Happy Thursday, friends and fans!

Yesterday, Oklahoma Sooners redshirt junior DB Tre Norwood accepted an invite to the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. After leading OU with five interceptions this season, Norwood now joins teammates CB Tre Brown, C Creed Humphrey and OT Adrian Ealy who also plan on attending the prominent pre-draft event later this month.

Throughout his career, Norwood developed a true knack for coming up with big plays in key moments. After starting 19 straight games as a freshman and sophomore, the Fort Smith, Arkansas native missed the entire 2019 season with a knee injury. His return in 2020 proved to be extremely beneficial for Oklahoma’s defense as well as his prospects as a pro. As a Sooner, Norwood recorded 111 total tackles, six interceptions, 21 pass breakups, two tackles-for-loss and one sack.

Now for today’s Hot Links! Oklahoma could have two Heisman contenders in 2021, James Houston ironically enters the transfer portal, T-Law and K-Mond are officially heading to the league and more!

OU Links

• It’s been over a week since the final whistle blew at the Cotton Bowl, but the way the Sooners closed out the 2020 season was a thing of beauty meant to be savored. Enjoy these exclusive highlights of Oklahoma’s dominant performance inside AT&T Stadium.

• Parker Thune of OU Insider recently made a case for the top Heisman Trophy candidate at Oklahoma in 2021, and it isn’t Spencer Rattler.
• The Athletic’s Jason Kersey recently offered 10 predictions for Sooner Football next season, including whether or not he envisions Oklahoma will return to the CFP party or not. Heads up, you must have a subscription to The Athletic to read this article in its entirety.
• OU Daily’s Mason Young and Chandler Engelbrecht took a close look at how each position group currently stacks up for the Sooners heading into the 2021 college football season.
• The OU men’s gymnastics team checks in at No. 2 in the nation according to the 2021 preseason coach’s poll. Boomer!

• Florida LB James Houston has reportedly entered the NCAA Transfer Portal weeks after running his mouth and getting obliterated by Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl Classic. I guess he’s not on the Gators’ level either. You hate to see it.

• Malcolm Kelly’s iconic freestyle from 2006 is truly the gift that keeps on giving. After Oklahoma dismantled the Florida Gators in the Cotton Bowl last week, the team rapped those hallowed lyrics in unison, creating one of the coolest moments of the 2020 season. Now, thanks to the good folks over at BreakingT, you can join in on all the fun by purchasing a t-shirt or hoodie with this ever-so appropriate design inspired by the words of the former standout Sooner receiver.

Around the Sports World

• On Tuesday evening, Alabama Crimson Tide WR DeVonta Smith was named the winner of the 86th Heisman Trophy for the 2020 college football season. He becomes the first receiver to win the prestigious individual honor since Michigan’s Desmond Howard claimed the award in 1991.

• Clemson Tigers junior QB Trevor Lawrence has officially declared for the 2021 NFL Draft. Most mock projections currently predict he will be selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars as the No. 1 overall pick next April.

• Texas A&M Aggies QB Kellen Mond also made the decision to skip his extra year of eligibility by announcing his intention to enter the 2021 NFL Draft.

• According to bookmaker William Hill at Caesars Sportsbook, the Kansas City Chiefs are heading into this season’s NFL Playoffs as the favorite to win Super Bowl LV. Conversely, the Chicago Bears and Washington Football Team are tied with the lowest odds to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
• Earlier this week, the United States defeated Canada, 2-0 in the gold medal match of the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championship. It is the fifth first-place finish for USA at the international event all-time.

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