Happy Tuesday, friends and fans!

NFL Draft Analyst Jim Mora Jr. recently discussed the draft stock of former Oklahoma Sooners center Creed Humphrey. Following an impressive pro day performance earlier this month, Mora believes the talented offensive lineman has firmly entrenched himself in first round conversations around the league. Take it with a grain of salt, as Mora is a bit of a dunce, but it’s yet another example of high praise for Humphrey.

If Humphrey is selected in the first round, he’ll become the first Sooner O-lineman to do so since Lane Johnson went to the Philadelphia Eagles with fourth overall pick in 2013. In fact, the last time OU had an interior OL taken in the first round was 2006, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Davin Joseph with the No. 23 pick.

Recently, Pro Football Focus’ Michael Renner rated Humphrey as the fifth best overall interior OL in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Where that lofty ranking could lead him remains to be seen. One way or another, all will be revealed next month. Day One coverage of the upcoming NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 29.

Now onto today’s Hot Links! Sooner Hoops assistant joining Kevin Kruger in Vegas, Coach Sampson is back in the Final Four, OSU’s Mike Boynton receives well deserved extension and more!

OU Links

• Lincoln Riley just sounds like a man who knows he has a team that could reach the top of the college football mountain. Now going into year five as the leader of this program, this may be Oklahoma’s strongest team across the board since he was named head coach.

• This fall, Joe Jon Finley will kick-off his first season coaching the tight ends and H-backs group at OU. As a former Sooner himself, he understands what his players are going through on the field more so than most. Listen to what he and veteran Jeremiah Hall had to say about how Finley is handling the role.

• Speaking of Sooner coaches, OLB/DE coach Jamar Cain has already proven himself as an excellent recruiter and developer of talent in just one season in Norman. Now heading into year two, he’s looking to elevate his room to the next level. OU Insider’s Joey Helmer has more.
• Bedlam Baseball gets started tonight in Stillwater, as Oklahoma (13-10) takes on Oklahoma State (15-6-1) in Round One of the five-game season series. This contest is being treated as a non-conference matchup and will not count toward Big 12 play. First-pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

• Once again, Oklahoma Softball’s Jocelyn Alo was named the Big 12 Player of the Week after cranking two homers and recording seven RBI in a series sweep over Iowa State. Boomer!

• Lon Kruger’s son, Kevin Kruger, is assembling his staff at UNLV, and one of his assistant coaches will reportedly be Carlin Hartman. The former OU assistant coach was previously with the Sooners from 2016 until this past college basketball season.

• With the Houston Cougars defeating Oregon State, 67-61 in the Elite Eight of this year’s NCAA Tournament, former OU men’s basketball head coach Kelvin Sampson is returning to the Final Four for the first time since he led Oklahoma there in 2002. Congratulations, Coach Sampson!

Around the Sports World

• Oklahoma State Cowboys men’s basketball head coach Mike Boynton has agreed to sign a contract extension that will keep him in Stillwater through at least the 2027-28 season. Additionally, Boynton’s salary has been increased to $3 million per year.
• The MLB recently made an announcement detailing how players and staff members will have their COVID-19 protocol restrictions relaxed two weeks after receiving their approved vaccinations.
• On Tuesday, former Ohio State Buckeye’s QB Justin Fields was clocked running a 4.44 40-yard dash time at his pro day workout. He’s definitely got some wheels, but without a combine this year, some of these times around the nation have seemed a bit suspect.

• The Vanderbilt Commodores Athletic Department will soon begin upgrading a number of its teams’ facilities thanks to a capital campaign that will fund the university $300 million.
• Joey Logano — driver of Team Penske’s No. 22 Ford — won NASCAR’s first race on dirt since 1970 with an overtime victory in the NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race. This is actually really awesome.

Follow Crimson & Cream Machine on Twitter!