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Posted

Look, I know I am so far in the tank on the notion that OU is wildly overrated this year that I probably can't be helped, but it's these fucking okie writers who are doing it to me. Spoilered is an article talking excitedly about 5 fast risers for OU in this fall's camp. If you've been following, it's unintentional hilarity.

Highlights:

-Each of the 5 "risers" is in a spot to play due to desperation.

-Logan Howland started due to injury last year at LT. He had surgery on his shoulder, missed the spring and was promptly pushed backwards on the depth chart. The great hope at RT was a transfer from juggernaut Western Carolina, dude named Simmons, and he's been hurt all camp. Enter Logan Howland at RT. He's rising again.

-Keonteziedeezie Lewis failed at UCLA and Wisconsin. He became a magical wizard for the rabid Salukis of Southern Illinois receiving for almost 800 yards against guys that wouldn't make high school rosters at 6A Texas programs. Now, because other spares they were relying on at WR are hurt, Lewis is "different, man" per the erudite Emmett Jones. Right.

-Ivan "Helobious" Carreon has barely been mentioned this past spring or fall camp, but OU's desperate at WR, so they're going to be forced to play him as well.

-We've covered the hilarity that is the Jaren Kanak journey. Hullaballoo, Kanak Kanak, Hullaballoo Kanak! OU people are convincing themselves that this guy is going to make a difference at TE in 2025. Their TE room is so putrid that a random transfer from Kennesaw State will be starting and they're going to utilize this Kanak idiot as a wildcard in some form behind him. 

-They're painting the insertion of Fasusi as the second coming of Kelvin Banks. After they throw his ass out of the recovery center, yank the IV feed from his dehydrated lower left arm, and push him back out onto the practice field for more reps and conditioning, that motherfucker better get back to earning the $750k Nagy is paying his ass. 

Spoiler

Stock-risers: 5 Oklahoma offensive players who improved their standing during preseason practices

A look at five Oklahoma offensive players who improved their stock since the start of fall camp.

Tom GreenTom Green2 hrsVIP0

 

 

NORMAN — The preseason is just about wrapped for Oklahoma, as game prep is set to get underway for the Sooners with their season opener now nine days away.

Oklahoma has been practicing since July 31 in preparation for the 2025 season — a pivotal Year 4 for the program under head coach Brent Venables. After a disappointing inaugural season in the SEC, during which Oklahoma finished 6-7 and won just two games in league play, Venables and his program are in need of a bounceback this fall. The Sooners hope to accomplish that with a roster that features several returning pieces (including seven starters on defense) and big-time offseason additions, headlined by transfers John Mateer and Jaydn Ott on the offensive side.

While there are established pieces on both sides of the ball, Oklahoma is going to get contributions from other newcomers and lesser-known players as it tries to rebound from last year's debacle. As such, let's examine five players on each side of the ball who improved their stock this spring.

This list does not include established returning starters, and we tried our best to not focus on the same spring stock-risers we identified after spring practice (that means no Isaiah Sategna, Eddy Pierre-Louis, Reggie Powers III, Taylor Wein or Jacobe Johnson) or the five freshmen who have stood out this preseason that were highlighted on the site last weekend. Whether it was a newcomer fitting in nicely entering his first season at OU, young players progressing more than expected or returning pieces making a clear step forward or settling into new roles, here are five Sooners offensive players who improved their stock since the first day of fall camp. The defensive stock-risers will post in a separate story later today.

 

 

Logan Howland, right tackle

 

 

13235198.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

 

Logan Howland started six games at left tackle as a redshirt freshman last season in what was essentially baptism by fire for the former four-star prospect. While he endured some struggles in the SEC, he showed improvement late in the season and put some promising stuff on tape as a first-year starter. However, after the season he underwent a procedure to repair a torn labrum and subsequently missed spring practices.

Howland returned for fall camp, with offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh easing him and fellow redshirt sophomore Heath Ozaeta back into the swing of things. With Jacob Sexton and Michael Fasusi battling things out at left tackle, and with Derek Simmons missing considerable time during preseason practices, Howland flipped over to right tackle and has settled in nicely in that role in recent weeks. Simmons, the veteran transfer from Western Carolina, at one point seemed like a lock to start at right tackle this season, but considering how much time he missed this preseason, Howland has positioned himself to be the Sooners' answer at right tackle and could be the starter come Week 1.

