Oklahoma
Three Oklahoma State football position battles to watch in 2024 preseason practices
Mike Gundy expects Ollie Gordon to carry load for Oklahoma State football
Mike Gundy expects Ollie Gordon to carry load for Oklahoma State football
STILLWATER — With nearly every job already spoken for by a returning starter, preseason camp has been uneventful from a position battle perspective for Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys are just over a week into the preseason, and just over three weeks from the opening game against South Dakota State at 1 p.m. Aug. 31 at Boone Pickens Stadium.
While the Pokes return roughly 20 starters, that leaves only a few starting positions to be won, but here’s a look at three important ones at this point of camp:
More: How Oklahoma State football QB Zane Flores grew during redshirt year: ‘He’s ready’
Safety
This might be the most unique position battle in preseason camp for the Cowboys because it primarily involves experienced players. Five different guys started at least one game at safety last year and all five are back, plus UTEP transfer Kobe Hylton has inserted himself into the discussion since arriving in January.
One aspect that remains unclear is just how frequently Kendal Daniels will line up at safety, a detail coach Mike Gundy continues to dance around. Even when Daniels is at linebacker, the safety group has plenty of experience to go around for the three starting jobs.
Trey Rucker seems locked into his spot once again, but the other two openings could go a variety of ways. Cameron Epps and Dylan Smith got good experience splitting time after Lyrik Rawls was hurt last year. Rawls is back to health and in the mix as well. Hylton has looked good, and less experienced backups like Ty Williams and Parker Robertson are fighting for spots in the two-deep.
More: Sean Snyder brings ‘refreshing’ experience to Oklahoma State football special teams
Tight end
It’s hard to tell how much of a battle this one will be, but it’s the most significant job opening on the offensive side of the ball, where basically every other starter returns. Tyler Foster, the 6-foot-6, 255-pound super-senior transfer from Ohio, looks like the frontrunner after stepping in during the spring. He has experience, as well as the versatility to be an effective blocker and pass-catcher.
Quinton Stewart is a veteran who has filled the role of an extra blocker the last couple years. Stillwater product Josh Ford has wowed coaches with his physicality as a true freshman, which could earn him some snaps. And Tabry Shettron continues to develop in the background.
The position has good depth, which is important at a spot that became more frequently used in a variety of areas last year.
More: Oklahoma State football’s Lyrik Rawls aims to reclaim starting safety spot after ACL tear
Placekicker
This is an interesting one, because it includes a late addition to the party. Drake Tabor, a journeyman who was an all-state kicker at Hoover (Alabama) High School, joined the program a week ago and has thrust himself into the competition with Logan Ward and Kason Shrum.
Still, Ward looks like the favorite and is enjoying his recent work with newly added kicking coach Sean Snyder. Ward, a walk-on from Deer Creek High School in Edmond, has filled many roles for the Cowboys. He took over as punter in 2022 when Tom Hutton tore his ACL. He was the kickoff specialist last year, and filled in on extra points at times.
Ward has proven to have a strong leg and is working this preseason to dial in his accuracy.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City police investigating early morning shooting
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma City police are investigating an early morning shooting that left one man injured in northeast Oklahoma City.
Around 3 a.m. on Thursday, emergency crews were called to a reported shooting near Kelley and Wilshire Blvd.
Investigators say the shooting occurred between a couple inside the home, adding that the woman shot the man.
However, police say they are trying to determine if the shooting was accidental.
The victim was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
The woman has been taken into custody for questioning, but it is unknown if she will face charges just yet.
Oklahoma
North Carolina, Oklahoma advance to the Men’s College World Series finals
Oklahoma is just three outs away from steamrolling through the right side of the bracket and knocking out Georgia to reach the championship finals.
To prepare, let’s take a look at what arms we should expect for the Sooners just like we did for the North Carolina earlier.
The Sooners have leaned heavily on their freshmen pitching trio in Cord Rager, Xander Mercurius and Nick Wesloski throughout Omaha. The first two went at least seven innings, while Wesloski tossed 5.2 innings on Wednesday. Even though they used relievers LJ Mercurius and Jackson Cleveland in the first two games, neither pitched more than two innings nor allowed a run.
If LJ, who entered for Wesloski on Wednesday, finishes the game, he will have gone 3.1 innings.
That sets up Oklahoma very well to matchup with UNC, which went 3-0 and also hasn’t used many arms up to this point.
