Oklahoma is well-represented on an ESPN checklist this week rating the highest 2022 newcomers in faculty soccer.
Sooners, former Sooners and almost-Sooners populate the checklist — 10 in all, or 20 p.c.
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And, as ranked by ESPN, these 10 newcomers all seem within the high 38.
Right here’s a breakdown:
Sooners
No. 4, QB Dillon Gabriel
Oklahoma’s beginning quarterback for this season comes from UCF through the switch portal and is definitely one in every of solely two gamers on this checklist that Riley didn’t recruit to OU.
What ESPN says: “Gabriel performed for offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby at UCF, and now Lebby is the coordinator at Oklahoma. The 2 are reuniting at an ideal time after the Sooners misplaced quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler. In 2019 and 2020, Gabriel threw for a mixed 7,223 yards and 61 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He suffered an damage that reduce his 2021 season brief and now he has a possibility to steer Oklahoma.”
Former Sooners
No. 1, QB Caleb Willliams
Williams is the prize of this 12 months’s switch portal, and is one in every of a handful of gamers on the checklist that Riley recruited twice.
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What ESPN says: “Williams was a star as a real freshman at Oklahoma beneath coach Lincoln Riley. He supplanted then-starter Spencer Rattler and completed the season with 1,912 passing yards and 21 touchdowns with solely 4 interceptions. He additionally had 442 speeding yards and 6 touchdowns on the bottom. The previous top-20 prospect adopted Riley to USC and has an opportunity to not solely enhance on what he did as a freshman, but additionally elevate the Trojans’ offense expeditiously.”
No. 10, QB Spencer Rattler
Rattler entered the switch portal final 12 months after the season-ending loss at Oklahoma State and after Riley bolted for USC. He was leaving no matter Riley’s choice, and he discovered match beneath Shane Beamer at South Carolina.
What ESPN says: “South Carolina had some dangerous luck at quarterback with accidents final season — a lot in order that the crew was taking part in grad assistant Zeb Noland at quarterback. Rattler threw for 3,031 yards, 28 touchdowns and 7 interceptions with 160 speeding yards and 6 touchdowns in his first full season beginning in 2020. He had Heisman hype going into 2021, however was changed by Caleb Williams and completed the season with 1,483 yards, 11 touchdowns and 5 interceptions on 187 makes an attempt. He’s coming right into a state of affairs at South Carolina the place he can begin over, win the beginning job and attempt to regain what he had in 2020.”
No. 11, Mario Williams
Williams spent just one season in Norman after a highschool All-America profession in Florida. His contributions have been good as a real freshman Sooner, although it appeared extra was at all times doable with the previous 5-star recruit.
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What ESPN says: “As a freshman final season, Williams had 380 yards and 4 touchdowns on 35 receptions. He was ranked No. 17 total within the 2021 class and was the No. 1 receiver. He already has chemistry with Caleb Williams and understands Riley’s playbook, so he ought to contribute early on.”
Virtually Sooners
No. 3, QB Jaxson Dart
Virtually two weeks after Gabriel dedicated to OU on Jan. 3, Dart was additionally strongly contemplating transferring to the Sooners after his freshman 12 months at USC, even taking a campus go to on Jan. 15 with former Trojans tight finish Michael Trigg. Dart ultimately committee to Ole Miss.
What ESPN says: “Ole Miss wanted a quarterback since final season’s starter, Matt Corral, is now within the NFL. Dart broke state highschool information in Utah as a recruit, throwing for 4,691 yards with 67 touchdowns his senior season. He was named the Gatorade Participant of the 12 months and signed with USC. He threw for 1,353 yards and 9 touchdowns final season on 189 makes an attempt.”
No. 15, QB Casey Thompson
Riley recruited Thompson out of highschool and practically landed him out of Newcastle, OK, earlier than Thompson went to Texas. Within the switch portal final winter, Thompson once more briefly thought-about OU earlier than committing to Nebraska on Jan. 7.
