Oklahoma

Head to Head: Comparing Arkansas football, Oklahoma State at each position | Whole Hog Sports

Published

1 year ago

September 5, 2024

Head to Head: Comparing Arkansas football, Oklahoma State at each position | Whole Hog Sports

Arkansas football plays its first road game of the 2024 season at No. 16 Oklahoma State on Saturday. It’s an early test for both teams, which both opened the season with wins over Football Championship Subdivision opponents.

It’s the first game between the Razorbacks (1-0) and Cowboys (1-0) since 1980, when Arkansas won 33-20 in Little Rock. Arkansas owns the all-time series with a record of 30-15-1.

Here’s a look at what the Razorbacks and Cowboys have at each position before kickoff Saturday (11 a.m., ABC).

Quarterback

Advantage: Oklahoma State

Both Taylen Green and Alan Bowman have areas of concern and potential for growth.

Bowman put up impressive numbers with Oklahoma State last season with 3,460 yards through the air (247.1 per game), good for third-most in a pass-happy Big 12. His completion rate of 60.7% left something to be desired, though, as did his 14 interceptions to 15 touchdowns. Bowman enters 2024 with problems to fix but plenty of talent around him to help.

Green is in a similar spot. His 57.1% completion rate in 2023 is cause for concern, and he threw 9 interceptions to 11 touchdowns. Like Bowman, he led his team to the conference title game — though Green did it in the Mountain West while splitting time at quarterback with a true freshman for part of the year. He performed well against UAPB in Week 1, and he’ll have his first big test against the Cowboys.

Offensive line

Advantage: Oklahoma State

Experience matters on the offensive line, and Oklahoma State has one of the most veteran fronts in college football. Eight players have at least 12 career starts, allowing the Cowboys to rotate with what they hope isn’t much drop-off. All five starters are sixth-year players, and all played more than 750 snaps for Oklahoma State last season. On3 rated the unit fifth-best in the country this preseason.

Arkansas’ line was a problem last season, but the Razorbacks have plugged holes with talented transfers and are optimistic about their new front. Depth is a concern, especially after starting left guard Patrick Kutas missed most of the preseason and Week 1 with a back injury. E’Marion Harris shows promise as his replacement, but Arkansas can’t afford to lose much more on the line. It’s an untested unit that could prove to be an improvement over last season but must perform well against opponents like Oklahoma State.

Wide receiver

Advantage: Oklahoma State

Much like on the offensive line, Oklahoma State has a lot of experience at receiver. Its top three players are all coming off good seasons in 2023.

The Cowboys’ top two receivers from last year, Brennan Presley (991 yards on 101 catches) and Rashod Owens (895 on 63), are both back. They join De’Zhaun Stribling, who stood out in the first four games of 2023 before a broken wrist cut his season short. The group has the opportunity for big numbers again with defenses trying to stop Gordon in the run game.

Arkansas’ receiver corps is also led by returning players. Andrew Armstrong and Tyrone Broden are the clear top two, but there is some concern about depth as Armstrong dealt with a hamstring issue in preseason camp. He is questionable for the game, per coach Sam Pittman. The Razorbacks’ receivers didn’t put up big numbers in 2023 in a generally ineffective passing offense, and they’ll need a better passer and more consistency to show improvement. A solid showing against the Cowboys would be a good place to start.

Tight end

Advantage: Arkansas

Tight end is one of the Razorbacks’ deepest and strongest positions. Led by Luke Hasz, whose breakout freshman season was cut short by injury in 2023, Arkansas’ tight ends figure to feature prominently as receivers in Bobby Petrino’s offense. The group’s blocking ability against Power 4 teams remains to be seen, and Petrino stressed it as an area that needed some improvement in the preseason.

Oklahoma State’s tight ends are a relative unknown. Ohio graduate transfer Tyler Foster, who is the most experienced tight end on the roster, figures to be the starter. Fifth-year Quinton Stewart hasn’t played much on offense in his career, and the other tight ends don’t have much experience.

Running back

Advantage: Oklahoma State

Arkansas’ running backs are expected to be a strength this season, but Oklahoma State can trump almost anyone’s RB room thanks to Ollie Gordon. He won the Doak Walker Award for the best running back in the country in 2023 and finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting. Gordon led the nation in rushing yards (1,732) and rushing touchdowns (21).

Arkansas’ run game was its biggest strength as it dominated UAPB, with four running backs scoring at least one touchdown in the blowout. Ja’Quinden Jackson leads the group, and he ran for 101 yards against UAPB. The Razorbacks have solid depth with Rodney Hill and Braylen Russell. Still, a healthy Gordon is a game-changing player for Oklahoma State and gives them the edge any time.

Defensive line

Advantage: Arkansas

Arkansas’ defensive line has solid starters with veteran end Landon Jackson and tackles Eric Gregory and Cam Ball. At the other end spot, the Razorbacks have two solid options with Nico Davillier and Anton Juncaj. Depth is a concern at tackle, but in general, the Razorbacks should feel confident about their front. Jackson will likely be the most talented defensive lineman on the field in Stillwater.

Oklahoma State’s line has potential, but it has a lot to prove. The Cowboys dismissed their defensive line coach after last season. Statistically, the unit was around the middle of the Big 12 in rushing defense (ninth – 166.9 yards allowed per game) and sacks (eighth – 1.93 per game), and they came in at fourth in tackles for loss per game with 5.93. The Cowboys could have a good unit, but seeing them in action against a team like Arkansas will give a better indication of whether they’ve improved.

Linebacker

Advantage: Oklahoma State

The Cowboys have the veteran talent back after a solid year, while Arkansas is the group with potential that needs to be tested. The Razorbacks are confident in the transfer-heavy group of linebackers it assembled, plus returning sophomore Brad Spence. How they fare against Oklahoma State will be telling.

The Cowboys have a potent duo in the middle of their defense with Collin Oliver and Nick Martin. The two tied to lead the team in sacks with six last season. Martin had a team-best 16 tackles for loss, and Oliver was second with 15.5. Martin had a shocking 140 total tackles, second-most among power-conference players. Pro Football Focus ranks Oklahoma State’s linebacker corps the ninth-best in the country.

Defensive back

Advantage: Arkansas

Arkansas’ pass defense improved dramatically last season, and many of its secondary players are back for 2024. At corner, Jaylon Braxton will look to build off a great freshman season, and Arkansas seems to feel confident in Marquise Robinson, Jaheim Singletary and Kee’yon Stewart. At safety, Jayden Johnson returns, the versatile Larry Worth will be intriguing to watch, and TJ Metcalf and Hudson Clark have been battling. Tennessee transfer Doneiko Slaughter won the starting nickel job, and the Razorbacks have some other versatile defenders who could get time there, too.

The secondary was a weakness for Oklahoma State last season. The Cowboys were last in the Big 12 in pass defense and passing plays of 10-, 20- or 30-plus yards. The Cowboys have a gifted corner in Korie Black, but the depth is uncertain. The safeties will look to improve in deep coverage, but there are some veterans back to help.

Special teams

Advantage: Arkansas

Arkansas and Oklahoma State have similar special teams situations. Both have punters they’re confident in — Devin Bale for Arkansas and Hudson Kaak for Oklahoma State — and promising return men — Isaiah Sategna for the Razorbacks and Brennan for the Cowboys. But both also have questions about field goal kicking.

Oklahoma State will have Logan Ward at kicker. He kicked some PATs last season and handled kickoffs, but whether he will be a consistent field-goal kicker is something the Cowboys are watching. He got off to a strong start in Week 1: He went 3-for-3 with makes from 25, 42, 52 and yards out.

Arkansas has the advantage in terms of experience Abilene Christian transfer Kyle Ramsey, who made all of his PATs in Week 1 is first on the depth chart at kicker. The Oklahoma State game could include his first field goal attempt as a Razorback.

Source link

Oklahoma

Oklahoma storms bring widespread damage, tornadoes in Purcell and Shawnee

Published

6 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma storms bring widespread damage, tornadoes in Purcell and Shawnee

8:45 p.m. Tornado Update from NWS Norman:

EF1 (high end) at Purcell
EF0 near Lake Thunderbird (south of Stella/northwest of Little Axe)
EF1 west and near the Shawnee Twin Lakes
EF1 in north Shawnee.
There are other areas of damage that we will continue to investigate.

Original story:

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Storms moved through parts of Oklahoma on Thursday morning, with at least five tornado warnings issued and two tornadoes that touched down in Purcell and Shawnee, leaving behind damage.

A line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved through central and eastern Oklahoma early Thursday that producing tornadoes, damaging winds, and power outages.

Preliminary information from the National Weather Service in Norman shows that at least EF-1 damage was found in Purcell. Survey teams are continuing to assess the damage that was left behind from the morning storms.

Officials also reported that widespread power outages occurred in the city, along with downed trees and powerlines, with nine homes having damaged roofs, and a semi-truck rollover accident on I-35 with one injury.

Shawnee also suffered some damage Thursday morning, which includes downed fences and partial roof loss at the Holiday Inn Express. As of Thursday evening, NWS officials confirm that a tornado did touch down in the northern portion of Shawnee; however, a preliminary rating hasn’t been given at this time.

According to Comanche County Emergency Management, damages related to the storms were reported across the City of Lawton, with roof damage at Sheridan and Lee, along with power pole and power line damage.

Lawton Fire Department responded to a rooftop fire at MacArthur High School on Thursday morning, caused by wind damage to AC units.

Lightning strikes in Edmond were reported to have caused a transformer fire near Covell and Kelly, with another lightning strike having caused a tree to fall on top of a vehicle near Covell and Broadway, resulting in one person being injured.

