Two Sooners named to ESPN's 2024 true freshman All-America Team
By Chip Rouse
You know you're getting really close to the start of the new college football season when all the preseason watch lists begin rolling out for the individual national awards as well as the preseason All-America teams.
Among the last of those preseason honors to be revealed every season is the true freshman All-America Team consisting of players in the 2024 recruiting class who have yet to play one down of college football.
Two members of Oklahoma's 2024 recruiting class -- offensive lineman Eugene Brooks and defensive tackle Jayden Jackson -- have been named to the ESPN preseason all-freshmen All-America Team. Both were rated as four-star prospects and are expected to be contributors for the Sooners in the team's inaugural SEC season.
Brooks, from Chatsworth, California, was ranked as the No. 3 interior offensive lineman in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports Player Composite. The former Under Armour All-American probably will not start, but as Aaron Gelvin of Sooners Wire points out, "represents part of the future of the offensive line that has been a major talking point this offseason."
Brooks reportedly has shed 60 pounds to help aid his agility and quickness, writes ESPN college football analyst Tom Luginbill.
Jackson is one of two recruits who came to OU by way of the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He has been impressive in spring practice and in fall training camp and will probably be one of the first players off the bench in the defensive line rotation this season. Jackson was rated the No. 29 defensive tackle in the class and No. 23 player in the talent-rich recruiting state of Florida.
Like freshman teammate Brooks, Jackson represents part of the future as Brent Venables and staff continue to work to improve the Sooners' defensive presence overall and at the point of attack.
I have to admit that I'm a little surprised that the Sooners' top recruit in the 2024 class, defensive tackle David Stone was left off the team. He was a teammate of Jackson's at IMG Academy. The 6-foot, 3-inch, 283-pound defensive tackle was a five-star recruit and the No. 3 player at his position and No. 17 player overall nationally, according to 247Sports.