Tulsa homecoming might mean more to Robert Spears-Jennings than anyone on OU football team
NORMAN — Robert Spears-Jennings didn't let an injury prevent him from supporting his team.
After undergoing shoulder surgery in April, the sophomore safety was unable to play in OU's season opener against Arkansas State on Sept. 2. It was a tough break for Spears-Jennings, but he made sure to deliver a message to his teammates before kickoff.
"I told my guys right before the game that I was going to be their biggest fans that game," Spears-Jennings said on Tuesday. "Every time they made a play, I was the loudest one of the sideline (players) just trying to cheer those guys on."
Spears-Jennings remained patient while he was injured, and he'll be rewarded this weekend.
After briefly playing in a Week 2 win over SMU, Spears-Jennings will be fully available for OU's road game against Tulsa at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
It'll be a homecoming game for Spears-Jennings, who was a standout player at Broken Arrow High.
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"It feels good," Spears-Jennings said. "I know a couple guys over (at Tulsa). It's my hometown. I have a couple of family members over there. It's going to be turnt."
Spears-Jennings says he expects to have about 15 family members and friends in attendance on Saturday.
The second-year Sooner should get plenty of opportunities to show out in front of those close to him. He recorded three tackles (two solo) in OU's win over SMU, and his solid play didn't go unnoticed by defensive coordinator Ted Roof.
“He came in and gave us a spark, and it was good to see," Roof said on Monday. "I anticipate his role increasing and progressing as we go, as he earns it.”
Spears-Jennings says he feels "100 percent" heading into Saturday's contest.
He's listed as OU's third-string free safety behind veterans Reggie Pearson and Key Lawrence, but he isn't too concerned about where he stands on the depth chart.
After supporting his teammates from the sidelines in Week 1, Spears-Jennings is just happy to be back on the field.
"My teammates have always motivated me since I had my surgery in April," Spears-Jennings said. "Just being with them and playing with those guys, it's feels like it's about 10 times better."
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Ethan Downs receives AFCA Good Works Team honors
Junior linebacker Ethan Downs was selected to the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team on Tuesday.
Downs is one of 22 college football players in the nation to be chosen for the group, which honors those with an unwavering commitment to community service. He's the seventh player in OU history to receive a selection.
"It's an honor," Downs said. "There are so many people around here that have had a servant's heart that I've just been able to brainstorm with and plan with. It almost feels wrong to take all the credit."
Downs launched the G.I.V.E. Mission (Greatness In Various Efforts) last spring. It helps OU students, faculty and staff in need by encouraging donations of food, clothing, books, funds and sanitary products to the OU Food Pantry.
With the help of other OU athletics teams and campus Greek organizations, the G.I.V.E. Mission produced the largest food drive in the history of the pantry. It generated more than 4,000 pounds of donations from more than 30 organizations.
"It was amazing to be able to organize the G.I.V.E. Mission," Downs said. "It was so cool to see two months of people bonding together, smiling and donating and not expecting anything in return."
The G.I.V.E. Mission isn't Downs' only form of community service.
Downs participated in a service trip to Miami Gardens, Florida, in summer 2022 and one to South Africa and Brazil this past spring.
Downs has also served as a counselor for the Cavett Kids Foundation, which holds week-long camps for children and youth battling life-threatening illnesses.
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Quick hits
Redshirt senior running back Marcus Major on making his first start since 2020 in OU's win over SMU: "It’s just a lot of just focusing and taking it day by day. (I) just know that I’m on my fifth year, and they expect bigger things from me. Just being that leader and things like that, just taking it day by day.”
Downs on his facemask call that negated a sack against SMU: "It was tough. I felt my hand on his facemask on the way down. I knew I pulled it. ... Next time it won’t be a facemask. I've got to hawk roll that thing."
Sophomore running back Jovantae Barnes on how freshman quartertback Jackson Arnold has ran the ball: “He’s running it pretty good. I’m proud of him and what he’s doing be doing. He’s been showing that off since he got here, too. Not only does he have an arm, but he also has legs, too. So he’s been doing amazing.”
Redshirt senior offensive lineman Walter Rouse on facing Tulsa's defensive line: "I believe that Tulsa is going to come out and give us everything they have. They’re going to show us things we haven’t seen before. ... We can’t beat ourselves. We (have to) beat them fair and square.”
Junior linebacker Danny Stutsman on redshirt freshman linebacker Kip Lewis: "I see a little bit of myself when I watch him play, the way he gets to the ball. ... That's someone last year, he came in kind of new to the game. Seeing his growth is amazing, man. He really knows what he's doing now. He's comfortable in the position. And I'm really proud for how far he's come."
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: Robert Spears-Jennings is healthy, ready for Tulsa return
