Most productive LBs under Brent Venables
January, 20, 2012
1/20/12
2:46
PM CT
By
Brandon Chatmon | ESPN.com
NORMAN, Okla. -- Brent Venables was a terrific recruiter for Oklahoma.
His recruiting prowess wasn’t his only asset. The Sooners former defensive coordinator, who left this week to take over Clemson’s defense, was superb as a position coach developing of linebackers once they arrived in Norman.
Here are some of the most productive linebackers during Venables' tenure at OU:
Torrance Marshall (1999-2000)
An athletic linebacker who was a key contributor to the Sooners' national championship team in 2000, he finished his career with 202 tackles including 34 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in two seasons.
Originally slated to go to Miami (Fla.) after high school, Marshall came to OU after two years at Kemper Military Academy and Miami Dade Community College and went on to a multi-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers after being named MVP of the Orange Bowl in the title game win over Florida State.
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Here are some of the most productive linebackers during Venables' tenure at OU:
Torrance Marshall (1999-2000)
An athletic linebacker who was a key contributor to the Sooners' national championship team in 2000, he finished his career with 202 tackles including 34 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in two seasons.
Originally slated to go to Miami (Fla.) after high school, Marshall came to OU after two years at Kemper Military Academy and Miami Dade Community College and went on to a multi-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers after being named MVP of the Orange Bowl in the title game win over Florida State.
Alexander among most improved in Big 12
January, 20, 2012
1/20/12
2:10
PM CT
By SoonerNation Staff | ESPN.com
Big 12 blogger David Ubben broke down the most improved players in the Big 12 on Thursday and included Oklahoma defensive end Frank Alexander. Here's what he wrote on Alexander:
The physical tools had always been there for Alexander, but he'd never quite progressed into what he looked like he could be as a freshman in 2008. Until this year, that is. Alexander was a monster all season, leading the Big 12 in tackles for loss (19) and finishing second in sacks (8.5) to win defensive player of the year honors.
What round of the NFL draft will Alexander be taken in April?
Former Sooners co-author book on family
January, 20, 2012
1/20/12
12:55
PM CT
By
Jake Trotter | ESPN.com
Former Oklahoma quarterback Danny Bradley was enjoying life in the NFL when he began to hear rumors he was the father of a young son. A son who one day would follow in the footsteps of his father at OU.
Now, more than 20 years later, Danny and son Mark Bradley, a former receiver for the Sooners, have co-authored a book, “1nsepara6le-Faith, Family, Fatherhood,” chronicling their father-son bond.
“It’s a story about a father in pursuit of a relationship with his son,” said Danny, who quarterbacked the Sooners in the 1980s before playing for the Los Angeles Rams. “We wanted to encourage dads and sons to hang in and not quit.”
In the book, Danny details how Mark’s mom’s family kept Mark away from him. Not until Danny initiated a paternity test did Mark even realize who his father was.
“It was a tough situation knowing what my mom and family had done to this man,” said Mark, who in college wore the same No. 1 jersey number his dad did at OU. “My dad responded with love, forgiveness and humility. I don’t know many people who would respond that way.”
Eventually, Mark’s mother and Danny resolved their differences, and Mark and his father began to develop a relationship. Danny attended Mark’s games in college, which included trips to the ’03 and ’04 national championships.
“It was absolutely surreal to see my son play ball at same university I played at,” Danny said. “And wearing the same number. You can’t explain the feeling I had with what Mark and I had been through, knowing what he had been through to get there. It was a thrill.”
"1nsepara6le" is available for purchase at inseparable16.com and Amazon.com.
Now, more than 20 years later, Danny and son Mark Bradley, a former receiver for the Sooners, have co-authored a book, “1nsepara6le-Faith, Family, Fatherhood,” chronicling their father-son bond.
“It’s a story about a father in pursuit of a relationship with his son,” said Danny, who quarterbacked the Sooners in the 1980s before playing for the Los Angeles Rams. “We wanted to encourage dads and sons to hang in and not quit.”
In the book, Danny details how Mark’s mom’s family kept Mark away from him. Not until Danny initiated a paternity test did Mark even realize who his father was.
“It was a tough situation knowing what my mom and family had done to this man,” said Mark, who in college wore the same No. 1 jersey number his dad did at OU. “My dad responded with love, forgiveness and humility. I don’t know many people who would respond that way.”
Eventually, Mark’s mother and Danny resolved their differences, and Mark and his father began to develop a relationship. Danny attended Mark’s games in college, which included trips to the ’03 and ’04 national championships.
