What message does OU's win over OSU send to recruits? 'We're always gonna bounce back'

Justin Martinez, Oklahoman

November 21, 2022 at 5:20 PM·5 min read

NORMAN — LED lights flashed throughout Owen Field. Fireworks launched in rapid succession. Fire spraying machines sent towering flames into the brisk air.

That's how OU made its entrance before the start of its rivalry game against Oklahoma State. And yet even the sensory overload of an opener wasn't the biggest show put on by the Sooners on Saturday.

OU earned a 28-13 win over OSU in front of a sellout crowd of 84,132 spectators. But more importantly, it did so in front of numerous recruits from the Class of 2023.

"If you look at today's game, on offense and defense, it shows how good we can be," senior running back Eric Gray said. "Anybody who's an offensive recruit can see how they want to play in that offense. Any defensive recruit, the defense played lights out today. I think this game is good for both sides."

OU commit Jackson Arnold was in attendance for Saturday's contest.

The five-star Denton Guyer quarterback is rated by ESPN as the best prospect at his position and the eight-best overall prospect in the nation. Arnold committed to OU in January and hasn't wavered despite the team's struggles this season.

"Those (decommitment) rumors are getting kind of old, I'm not gonna lie," Arnold said during an appearance on The Ref prior to Saturday's kickoff. "I stopped responding to them or anything. I'm not going anywhere. I'm locked in with the Sooners."

More:OU football uses 28-point first quarter to beat OSU & more key stats from Bedlam

Oklahoma players celebrate with the Bedlam trophy after beating Oklahoma State 28-13 Saturday night in Norman.

Arnold's teammate, Peyton Bowen, also made the trip to Norman for Bedlam.

A five-star safety, Bowen is rated by ESPN as the second-best prospect at his position and the 14th-best overall prospect in the nation. He's currently committed to Notre Dame.

Bowen got treated to a strong showing from OU's secondary. The group recorded a pair of interceptions courtesy of Billy Bowman and CJ Coldon.

OU had another five-star prospect in attendance. Defensive tackle David Hicks is rated by ESPN as the third-best prospect at his position and the 15th-best overall prospect in the nation.

Hicks is a Texas A&M commit, but wins such as the one OU earned on Saturday go a long way for any prospects the team pursues.

"We're always gonna bounce back," redshirt senior defensive lineman Jordan Kelley said of the message to recruits. "We can have a bad week, two or three bad weeks, but we're always going to bounce back."

More:OU punter Michael Turk proposes to Sooners softball star Grace Lyons after Bedlam win

Laulu's lucky day

Jonah Laulu couldn't believe his luck.

OU held a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter when OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders tried to complete a pass to Braydon Johnson. The ball instead got deflected by redshirt junior cornerback Woodi Washington and went directly to Laulu, who made the easy interception.

"No way," Laulu thought to himself as the ball fell into his hands.

Now Laulu was in scramble mode.

The senior defensive lineman turned and began to run downfield. OSU's Ollie Gordon came sprinting toward Laulu, but fifth-year linebacker DaShaun White came flying in and chopped Gordon down with a block.

The rest of OU's defense created a convoy for Laulu, who raced down the sideline. The Hawaii transfer got all the way down to OSU's 4-yard line before running out of steam and getting pushed out of bounds.

"I was trying to move, but my legs weren’t cooperating," Laulu said with a laugh.

The highlight play marked Laulu's first career interception and one of four INTs by OU's defense on Saturday.

"It was just crazy," Laulu said. "It didn’t feel real at all."

More:Get to know OU football's senior class who will be honored vs. Oklahoma State

Oklahoma's Drake Stoops (12) runs beside Oklahoma State's Jason Taylor II (25) after a reception during a Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. Oklahoma won 28-13.

Drake Stoops' strong showing

Drake Stoops has seen plenty of Bedlam games throughout his life, and that count will surely continue to grow in the future.

But Saturday's rivalry game marked the last one Stoops will ever play in, and the redshirt senior wide receiver made the most of it. He erupted for a career-high six catches to finish with 89 yards and a touchdown.

"He’s a stud," offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby said of Stoops. "He did a great job. I’m proud of him and proud of what he’s done to put himself in these positions."

Stoops went to work on OU's first drive of the night.

The Norman native broke free from his defender, and redshirt junior quarterback Dillon Gabriel heaved a deep ball toward his direction. The pass was a bit behind Stoops, but he turned around and made a leaping catch while falling on his back at OSU's 2-yard line for a gain of 33 yards.

Stoops found the end zone later in the quarter.

The former Norman North standout lost his defender once again, and this time Gabriel connected with him for a 23-yard touchdown.

After beginning his career at OU as a walk-on, Stoops has become a reliable target for the team. He boasts career-highs of 25 receptions, 270 total yards of offense and two touchdowns this season.

"He’s created so much trust inside the locker room and with the staff," Lebby said. "I can’t say enough good about him."

More:Which players have committed to Oklahoma football's 2023 recruiting class?

Andrew Raym's absence, availability updates

Junior center Andrew Raym (shoulder) didn't play on Saturday. Head coach Brent Venables said Tuesday that Raym's status for the game was up in the air, but the injury will "probably" require surgery at some point.

OU took another hit to its offensive line in the third quarter when Wanya Morris exited the game with an injury and didn't return. Redshirt sophomore Tyler Guyton took his place in the lineup.

OU saw the return of three players in the secondary. Bowman and junior Key Lawrence suited up after not playing in last week's loss to West Virginia, and redshirt fifth-year senior Justin Broiles did the same after suffering a hyperextended knee against the Mountaineers.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: Sooners' Bedlam win goes a long way on recruiting trail

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Laulu's lucky day

Drake Stoops' strong showing

Andrew Raym's absence, availability updates

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