What ESPN says: “Thompson was the Texas starter final season and threw for two,113 yards, 24 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Nebraska starter Adrian Martinez transferred to Kansas State, which left a gap open for Thompson and Florida State switch Chubba Purdy. Nebraska was ranked twenty seventh in go yards per recreation final season, however ranked 97th in interceptions per try, 96th in sacks per try and 71st in whole interceptions.”
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No. 23, RB Raleek Brown
Brown is without doubt one of the California 5-star prospects who dedicated to Oklahoma — however then made it clear he dedicated to Riley as he flipped his pledge from OU to USC.
What ESPN says: “Brown had been dedicated to Oklahoma, however flipped to USC after Riley took over as coach. He was the No. 5 working again within the class and has an opportunity to assist out in a number of methods this season. He can play working again, assist in the return recreation and be a slot receiver for USC, so his versatility ought to permit him to see the sphere very early.”
No. 32, WR Luther Burden
Burden is one other 2023 freshman who initially dedicated to Riley and the Sooners out of highschool in St. Louis. At one level, the Sooners had three 5-star wideouts dedicated — for the second time in 4 years. The primary time, 2019, solely Theo Wease completed his profession with the Sooners. This time, not one of the three even bought to Norman.
What ESPN says: “Burden was a five-star receiver within the 2022 class out of East St. Louis, Illinois. He is a 6-1, 195-pound prospect who has a possibility to immediately assist an offense that ranked No. 66 in go yards per recreation and misplaced its beginning quarterback. Missouri is returning a number of of its receivers from final season, however Burden has the expertise to compete with anybody presently on the roster.”
No. 37, WR Talyn Shettron
Shettron dedicated to OU out of Edmond Santa Fe, however flipped to Oklahoma State when the Cowboys supplied his youthful brother Tabry. He enrolled early and has impressed OSU coaches up to now this offseason.
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What ESPN says: “Shettron initially dedicated to Oklahoma out of highschool, however then decommitted and picked Oklahoma State. He can have an skilled quarterback throwing to him in Spencer Sanders and can be coming in when the crew is seeking to substitute manufacturing from main receiver Tay Martin. There are different receivers in entrance of him, however with Oklahoma State’s offense, he ought to have loads of alternative.”
No. 38, WR Jordan Hudson
Hudson, an ESPN 5-star prospect from Garland, TX, dedicated to OU early, however then decommitted final June and ultimately flipped to SMU, the place he grew to become the Mustangs’ highest-ranked recruit since not less than 2006.
What ESPN says: “Hudson will slot in to new coach Sonny Dyke’s offense. A 6-1, 190-pound receiver from Garland, Texas, Hudson was the Horned Frogs’ highest-ranked recruit this cycle. They return fairly a bit at receiver, however Hudson has measurement and velocity that ought to get him appears to be like early on.”
Jack and Tony preview Alabama’s first game against Oklahoma in Norman since 2002. The show starts with a discussion on how Alabama is handling the “Rat Poison” and preparing for another challenging road environment. Jack and Tony give their keys to the game, including a turnover-happy Sooners team, Jackson Arnold’s threat at QB and how Alabama will test OU’s strong defense. Tony gives his take on the Tide’s No. 7 College Football Playoff ranking, chances at reaching the SEC Championship game and more. The show finishes with predictions and Week 13 CFP picks.
NORMAN, Okla. — Freshman Jeremiah Fears finished with 20 points, Duke Miles scored 19 and Oklahoma cruised to an 84-56 victory over East Texas A&M on Thursday night.
Fears used 7-for-10 shooting to turn in his best scoring effort thus far for the Sooners (4-0). He was 1 for 4 from 3-point range and 5 of 6 at the free-throw line, adding five assists and four rebounds. Miles hit 7 of 13 shots with three 3-pointers.
Glenn Taylor Jr. came off the bench to sink four 3-pointers and scored 16 for Oklahoma.
Scooter Williams Jr., Josh Taylor and reserve TJ Thomas all scored nine to pace the Lions (1-5).
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Miles had 14 points in the first half and Fears scored 11 to guide the Sooners to a 38-33 lead at intermission.
Taylor buried all four of his shots from distance and scored 14 in the second half to help Oklahoma double up East Texas A&M 46-23 after the break.
