Recruiting: 5-star to visit?
According to SoonerScoop.com, five-star slot receiver Burton Scott, who is committed to Alabama, apparently wants to visit Norman this weekend with buddy Julio Jones.
But do the Sooners want him? Scott reportedly hasn’t heard from the OU coaches yet. One reason is that Scott could spend the whole visit to Norman trying to convince Jones to commit to Alabama, too.
OU will need to confirm that Scott is truly interested in being a Sooner and that his intenions are honest.
– Jake Trotter
OU’s weekly notes
Straight from the source, here’s OU athletic notes for the week.
MEN’S BASKETBALL (13-5, 1-2)
Last Week: The Sooners split their two games, losing 85-55 at No. 3 Kansas on Monday before regrouping to beat Texas Tech 63-61 at home on Saturday. Longar Longar scored a team-high 21 points against Kansas and shared team-high honors with Taylor Griffin by netting 16 points versus Texas Tech. Against the Red Raiders, Longar added nine rebounds and three blocks while Griffin grabbed 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the year.
Gymnastics: OU sweeps Big 12 honors
Leading OU to the third-best team score in the NCAA this season in its win over TWU, Sooner gymnasts Kiara Redmond-Sturms and Hollie Vise were honored as Big 12 Gymnast and Event Specialist of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday.
Women’s basketball: Sherri is ‘most fun to watch’
The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced its winners for the 2008 WBCA Superlatives – an OU coach Sherri coach has been named the “Most Fun to Watch.”
Here are the other winners.
Most Inspirational:Kay Yow (NC State)
Most Likely to get a Technical Foul: Geno Auriemma (Connecticut)
Best Pep Band: Tennessee
Rising Star: Coquese Washington (Penn State)
Best Coaching Combo: Pat Summitt/Holly Warlick (Tennessee)
Most Fun to Watch (Coach or School): Sherri Coale (Oklahoma)
Best Community Support: Tennessee
Best Tradition: Tennessee
Best Host School: Tennessee
Most Competitive Coach: Pat Summitt
Links: Adrian up, OU women down
Working the late shift tonight, so here’s a second set of links about OU. – Mike Koehler
* Adrian Peterson is one of the NFL running backs that did right in the 2007 season.
* More draft brainiacs in action. Here’s a composite rankings for WR.
* Observations on the OU women’s troubles.
Basketball: Stacey King honored
Here’s a video of Stacey King being honored at last weekend’s OU game. Think they could use him now?
sharedVideo(1386375956)
NFL: Malcolm in the middle…of the first round
By Blake Jackson
NFL Draft analysts aren’t expecting Malcolm Kelly’s draft position to be affected by his disappearance in the Fiesta Bowl or the declaration of other top junior wideouts DeSean Jackson, Mario Manningham and James Hardy.
Several early mock drafts — including those on ESPN, Yardbarker, Rivals.com — have Kelly going in the middle to late-mid first round. In almost every instance, that’s just after Cal’s Jackson and before either Manningham or Hardy.
ESPN.com’s Todd McShay has Kelly going No. 19 to the Philadelphia Eagles as the second wideout off the board. He writes:
“Current Eagles OTs Jon Runyan and William Thomas aren’t getting any younger, so Jeffrey Otah (Pittsburgh) and Michael Oher (Mississippi) are possibilities here. However, the Eagles are still in search of a big-play threat at wide receiver and Kelly could finally be the answer. Unlike most big receivers, he’s a smooth route-runner who knows how to separate from man-to-man coverage. Kelly also might have the strongest hands of any receiver in this year’s class. ”
Over at Yardbarker, Paul Schackman hands Kelly to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 20:
“Joey Galloway is nearing the end of his fabulous career and it is time to look for playmakers to step in. Kelly is the best receiver remaining on the board, and a big play receiver who can help stretch the field. Offensive tackle is also an option here.”
Rivals.com draft analyst Frank Coyle has Kelly going to the Houston Texans at No. 18:
“The Texans are looking to add a standout playmaker opposite Andre Johnson.”
It’s worth noting that Coyle is the only analyst I’ve found to list another Sooner among his expected first round draftees. He expects Oklahoma cornerback Reggie Smith to go No. 10 overall to the New Orleans Saints — I’m with Coyle on Kelly’s placement, but I don’t think I can make the lottery leap with Smith.
So far, I haven’t seen anything about Curtis Lofton, although most early mock drafts only plot out the first round. Following the NFL Draft is one of my favorite things to do as a sports fan. I’ll keep you posted if I hear/read anything else.
Links: Recruiting tidbits, AD and more mock drafts
Good Tuesday morning everybody. Here’s some rockin’ links, including a slew of mock NFL drafts.
* Sooners still chasing a Texas Tech-committed lineman.
* Assorted recruiting notes from SoonerScoop. Julio Jones in this weekend.
* Really interesting look at how recruiting class rankings compare to team rankings. Good work, Sunday morning QB.
* Great video and blog from the Houston Chron talking to Jim Brown and Adrian Peterson.
* First, Rivals checks in with its mock draft which has Reggie Smith going at No. 10?!?
* How about Malcolm Kelly in the first round to the Eagles?
* Buffalo Bills fans debate Limas Sweed vs. Malcolm Kelly.
* Quick quiz: How many Sooners in this year’s Super Bowl? Answer here.
* Another draft has Reggie going to the Texans.