Keontez Lewis, wide receiver

 

13235200.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

 

Keontez Lewis was one of five offseason transfer pickups for Oklahoma — and one of four who joined the program in the spring — as part of Emmett Jones' effort to reshape the wide receiver room. A transfer from Southern Illinois who has also made stops at UCLA and Wisconsin during his career, Lewis was hampered in the spring by a hamstring injury. This fall, Lewis has worked his way back into the discussion at wide receiver and has a chance to be a Week 1 starter for Oklahoma on the outside.

He has impressed teammates with his competitive nature (he had nine contested catches on 15 opportunities at Southern Illinois last season) and brings with him deep-ball capabilities that he showcased during his breakout season at Southern Illinois, when he posted a 96.7 receiving grade on throws 20-plus yards downfield, catching 11 of his 27 targets on those passes for 410 yards and a pair of touchdowns (37.3 yards per catch).

"Keontez is different, man," Jones said. "He's a dog. He loves to compete, loves to fight for the ball and is so smart when it comes to playing the wide receiver position. Some people ask me who he reminds me of, and he's cut from — I would say CeeDee (Lamb), Nic Anderson, those type of guys when it comes to just knowing the position, (being) smart, just playing fast and knowing what's going on in the back end, understanding route concept, spacing, (will) coach up guys on the field with him."

Ivan Carreon, wide receiver

 

13234980.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

 

Oklahoma's second-year wide receivers have flown somewhat under the radar this offseason — a bit lost in the mix between returning wideout Deion Burks, the five transfer additions and two freshmen who have made waves since the spring — but Ivan Carreonmuch like fellow sophomore Zion Kearney, has come on strong during fall practices. The 6-foot-6, 224-pound sophomore got his feet wet in the SEC last season, as he was among the true freshmen thrust into action due to the array of injuries the Sooners endured at wide receiver, and he finished the year on a high note with seven receptions for 72 yards in the Armed Forces Bowl.

That experience as a true freshman benefited Carreon, who has looked more confident this fall while providing a big-bodied target with an impressive catch radius. It remains to be seen just how he'll factor into a crowded wide receiver room -- with Burks, Isaiah Sategna, Keontez Lewis, freshman Elijah Thomas and Kearney among those pushing for starting roles come Week 1 -- but it's clear Carreon is in a much better spot than he was even in the spring.

"Just (been focused on) playing faster," Carreon said. "I've got a big size. People don't think I can really move as much. So, just working on being more explosive, getting faster, working on my route details, and just playing with more confidence than I was as a freshman." 

Jaren Kanak, tight end

 

13235220.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK, USA TODAY Sports)

 

Making a position change is seldom easy, especially when it's switching sides of the ball and after spending three seasons playing linebacker. Yet Jaren Kanak has embraced his move to tight end this offseason, and now after exceeding early expectations, the senior is poised to have a real role at tight end for Oklahoma's offense this fall.

The Sooners' tight end room is still a big question mark going into the season, with no proven pieces at this level in a room that features a converted linebacker, a Division-II transfer in Will Huggins, two Group of Five transfers in Carson Kent and John Locke Jr., a true freshman in Trynae Washington and a pair of oft-injured veterans in Kaden Helms and Kade McIntyre. Kanak may not earn the starting job (Kent seems to be the favorite heading into Week 1), but the 6-foot-2, 232-pounder figures to have a role — likely as an H-back type who can make things happen with the ball in his hands and provide a level of physicality as a blocker, though that last part is still a work in progress (albeit not for lack of effort).

"I've always been a physical football player, I like to say, and obviously, being undersized at the position that I play, I kind of got to bring that edge of having a little bit of grit to me and a little bit of aggression," Kanak said. "And I have natural leverage as coach (Joe Jon) Finley says. It's a nice way of calling me short. But I have very natural leverage, so I can get up and under guys and really be physical with them."

Michael Fasusi, left tackle

 

13205034.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: JAMES D. JACKSON, 247Sports)

 

We tried to avoid overlapping with our list of freshman standouts from fall camp, but the progress of true freshman Michael Fasusi this preseason has been hard to overlook. Fasusi has been impressive since he stepped foot on Oklahoma's campus back in January, and the former five-star prospect has only continued to improve under the tutelage of Bill Bedenbaugh. The 6-foot-5, 309-pounder has looked every bit the part of an instant-impact newcomer, and he earned plenty of first-team reps this fall while Jacob Sexton missed some time due to injury.

With Sexton working his way back into the fold, it's unclear who will earn the starting job in Week 1, but Fasusi's development in his first eight months on campus has given the Sooners confidence that he can execute at a high level as a true freshman. One way or another, Fasusi -- who landed on the 247Sports preseason Freshman All-America team -- will play this season, whether as a starter or a key rotational piece.

