’ model options for postseason play in 2020-21. Currently, the NBA is proving the concept can work if executed correctly, although the number of players and staff members that would need to be accommodated makes the idea much more challenging.
- Pittsburgh Pirates president Travis Williams has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, and is currently isolated away from the team in quarantine.
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