OU safety Billy Bowman announces return for 2024 season
Air Force's Trey Taylor wins Jim Thorpe Award as college football's best defensive back
Air Force's Trey Taylor was named the winner of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, given to college football's best defensive back.
He claimed the honor over other finalists Cooper DeJean of Iowa and Malaki Starks of Georgia.
Taylor had 71 tackles with three interceptions and four passes defended, playing a key role on a defense that ranks fifth nationally in total defense at 277.2 yards per game and 15th in scoring defense at 18.0 points per game.
He is the only Air Force player to win a major college football award other than Chad Hennings, who won the Outland Trophy in 1987.
The last Thorpe Award winner from a non-Power Five conference was Greg Myers of Colorado State in 1995.
Taylor will be honored during the annual Thorpe Award banquet in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024.
Billy Bowman announced Friday that he'll return to OU for his senior season.
"Let's run it back ... SEC Boomer,"
Bowman said in a post on X.
The 5-foot-10, 192-pound safety has shined for the Sooners. He boasts 62 tackles (three for loss) and a conference-high six interceptions this season.
Bowman surely would've heard his name get called in one of the first few rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. But his return is huge for OU, which is set to lose multiple key contributors at the safety position.
Redshirt senior Reggie Pearson is out of eligibility, and senior Key Lawrence entered the transfer portal on Monday. The two veterans combined for 71 tackles (7.5 for loss) and three interceptions this season.
But Bowman will serve as a veteran leader next season at a position that has plenty of young talent.
Five-star freshman Peyton Bowen looks to be one of the future leaders of OU's defense. He has recorded 33 tackles (one for loss) and one forced fumble
Extra points
WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: OSU (5-3) extended its win streak to three, defeating Texas State 67-52 Saturday afternoon in Stillwater. Stailee Heard led all scorers with 18 points on 9-of-12 shooting, putting her in double-figure scoring in seven of eight games to begin her collegiate career. Anna Gret Asi added 12 points and five rebounds while Quincy Noble and Rylee Langerman each scored 10. ...
Skylar Vann poured in a career-high 26 points, but UNLV pulled away late from Oklahoma to dispatch the Sooners 92-76 in Norman on Saturday. Oklahoma (6-3) had rallied to even the score midway through the third quarter, but the undefeated Lady Rebels (9-0) outscored OU 35-19 over the final 15 minutes, including a 21-11 advantage in the last quarter to win.
—Staff and wire reports