"You know I hate to put unreal expectations on him, you know me, I'm an honest dude," Bedenbaugh said. "I haven't had — and we've had good players, really good, guys that are All-Pros, (but) I haven't had anybody like them (Fasusi and freshman Ryan Fodje) at that age, just overall. They aren't afraid. They aren't afraid who they're blocking. Whether Fasusi gets his ass kicked by R Mason (Thomas) or not, he ain't scared. He's going out there to win…. Both of them just turned 18 three weeks ago. That's it, they're 18 years old. So are they going to make mistakes? Certainly, they are, you know what I mean? It's really, at this point, pretty impressive where they are for that age and being here eight months."

 

 

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Posted

surprised they didn't talk up Blaylock or Guillory.. their guys on the youtube channels have been.. "absolute dawgs".. already dismissing last year's dawg in Tatum.  Think the Guillory love is because they aren't as deep as they keep saying they are in the secondary.   

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Posted

You get overheated enough that it damages your hypothalamus and you are fucked for life.  Your body will never be able to handle heat properly again and there is no way to fix it.  I know a guy who it happened to while in the army.  He was a ranger and was doing jungle survival training in Thailand.  He had a heatstroke and got put in the hospital.  He didn't want to have to repeat the training course, so he went back out too soon and had another one.  That one caused permanent damage and he had to be medically discharged.  He still has issues stemming from it to this day.  That's why the Texas staff was so careful with Wingo.

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Posted
1 hour ago, Frank Drebin said:

He has really redeemed himself.  He was basically Lattimer from the Program at OU.  I love a redemption story, so I kind of like the guy now.  He is also pretty good at his job in an industry where so many just mail it in.

He's carefully neutral, enthusiastic about the sport, and well prepared. It's funny seeing the hate on him on game threads as he calls the game professionally and is generally complimentary to Texas.

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Posted
37 minutes ago, texifornia said:

He's carefully neutral, enthusiastic about the sport, and well prepared. It's funny seeing the hate on him on game threads as he calls the game professionally and is generally complimentary to Texas.

Yeah, I love a good second-chance-redemption story too. We all need to believe that true rehabilitation is an attainable goal.  I only have one itsy-bitsy, teeny-tiny problem with Dvoracek: The rotten cocksucker's still alive. Other than that . . .

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Posted
4 hours ago, Frank Drebin said:

Venables has two losing seasons in 3 years.  He doesn’t recruit well.  I wouldn’t be optimistic if I was them.  Maybe arbuckle is a savant and mateer is great.  If so, they will still lose at least 4.  

They are in the bargaining phase of the 5 stages of grief. 

Posted
2 hours ago, texifornia said:

He's carefully neutral, enthusiastic about the sport, and well prepared. It's funny seeing the hate on him on game threads as he calls the game professionally and is generally complimentary to Texas.

My disdain for Dvoracek has nothing to do with his announcing.  I generally agree with you that he is pretty decent.  It's the whole almost killed a guy in an alcohol fueled roid rage thing that gets me.

  • Rage+1 1
Posted
4 hours ago, closetojumping said:

Dvoracek is calling the Irish Bowl this weekend. He must really be confident and secure in his sobriety journey to feel okay on that island. Alcoholism isn't a concept that has reached the shores of the Emerald Isle yet, as far I've been able to discern. 

Hide the shillelaghs. 

Posted (edited)
3 hours ago, closetojumping said:

Look, I know I am so far in the tank on the notion that OU is wildly overrated this year that I probably can't be helped, but it's these fucking okie writers who are doing it to me. Spoilered is an article talking excitedly about 5 fast risers for OU in this fall's camp. If you've been following, it's unintentional hilarity.

Highlights:

-Each of the 5 "risers" is in a spot to play due to desperation.

-Logan Howland started due to injury last year at LT. He had surgery on his shoulder, missed the spring and was promptly pushed backwards on the depth chart. The great hope at RT was a transfer from juggernaut Western Carolina, dude named Simmons, and he's been hurt all camp. Enter Logan Howland at RT. He's rising again.

-Keonteziedeezie Lewis failed at UCLA and Wisconsin. He became a magical wizard for the rabid Salukis of Southern Illinois receiving for almost 800 yards against guys that wouldn't make high school rosters at 6A Texas programs. Now, because other spares they were relying on at WR are hurt, Lewis is "different, man" per the erudite Emmett Jones. Right.

