Connect with us

Oklahoma

Brent Venables among coaches most likely to win big early

Published

on

Brent Venables among coaches most likely to win big early


Nothing’s assured in school soccer. Although the Oklahoma Sooners have been favorites to win the Large 12 in 2021, losses to Baylor and Oklahoma State stored them from the title recreation. As stunning as Oklahoma lacking out on an opportunity to contend for the Large 12 title was what occurred a day after Bedlam.

The turnover at head coach was a shock as Lincoln Riley took the top teaching job at USC lower than 24 hours after the loss to the Cowboys in Bedlam.

And whereas a lot of the nation wrote off the Sooners as a premier school soccer program within the aftermath, Brent Venables work on the recruiting path, in spring ball, and with the media has restored confidence within the custom wealthy Sooners.

Oklahoma has been at or close to the highest in nearly each early prediction or energy rankings piece prognosticating the Large 12. Protected to say, the arrogance is restored.

Advertisement

However the Oklahoma Sooners weren’t the one program to expertise a training change this offseason. There’s teaching motion yearly, however this felt like the largest in variety of groups, high quality of coaches, and big-time packages on the lookout for a brand new head coach or poaching one.

Notre Dame, USC, LSU, Miami, and Oregon all joined the Sooners on the teaching carousel. Brian Kelly, Mario Cristobal, and Lincoln Riley have been the established coaches that jumped from one Energy 5 program to a different whereas Venables, Dan Lanning, and Marcus Freeman grew to become first-time head coaches, taking on a premier program.

Chip Patterson of CBS Sports activities took a have a look at the teaching motion that occurred this winter and believes Venables, together with Lincoln Riley, because the coaches “almost certainly to have early success.”

What’s considerably much less mentioned is how Oklahoma, which employed one among its personal in Brent Venables to exchange Riley, is equally ready to compete for a convention championship and contend for a Faculty Soccer Playoff spot. Venables made robust workers hires that included offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and located a Caleb Williams alternative with former UCF star Dillon Gabriel. Some expertise left Norman after the teaching change, however the projected depth chart continues to be as robust as you’re going to search out within the Large 12. – Patterson, CBS Sports activities

It’s not stunning to see Venables as a coach more likely to have success. The Sooners are changing rather a lot, however they’ve fairly a number of guys coming back from the 2021 roster which are able to make a soar. Add within the additions of Dillon Gabriel, Trey Morrison, Kani Walker, Jeffery Johnson, Jonah Laulu, LV Bunkley-Shelton, Javian Hester, T.D. Roof, McKade Mettauer, and Tawee Walker and the Sooners did a terrific job of restocking their roster with some gifted guys.

Venables protection and Jeff Lebby’s offensive prowess can have the Sooners profitable plenty of video games in 2022. They’ll be challenged by Texas, Oklahoma State, Baylor, and Kansas State, however these groups pose challenges yearly.

Advertisement

Oklahoma’s banking on their staff identification of toughness and aggression carrying them via what may very well be their final season within the Large 12. And if the success that’s adopted Venables and Lebby via their earlier stops interprets to Oklahoma, there’s no cause why they received’t be contending for the Large 12 and a Faculty Soccer Playoff spot in 2022.

Contact/Comply with us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our web page on Fb to comply with ongoing protection of Oklahoma information, notes, and opinions. Tell us your ideas, touch upon this story under. Be part of the dialog at the moment.





Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz: December 22

Published

on

Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz: December 22


Join News 9 Sports Director Dean Blevins, News On 6 Sports Director John Holcomb, and Toby Rowland for this week’s edition of the Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz.

Sunday, December 22nd 2024, 11:25 pm

By:

News On 6,

Advertisement

News 9

This week on the Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz, Dean Blevins, John Holcomb, and Toby Rowland begin the show with their opening takes.

Toby’s Top 3

Advertisement

OU, OSU, TU Recap

Viewer Question

Thunder Update: Caruso 4-Year Contract Extension, No Christmas Game

OU, OSU, TU, ORU Basketball Recap

OSU Wrestling Beats Virginia Tech

Advertisement

Play The Percentages





Source link

Continue Reading

Oklahoma

Oklahoma transfer LB Dasan McCullough commits to Nebraska

Published

on

Oklahoma transfer LB Dasan McCullough commits to Nebraska


Oklahoma transfer LB Dasan McCullough commits to Nebraska

Oklahoma transfer linebacker Dasan McCullough has committed to Nebraska, he confirmed on Instagram Sunday afternoon.

Advertisement

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound McCullough spent the past two seasons in Norman with the Sooners. He began his college football career in 2022 at Indiana, where he earned Freshman All-American status.

McCullough will come to Nebraska with one season of eligibility remaining.

