No Father's Son
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Captain Canada
- Posts: 7237
- Joined: 01 Dec 2018, 00:15
No Father's Son
That's a fucking class right there
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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5399
- Joined: 01 Jun 2025, 12:40
No Father's Son
eight elites look iight
the benefit of no transfer portal is I'll actually get to use some of these guys before this is wraps
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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5399
- Joined: 01 Jun 2025, 12:40
No Father's Son
Markelle Nickey Ready To Build On Stellar Freshman Season In Riley's Up-Tempo Offense
Boone Tillman // Sooner Born • Published: March 12th, 2031
One of the questions that hounded the Oklahoma Sooners in their title defense last year was simple: how would true freshman Markelle Nickey fare when the game was firmly on his shoulders?
He put that narrative to bed definitively in the National Championship game, throwing for 317 yards and three touchdowns, completing 29 of his 37 passes without an interception. For those watching, it was Nickey's "coming out party," but for those that have watched him since joining the Sooners, it wasn't a question of if Nickey could handle the pressure, just a question of when the rest of the nation would see what Leon already saw.
"You saw it the first practice, he was fearless. He didn't care that he was behind the eight-ball, battling a guy in AJ who had a year up on him. He came in here with the expectation of winning the job and prepared like it was never in doubt."
Riley has offered similar glowing praise of the now sophomore quarterback since joining the Oklahoma staff, pointing out the ease that Nickey adapted to new concepts despite only having two weeks to prepare.
"I was a little apprehensive at first, throwing that much at Nick," revealed Riley after one spring practice, "It was two weeks before the biggest game of his life and Leon had me teaching him, and the whole offense, entirely new concepts. But he took it like a duck to water and was off to the races."
When asked about the difference between Riley's new system and the one he played in under Mack, Nickey argued there were a lot of similarities.
"They're both based on a lot of motion, RPOs, getting guys in space to do some damage," acknowledged Nickey, before pulling back the curtain on the biggest difference, "But now, I've got the trust to go to my third, fourth reads. At the beginning of the year, it was 1, 2, then throw it away. When Coach Riley showed up, he urged me to keep pushing the progression."
"Coach would always tell me: 'there's five guys out there running routes. The defense can't cover them all.'"
"Nine times out of ten, he was right," finished Nickey with a laugh.
Nickey then acknowledged the main criticism of his game last year—interceptions.
"I've watched every interception over 1,000 times already this spring. Finding where I went wrong, what I could have done differently. Was it a misread, or a simple mis-throw because of my mechanics? That's the next step. Not beating ourselves."
When asked if he had a goal for interceptions going into the season, Nickey cracked an ear-to-ear smile.
"Coaches want under 10. But me? I ain't gonna be happy unless it's 5 or less," he finished with a laugh.
Markelle Nickey threw for over 4,000 yards and 47 touchdowns last year. And the Oklahoma Sooners are saying he's prepared to have an even better season. If he can truly clean up the interceptions, he will be well on his way on taking the next step from promising freshman, to elite championship-winning quarterback.
And that should scare the daylights out of not only the SEC, but the rest of the country as well.
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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5399
- Joined: 01 Jun 2025, 12:40
No Father's Son
Patrick Surtain Sr. Embracing the Challenge In First Full Year As Defensive Coordinator
Boone Tillman // Sooner Born • Published: March 23rd, 2031
The Oklahoma Sooners, and before them the Maryland Terrapins and Oregon State Beavers, have all had two things in common. Armando Leon was in charge of the defense, and they were ferocious units that terrorized quarterbacks.
The 2030 rendition was no different for Leon and Co., helping guide the Oklahoma Sooners to their second consecutive National Championship. While Kirk Ferentz was billed as the defensive coordinator for that group, everyone in the building knew who really ran the defense.
No, not Armando Leon. Patrick Surtain Sr.
Yes, Leon made his input early and often during the defensive meetings, but it was Surtain Sr. who was in charge of the unit on a day-to-day basis as Kirk Ferentz stepped back and mentored the former defensive backs coach, knowing his retirement was looming.
Now with Ferentz officially enjoying life after football, Surtain Sr. is ready to keep the tradition going.
