When Kani Walker transferred from Louisville, he was in search of a spot he may name dwelling without end.
After a disappointing season with the Cardinals, Walker knew he needed to search out household at his subsequent touchdown spot.
“You don’t play soccer for the remainder of your life, and to me that’s one of the vital necessary the explanation why I selected OU,” stated Walker. “Life after soccer, then what? Can I come again to those coaches and these amenities and nonetheless really feel welcomed dwelling? For me, it was a no brainer. And naturally, we’re at Oklahoma.”
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Walker, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound redshirt freshman, was capable of make the Oklahoma connection because of his highschool coach, Johnny White of Douglas County Excessive College, and his relationship with OU defensive coordinator Ted Roof.
Whereas Walker wasn’t in a position make the instant affect he was in search of at Louisville, he’s already turning heads at Oklahoma. Walker has made a reputation for himself as far as a bodily, hard-hitting security.
Earlier than transferring from Louisville, cornerbacks coach Bryan Brown talked about Walker as a participant who may probably begin and would definitely take pleasure in an expanded function subsequent season.
Ryan Chapman / SI Sooners
Oklahoma cornerback Kani Walker (left)
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Ryan Chapman / SI Sooners
OU nook Kani Walker goes by drills at follow.
Ryan Chapman / SI Sooners
Kani Walker is already competing for a spot in the rotation.
Walker alluded to the teaching employees ceaselessly reminding him to play to his dimension, as he’s in a secondary room surrounded by smaller defensive backs.
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One of many issues that this teaching employees does so effectively is permitting gamers to play freely, and the Suwanee, GA, product has benefitted.
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“Coach Valai says you aren’t a nook that performs soccer, you’re a soccer participant that performs nook,” stated Walker. “They need you to have the scheme of the protection and play throughout the scheme of the protection, but in addition simply go make a play. Simply be a soccer participant.”
For Walker and the remainder of the protection, a contemporary begin and a brand new teaching employees means new alternatives. Lots of the gamers on the present roster have had restricted alternatives to shine on the sphere.
The starvation that Walker brings from his final cease, mixed along with his private expectations and the truth that he’s a redshirt freshman makes it laborious to mood pleasure about his potential.
“I am hungry,” Walker stated with a smile. “I really feel like that is the time to essentially make a reputation for myself. If I don’t stay as much as this chance, it’ll be on me. It’s not like they aren’t giving me the possibility.”
A part of Walker’s assertion alludes to a standard theme within the secondary: nothing is about in stone. With no set starters, the group is making one another higher and stacking up depth.
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The Sooners struggled down the stretch final season with expertise within the secondary. With a veteran group filled with snaps and expertise, a proficient participant like Walker may actually boost the cornerback room.
“Coach Valai, Coach (Brent) Venables and Coach Roof are all giving me a good shot to do what I can do,” Walker stated. “I’m hungry. I can’t look ahead to Saturday.”
3 scariest SEC baseball teams to face in the 2025 conference tournament
The Montgomery Advertiser’s Adam Cole breaks down why Auburn, Tennessee and Vanderbilt are the toughest teams to play in the 2025 SEC baseball tournament.
Kentucky baseball is set to begin postseason play this afternoon against Oklahoma.
The 13th-seeded Wildcats (29-23, 13-17 SEC) will face the 12th-seeded Sooners (33-19, 14-16) in the first round of the SEC Tournament at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama.
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Kentucky will attempt to replicate its magical postseason last year, when it reached the College World Series.
This is the fourth time the Wildcats are playing the Sooners this season; Kentucky won the previous three matchups.
Here’s what you need to know about Kentucky’s first game in the SEC Tournament, including bracket, schedule, seeding and more:
Date: Tuesday, May 20
Time: 2 p.m.
Texas (42-11)
Arkansas (43-12)
LSU (42-13)
Vanderbilt (39-16)
Georgia (42-14)
Auburn (38-17)
Ole Miss (37-18)
Tennessee (41-15)
Alabama (40-15)
Florida (37-19)
Mississippi State (34-20)
Oklahoma (33-19)
Kentucky (29-23)
Texas A&M (28-25)
South Carolina (28-28)
Missouri (16-38)
All times Eastern.