If OU does win, expect Rager, Xander Mercurius and Cleveland to be ready to go. Rager, who hasn’t pitched since their first round game against Alabama on Saturday, June 13, would have a full week of rest.
Oklahoma
Rep. Kevin Hern wins Oklahoma GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, governor’s race heads to runoff
U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern easily won Oklahoma’s GOP nomination for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, and the race for a new governor in the deeply conservative state began with Republicans Gentner Drummond and Mark Mazzei advancing to a runoff.
In a primary that again tested President Donald Trump’s status as Republican Party kingmaker, both Hern and Mazzei carried his endorsement in their bids to win open races for two of Oklahoma’s biggest offices. With nearly all the votes counted, Drummond, the state’s attorney general, was narrowly ahead of Mazzei, a former state senator.
The primary had Republicans picking their preferred successor to outgoing Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt and a nominee for the Senate seat once held by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Democrats haven’t won a Senate seat in Oklahoma since 1990.
Hern’s most serious potential GOP rivals stayed out of the Senate race after Trump endorsed him even before Mullin was confirmed as a replacement for fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Hern received more than 50% of the primary vote to avoid a runoff.
He struck a somewhat bipartisan tone in speaking with reporters after winning big, touting his experience as a House member working on issues such as trade and energy. He promised to represent conservative principles and “Oklahoma ideologies” in the Senate and noted he already has relationships with senators.
“We have a lot of friends in a lot of different states, including blue states,” Hern said.
READ MORE: Live Results: Oklahoma midterm primaries
Trump endorsed Mazzei last month in a hotly contested race that also had other major candidates, including former Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall and Chip Keating, a former state public safety director who is the son of a two-term governor.
Drummond told reporters at his watch party that he had expected a runoff after Trump endorsed Mazzei and suggested that Trump could reconsider his endorsement of Mazzei, saying, “who knows?”
“Mr. Mazzei got a bump, but now he’s got to earn the rest,” Drummond said.
Trump repeated his endorsement of Mazzei on his Truth Social platform on Monday. Mazzei told supporters Tuesday night, “All I can say is, ‘Wow.’
“Eighteen months ago when we started this adventure, no one thought this was possible,” he said. “The political insiders said we had no chance. We started at zero, but who in here actually had faith we could get the job done and get in the runoff? You did.”
Mazzei also boosted his campaign with personal funds — nearly $10.9 million, or almost 95% of the $11.5 million he raised, according to campaign finance reports. Drummond put $2.5 million from his own pocket in raising about $7.2 million. Together, Drummond, Mazzei, Keating and McCall contributed $22.5 million of their own funds to their campaigns, or 72% of their combined fundraising of more than $31 million.
READ MORE: Oklahoma begins choosing a new U.S. senator and governor in crowded primary
The winner of the GOP runoff will face Oklahoma House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, who won the Democratic nomination Tuesday by a wide margin.
In a solidly Republican state, the races for two of Oklahoma’s biggest offices set off a political scramble. To replace Mullin in the Senate through this year, Stitt appointed Republican Alan Armstrong, an energy executive, but state law prohibited him from seeking a full term.
In November, Hern will face the winner of a Democratic runoff between N’Kiyla Thomas, a nurse and community activist, and Jim Priest, an attorney and minister.
The governor’s race is open because Stitt is finishing his second four-year term and cannot serve a third under the state constitution. Trump has seemed eager for him to go.
As head of the National Governors Association, Stitt drew Trump’s ire earlier this year over a dispute over invitations to White House events at the group’s annual meeting. The fallout led to Trump attacking Stitt on social media as a “RINO,” meaning Republican in Name Only.
A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy.
Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue.
-
Oregon11 seconds agoOregon man sentenced to 77 months in prison after pleading guilty to attempted kidnapping
-
Pennsylvania3 minutes agoPennsylvania lawmakers push for data center regulations as development accelerates
-
Rhode Island8 minutes agoRhode Island Pride marks 50th year as early marcher recalls Providence’s first parade
-
South-Carolina15 minutes agoSouth Carolina family raises awareness of rare Batten disease
-
South Dakota18 minutes agoSouth Dakota man whose life sentence was commuted by Noem now implicated in his niece’s death
-
Tennessee30 minutes ago8 Biggest Winners, 4 Losers from Tennessee Titans’ Minicamp
-
Texas33 minutes agoSweep in the heart of Texas: Twins beat Rangers again
-
Utah38 minutes agoRock Canyon fire doubles in size overnight near Arizona-Utah border