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USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Feigning injuries addressed in new SEC football rules
Leading off day two of SEC media days was John McDaid, the SEC coordinator of officials, who reviewed some data regarding the pace of play and addressed some rule changes that will take effect in the league in 2025. Defensive delay of game will be new to the rules lexicon in 2025. Defenders have been allowed to flinch to draw offensive linemen into a false start. If the defensive lineman now makes an action that simulates the snap, it will be a delay of game on the defense and a five-yard penalty. The second rule he addressed was the process of substitutions. With teams running more uptempo offenses, rules were put in place to give the defense time to make a substitution if the offense changes players. But as it happens in college football, defensive coaches and players began taking advantage of the time allowed and would slowly jog off the field, trying to take up all of the play clock, forcing the offense into a delay of game. The SEC has made an adjustment to the language. In prior years, the player coming off the field had to do so "promptly." Now, if the officials over the ball determine the player isn't exiting the field of play with an "athletic pace," the official can step out of the way and allow the snap. Feigned injuries have arguably been the biggest rule issue that needs to be addressed, as the rate has increased dramatically over the years. According to the new rules in the SEC, if, after the umpire has spotted the ball and deemed it "ready for play," a player falls to the ground with an apparent injury, the defensive team will be penalized a timeout. If that team is out of timeouts, they'll be penalized five yards. The other big change on the field is the "t-signal." The signal has been used to alert their teammates that there won't be a return. But if they catch it, they could return it. Now, the officials will see it as a fair catch. Notably, after the third overtime, teams will have just one timeout apiece. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN's McElroy and Finebaum disagree on likelihood of Saban coaching return
According to CBS Sports, Oklahoma football coach Brent Venables is on the second hottest seat in the country. And according to Greg McElroy, Nick Saban may want to coach college football again. Do with those statements what you will. McElroy, who works as a college football analyst for ESPN, said Monday on his radio show "McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning" that he spoke with someone "notable" who was "adamant" Saban wants to return to coaching. McElroy played for Saban at Alabama from 2007-2011. 'They seem to think Nick Saban's not done coaching," McElroy said of the person he heard from. "I had a similar reaction. He's pretty adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will be coaching again. … Look, if it wasn't someone notable, I'd never say a word.' Paul Finebaum, who also works as an analyst for ESPN, said he disagreed. He couldn't see Saban returning to coaching as the former Toledo, Michigan State, LSU and Alabama coach was enjoying retirement too much. "I'm much closer to Nick Saban's age than you are and I can assure you," Finebaum told McElroy, "when you have everything you want and you start playing golf at the best golf clubs in America and you start making friends who belong to even better golf clubs and you make a lot of money for doing very little work on TV, the interest in doing what he walked away from is not very high." Saban retired after the 2023 season with seven national championships on his resume. Venables, entering his fourth year at Oklahoma, has two losing seasons with the Sooners, including last year when OU finished just 2-6 in its first go-around in the SEC. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oklahoma Sooners among top 12 for elite 2026 defensive end
The Oklahoma Sooners continue to be in a good position for one of the best defensive ends in the 2026 recruiting class, four-star prospect Kevin Ford, Jr. The Sooners were included in Ford's top 12 released on Thursday. Along with the Sooners, Ford named Texas A&M, Florida, Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Penn State, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Missouri, and USC. He's a bonafide blue-chipper with the opportunity to be a legit difference-maker at the collegiate level. He comes with great size for the position Here's what I had to say about Ford after Sam Spiegelman of Rivals issued a Futurecast favoring the Sooners after OU's Junior Day at the end of January. Out of Duncanville High School, Ford is a disruptive defensive end prospect. He's got a quick get-off at the snap that he uses to knife through the line of scrimmage or get around offensive tackles. Ford shows good play strength, displaying the ability to knock back offensive linemen with his initial strike. He sets the edge well in the run game and shows good discipline in his responsibilities. His speed and athleticism make him a natural pass rusher, but he has the strength to be a force against the run. Ford has a strong motor and is willing to chase down plays from the backside or after the quarterback steps up to avoid his initial rush. - Williams, Sooners Wire Oklahoma defensive end coach Miguel Chavis has done an excellent job on the recruiting trail, landing blue-chip edge rushers in each recruiting cycle since joining the Sooners in 2022. Chavis and the Sooners will have their hands full on the recruiting trail as they work to fend off a who's who in collegiate recruiting. But the Sooners are in a great spot to land the dynamic defensive end out of Texas. Check out Kevin Ford Jr.'s Highlights on Hudl. Projected Position Defensive End Height 6-foot-3 Weight 245 lbs Hometown Duncanville, Texas Site Stars Overall Position State Rivals 4 97 9 14 ESPN 4 138 16 14 247Sports 4 97 10 16 247Sports Composite 4 105 13 15 On3 4 234 28 33 On3 Industry 4 109 15 16 NEWS: Four-Star EDGE KJ Ford is down to 1️⃣2️⃣ Schools, he tells me for @on3recruitsThe 6'4 245 EDGE from Duncanville, TX is ranked as the No. 2 EDGE in Texas (per On3)Where Should He Go?👇🏽 — Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) March 20, 2025 This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners still in the mix for 2026 4-Star DE Kevin Ford Jr.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oklahoma's Ethan Downs has fantastic showing at NFL Scouting Combine
Three Oklahoma Sooners are undergoing testing at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in hopes of being called for the 2025 NFL Draft. Danny Stutsman, Ethan Downs, and Billy Bowman are at work this week trying to impress NFL coaches and front offices with their athletic ability. Among the trio of Sooners, Downs has helped himself a ton after going through the interview process and performing on the field. He put on a show in the athletic testing portion, running a 4.69 40-yard dash at 270 pounds. His 32 reps on the bench press were the most among defensive ends and edge players this season. Projected as a strong side defensive end at the NFL level, Downs showed out in a big way. He put together a combine that puts him among the top 15 at his position during the combine. Downs also performed well in the 10-yard split, a drill that is particularly useful for defensive linemen. Event Result Position Rank 40-yard dash 4.69 10 10-yard split 1.62 6 Vertical Jump 34 inches 12 Broad Jump 9-feet-11 inches 14 3-cone drill 7.58 10 20-yard shuttle 4.59 7 Bench Press 32 1 Downs almost assured he'll get drafted at the end of April with his performance at the combine and his position coach, Miguel Chavis, loved the effort from his defensive end. He really helped himself with this performance. Just like he was a stalwart for Brent Venables' defense, defensive coordinators at the NFL level are going to love Ethan Downs. More than ANY DL (Edge or DT), @ethandowns40 hit 32 reps on the Bench Press at the Combine this morning!I see you ED!!!Choke em out Dawg!!!! — Coach Miguel Chavis (@MiguelChavis65) February 28, 2025 This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma's Ethan Downs leads way in the Bench Press at NFL Combine