"I can't be the first defensive coordinator under Armando Leon to struggle," scoffed Surtain Sr. when asked what the expectations were going into his first full year officially manning the defense, "The standard doesn't change. Coach Leon has forged a standard of excellence here, one that doesn't just expect to dominate, but prepares like it. That mentality can't stop, and it won't stop under my watch."
When asked how he is handling the challenge of taking over a defense with only one returning starter, junior free safety Devin Coleman, Surtain Sr.'s grin spread ear to ear.
"That just means more of an opportunity to make my mark, and more new toys to play with."
After bringing in an impressive haul of new recruits, including three of the top-10 prospects on the defensive side of the ball, that statement rings true even with the Sooners transfer portal ban.
While Gordon Paul isn't a returning starter, he may as well be. The former Maryland product, who has played two of his first three collegiate years under Leon, tallied 79 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, and five sacks in a platoon role with Alan Breckner last year and is ready for the challenge to captain a defense as complex as the unit Leon and Surtain Sr. are putting together.
"Communication is key, and that's where Devin and myself come in," confirmed Paul after spring practice earlier this week, "There can be a number of different actions depending on the pre-snap look and it's up to Devin and myself to make sure we're all on the same page. We adjust our coverage and gap responsibilities based on what they are showing. So if they audible, motion, whatever we've got to communicate the change, or we're going to be out of position."
On paper, it appears to be a tall task for a unit with so many new starters, especially when you consider more than a few freshmen are expected to crack the regular rotation.
While defensive end Kevin Lanning, middle linebacker JaMichael Rambo, and cornerback Brian Lima are all slotted into rotational roles as the Spring Game approaches, their roles pale in comparison to one standout freshman.
Duncanville, Texas native Quincy Enagbare is penciled in as the starting strong safety, an honor he doesn't take lightly.
"I committed early and got to work, that's why I'm in this position," proclaimed Enagbare, who has been enrolled at Norman since the winter after graduating high school early, getting in the weight room early and working on filling out his slender 6'1, 212-pound frame to prepare for his first collegiate season.
The work, according to Surtain, has certainly paid off.
"Kids come in undersized all the time, used to relying on their athleticism. Not Q. He showed up and hit the gym, hit the film room, and hit the books. He's as prepared a freshman as I've ever seen."
It's still early in camp, but with the slew of freshmen ready to contribute—and folks, I haven't even mentioned Tyler Ryder challenging Dillon Slye and Isaac Adcock for reps at running back in camp—the Sooners' latest recruiting class is ready to live up to the billing as a "generational haul."
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Caesar
- Chise GOAT
- Posts: 15900
- Joined: 27 Nov 2018, 10:47
No Father's Son
Armando trying to hit some bonuses to pay Leslie with a high-octane offense and dominant defense? 
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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5399
- Joined: 01 Jun 2025, 12:40
No Father's Son
Leslie está en el aire
she lost her leverage when Armando sat down with Maria Taylor and told the world about Arturo (you may have missed that chapter, it kidna got buried under the latest updates in the offseason)
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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5399
- Joined: 01 Jun 2025, 12:40
No Father's Son
Chapter Fifty-Three: Back To Business
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
It was the second time this year that I’d been asked that question. The first one had gone according to plan, no reason to think the second one wouldn’t as well.
I simply nodded at Jessica, sliding my phone out of my pocket simultaneously and dialing Harvey.
It had been six months since the sit-down interview with Maria Taylor. The interview where I told my story. The whole story.
Arturo. My dismissal from the Air Force. My rock bottom. I skimmed over the redemption portion of the story this time, those that had followed my story knew that one.
Then, I addressed the present. I didn’t explicitly name Leslie while sitting down with Maria Taylor, I just acknowledged that there was someone from my father’s past trying to weaponize it against me.
“I’m done running,” I declared again, grabbing Jessica’s hand in my own.
“We’re done running,” I reiterated, as Jessica nodded beside me.
Since then, silence from Leslie. I half expected her to berate me like a jilted ex-girlfriend, blowing up my phone with messages, flooding my mailbox with letters. I kept my guard up, watchful of my surroundings in ways I hadn’t been since I was a kid, waiting for an ominous black SUV to round the corner.
