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Four Oklahoma Players Named to All-SEC Football Teams

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Four Oklahoma Players Named to All-SEC Football Teams


In Oklahoma’s first season competing in the Southeastern Conference, four Sooners earned All-SEC football honors.

Senior linebacker Danny Stutsman was the lone OU player named to the All-SEC First Team, as the conference released its postseason awards on Tuesday. Junior defensive lineman R Mason Thomas was a Second Team honoree, while defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. and long snapper Ben Anderson made the Third Team.

Oklahoma LB Danny Stutsman a Butkus Award Finalist

Stustman, a Butkus Award finalist, capped off his final season in Norman with 12 starts. He logged 109 total tackles in 2024 and finished his time at OU with 376 career tackles, ninth-most all time in program history.

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Stutsman has not announced whether or not he will play in the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy on Dec. 27.

Thomas broke out in 2024 after injuries cratered his previous two seasons.

The defensive lineman finished the year with 9.0 sacks, which was fourth in the SEC and 22nd nationally. Thomas also forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles, one of which he returned for a touchdown against LSU on Nov. 30.

At 6-foot-2 and 243 pounds, Thomas has size and production that could score him a high grade by NFL scouts. But the junior hasn’t announced whether he will play another year in Norman or forego his last season to play in the NFL.

Oklahoma DL R Mason Thomas Reflects on Breakout Season, Undecided on NFL

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Before 2024, Thomas had logged just 1.5 sacks in his first two seasons at OU.

Bowman started all 12 regular-season games for the Sooners at safety, logging three pass breakups, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one defensive touchdown and 54 tackles. The senior is fourth all time in OU history in interception yards at 251.

Like Stutsman, Bowman hasn’t announced his status for the Armed Forces Bowl.

Anderson, a redshirt sophomore, started every game at long snapper for the Sooners in 2024, like he did in 2023. He was part of a kicking unit that converted on 20 of 21 extra-point attempts and 17 of 21 field-goal attempts.

He was named a semifinalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award, given to college football’s best long snapper. Anderson also notched three tackles on punt coverage this season.

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SEC coaches voted on these selections, and they were not permitted to vote for players on their own teams.

Oklahoma finished its first season in the SEC 6-6 (2-6 conference). They placed tied for 13th in the conference standings and are one of 13 teams from the SEC that will be playing in a bowl game.

The Sooners’ bowl game is their final contest of 2024. Their selection to the Armed Forces Bowl extended the Sooners’ bowl streak to 26 years, which is the second-longest in college football behind Georgia.



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Bode Sparrow commits Friday: why BYU is Oklahoma’s biggest threat for the Davis star

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Bode Sparrow commits Friday: why BYU is Oklahoma’s biggest threat for the Davis star


Kaysville (Utah) Davis athlete Bode Sparrow cut his list to four back in May and has now locked in his commitment date.

Sparrow is a tremendous player on both sides of the ball and checks in as the No. 77 player nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services.

He will make his long awaited college choice this Friday, May 25 from a final four of BYU, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah.

In handicapping this race, two schools jump out for us. The first is Oklahoma. I put a commit prediction in for the Sooners back in March and there was some buzz that he could commit around that time.

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Sparrow decided to hold off making an early decision in order to take his official visits. Oklahoma was the first visit locked in and for awhile, the only visit that was set, giving even more credence to the Sooners being the team to beat.

“They really believe in me and have a vision for me there,” Sparrow told us after his official visit. “They show me so much love and I have such great relationships with the coaches there.

“I also really like the town of Norman and the plan in place for me from a safety/scheme standpoint. They really have everything I’m looking for in a school. Brent Venables is great, a defensive minded head coach and I just love the all around fit.”

Sparrow followed up his visit to OU with trips to Oregon, Utah and BYU. The Ducks made a big impression and should be considered a dark horse. They are easily one of the toughest schools to recruit against and it would surprise no one if Sparrow ends in Eugene.

Saying that, the school that is gaining a lot of momentum and looks to be Oklahoma’s biggest challenger is BYU. For months we talked to some close to Sparrow, college coaches and trainers who all said the same thing, ‘don’t rule out BYU in the end.’

