Oklahoma
For Oklahoma DL Offer Asher Ghioto, a Dream has Already Become a Reality
Most athletes that just finished their freshman season of high school football are just happy that they survived the season and are ready to finish the rest of their first year.
But for Asher Ghioto, his freshman year has held a lot more than the typical issues of finding where your classes are and adjusting to high school life.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Ghioto finished his freshman season at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, FL, with 66 tackles and 21 tackles for loss. He also had 15 quarterback hits and seven sacks. His performance along the defensive line helped lead the Bulldogs to a 10-2 record in 2024.
Recruiting interest in Ghioto really began to pick up in the weeks following the new year after he received offers from Alabama, Miami and Texas A&M within a two-week time frame. Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Tennessee and others have also offered. Oklahoma made its scholarship offer on Feb. 19, and he has been on the Sooners’ radar ever since.
“It felt amazing to receive the offer,” Ghioto told Sooners on SI. “This was one of my dream offers, knowing how well they teach their defensive line and how not only physically but mentally ready they are when they leave Oklahoma.”
Even though it is still early in the recruiting process, Ghioto understands how much of an honor it truly is to be in his position.
“It’s definitely a blessing getting this attention early on,” he said. “I feel like it gives me a lot of time to really see how everything works and get a feel for every one of the programs that come my way.”
Ghioto said he had only spoken with a couple members of the coaching staff heading into last weekend’s “Future Freaks” recruiting event in Norman. But he was excited to grow his relationship with them and meet the other defensive coaches.
“Some of the coaches I already have a relationship with are defensive line coach Todd Bates and defensive analyst Xavier Brewer. Coach Brewer is from Jacksonville and I have known him for quite a while, and Coach Bates I have talked to recently and he sounds like an amazing leader,” Ghioto said.
There are many different things he was looking forward to last weekend, but one aspect stood out above the rest.
“I am looking forward to building a relationship with the staff and coaches there,” Ghioto said. “I’m excited to see the way everything is ran there and even more excited to learn more about the program.”
The recent group of defensive linemen and defensive players who have made their way to the NFL have made a lasting impact that shows prospects like Ghioto that coming to Oklahoma can get you to the next level.
“I feel the most interesting and best thing about the program from my perspective is how NFL-ready the players are out of college,” he said, adding that OU’s defensive line alumni in the NFL “is really a standout thing for me.”
Ghioto described himself as a player with clarity.
“I am the type of player that wants to win,” he said. “I am aggressive, smart and want to come in with a mindset that I fear no one but God.”
As a high school freshman, Ghioto has a lot of time to decide where he would like to play his college career. But he already has goals in mind of things he would like to accomplish before his high school career is over.
“My goals going forward are to become the best leader and role model for the people around me,” he said.
Oklahoma
Iowa State wrestling adds Brayden Thompson from transfer portal
New Iowa State wrestling coach Brent Metcalf outlines vision for team
New Iowa State wrestling coach Brent Metcalf outlines vision for team
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.
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.
Oklahoma
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.
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.
“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.”
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
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.
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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