Instead, nothing.
“Armando! Ready to make my day and finally start scheduling some of these follow up interviews?!”
Since the sit-down with Maria Taylor, the offers had poured in. Good Morning America, The Drew Barrymore Show, and even Jimmy Fallon alongside the typical requests by other sports outlets.
To Harvey’s dismay, I’d declined them all. The purpose of telling Arturo’s story wasn’t to continue his legacy and romanticizing it in the media. It was to de-weaponize the only thing Leslie had over me. It had worked. I wasn’t trying to poke the bear and bring the wolves out of the shadows.
In unison, Jessica and I broke out in laughter at Harvey’s continued enthusiasm.
“Jessica!” Boomed Harvey, switching targets seamlessly, “When are you going to convince him you need a beach house and the only way he’s going to get that, is by doing the media tour?!”
“Sounds like you want the beach house there, Harvey,” Jessica teased, “After all, you’re the one who already moved into a fancy new office in New York.”
It was Harvey’s turn to break into laughter. Despite him being roped into the NCAA investigation by proxy, his business had been booming since my success in Oklahoma. He’d ballooned from having a modest 20-30 clients—with myself as arguably the biggest—to having to open his own office—“Ross and Associates”—in New York just to keep up with all of the new clients. From athletes making the jump to the pros, up and coming coaches, and simply superstars looking for new representation, Harvey was everywhere.
“After signing Devin Booker to that new deal with the Knicks, I’d imagine you got enough commission to get your own beach house, Harvey,” I added, bringing another bout of laughter from the group.
“Alright, alright. What’s up Armando? You don’t have anymore skeletons ready to burst out of the closet, do you?”
There was no laughter this time and Harvey instantly picked up the vibe.
“Oh,” he sighed, “Alright. What’re we working with?”
“I need you to try and find someone for me, Harvey. All I’ve got is a name, and a possible location.”
“I know people that can find people, but something tells me this is going to be like a needle in a haystack type of deal. Amirite?”
“I’ve got a first name, where he could be at, and a criminal history.”
“Okay, more of like finding a unique snowflake in a snowstorm. You at least got it narrowed down to a general area?”
“Yeah. Texas.”
“Jesus, Armando. The way you narrow it down is by singling out the largest state in the country?”
“Second largest, Harvey,” Jessica chimed in, cutting through the tension, “Or did they not teach you that at community college?”
“Hey, hey,” Harvey said, sniffling back his own laughter, “that didn’t keep Mr. Leon here from believing in me.”
The laugh was short lived as Harvey quickly transitioned back to business.
“What’s the name, Armando?”
“Raul.”
A month had passed since the short, but impactful conversation with Harvey about finding my half-brother Raul. A month with no results. Harvey got in touch with a private investigator in Texas and started narrowing it down county by county, searching the name Raul with petty crimes and a possible connection to the last name Orozco. A few guys had hit, ghosts in the wind, with nothing but a rap sheet left behind.
“Could be him, could not be him,” I said as I reviewed another batch of mugshots, some twenty years old.
“How well do you remember him,” inquired Jessica, finishing her bite of cheesecake as she reviewed her own pile of mugshots.
“He looked like me, but hardened.”
Jessica snorted through her bite of cheesecake, mind already in the gutter. I threw my stack of mugshots at her, the faces of random men who had been a part of the great state of Texas’ judiciary system at one point fluttering to the ground around her.
“Never thought I’d see the day my husband is throwing the men at me,” Jessica chortled, ducking out of the room before I could throw another stack of photos at her.
Once the coast was clear, she came back—sans cheesecake—to clean up the mess.
“Are you worried about the start of the season this weekend?” she asked quietly.
“About what,” I scoffed, “Some drunk fans yelling my father’s name at me because we’re making the team they’ve rooted for since they were AJ’s age bite the belt for a third straight year?”
Jessica rolled her eyes, voice carrying her own brand of sarcasm “You have such a way with words.” She slapped me on the shoulder for good measure.