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No one has recruited Sparrow longer than the Cougs. He has been on campus more than any other school, he’s strong in his LDS faith and he has a great connection with the BYU staff including head coach Kalani Sitake.

BYU was able to get the final visit over the weekend and there is some quiet confidence in Provo as well as from a few other recruits/commits who were also on the visit. With the church connection, we’ve long said in a head to head battle, BYU is very tough to beat, especially for an in-state player.

Saying that, there are still Sooner commits we’ve talked to convinced Sparrow is still headed to Norman. That’s why this recruitment has become one of the more fascinating ones to follow this cycle, it’s one of those rare instances where days away from a decision, it could still go in multiple directions.

For now, my commit prediction remains on Oklahoma but BYU is closing fast and this one close to a toss up with a decision quickly approaching.

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OHP remembers K-9 for protecting countless lives during career

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OHP remembers K-9 for protecting countless lives during career


Officials with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are remembering a dedicated K-9 officer who passed away earlier this month.

K-9 Dak was born in 2014 and began serving with the OHP in 2015.

Throughout his distinguished career, officials say Dak’s exceptional instincts made a significant impact on public safety across the state.

During his career, Dak was instrumental in the seizure of over 2,000 pounds of marijuana, 46 pounds of cocaine, 151 pounds of methamphetamine, and 99 pounds of fentanyl.

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“These remarkable accomplishments represent countless lives protected and communities made safer through Dak’s service,” OHP wrote.

Dak worked his final shift on June 3 before peacefully passing away from natural causes on June 7.

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“More than his statistics and accomplishments, Dak was a loyal partner, trusted teammate, and beloved member of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. His legacy will live on through the work he accomplished, the bond he shared with his handler, and the many lives he touched throughout his career,” OHP said.

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Oklahoma captures third MCWS title, defeating North Carolina 13-2

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Oklahoma captures third MCWS title, defeating North Carolina 13-2


It’s Boomer Sooner time in Omaha.

Oklahoma has won the 2026 Men’s College World Series, steamrolling through North Carolina in the winner-take-all Game 3, 13-2, capturing its first national title in over 30 years and third overall. The Sooners are the seventh straight SEC team to win the national championship.

A dogpile with cheers that made its way through the infiled, it closed out the Sooners’ one-for-the-ages NCAA tournament run. 

It was an all-around masterclass for OU, jumping out to a 3-1 lead by the end of the third and never looking back. They put at least one run across the plate in four of the final six innings, including three in the fourth and four in the eighth. 

The fourth was where Oklahoma’s upper hand became clear. Walker McDuffie’s three consecutive one-out walks loaded the bases, and UNC turned to star freshman Caden Glauber. The Tar Heels were previously 29-0 with whenever he pitched, but he was pulled after a walk and Jaxon Willits’ two-RBI single. 

LJ Mercurius was outstanding on the mound, entering for starter Nick Wesloski in the third and tossing 5.2 innings, giving up just one run on four hits. It was his longest outing since April 17.

Outside of Mercurius, shortstop Jaxon Willits and Kyle Branch starred for the Sooners. The former went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and was named Most Outstanding Player, while Branch also went 3-for-4 with a homer and six RBIs, a career-high. He’s the third player all-time to record six or more RBIs in a national championship game.

The victory caps off OU’s gauntlet-like journey to the top. After finishing 11th in SEC regular season play, they knocked off five national seeds — three in the top five and two on the road — leaning on a trio of freshman arms and a historic power surge at the plate.

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Men’s College World Series All-Tournament Team:

  • Catcher: Deiten LaChance, Oklahoma
  • First base: Erik Paulsen, North Carolina
  • Second base: Gavin Gallaher, North Carolina
  • Third base: Tyrus Hall, West Virginia
  • Shortstop: Jaxon Willits, Oklahoma
  • Outfield: Jason Walk, Oklahoma
  • Outfield: Owen Hull, North Carolina
  • Outfield: Dasan Harris, Oklahoma
  • Designated Hitter: Adrian Rodriguez, Texas
  • Pitcher: Joey Volchko, Georgia
  • Pitcher: Caden Glauber, North Carolina





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