“It was absolutely surreal to see my son play ball at same university I played at,” Danny said. “And wearing the same number. You can’t explain the feeling I had with what Mark and I had been through, knowing what he had been through to get there. It was a thrill.”
"1nsepara6le" is available for purchase at inseparable16.com and Amazon.com.
RecruitingNation breaks down OU
January, 20, 2012
1/20/12
11:45
AM CT
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
ESPNU’s Recruiting Nation breaks down the latest recruiting news for the Oklahoma Sooners.
With less than two weeks until national signing day, it's time to talk about everything from where the top uncommitted prospects are heading to who will have the nation's top class to much, much more.
Chat with our stable of experts after the jump to get the answers to all your recruiting questions:
Chat with our stable of experts after the jump to get the answers to all your recruiting questions:
Trotter's Mailbag: Replacing Brent Venables
January, 20, 2012
1/20/12
10:31
AM CT
By
Jake Trotter | ESPN.com
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Christopher in Kalamazoo, Mich., writes: Jake, who would be your ideal, reasonable replacement for Brent Venables? I hear a lot about Tim Kish, but if I had my choice of the names being floated around I'd take Randy Shannon. He has tons of experience, a great footprint on Florida recruiting. It just seems like the ideal choice to me.
Triple option: Who's next at LB coach? 
January, 20, 2012
1/20/12
9:00
AM CT
By
Jake Trotter | ESPN.com
Three thoughts this morning:
1. Based on his connection to Mike Stoops, roots in Ohio and reputation as a top-notch recruiter, Tim Kish has to be considered one of the frontrunners to replace Brent Venables. Kish was Stoops' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Arizona and was the interim head coach there after Stoops was fired.
2. It will be interesting to see what, if any, effect Venables' departure will have on the Sooners' recruiting. So far, it doesn't appear to be creating huge waves, although it sounds like Wagoner CB Kevin Peterson may be giving Oklahoma State another look. The Stoops brothers were proactive about the possibility of Venables leaving and made sure Mike got in to meet several of the key commitments before Venables announced his decision.
3. OU is having problems putting together its 2012 schedule, because of conference realignment and the uncertainty surrounding West Virginia's entry into the Big 12. The Sooners were counting on having on slot to fill in the non-conference schedule going into the off-season. Then OU's game with TCU became a conference game, leaving OU with two holes. If West Virginia is forced to remain in the Big East, the Sooners would have three dates to fill. This late in the game, it will be close to impossible to schedule opponents that won't damage OU's overall strength of schedule. For a team that hopes to make a run at the national championship next season, this could turn out to be immensely problematic.
1. Based on his connection to Mike Stoops, roots in Ohio and reputation as a top-notch recruiter, Tim Kish has to be considered one of the frontrunners to replace Brent Venables. Kish was Stoops' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Arizona and was the interim head coach there after Stoops was fired.
2. It will be interesting to see what, if any, effect Venables' departure will have on the Sooners' recruiting. So far, it doesn't appear to be creating huge waves, although it sounds like Wagoner CB Kevin Peterson may be giving Oklahoma State another look. The Stoops brothers were proactive about the possibility of Venables leaving and made sure Mike got in to meet several of the key commitments before Venables announced his decision.
3. OU is having problems putting together its 2012 schedule, because of conference realignment and the uncertainty surrounding West Virginia's entry into the Big 12. The Sooners were counting on having on slot to fill in the non-conference schedule going into the off-season. Then OU's game with TCU became a conference game, leaving OU with two holes. If West Virginia is forced to remain in the Big East, the Sooners would have three dates to fill. This late in the game, it will be close to impossible to schedule opponents that won't damage OU's overall strength of schedule. For a team that hopes to make a run at the national championship next season, this could turn out to be immensely problematic.
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Sooner Snapshot: OL John Michael McGee
January, 20, 2012
1/20/12
7:45
AM CT
By
Brandon Chatmon | ESPN.com
As National Signing Day approaches on Feb. 1, Brandon Chatmon is breaking down every commitment and signee in the Sooners' 2012 recruiting class. View all of our profiles here.
Name: John Michael McGee
Position: Offensive guard
Height, Weight: 6-foot-3, 275 pounds
Hometown/School: Texarkana,Texas/Texas
Committed: June 23, 2011
Scout grade: 80. Four-star prospect.
It’s been an interesting week for Dorial Green-Beckham (Springfield, Mo./Hillcrest). The nation’s top-ranked receiver and one of the most highly touted uncommitted players has been courted by the best coaches and has seen coaches go all out just to show their interest.