The Sooners shot 47.5% overall and made 10 of 32 from beyond the arc (31.3%). The went 18 for 22 at the foul line.
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The Lions shot 37.7% from the floor, hit 7 of 32 from distance (21.9%) and 9 of 17 foul shots.
Oklahoma heads to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis, playing three games in three days. The Sooners open the event on Wednesday against Providence.
Denton Guyer four-star quarterback Kevin Sperry flips from Oklahoma to Florida State
No. 7 Alabama looks to strengthen case for College Football Playoff spot vs. Oklahoma
Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Find more Oklahoma coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
OKLAHOMA CITY – A proposal to open Oklahoma primaries is drawing criticism.
Earlier this week, supporters announced State Question 835 that seeks to obtain 172,993 signatures to get the issue on the November 2026 ballot.
Under the proposal, Oklahoma primaries would be open to all voters with the top two vote getters advancing to the general election.
Supporters said they expect a challenge to the measure.
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Gov. Kevin Stitt on social media voiced his opposition.
“Oklahomans made decisions at the polls that these third party groups don’t like – so now they want to upend the way we run our elections,” Stitt said. “Open primaries are a hard no in Oklahoma.”
Likewise, Lt. Gov Matt Pinnell, former Oklahoma Republican Party chairman, opposes the proposal.
“At best, the push to mandate open primaries is a solution in search of a problem, and at worst, it is a thinly veiled attempt to weaken Republican voters in choosing the nominees to represent our party,” Pinnell said. “Oklahoma is a conservative state, and Republicans hold all the statewide and federally elected positions and super majorities in the Legislature for a simple reason: our values and principles represent the will of our state voters.”
But not all Republicans have panned the idea.
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Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, a former Republican state senator, embraced it.
He said the system in which a mayor is elected allows all residents to vote.
“Our voters get to see all the candidates and our candidates have to face all voters,” Holt said. “As a result, our leadership delivers unity and consensus outcomes that are clearly moving us forward.”
The state question is being backed by Oklahoma United, a nonpartisan organization that says the change will increase voter participation, reduce polarization and force candidates to be responsive to all voters. It will also benefit independent voters, who can’t vote in Republican or Libertarian primaries. Democrats currently allow independents to vote in their primaries.
The idea is not new.
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In 2017, the Oklahoma Academy recommended a top-two election system. Its report said a top-two system could increase turnout, reduce partisanship and “eliminate fringe special interest involvement in campaigns because candidates would be forced to respond to more moderate, general voters rather than play to the extremes of either party.”
The Oklahoma Academy is a nonpartisan group that works to educate Oklahomans about public policy.
Republican political consultant Fount Holland said he doubted Oklahoma voters would approve the proposal should it make the ballot.
“At the end of the day, it is about moderating the Republican primary,” Holland said.
He said the Republican Party takes things to the extreme, which is not the best way to govern.
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Holland said no one enters the Republican primary as a moderate or very few can survive campaigning as a moderate.
“They might be moderate, but they don’t campaign that way,” Holland said.
He said he tells his clients to run to win.
If approved, the measure would be advantageous to Democrats or people who want a more moderate group of elected officials, Holland said.
Republican Superintendent Ryan Walters is considered by many to be ultra-conservative, while his predecessor Joy Hofmeister was considered a moderate member of the GOP, said Holland, who worked on her two successful races for superintendent.
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Walters has focussed on putting Bibles in the classroom and removing some books from schools, while Hofmeister prioritized across-the-board teacher pay increases and boosting counseling services in schools.
Hofmeister ultimately switched parties and made an unsuccessful run as a Democrat for governor.
“If you hate politics the way they are, then you need to be on our team, because we want to change it and we want to make it better,” said Margaret Kobos, Oklahoma United CEO and Founder.
She was asked about the partisan reaction to the proposal.
She said it misses the point because the issue is about people and not political parties.
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Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, supports the measure, saying it takes power away from the political parties and gives it to the people.
“Every voter. Every election,” he said. “That is the way democracy is supposed to work.”
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