Straight-line winds were also reported to have destroyed a barn north of Guthrie, while structures were damaged in south Wynona, including a shop building that was devastated and a mobile home that was damaged.

Damage assessments are said to be ongoing at this time. News 4 will provide updates as we learn more.

According to NWS Norman officials, the last time the department issued a tornado warning in January was on January 10, 2020. However, Thursday’s reported tornado was not the earliest for a tornado to occur in Oklahoma. Tornadoes happened in Osage, Mayes, McIntosh, Ottawa, and Sequoyah Counties back on January 2, 2023.

Source link

Oklahoma

Neighbors sift debris, help each other after suspected Purcell tornado

Published

18 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Neighbors sift debris, help each other after suspected Purcell tornado

PURCELL — Jennifer Fox had just fed the pigs behind her house early in the morning Thursday, Jan. 8, and began getting ready for work before she and her two sons heard something hit her bedroom window.

“I said, ‘Is it hailing?” she said. “My oldest looked out the window and he saw our awning across the back. He said, ‘Mom, the awning’s gone.”

Fox looked out the window and saw debris everywhere. She said she didn’t hear tornado sirens, but she and her sons immediately took shelter in a closet. By that time, the suspected tornado had already passed through her neighborhood off of Johnson Avenue in Purcell.

At first, Fox didn’t think there was a tornado and attributed the damage and debris to strong winds.

But just one street over, the roof of one house had been destroyed. When she looked at the house behind hers, Fox said she knew a tornado had hit her neighborhood.

“I was thankful at the time,” she said. “I told my kids, I said, ‘It could’ve been a lot worse.’ We weren’t prepared, obviously. I really felt like it just barely missed us.”

Severe weather passed through central Oklahoma early Thursday morning, bringing reports of damage from a possible tornado in Purcell. The National Weather Service in Norman reported on social media that survey teams have found at least EF1 tornado damage in the Purcell area.

The Purcell Fire Department reported a tornado touched down in the city, causing roof damage to nine homes, a semi truck rollover accident on Interstate 35 with one injury and widespread power outages, downed trees and powerlines.

On Norte Street in Purcell, the suspected tornado wiped out the roof of a newly-built home, throwing debris onto the road, including a Christmas tree and blue ornaments. The houses across the street and next door were untouched.

Community members and local high school students gathered pieces of trash, plywood, insulation and other debris and hauled them off.

Next door to Fox, a man and a woman removed debris from their yard that appeared to have blown over from Fox’s house. Like a puppy, a tall brown horse followed the man as he picked up each piece of trash. Across the street, cattle laid in the middle of a field and watched as one person after another drove into the neighborhood to lend a hand.

About five miles northeast of Fox’s house, the suspected tornado knocked over a few powerlines near Purcell’s football stadium. A tree fell onto a small white house and took the tin roof off a large warehouse.

Ron Musgrave, the warehouse’s owner, lives six miles north of Purcell. He said he learned his property was damaged through a local news broadcast.

“They had the people out front and they had the helicopters, so I could see it,” Musgrave said. “They were flying over here. There’s a football field, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. If that’s the football field, that’s my warehouse.”

The retired home builder and property owner said he keeps building supplies in his warehouse and a black and white cat who’s in charge of exterminating any trespassing mice.

The cat was happy to see Musgrave as he surveyed the water damage inside of the warehouse. Though there was some wet spots, the roof took most of the impact.

“It’s a project,” Musgrave said with a smile. “I am down for it.”

Severe weather damage reported in Shawnee, Norman

Tree damage was reported in Cleveland County at 156th Street and East Tecumseh Avenue, according to Alyse Moore, Cleveland County communications director, along with damage to a car port and barn at 800 Moffatt Road north of Lexington.

Storm damage was also reported in Shawnee. Social media posts show damage to the Holiday Inn Express and Walmart Supercenter off of Interstate 40.

Source link

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooners add transfer portal offensive lineman to the roster

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma Sooners add transfer portal offensive lineman to the roster

The Oklahoma Sooners made an under-the-radar transfer portal addition on Wednesday, bringing back a player who spent two seasons in Norman before transferring out last year.

Former Central Oklahoma offensive lineman Kenneth Wermy will be returning to play for OU out of the portal. Wermy played for the Sooners in 2023 and 2024 before spending 2025 at the NCAA Division II level with the Bronchos. He’ll add depth to an offensive line group that is in need of it after recent portal departures.

Wemry is a local product from Cache, Oklahoma, and he stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 315 pounds. The Sooners have been busy adding big names in the transfer market, but with a week and a half left until the portal closes, the focus may soon turn to retention and building back depth on the roster.

Oklahoma had a busy portal day on Wednesday, adding Wermy and former Michigan linebacker Cole Sullivan. However, Oklahoma also lost three players to the portal, in linebacker Sammy Omosigho, defensive back Jaydan Hardy, and wide receiver Zion Ragins.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.

Source link