Case in point, Green-Beckham was visited earlier this week by Missouri coach Gary Pinkel -- who arrived at Hillcrest High School in a helicopter. It is believed that Missouri is neck and neck with Arkansas for Green-Beckham’s services. Officially, Green-Beckham has Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas as his final five schools.
A lot can be determined this weekend, as Green-Beckham is expected to take an official visit to Arkansas. This will be only his second official visit – Texas was the first in November – and it is known that the Razorbacks are a fan favorite to Green-Beckham’s younger brother, Darnell.
“With Arkansas, it’s the atmosphere. It’s football,” Green-Beckham said about the Razorbacks during the week of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio. “Everybody likes to be around football there. It’s kind of like Dallas with the Cowboys. The whole atmosphere is unbelievable.”
Case in point, Green-Beckham was visited earlier this week by Missouri coach Gary Pinkel -- who arrived at Hillcrest High School in a helicopter. It is believed that Missouri is neck and neck with Arkansas for Green-Beckham’s services. Officially, Green-Beckham has Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas as his final five schools.
A lot can be determined this weekend, as Green-Beckham is expected to take an official visit to Arkansas. This will be only his second official visit – Texas was the first in November – and it is known that the Razorbacks are a fan favorite to Green-Beckham’s younger brother, Darnell.
“With Arkansas, it’s the atmosphere. It’s football,” Green-Beckham said about the Razorbacks during the week of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio. “Everybody likes to be around football there. It’s kind of like Dallas with the Cowboys. The whole atmosphere is unbelievable.”
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Tapper not affected by Venables' departure
January, 19, 2012
1/19/12
8:42
PM CT
By
Brandon Chatmon | ESPN.com
Count Charles Tapper (Baltimore/City College) among Oklahoma's defensive recruits who won't let Brent Venables departure impact his decision to be a Sooner.
"It hasn’t changed my opinion at all," Tapper said Thursday night. "I met him once when I came on a visit and we didn't talk a lot. It's mainly coach (Bobby Jack) Wright and Coach (Bob) Stoops I speak with.
"It doesn't affect my decision."
"It hasn’t changed my opinion at all," Tapper said Thursday night. "I met him once when I came on a visit and we didn't talk a lot. It's mainly coach (Bobby Jack) Wright and Coach (Bob) Stoops I speak with.
"It doesn't affect my decision."
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Eric Striker, Daniel Brooks firm with OU
January, 19, 2012
1/19/12
7:26
PM CT
By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
One phone call from Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops was all it took to reassure safety commit Eric Striker (Seffner, Fla./Armwood) that the Sooners were the right fit for the three-star prospect.
No commit had a better relationship with former OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables than Striker. When it came to recruiting, Striker said Venables was the only coach he had heard from.
On Wednesday evening Striker said he wasn’t sure what he would do if Venables left the program. But a phone call from Bob Stoops on that night sealed the deal.
No commit had a better relationship with former OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables than Striker. When it came to recruiting, Striker said Venables was the only coach he had heard from.
On Wednesday evening Striker said he wasn’t sure what he would do if Venables left the program. But a phone call from Bob Stoops on that night sealed the deal.
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Oklahoma's special teams MVP in 2011
January, 19, 2012
1/19/12
5:05
PM CT
By SoonerNation Staff | ESPN.com
The SoonerNation staff is wrapping up Oklahoma's 10-3 season by answering 10 questions, just like we did during the Sooners' bye week in November. Today:
Who was the Sooners' special teams MVP for the 2011 season?
K Michael Hunnicutt
Even though he missed a critical chip shot in the loss to Texas Tech, Hunnicutt stabilized a position that had been anything but since 2007. The freshman former walk-on ended up making 21 of 24 field goals, including four of four from 40 yards or farther. The Sooners have several holes to fill next season. Field goal kicker is not one of them. Finally.
- Jake Trotter
K Michael Hunnicutt
OU’s special teams went from a team weakness in 2010 to a team strength in 2011 thanks in large part to Hunnicutt. He provided consistent, and trustworthy, field goal kicking as he missed just three of 24 field goal attempts this season.
- Brandon Chatmon
K Michael Hunnicutt
With all the transfers that have been happening, scholarships have opened up for the 2012 class. The one spot the Sooners are not actively pursuing? Kicker. OU is set with Hunnicutt at the position, following a great 2011 season. Oklahoma was looking at kickers in October but that has not been a focus at all in the last couple of months.
- Bob Przybylo
K Michael Hunnicutt
I believe this is our first unanimous decision out of all the awards we've done. And rightfully so. Hunnicutt brought stability to the Sooners this season after years (!) of fans shielding their eyes when Jimmy Stevens stepped up for a kick longer than 30 yards. For the first time since Garrett Hartley, OU fans can finally feel confident. And he's got three years of eligibility remaining.
