Despite the unprecedented nationwide shutdown brought on by steps to curb the spread of the coronavirus, there is still news coming out of the Oklahoma football program.
The Sooners announced on Monday the hiring of Conner McQueen as an offensive analyst. The story was first reported by Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.
McQueen joins the Oklahoma coaching staff after two seasons working at UCLA, primarily with the defensive staff. Before that he was on the staff of Kevin Sumlin (a former Oklahoma co-offensive coordinator) at Texas A&M, serving in the same capacity he will at OU.
McQueen played football at Texas A&M from 2013-16. He played only sparingly for the Aggies, primarily as a holder on placekicks; he completed one pass in his career as a quarterback.
Despite limited playing time, McQueen was a fan favorite at A&M. While there, he had his own weekly radio program, called “The Red Zone.” The program title was chosen as much because of his red hair as for its football relevance.
McQueen’s college playing career ended the same season as Trevor Knight, the former Oklahoma quarterback, who transferred to Texas A&M after the 2015 season.
The hiring of McQueen is the third coaching addition in the offseason to Lincoln Riley’s staff. Previously, Jamar Cain was brought in to coach defensive ends and outside linebackers, and former OU and NFL star DeMarco Murray returned to his alma mater to work with the running backs.
“I think it comes down to how prepared are you and having the right people in here, building a program and culture that the people that are here, they want to stay,” Riley told Feldman in an interview.