Oklahoma

Newcomer Profile: Oklahoma OL Eugene Brooks Still ‘Mountain of a Man’ After Trimming 50 Pounds

Published

2 years ago

April 18, 2024

NORMAN — Oklahoma coach Brent Venables boasted on National Signing Day that 6-foot-4, 320-pound offensive line newcomer Eugene Brooks had lost half-a-hundred pounds.

“Eugene Brooks from the state of California, just a real natural powerful guard. Just great girth and size. Just really nimble and he’s got a great story about his development,” Venables said. “He’s lost 50 pounds in the last couple of years and he’s still a mountain of a man to really create a lot of opportunity for himself. He’s got a great testimony.”

Estimates for Brooks’ reported weight loss range from 50 to 60 pounds leading up to his senior year. Before he trimmed down, he was “dominant,” said 247’s Gregg Biggins, and won several offensive line MVPs at camps he attended. Since his “incredible” transformation, it seems Brooks has retained his strength while adding speed.

Brooks was a 4-star prospect at Sierra Canyon High School (CA). He was ranked within 247Sports’ top 150 players in the 2024 class, the No. 14 player in California and No. 5 interior lineman nationally. He was an Under Armour All-America selection.

WATCH: Oklahoma OL Eugene Brooks Interview at Spring Media Day

Oklahoma’s 2024 signing class ranked 11th nationally. The Sooners brought in five total offensive linemen, four of which have enrolled for the spring. Brooks is one of those, along with Edmond Santa Fe (OK) alum Josh Aisosa, a 3-star interior lineman; Daniel Akinkunmi, an international tackle prospect from the NFL Academy in London; and Isaiah Autry-Dent, a 3-star tackle from Mississippi.

“Really, you know, feel great about the lines of scrimmage. We have, when it’s all said and done with a few of the portal additions, we’ll have, give or take, 16 offensive and defensive lineman that will help us again reinforce the trenches where the game’s won or lost,” Venables said.

The Sooners offensive line had more turnover from the 2023 season than any other group on the field. Brooks has heard the concerns surrounding the unit.

“Really, I hear them, but as a group, being a player in our group, we know what we have to do,” Brooks said during spring media day. “We’re coming in every day working, keeping our mind straight, keeping our head on a swivel and just coming in grinding every day, and we know what our destination is this season.”

A local reporter asked, “so, the O-Line’s going to be just fine?”

“Yes sir,” Brooks responded.

A massive prospect, Brooks pairs unique lateral movement and agility with power and frame. He was a 2023 CIF Southern Section Division IV champion in the shot put title his junior year with a throw of 55 feet, 6 inches. In his throwing career, he went 56-0 in the shot put and 127-1 in discus.

That power and explosiveness will give Brooks a chance to get playing time in an offensive line room where everyone is still getting familiar with one another.

“The offensive line, as a unit, we’re all talking to each other, we’re all coming up as leaders, you know, keeping each other pushed, keeping each other motivated for this opportunity,” Brooks said. “I’m very excited, you know? As a unit, as a team, we’re going to come in and show you guys what we’re capable of.”

In the end, Brooks’ recruitment came down to OU and Texas. The opportunity to play for Oklahoma’s 12th-year offensive line coach, Bill Bedenbaugh, was too great to pass up for Brooks as he picked the Sooners on July 25. Bedenbaugh has twice been named a finalist for the Broyles Award, given annually to college football’s top assistant coach. For five straight years from 2016-20, an OU player won Big 12 lineman of the year. In total, Bedenbaugh has helped 10 Sooners offensive linemen get drafted.

“He’s really just passionate about the game, you know, he really loves the game, and just being able to come in early and just be able to be coached by him is a blessing,” Brooks said. “It’s a great opportunity for me to come in and be coached by him.”

Oklahoma was the only team in the country that produced a top-10 rushing offense and a top-10 passing offense over the past decade. The Sooners also rank first nationally in total offense with 509.4 yards per game in that span.

Playing in the SEC wasn’t necessarily a factor in Brooks’ recruiting, but it was a factor.

“Really just how the team and everybody was more welcoming and it’s like a family, that was the reason why I committed,” Brooks said. “But then going to the SEC was like a big plus. That added onto it.”

More Newcomer Profiles

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DB Eli Bowen

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Related Topics:Bill Bedenbaugh Boomer Sooner brent venables Eugene Brooks IV Featured Offensive Line Oklahoma Sooners OU Football Sooner Nation

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Oklahoma

What Houston Does Better Than Oklahoma State and Why It Matters

Published

9 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

What Houston Does Better Than Oklahoma State and Why It Matters

Oklahoma State and Houston have an odd tradition dating back to their matchup in 1986. Neither team has won two games in a row.