“No, that doesn’t bother me,” I answered. “What worries me is the kids dealing with the repercussions in the future. Kids can be just as ruthless as drunken fans.”
Jessica pulled me in and kissed my forehead. “That’s why we explain to them why you did that and what it means for our family. They’ll appreciate the honesty, and the bravery.”
“Besides,” she added, trying to shift the tone, “I think it’ll be funny seeing what they try and cook up to rattle you. May even give me a few ideas next time your head gets too big.”
“How could my head get too big, with you constantly poking holes in my ego?”
“Hey, I gotta do it now, otherwise you’ll be crying on the sideline when Miami finally pokes a hole in your defense.”
I feigned hurt, putting my hand over my heart.
“You really think Cristobal’s got it in them? Gave ‘em belt two championships in a row, but suddenly a season opener in Las Vegas is going to give me pause?”
We continued our back and forth banter for a few more minutes, eventually retiring to the bedroom for a different kind of give and take
The season opener in Las Vegas loomed in a few days, another high-profile clash against the Hurricanes, but for the first time in what felt like years, football was the only worry on my mind.
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
It was the second time this year that I’d been asked that question. The first one had gone according to plan, no reason to think the second one wouldn’t as well.
I simply nodded at Jessica, sliding my phone out of my pocket simultaneously and dialing Harvey.
It had been six months since the sit-down interview with Maria Taylor. The interview where I told my story. The whole story.
Arturo. My dismissal from the Air Force. My rock bottom. I skimmed over the redemption portion of the story this time, those that had followed my story knew that one.
Then, I addressed the present. I didn’t explicitly name Leslie while sitting down with Maria Taylor, I just acknowledged that there was someone from my father’s past trying to weaponize it against me.
“I’m done running,” I declared again, grabbing Jessica’s hand in my own.
“We’re done running,” I reiterated, as Jessica nodded beside me.
Since then, silence from Leslie. I half expected her to berate me like a jilted ex-girlfriend, blowing up my phone with messages, flooding my mailbox with letters. I kept my guard up, watchful of my surroundings in ways I hadn’t been since I was a kid, waiting for an ominous black SUV to round the corner.
Instead, nothing.
“Armando! Ready to make my day and finally start scheduling some of these follow up interviews?!”
Since the sit-down with Maria Taylor, the offers had poured in. Good Morning America, The Drew Barrymore Show, and even Jimmy Fallon alongside the typical requests by other sports outlets.
To Harvey’s dismay, I’d declined them all. The purpose of telling Arturo’s story wasn’t to continue his legacy and romanticizing it in the media. It was to de-weaponize the only thing Leslie had over me. It had worked. I wasn’t trying to poke the bear and bring the wolves out of the shadows.
In unison, Jessica and I broke out in laughter at Harvey’s continued enthusiasm.
“Jessica!” Boomed Harvey, switching targets seamlessly, “When are you going to convince him you need a beach house and the only way he’s going to get that, is by doing the media tour?!”
“Sounds like you want the beach house there, Harvey,” Jessica teased, “After all, you’re the one who already moved into a fancy new office in New York.”
It was Harvey’s turn to break into laughter. Despite him being roped into the NCAA investigation by proxy, his business had been booming since my success in Oklahoma. He’d ballooned from having a modest 20-30 clients—with myself as arguably the biggest—to having to open his own office—“Ross and Associates”—in New York just to keep up with all of the new clients. From athletes making the jump to the pros, up and coming coaches, and simply superstars looking for new representation, Harvey was everywhere.
“After signing Devin Booker to that new deal with the Knicks, I’d imagine you got enough commission to get your own beach house, Harvey,” I added, bringing another bout of laughter from the group.
“Alright, alright. What’s up Armando? You don’t have anymore skeletons ready to burst out of the closet, do you?”
There was no laughter this time and Harvey instantly picked up the vibe.
“Oh,” he sighed, “Alright. What’re we working with?”
“I need you to try and find someone for me, Harvey. All I’ve got is a name, and a possible location.”
“I know people that can find people, but something tells me this is going to be like a needle in a haystack type of deal. Amirite?”
“I’ve got a first name, where he could be at, and a criminal history.”