First round: Tuesday, May 20
Game 1: No. 9 seed Alabama vs. No. 16 seed Missouri | 10:30 a.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 2: No. 12 seed Oklahoma vs. No. 13 seed Kentucky | 2 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 3: No. 10 seed Florida vs. No. 15 seed South Carolina | 5:30 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 4: No. 11 seed Mississippi State vs. No. 14 seed Texas A&M | 9 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Second round: Wednesday, May 21
Game 5: No. 8 seed Tennessee vs. Game 1 winner | 10:30 a.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 6: No. 5 seed Georgia vs. Game 2 winner | 2 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 7: No. 7 seed Ole Miss vs. Game 3 winner | 5:30 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 8: No. 6 seed Auburn vs. Game 4 winner | 9 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Quarterfinals: Thursday, May 22
Game 9: No. 1 seed Texas vs. Game 5 winner | 4 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 10: No. 4 seed Vanderbilt vs. Game 6 winner | 7 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Quarterfinals: Friday, May 23
Game 11: No. 2 seed Arkansas vs. Game 7 winner | 4 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 12: No. 3 seed LSU vs. Game 8 winner | 7 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Semifinals: Saturday, May 24
Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner | 1 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner | 4:30 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Championship: Sunday, May 25
Game 15: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner | 3 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Reach sports reporter Prince James Story atpstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.
An Oklahoma State Softball Player has issued a statement following a season-ending loss in the NCAA Tournament.
After falling to Arkansas in the Fayetteville Regional final, Oklahoma State’s starting pitcher Ruby Meylan, has issued a statement.
“Cowgirl Nation, I want to thank you for everything,” Meylan said. “You have taken me in from day one. When I first arrived in Stillwater, I was broken; day by day, this place has healed me.”
Meylan came to Oklahoma State after spending two seasons at the University of Washington. She played a critical role in the Huskies’ run to the 2023 Women’s College World Series. Meylan went 27-17 with a 2.31 ERA, She added 343 strikeouts in 303.2 innings pitched across 76 appearances.
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With the Cowgirls in 2025, Meylen cemented herself as the No.1 pitcher. She finished the season with a 21-10 overall record and a 1.81 ERA. Meylan pitched in 209 innings allowing 66 runs on 152 hits. She had 238 strikeouts and held her opponents to a .201 batting average.
” I can’t thank God enough for allowing this program to be his plan for me,” Meylan said. “This season has been challenging in so many ways, but every challenge has been worth it.”
” I wouldn’t change a single thing; I am so blessed to have gone to war with this group of girls and coaches, ” she went to to say.
Oklahoma State wrapped up yet another impressive season finishing with a 35-20 overall record., but according to Meylan there is much more her and the Cowgirls want to accomplish,
“For the rest of my life, I promise to give Stillwater, Oklahoma State University, and Cowgirl softball everything I have. left in me, ” Meylan said.
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“We have some unfinished business.”
More News: 2025 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament: Bracket, Schedule & Updates
More News: Auburn Softball Player Hits Transfer Portal Just Hours After Team’s Elimination
More News: Liberty Softball Makes History, Upsets No. 1 Texas A&M in NCAA Regional
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Karlie Davison a double, a home run and four RBIs, Robyn Herron threw a complete game three-hitter on Sunday night and Arkansas beat Oklahoma State 12-0 in six innings to win the Fayetteville Regional.
Fourth-seeded Arkansas (43-12) plays host the winner between Mississippi and No. 13 seed Arizona in the super regionals next weekend.
Reagan Johnson reached on a fielding error to lead off the game before Courtney Day and Ella McDowell hit RBI singles and Kennedy Miller drew a bases-loaded walk to scored Kailey Wyckoff to make it 3-0.
Atalyia Rijo hit a RBI single in third while Karlie Davison and Raigan Kramer each added a run-scoring double to give the Razorbacks a 6-0 lead.
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Davison’s three-run home run capped a six-run sixth inning that gave Arkansas a 12-0 lead.
Ruby Meylan (21-10) gave up five runs, three earned, on six hits across two innings for Oklahoma State (35-20), which committed three errors.
![Paige Bueckers: 'Always good to be back home' [RAW]](https://images.foxtv.com/c107833-mcdn.mp.lura.live/expiretime=2082787200/87e09ee32b02bcb8947d1bc39527acd728390537d67a87c3f9964454ae59626b/iupl/88B/175/1280/720/88B175945838146978E04057DF31759B.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 "Paige Bueckers: 'Always good to be back home' [RAW]")