McCullough, who played Oklahoma’s versatile hybrid linebacker/safety position called the Cheetah, suffered an injury before the start of Oklahoma’s fall camp this season and missed the first five games. He returned to the field in October and played in the final seven games, the last five of which he started. He recorded 17 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in 2024.

In 2023 at Oklahoma, McCullough played in 10 games and started seven while making 30 tackles with 3.5 TFLs and three pass deflections.

McCullough, who was a star recruit and ranked No. 61 nationally in the 2022 class, comes from a football family. His dad, Deland McCullough, played running back in the NFL and is currently Notre Dame’s associate head coach and running backs coach.

Advertisement

While Deland spent three seasons as the Kansas City Chiefs’ running backs coach from 2018-20, Dasan played his high school ball at Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kansas. Deland became Indiana’s associate head coach and running backs coach in 2021, and Dasan, then an Ohio State verbal commit, flipped to Indiana not long after.

Dasan followed his father to Bloomington and made an impact right away. He played in all 12 games with four starts and racked up 51 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, four sacks and four pass deflections. He gained Freshman All-American honors and a Big Ten honorable mention selection.

— Steve Marik, Inside Nebraska staff writer,

Analysis

McCullough is a versatile backend defender that can play a variety of roles in Nebraska’s defense.

A rare blend of size and athleticism at 6-5, McCullough shows good speed and change-of-direction ability for his size. Has high-end instincts and IQ, which shows up in zone coverage and reacting against the run. Has had some intriguing flashes as a pass-rusher, but largely relies on athleticism to get into the backfield, still developing consistent pass rush moves.

Advertisement

Technically sound tackler, though lean he’s got wiry body strength. Consistent aggression could improve as could hip fluidity. Athletic enough to hold his own in man coverage, technique can continue to improve, better in zone at this point in his career.

In Nebraska’s scheme, McCullough can play all three linebacker positions, rover or even safety if needed. He’s likely best at inside linebacker with a few pass-rush opportunities.

This addition provides Nebraska defensive coordinator John Butler something of a chess piece to move around his defense.

— Tim Verghese, Inside Nebraska recruiting analyst

Additional analysis

McCullough is a versatile and sizable defender who played both a traditional linebacker position and Oklahoma’s “cheetah” spot, which is roughly equivalent to the nickel. He also saw some periodic snaps as an edge rusher for the Sooners during his two years in Norman.

Advertisement

McCullough at his best against the run, as he takes good pursuit angles, fills gaps responsibly and is a reliable tackler. That said, he’s intelligent and instinctive in zone coverage and can generally be trusted to hold his own in man-to-man matchups against tight ends and running backs.

McCullough ought to be quite the chess piece in John Butler’s defense, and could truly thrive in Lincoln depending on the Huskers’ specific vision for his diverse skill set.

— OUInsider writer Parker Thune

ENJOYING INSIDE NEBRASKA?

>> GAIN ALL-ACCESS with an annual or monthly subscription for less than $10/month

>> NEW SUBSCRIBERS get 30 days FREE

Advertisement

>> Sound off on the hot topics on our INSIDER’S BOARD

>> Follow us on Twitter (@NebraskaRivals)

>> Follow us on Instagram (@nebraskarivals)

>> Subscribe for FREE to the Inside Nebraska YouTube channel





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Oklahoma

Fears leads No. 14 Oklahoma against Central Arkansas

Published

on

Fears leads No. 14 Oklahoma against Central Arkansas


Associated Press

Central Arkansas Bears (3-8) at Oklahoma Sooners (11-0)

Norman, Oklahoma; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

Advertisement

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Sooners -28.5; over/under is 145.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 14 Oklahoma hosts Central Arkansas after Jeremiah Fears scored 30 points in Oklahoma’s 87-86 victory over the Michigan Wolverines.

The Sooners have gone 6-0 at home. Oklahoma has a 2-0 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Bears are 0-6 on the road. Central Arkansas ranks fourth in the ASUN with 23.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Brayden Fagbemi averaging 4.6.

Oklahoma averages 82.0 points, 5.2 more per game than the 76.8 Central Arkansas allows. Central Arkansas averages 9.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 more made shots on average than the 6.5 per game Oklahoma allows.

Advertisement

TOP PERFORMERS: Fears is scoring 17.9 points per game with 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Sooners.

Layne Taylor is scoring 17.0 points per game and averaging 4.4 rebounds for the Bears.

LAST 10 GAMES: Sooners: 10-0, averaging 80.9 points, 29.3 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 10.1 steals and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.5 points per game.

Bears: 3-7, averaging 73.0 points, 34.3 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 38.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.7 points.

___

Advertisement

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.




Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending