MORNING ROUNDUP
Ford to return to Sooners for 2024 season
OU’s defensive line is getting an extra boost of experience.
Defensive end Trace Ford will return for his final season of eligibility, Ford’s mother, Desirae, confirmed to The Oklahoman on Monday.
Ford’s return was first reported by the OU Daily.
Ford played in all 13 games for the Sooners this season, starting the season opener. He finished with 18 tackles, 3.5 for loss, an interception, three pass breakups, and four quarterback hurries.
Ford, and Edmond Santa Fe product, spent the first four years of his career at Oklahoma State before transferring to Norman.
He made 15 starts for the Cowboys in 2019-20 before missing the 2021 season due to injury. He also suffered a season-ending injury in 2022.
OU men's hoops back into top 10
The OU men’s basketball team climbed to No. 9 in the newest AP poll on Monday.
OU (13-1, 1-0 Big 12) moved up two spots and cracked the top 10 following its 71-63 home win over Iowa State on Saturday. It marked the first Quad 1 win of the season for the Sooners, who are No. 22 in the NET rankings.
OU is 13-1 to start the season for the first time since 2015-2016. The Sooners made it all the way to the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four that year.
Jenks star wins volleyball honor from Gatorade
Jenks senior Maren Johnson was named the 2023-24 Gatorade Oklahoma Volleyball Player of the Year award Monday after helping the Trojans cap their 34-5 season with a Class 6A state volleyball championship.
The 6-foot outside hitter tallied 399 kills, 160 digs, 50 blocks and 15 aces during the past season, according to the release.
She set a Jenks record with 1,371 career kills.
Tiger Woods, Nike end longtime partnership
Tiger Woods has gone from “Hello, world,” to saying goodbye to Nike.
Woods ended months of speculation by making it official Monday that the partnership between golf ’s biggest star and the powerful Swoosh brand is ending after 27 years, a move that raises questions about the future of both in the sport.
Woods in a social media post thanked Nike co-founder Phil Knight for his “passion and vision” that brought them together when he turned pro.
“Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,” Woods wrote. “The days since have been filled with so many amazing moments and memories, if I started naming them, I could go on forever.”
Mark Steinberg, his agent at Excel Sports, confirmed the end of the deal that began in 1996 when Woods turned pro after winning his third straight U.S. Amateur.