“Okay, more of like finding a unique snowflake in a snowstorm. You at least got it narrowed down to a general area?”
“Yeah. Texas.”
“Jesus, Armando. The way you narrow it down is by singling out the largest state in the country?”
“Second largest, Harvey,” Jessica chimed in, cutting through the tension, “Or did they not teach you that at community college?”
“Hey, hey,” Harvey said, sniffling back his own laughter, “that didn’t keep Mr. Leon here from believing in me.”
The laugh was short lived as Harvey quickly transitioned back to business.
“What’s the name, Armando?”
“Raul.”
A month had passed since the short, but impactful conversation with Harvey about finding my half-brother Raul. A month with no results. Harvey got in touch with a private investigator in Texas and started narrowing it down county by county, searching the name Raul with petty crimes and a possible connection to the last name Orozco. A few guys had hit, ghosts in the wind, with nothing but a rap sheet left behind.
“Could be him, could not be him,” I said as I reviewed another batch of mugshots, some twenty years old.
“How well do you remember him,” inquired Jessica, finishing her bite of cheesecake as she reviewed her own pile of mugshots.
“He looked like me, but hardened.”
Jessica snorted through her bite of cheesecake, mind already in the gutter. I threw my stack of mugshots at her, the faces of random men who had been a part of the great state of Texas’ judiciary system at one point fluttering to the ground around her.
“Never thought I’d see the day my husband is throwing the men at me,” Jessica chortled, ducking out of the room before I could throw another stack of photos at her.
Once the coast was clear, she came back—sans cheesecake—to clean up the mess.
“Are you worried about the start of the season this weekend?” she asked quietly.
“About what,” I scoffed, “Some drunk fans yelling my father’s name at me because we’re making the team they’ve rooted for since they were AJ’s age bite the belt for a third straight year?”
Jessica rolled her eyes, voice carrying her own brand of sarcasm “You have such a way with words.” She slapped me on the shoulder for good measure.
“No, that doesn’t bother me,” I answered. “What worries me is the kids dealing with the repercussions in the future. Kids can be just as ruthless as drunken fans.”
Jessica pulled me in and kissed my forehead. “That’s why we explain to them why you did that and what it means for our family. They’ll appreciate the honesty, and the bravery.”
“Besides,” she added, trying to shift the tone, “I think it’ll be funny seeing what they try and cook up to rattle you. May even give me a few ideas next time your head gets too big.”
“How could my head get too big, with you constantly poking holes in my ego?”
“Hey, I gotta do it now, otherwise you’ll be crying on the sideline when Miami finally pokes a hole in your defense.”
I feigned hurt, putting my hand over my heart.
“You really think Cristobal’s got it in them? Gave ‘em belt two championships in a row, but suddenly a season opener in Las Vegas is going to give me pause?”
We continued our back and forth banter for a few more minutes, eventually retiring to the bedroom for a different kind of give and take
The season opener in Las Vegas loomed in a few days, another high-profile clash against the Hurricanes, but for the first time in what felt like years, football was the only worry on my mind.
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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5399
- Joined: 01 Jun 2025, 12:40
No Father's Son
Chasing History - Oklahoma Sooners 2031 Season Preview
Boone Tillman // Sooner Born • Published: August 28th, 2031
The Oklahoma Sooners know what they're chasing entering the 2031 season—history.
"There's no running from it, no pretending it isn't right in front of us," confirmed Armando Leon in one of the final practices before the season opener against the Miami Hurricanes this weekend.
"We can either bury our heads in the dirt and pretend it isn't happening, or embrace it. Hiding from it sounds like a great way to get snuck up on, so we're going to stare it down, straight on, and chase it every single day."
Leon made it clear; they aren't chasing the consecutive wins record, on top of a historic third-straight National Championship.
"If we make it through this season undefeated again, then we'll be putting ourselves in the territory to start talking about breaking the early 50s Sooners' record. Until then, we're only chasing one goal, and that's joining the Golden Gophers as the only programs to secure a three-peat in college football."
The Sooners' current win streak sits at 26 games. If Oklahoma finishes another perfect season, they'll end the season just five away from the collegiate record of 57.