-Ivan "Helobious" Carreon has barely been mentioned this past spring or fall camp, but OU's desperate at WR, so they're going to be forced to play him as well.

-We've covered the hilarity that is the Jaren Kanak journey. Hullaballoo, Kanak Kanak, Hullaballoo Kanak! OU people are convincing themselves that this guy is going to make a difference at TE in 2025. Their TE room is so putrid that a random transfer from Kennesaw State will be starting and they're going to utilize this Kanak idiot as a wildcard in some form behind him. 

-They're painting the insertion of Fasusi as the second coming of Kelvin Banks. After they throw his ass out of the recovery center, yank the IV feed from his dehydrated lower left arm, and push him back out onto the practice field for more reps and conditioning, that motherfucker better get back to earning the $750k Nagy is paying his ass. 

  Reveal hidden contents

Stock-risers: 5 Oklahoma offensive players who improved their standing during preseason practices

A look at five Oklahoma offensive players who improved their stock since the start of fall camp.

Tom GreenTom Green2 hrsVIP0

 

 

NORMAN — The preseason is just about wrapped for Oklahoma, as game prep is set to get underway for the Sooners with their season opener now nine days away.

Oklahoma has been practicing since July 31 in preparation for the 2025 season — a pivotal Year 4 for the program under head coach Brent Venables. After a disappointing inaugural season in the SEC, during which Oklahoma finished 6-7 and won just two games in league play, Venables and his program are in need of a bounceback this fall. The Sooners hope to accomplish that with a roster that features several returning pieces (including seven starters on defense) and big-time offseason additions, headlined by transfers John Mateer and Jaydn Ott on the offensive side.

While there are established pieces on both sides of the ball, Oklahoma is going to get contributions from other newcomers and lesser-known players as it tries to rebound from last year's debacle. As such, let's examine five players on each side of the ball who improved their stock this spring.

This list does not include established returning starters, and we tried our best to not focus on the same spring stock-risers we identified after spring practice (that means no Isaiah Sategna, Eddy Pierre-Louis, Reggie Powers III, Taylor Wein or Jacobe Johnson) or the five freshmen who have stood out this preseason that were highlighted on the site last weekend. Whether it was a newcomer fitting in nicely entering his first season at OU, young players progressing more than expected or returning pieces making a clear step forward or settling into new roles, here are five Sooners offensive players who improved their stock since the first day of fall camp. The defensive stock-risers will post in a separate story later today.

 

 

Logan Howland, right tackle

 

13235198.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

 

Logan Howland started six games at left tackle as a redshirt freshman last season in what was essentially baptism by fire for the former four-star prospect. While he endured some struggles in the SEC, he showed improvement late in the season and put some promising stuff on tape as a first-year starter. However, after the season he underwent a procedure to repair a torn labrum and subsequently missed spring practices.

Howland returned for fall camp, with offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh easing him and fellow redshirt sophomore Heath Ozaeta back into the swing of things. With Jacob Sexton and Michael Fasusi battling things out at left tackle, and with Derek Simmons missing considerable time during preseason practices, Howland flipped over to right tackle and has settled in nicely in that role in recent weeks. Simmons, the veteran transfer from Western Carolina, at one point seemed like a lock to start at right tackle this season, but considering how much time he missed this preseason, Howland has positioned himself to be the Sooners' answer at right tackle and could be the starter come Week 1.

Keontez Lewis, wide receiver

 

13235200.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

 

Keontez Lewis was one of five offseason transfer pickups for Oklahoma — and one of four who joined the program in the spring — as part of Emmett Jones' effort to reshape the wide receiver room. A transfer from Southern Illinois who has also made stops at UCLA and Wisconsin during his career, Lewis was hampered in the spring by a hamstring injury. This fall, Lewis has worked his way back into the discussion at wide receiver and has a chance to be a Week 1 starter for Oklahoma on the outside.

He has impressed teammates with his competitive nature (he had nine contested catches on 15 opportunities at Southern Illinois last season) and brings with him deep-ball capabilities that he showcased during his breakout season at Southern Illinois, when he posted a 96.7 receiving grade on throws 20-plus yards downfield, catching 11 of his 27 targets on those passes for 410 yards and a pair of touchdowns (37.3 yards per catch).

"Keontez is different, man," Jones said. "He's a dog. He loves to compete, loves to fight for the ball and is so smart when it comes to playing the wide receiver position. Some people ask me who he reminds me of, and he's cut from — I would say CeeDee (Lamb), Nic Anderson, those type of guys when it comes to just knowing the position, (being) smart, just playing fast and knowing what's going on in the back end, understanding route concept, spacing, (will) coach up guys on the field with him."

