Riley: Sunderland unlikely to be back
FRISCO, TEXAS — Suspended cornerback Will Sunderland is unlikely to be back with the Sooners, barring unforeseen circumstances, coach Lincoln Riley said Monday at Big 12 Media Days at the Ford Center at The Star.
“I would go as far to say if he’s not exonerated, then he won’t be back,” Riley said.
In June, Sunderland was charged with second-degree burglary in Cleveland County and misdemeanor concealing stolen property in Oklahoma County.
Sunderland is alleged to have taken two video game systems from the dorm room of two freshman baseball players and selling them at an Oklahoma City electronics store.
Seibert not enrolled
Junior kicker Austin Seibert has not been enrolled at Oklahoma this summer, an OU spokesman confirmed to The Oklahoman.
Because he hasn’t been enrolled at OU, he hasn’t been able to work out with the team.
He is expected to be enrolled in the fall semester, restoring his eligibility, according to a team spokesman.
Seibert has handled the majority of place kicking and punting duties for the past two seasons.
Seibert has played in 26 games in his career, making 29 of 39 field goals. Last year, he made just 11 of 16 field goals but averaged 41.1 yards per punt.
Brown slimming down
Orlando Brown has long been a very big person.
When he transferred to Peachtree Ridge High School in Duluth, Georgia, early in his high school career, Brown weighed around 440 pounds and barely fit through the doors in the building.
Brown has steadily trimmed down since, and said Monday that he was around 341 pounds.
“I haven’t been this light since probably seventh grade, sixth grade,” Brown said. “It’s really been a focus for me. I’ve been just trying to take care of my body physically.”
And Brown isn’t done after playing last year around 355 pounds.
He said he hoped to get down to 335 pounds by the end of camp and expected to keep losing during the season. Brown said he had been able to maintain his strength while adding increased agility.
Put a ring on it
Oklahoma’s player contingent showed up Monday at the Ford Center at The Star wearing some impressive jewelry — the rings from last season’s Big 12 Championship.
“We just decided to sport it,” linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo said.
But it’s not a regular accessory for him at least.
“I had to blow the dust off of it today,” Okoronkwo said, noting that he typically keeps it in an open box on his dresser.
Okoronkwo joked about why the players didn’t wear their 2015 rings in addition to last year’s.
“We didn’t want to come out here and blind anybody,” he said.
Baker Mayfield
said Okoronkwo and Steven Parker made the decision to wear the rings.
Okoronkwo said it was all Mayfield.
“Did Baker really lie like that? Look, we’re ready to go — it’s about 20 minutes until it’s time to go, I live about 15 minutes from campus (and) Baker is like, ‘Did you get the ring?’ I said, ‘What?’ He said, ‘Go get your ring.’ This is all Baker’s idea. I have the text messages. This is all Baker.”
Sooners celebrate emojis
Monday was “World Emoji Day,” and Oklahoma’s new head coach has become known for a particular emoji — the side eyes he posts on Twitter, most often when Oklahoma is on the cusp of getting a new commit.
“It’s all in good fun,” Riley said.
“I’ve done it for awhile, but people notice a little bit more now.”
Riley said he wasn’t sure if that one was his favorite emoji, “but it’s probably one of the most meaningful.”
The Sooners’ players weighed in on which emoji was their favorite.
For Okoronkwo, it is the “thinking” emoji with the hand upon the chin. Parker’s is the money sign.
Brown isn’t going to be posting many emojis.
“I’m not an emoji guy,” Brown said. Neither is Mayfield. “I don’t know if I have a certain special or favorite emoji, but I do enjoy seeing him (Riley) post that because I know something big’s about to happen.”