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10 highest-graded Oklahoma Sooners from the 2024 season per PFF

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10 highest-graded Oklahoma Sooners from the 2024 season per PFF


The Oklahoma Sooners defense was the real bright spot from an otherwise dismal 2024 season for OU. The defense was one of the best in the SEC in 2024 and kept them in games when the Sooners offense struggled to get anything going.

So it’s not surprising that when you look at Pro Football Focus’ grades for the Oklahoma Sooners, it’s dominated at the top by the defensive side of the ball.

If looking at players who played at least 186 snaps this season, each of the top 10 highest-graded players came from the defensive side of the ball. The only players close were Xavier Robinson and Michael Tarquin. Robinson only played 134 snaps but was still one of the more dynamic players on the roster in the second half of the season.

Here’s a look at the top 10 players from the 2024 season according to Pro Football Focus player grades.

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1

Eli Bowen, CB

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PFF Grade: 80.3

Snaps: 510

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Despite how the LSU game turned out, Eli Bowen was a revelation at cornerback in 2024. He was Oklahoma’s highest-graded defender, according to Pro Football Focus, and is one of the bright spots from this season.

2

Gracen Halton, DT

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PFF Grade: 79.1

Snaps: 403

Gracen Halton also experienced a breakout season this year, leading the Sooners defensive tackle group in total pressures with 29 and just six behind R Mason Thomas for the team lead. He also had five sacks, which were second on the team.

3

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Robert Spears-Jennings, S

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PFF Grade: 78.7

Snaps: 599

Robert Spears-Jennings experienced a breakout season for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2024. He was third on the team in snaps and second in total tackles. Spears-Jennings led the team in forced fumbles and had 2.5 sacks this season.

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4

Danny Stutsman, LB

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PFF Grade: 77.1

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Snaps: 709

There hasn’t been a more important player to the Oklahoma Sooners than Danny Stutsman during the Brent Venables era. He just completed his third season with more than 100 tackles and was a consensus first-team All-American. He’ll be missed for his tenacity on the field and his leadership off of it.

5

Samuel Omosigho, LB

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PFF Grade: 76.9

Snaps: 301

Samuel Omosigho began to see more action at Cheetah after the loss of Kendel Dolby and played well. Omosigho showed off his speed and athleticism throughout the season. He finished fifth in total tackles and sixth in tackles for loss in 2024 and looks primed for a breakout season in 2025.

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6

Ethan Downs, DE

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PFF Grade: 76.1

Snaps: 496

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Ethan Downs finished second on the team in tackles for loss and had three sacks. He was one of the most consistent players on the edge for the Sooners over the last three years. His leadership and production will be hard to replace.

7

Damonic Williams, DT

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PFF Grade: 74.3

Snaps: 416

Damonic Williams had another strong season for the Oklahoma Sooners, finishing with five tackles for loss and a sack. He had the second-lowest missed tackle rate among players, with more than 186 snaps during the season, according to PFF.

8

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Trace Ford, DE

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PFF Grade: 74.1

Snaps: 321

After transferring from Oklahoma State, Trace Ford played two impactful years for the Oklahoma Sooners. His versatility stood out as a standup edge rusher. He was fourth on the team in total pressures according to PFF.

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9

Dez Malone, CB

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PFF Grade: 73.7

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Snaps: 371

Dez Malone was a solid transfer portal addition last offseason and played a key role in coverage for the Sooners. He had the third-highest coverage grade for the Sooners in 2024.

10

R Mason Thomas, DE

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PFF Grade: 73.6

Snaps: 530

R Mason Thomas led the Oklahoma Sooners in sacks in 2024 with 9.5 on the season. It’s the first time a Sooners has had nine sacks or more in a season since Ogbonnia Okoronkwo in 2016.

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Iowa State wrestling adds Brayden Thompson from transfer portal

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Iowa State wrestling adds Brayden Thompson from transfer portal


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Iowa State wrestling’s first commitment of the Brent Metcalf era will be a transfer portal addition.

The Cyclones added Oklahoma State transfer Brayden Thompson, who announced his commitment on April 18 via Instagram. Thompson is a one-time NCAA qualifier at the 2024 NCAA Championships, doing so as a true freshman. He redshirted in 2024-25, but competed in open tournaments at 184 pounds and was 9-0. He did not wrestle a match in 2025-26 and will have at least two years of eligibility remaining.

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Out of high school, Thompson was ranked the No. 3 pound-for-pound wrestler and No. 1 at 182 pounds in the 2023 recruiting class by Flowrestling. He also won Powerade and Ironman titles, two of the more prestigious high school tournaments in the nation. Assuming Thompson returns to 184 pounds where he last wrestled, he should fill in nicely as a potential replacement for Isaac Dean after his graduation.