Since that game in Stillwater in 1986 the Cougars and the Cowboys have alternated victories. Houston won that game in Stillwater, 28-12. The Cowboys followed that with a win in Houston in 1987.

Then the Cougars won in 2006 in Houston, followed by an Oklahoma State win in Stillwater in 2008. The two teams met again in 2009 in Stillwater and Houston won.

That was followed in 2023 by Oklahoma State’s first visit to Houston in Big 12 action with the Cowboys claiming the victory. And, of course, there was Oklahoma State’s loss to Houston last year in Stillwater.

If things hold the form, Oklahoma State will beat Houston this October. But the Cowboys are going to have to overcome something that Houston does better than them.

What Houston Does Better Than Oklahoma State

Houston Cougars defensive back Will James (15) celebrates with defensive back Kentrell Webb,. | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Given that both teams have talented offenses and have the potential to dominate in the passing game, it’s safe to say that’s a draw. Same for the running game with Caleb Hawkins at Oklahoma State and the incoming Makhi Hughes at Houston.

So, it could come down to who can defend the pass the best. In that area, Houston would have a clear advantage.

In terms of yards allowed in the air last year Houston was No. 10 in the Big 12 and Oklahoma State was No. 13. There wasn’t much separating the pair. But Houston had 12 interceptions to Oklahoma State’s six, and much of that production is coming back in the form of three returning starters. Plus, the Cougars managed to replace some of the lost production with an impressive transfer.

Will James was an All-Big 12 cornerback last year who returns with three interceptions and five pass breakups in what was a breakthrough season for the junior. Both safeties are back after last season as well. Kentrell Webb is more of a ball-hawkish type safety who can also tackle (71 tackles, one interception) while Jordan Allen had 48 tackles and broke up two passes.

New corner Jalen Mayo replaces much of the lost production on the back end. The Stephen F. Austin transfer helped the Lumberjacks win the Southland Conference and an FCS playoff game as he picked off four passes. He’ll combine with James to build a formidable group of cornerbacks that can also count on another transfer, Javion White, in a 4-2-5 formation.

Game planning will be a bit easier for Oklahoma State since it plays the same 4-2-5 scheme. But, on paper, Houston’s secondary looks much better than Oklahoma State’s, which only has one returning starter in LaDanian Fields, who is a sophomore. Fields has two interceptions as a redshirt freshman. But transfers will make up for what else was lost last season.

Given the continuity on Houston’s side, it’s easy to see why their secondary is the thing they do better than Oklahoma State. Of course, the Cowboys have enough runway to nullify that advantage before they meet in October.

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Oklahoma

What are the Oklahoma City Thunder getting in Kentucky star Otega Oweh?

Published

19 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

What are the Oklahoma City Thunder getting in Kentucky star Otega Oweh?

Kentucky fans have been waiting all night to hear the name Otega Oweh called in the 2026 NBA Draft, and the wait is finally over. Oweh just went with the 41st pick to the Miami Heat, but his draft rights were traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. This means Oweh will be joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace, who just two seasons ago won the NBA Championship.

The Thunder still have one of the best young cores in the NBA, and now they have added to it by bringing in the Kentucky star Oweh. This season for the Wildcats, Oweh led the team in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game to go with 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 steals.

Mar 22, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) dunks during the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

When watching Oweh play, some might wonder how he didn’t go higher in the draft, but the goal for him early into his pro career will be to see if he can continue to develop his jump shot. Last year at Kentucky, Oweh shot 33.3% from deep, but fans felt a lot more confident when Oweh would shoot the three-point shot.

Oweh is a great defender who is going to thrive playing for the Thunder, who are a team that works harder than any other team on the defensive end of the floor. Oweh can be a player for the Thunder who can come off the bench and play really hard on the defensive end of the floor, taking away steals and getting to the rim.

Mar 20, 2026; St. Louis, MO, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) shoots the ball against Santa Clara Broncos guard Sash Gavalyugov (2) during the second half of a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

When it comes to getting to the rim, there was no player in college basketball better than Oweh last season. He will be able to do this in the league, and if there is nothing there, he can kick the ball out to an open shooter. Being able to drive and kick in the NBA is very important, and I believe Oweh will do this at a high level.

The goal now for Oweh will be to play really well in the NBA Summer League to prove to the Thunder that he has to be on the team next season. While Oweh’s shooting issue doesn’t make him a prototypical NBA guard, BBN knows this kid can play. He will prove in the NBA Summer League that no team can stop him from getting to the rim. It will be great to see him paired with SGA and Wallace. The fit between the Thunder and Oweh makes a ton of sense, and he could make this roster.

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