But before they can get there, other work must be done.
The difference between this year's team and last year's iteration is simple. Instead of supplementing the team with transfer portal additions, such as Heisman runner-up Brad Thorne and a slew of former Leon players that brought their own scrutiny, the Sooners were forced to fill out their roster with prep recruits.
While many assume that will put the Sooners behind the eight-ball to open the season, Garrett Riley doesn't see it that way.
"This is the way college football has operated for a hundred years, up until recently," criticized the longtime offensive coordinator, "Did we not get proven players from other programs? Sure. Instead, we got proven players that every other team in the country would love to have. We're going to have guys executing out there that no one has seen outside of high school tape. We know what they can do, the opposition doesn't."
"To me, that's an advantage."
On the plus side, Markelle Nickey is looking to improve on an already impressive freshman campaign that totaled 4,200 yards and 47 touchdowns across 16 games, and if his National Championship performance is any indication, business is going to be booming in Norman with Riley calling the shots.
On defense is a different story. Unless you ask first-year defensive coordinator Patrick Surtain Sr.
"The rest of the country can talk all they want. We're gonna relish the opportunity to shut them up, each and every week."
Surtain Sr. has been bullish about his new unit throughout spring and summer camp, constantly declaring this unit "better than ever" despite losing 10 of their 11 starters from last year's unit.
"We rotated guys out with the best of them. There isn't a player hitting the field as a starter this year that didn't have some kind of impact last season," reminded Surtain, before adding with a grin, "Well, maybe a few youngin's gonna be turning some heads."
The most noteworthy name is Quincy Enagbare, who earned the starting strong safety position after reporting to campus early and hitting the books, and the weight room.
"Just getting stronger, getting more athletic. I've always been fast, but learning how to use that speed and leverage my weight has been key."
The work has helped Q stand out, with every member of the Sooners' coaching staff lauding the work that "Q" put in before camp even opened.
"If I had a group of Q's, we'd be the most disciplined team in the nation," laughed Leon. "He wants to be the best and it shows in how he prepares, trains, and approaches the game."
Enagbare isn't the only freshman cracking the lineup for the two-time champions. Defensive end Kevin Lanning, JaMichael Rambo, Brian Lima, and Tyler Ryder all will see extend snaps when the Sooners kickoff the 2031 season at Allegiant Stadium against the Miami Hurricanes.
"Ty is the perfect change of pace back for what we're building here," commented co-offensive coordinator DeMarco Murray, who was actively involved in Ryder's last-minute recruitment from the Miami Hurricanes. "We're running the Air Raid, but don't expect it to be like every other Air Raid offense in the country. This is Oklahoma after all, you can expect we're gonna run it down your throat a bit too."
Garrett Riley and Markelle Nickey cobbled together a game plan in two weeks that shredded the Miami Hurricanes defense in the National Championship Game. This year, with Riley fully in the fold, the Sooners will look to make it three in a row against Cristobal when the Sooners and Hurricanes have a championship rematch to christen the 2031 season.
The showdown in Las Vegas is one of six ranked games for the Oklahoma Sooners as they continue to honor previous arrangements with the Oregon Ducks, Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Oklahoma State Cowboys for the remainder of their non-conference schedule. While only Oklahoma State, surprisingly, is ranked out of that group, both Oregon and Nebraska are on the fringe of the initial Top-25 rankings.
While Oklahoma will have road trips to Knoxville, College Station, and Baton Rouge this season, they avoided both Georgia and Alabama, who are ranked 3rd and 4th behind the Sooners and Longhorns, respectively, in odds to win the SEC Championship.
"We aren't going to win a third championship in one game," rationalized Armando Leon, "We're going to do it the same way we won the last two. Game by game. Drive by drive. Play by play. That's winning football."
Then, after a brief pause, he added: "Correction—that's now Oklahoma football."
The first game begins in three days, with the entire sport watching to see if Mario Cristobal can avenge the back-to-back National Champion losses.
•••
3040 Oklahoma Sooners Roster
97 Overall / 96 Offense / 99 Defense
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Oklahoma Sooners 2030 Schedule
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