Thompson is Iowa State’s first transfer portal addition after several departures, including Anthony Echemendia and Christian Castillo, who also entered the portal.

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.





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Oklahoma’s Jahsiear Rogers ‘Knew It Was Time to Showcase’ His Talents In Spring Game

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Oklahoma’s Jahsiear Rogers ‘Knew It Was Time to Showcase’ His Talents In Spring Game


NORMAN — The Oklahoma Sooners liked their wide receiver room a year ago. They want 2026 to be even better.

Isaiah Sategna’s return helps that desire. Earning experienced pass catchers Trell Harris and Parker Livingstone via the transfer portal gives you added play makers. But after the Sooners Spring Game on Saturday, an unlikely hero emerged.

When Jahsiear Rogers flipped from Penn State to Oklahoma last December, he drew the usual excitement that comes with a new commitment. But few expected him to climb the depth chart this quickly, even with the injuries that hit Emmett Jones’ room.

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Rogers did just that and more on Saturday. He led all pass catchers with five receptions for 70 yards in Oklahoma’s annual Red/White game.

“I knew it was time to showcase,” Rogers said after the game. “It was amazing to see the fans and get used to the OU way. I’m a playmaker. They really want to put the ball in playmakers hands. I pretty much knew I had to lead the white team.”

Rogers got the ball rolling early. On the second offensive play for the white team, backup quarterback Whitt Newbauer rolled to his right wide, then stopped and looked towards the middle of the field where he saw Rogers running open. Newbauer connected with Rogers for a 39-yard gain.

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With Rogers on the white team, he is running against (most of) Oklahoma’s starting defense. As fate would have it, on that 39-yard reception, Rogers beat his favorite teammate to compete against — Reggie Powers.

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“He is just a leader, good guy,” Rogers said of Powers. “Me and him go after it every day in practice. Reggie is strong. When I come at him, I have to really come at him.”

Rogers’ big play over Powers was the second-longest catch of the spring game — Sategna’s 50-yard reception that appeared to be a touchdown before coaches pulled it back to set up a red-zone rep. The other four catches weren’t flashy, but they were important in their own way, and Rogers looked like he belonged on the field.

“I love it. As long as I can get the ball, I can be me. I love it,” Rogers said. “When I am on the field, I am ready to go. I am ready to be a playmaker.”

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The season is still months away, and Rogers hasn’t earned a spot high on the depth chart yet. A strong spring and an encouraging Red/White Game can only lead to early playing time if he carries that momentum into summer and fall camp.

More experienced players will return from injury and receivers who’ve been in the program for a few years will have an extra leg-up.

But Rogers is taking everything in stride and leaving no stone unturned in his development.

“Just learning from the older guys,” Rogers said. “Manny Choice, Isaiah Sategna, Trell Harris, Mackenzie Alleyne. Really all of them. We lean on each other, learn from each other. That is kind of how our room is.”

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Oklahoma knocks off Missouri in series opener

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Oklahoma knocks off Missouri in series opener


The Oklahoma baseball team is back in the mix and trending upward.

After a rough few weeks in Southeastern Conference play, the 14th-ranked Sooners have won three of their last four games to get to .500 at just beyond the halfway point of the league slate. Friday’s 9-6 win over Missouri allowed Oklahoma to move to 8-8, tied with three other teams for eighth in the standings.

Friday’s win wasn’t truly that close, even. OU took a 9-3 lead into the ninth before Mizzou made it somewhat interesting with three runs in the frame. Two of them came with two outs, though, and Mason Bixby induced a groundout with the bases empty to hold on.

The large edge came via a home run-happy night. The Sooners popped four over the wall at Kimrey Family Stadium, including three in a four-run seventh inning that gave OU a four-run lead.

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Jason Walk, who hit one of the four homers, had the best day at the plate. He went 2 for 5 with the shot, three RBIs and a run. Camden Johnson, who also homered, went 2 for 3 with a walk, a double and two runs, and Dasan Harris went 2 for 4 with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs. Trey Gambill hit the Sooners’ other jack.

Oklahoma jumped out to a four-run lead in the second behind four hits and a walk. Missouri helped the Sooners out with an error that resulted in a bases-loaded situation and three unearned runs registered to Tigers starter Josh McDevitt.

The runs were more than enough for Oklahoma’s LJ Mercurius, who pitched six strong innings, giving up three runs on six hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.

Game 2 in the series is set for 4 p.m. Saturday and the finale will be played Sunday at 2 p.m., weather permitting.



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