- Dane Beavers
What do you think? Do you agree?
Who was the Sooners' special teams MVP for the 2011 season?
K Michael Hunnicutt
Even though he missed a critical chip shot in the loss to Texas Tech, Hunnicutt stabilized a position that had been anything but since 2007. The freshman former walk-on ended up making 21 of 24 field goals, including four of four from 40 yards or farther. The Sooners have several holes to fill next season. Field goal kicker is not one of them. Finally.
- Jake Trotter
[+] Enlarge
Icon SMIFreshman kicker Michael Hunnicutt made 21 field goals for the Sooners in 2011.
Icon SMIFreshman kicker Michael Hunnicutt made 21 field goals for the Sooners in 2011.OU’s special teams went from a team weakness in 2010 to a team strength in 2011 thanks in large part to Hunnicutt. He provided consistent, and trustworthy, field goal kicking as he missed just three of 24 field goal attempts this season.
- Brandon Chatmon
K Michael Hunnicutt
With all the transfers that have been happening, scholarships have opened up for the 2012 class. The one spot the Sooners are not actively pursuing? Kicker. OU is set with Hunnicutt at the position, following a great 2011 season. Oklahoma was looking at kickers in October but that has not been a focus at all in the last couple of months.
- Bob Przybylo
K Michael Hunnicutt
I believe this is our first unanimous decision out of all the awards we've done. And rightfully so. Hunnicutt brought stability to the Sooners this season after years (!) of fans shielding their eyes when Jimmy Stevens stepped up for a kick longer than 30 yards. For the first time since Garrett Hartley, OU fans can finally feel confident. And he's got three years of eligibility remaining.
- Dane Beavers
What do you think? Do you agree?
Offensive lineman Zach Banner (Lakewood, Wash./Lakes) will take his final official visit this weekend and also set the date for when he’ll be making his college choice.
Banner has already visited Michigan, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Washington and will head to USC this week. He’s narrowed his choices to the Sooners, the Huskies and the Trojans.
“This will be my third time visiting USC,” Banner said. “I’m pretty excited about it. USC has been recruiting me hard for a long time, and I have a great relationship with the coaches there. I know a lot of the recruits, I’m familiar and like the area and campus and USC is a school that I loved watching when I was younger.
Banner has already visited Michigan, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Washington and will head to USC this week. He’s narrowed his choices to the Sooners, the Huskies and the Trojans.
“This will be my third time visiting USC,” Banner said. “I’m pretty excited about it. USC has been recruiting me hard for a long time, and I have a great relationship with the coaches there. I know a lot of the recruits, I’m familiar and like the area and campus and USC is a school that I loved watching when I was younger.
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Closer look: Brent Venables' recruiting
January, 19, 2012
1/19/12
4:00
PM CT
By
Brandon Chatmon | ESPN.com
The loss of Brent Venables will have a tremendous impact on Oklahoma each Saturday but could have a even bigger impact on the Sooners on National Signing Day each February.
Venables was one of the best recruiters on the Sooners staff, recruiting the Dallas/Fort Worth area as good as anyone in the country while also closing quality recruits from Florida, Las Vegas and Kansas in the last six years.
Here’s a look at various recruits Venables has recruited to Oklahoma since 2006 and their impact (or lack thereof) on the program:
Venables was one of the best recruiters on the Sooners staff, recruiting the Dallas/Fort Worth area as good as anyone in the country while also closing quality recruits from Florida, Las Vegas and Kansas in the last six years.
Here’s a look at various recruits Venables has recruited to Oklahoma since 2006 and their impact (or lack thereof) on the program:
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Sooner Intel: Recruiting news and notes
January, 19, 2012
1/19/12
2:30
PM CT
By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
John Albright/Icon SMI
For the latest on No. 1 receiver prospect Dorial Green-Beckham, read below.
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ABOUT SOONER NATION
Jake Trotter
Jake Trotter joined ESPN.com in 2011 after four years with The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman, covering OU and Big 12 football. He's a graduate of Washington and Lee (Va.) University and lives in Oklahoma City with his wife. Email him at trotterjake@gmail.com.
Brandon Chatmon
Brandon Chatmon joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending eight years with The Oklahoman, covering Oklahoma State University, high schools and recruiting. Chatmon lives in Norman, Okla. Email him at bchatmonespn@gmail.com.
Bob Przybylo
Bob Przybylo joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending four years with The Oklahoman, covering high schools and recruiting. Przybylo lives in Oklahoma City. Email him at bprzybyloespn@gmail.com.