Ivan Carreon, wide receiver

 

13234980.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

 

Oklahoma's second-year wide receivers have flown somewhat under the radar this offseason — a bit lost in the mix between returning wideout Deion Burks, the five transfer additions and two freshmen who have made waves since the spring — but Ivan Carreonmuch like fellow sophomore Zion Kearney, has come on strong during fall practices. The 6-foot-6, 224-pound sophomore got his feet wet in the SEC last season, as he was among the true freshmen thrust into action due to the array of injuries the Sooners endured at wide receiver, and he finished the year on a high note with seven receptions for 72 yards in the Armed Forces Bowl.

That experience as a true freshman benefited Carreon, who has looked more confident this fall while providing a big-bodied target with an impressive catch radius. It remains to be seen just how he'll factor into a crowded wide receiver room -- with Burks, Isaiah Sategna, Keontez Lewis, freshman Elijah Thomas and Kearney among those pushing for starting roles come Week 1 -- but it's clear Carreon is in a much better spot than he was even in the spring.

"Just (been focused on) playing faster," Carreon said. "I've got a big size. People don't think I can really move as much. So, just working on being more explosive, getting faster, working on my route details, and just playing with more confidence than I was as a freshman." 

Jaren Kanak, tight end

 

13235220.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK, USA TODAY Sports)

 

Making a position change is seldom easy, especially when it's switching sides of the ball and after spending three seasons playing linebacker. Yet Jaren Kanak has embraced his move to tight end this offseason, and now after exceeding early expectations, the senior is poised to have a real role at tight end for Oklahoma's offense this fall.

The Sooners' tight end room is still a big question mark going into the season, with no proven pieces at this level in a room that features a converted linebacker, a Division-II transfer in Will Huggins, two Group of Five transfers in Carson Kent and John Locke Jr., a true freshman in Trynae Washington and a pair of oft-injured veterans in Kaden Helms and Kade McIntyre. Kanak may not earn the starting job (Kent seems to be the favorite heading into Week 1), but the 6-foot-2, 232-pounder figures to have a role — likely as an H-back type who can make things happen with the ball in his hands and provide a level of physicality as a blocker, though that last part is still a work in progress (albeit not for lack of effort).

"I've always been a physical football player, I like to say, and obviously, being undersized at the position that I play, I kind of got to bring that edge of having a little bit of grit to me and a little bit of aggression," Kanak said. "And I have natural leverage as coach (Joe Jon) Finley says. It's a nice way of calling me short. But I have very natural leverage, so I can get up and under guys and really be physical with them."

Michael Fasusi, left tackle

 

13205034.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: JAMES D. JACKSON, 247Sports)

 

We tried to avoid overlapping with our list of freshman standouts from fall camp, but the progress of true freshman Michael Fasusi this preseason has been hard to overlook. Fasusi has been impressive since he stepped foot on Oklahoma's campus back in January, and the former five-star prospect has only continued to improve under the tutelage of Bill Bedenbaugh. The 6-foot-5, 309-pounder has looked every bit the part of an instant-impact newcomer, and he earned plenty of first-team reps this fall while Jacob Sexton missed some time due to injury.

With Sexton working his way back into the fold, it's unclear who will earn the starting job in Week 1, but Fasusi's development in his first eight months on campus has given the Sooners confidence that he can execute at a high level as a true freshman. One way or another, Fasusi -- who landed on the 247Sports preseason Freshman All-America team -- will play this season, whether as a starter or a key rotational piece.

"You know I hate to put unreal expectations on him, you know me, I'm an honest dude," Bedenbaugh said. "I haven't had — and we've had good players, really good, guys that are All-Pros, (but) I haven't had anybody like them (Fasusi and freshman Ryan Fodje) at that age, just overall. They aren't afraid. They aren't afraid who they're blocking. Whether Fasusi gets his ass kicked by R Mason (Thomas) or not, he ain't scared. He's going out there to win…. Both of them just turned 18 three weeks ago. That's it, they're 18 years old. So are they going to make mistakes? Certainly, they are, you know what I mean? It's really, at this point, pretty impressive where they are for that age and being here eight months."

 

Tom green is a known absurdist.  This fits in well with his show skits. 
 

*should have multi quoted or edited the above. Sorry bout that. 

Edited by Pato del Muerto

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