Oklahoma made an interesting addition to their roster recently. Jacob Henry, son of WWE legend and Olympian Mark Henry , announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he had joined the Sooners’ football team.
Day 1… ✅ pic.twitter.com/zjEjrBXvUg
— Jacob Henry (@TheJacobHenry_) February 17, 2025
While Henry is new to the football program, he isn’t new to the Oklahoma athletic program. He arrived in Norman as part of the Sooners’ Class of 2024 wrestling team, where he signed as a heavyweight.
Henry was a two-sport star at Vandergrift High School in Austin, Texas, but decided to follow the wrestling route after gaining most of his football interest from FCS schools. He did hold one FBS offer from Sam Houston and FCS offers from Northwestern State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Eastern Illinois, Yale, Austin Peay, Bethune-Cookman, Fordham and Morehead State.
Mark Henry was an Olympian weightlifter in 1992 and 1996 and held numerous American power-lifting records during his career. He then joined the WWE in 1996, where he entertained for almost 20 years before retiring and eventually being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
It is never easy for a walk-on to make an impact at the P4 level, and listed at 6-foot-0, Henry’s chances on the defensive line will be even more difficult. However, with his DNA it will be a battle worth keeping an eye on.
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Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani entered Wednesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals on the precipice of another milestone. Ohtani had recorded 999 hits in his career, an impressive number considering he continued to hit while rehabbing after a pair of elbow surgeries and the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He notched his 1,000th career hit in the third inning, belting a two-run homer off Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore. While that home run temporarily gave his team a 2-1 lead, the Dodgers' bullpen failed to hold on in the 5-3 loss. Ohtani has put together an impressive season as he slowly works himself back as a starting pitcher. He has posted a .276/.381/.606 batting line in 521 plate appearances, hitting 39 homers and 15 doubles while stealing 16 bases. Ohtani also has a 2.37 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP over 19 innings, striking out 25 batters with just five walks. His 1,000th hit is another milestone in a career that is on track to end in Cooperstown. The 2018 American League Rookie of the Year, Ohtani is a five-time All-Star and three-time MVP, joining Hall of Fame outfielder Frank Robinson as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. He is one home run shy of his fourth season with 40 or more homers and is the only player in major league history to hit 50+ homers and steal 50+ bases in the same season. Ohtani's exploits on the mound have been equally impressive. He has reached the double-digit mark in wins twice and has struck out more than 150 batters in a season three times. Ohtani finished fourth in the 2022 AL Cy Young race after posting a 15-9 record with a 2.33 ERA and a 1.012 WHIP over 166 innings, striking out 219 batters with 44 walks. It is sure to be one of the many milestones Ohtani reaches as his career continues.
The Pittsburgh Steelers gave up 299 rushing yards to their arch-nemesis, the Baltimore Ravens, in the Wild Card Round of the 2024 playoffs. Slowing down Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson was never going to be easy, but Pittsburgh’s defense was gashed from start to finish. It was an embarrassing showing that made it clear major changes were needed. The Steelers immediately began planning how to fix the issue heading into the offseason. With the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Steelers selected defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, a physical and explosive presence up front. Harmon was brought in to restore toughness, speed, and discipline to the heart of Pittsburgh’s defense. Since his arrival, he has quickly impressed the coaching staff throughout training camp and other offseason activities, showing signs that he could be exactly what the Steelers need. Steelers insider reports have added even more excitement around the rookie. During an appearance on WDVE 102.5 on Wednesday morning, one insider named Gerry Dulac spoke about how impactful Harmon has been, both on the field and in the locker room. The Steelers were humiliated in their playoff loss to Baltimore, but with Harmon in the fold, they believe they’re on track to make sure it doesn’t happen again. "I'll tell you who's buzzing about it quietly and internally, are those coaches," Dulac said. "They love this guy. [From] what they have seen, they're thinking this pick is a home run. Now, we'll see how it plays out, but [from] what they've seen so far, they think he's terrific, and gonna be terrific." It’s not just coaches who are noticing Harmon’s impact either. Teammates have been raving about the way he’s carrying himself, especially for a rookie walking into a veteran-heavy locker room. He’s been described as humble, but intense. Quiet, but physical. It’s that mix of work ethic and natural ability that has people around the team believing the Steelers might’ve nailed this pick. Harmon’s explosiveness off the line has stood out in nearly every practice session. He’s consistently disrupting plays in the backfield, and he’s already shown he can hold his own against the Steelers’ top offensive linemen. Harmon is going to be called on as a rookie to be a starter right away. It's not an easy task for any rookie but the Steelers are just that confident in his skills. What’s also impressive is how fast he’s picked up the playbook. For a position that demands a lot of mental processing, especially in the Steelers’ complex scheme, Harmon hasn’t looked overwhelmed. In fact, he’s been praised for asking the right questions, staying late in meetings, and learning from guys like Cam Heyward and Keeanu Benton. He’s clearly not just relying on his physical tools. Of course, it’s still early, and everything changes when the pads come on in real games. But if training camp is any indication, the Steelers’ front office may have landed a game-changer in Harmon. And after that nightmare in Baltimore, they’ll take all the help they can get. Steelers’ Defense Expected To Be Elite The Steelers defense is expected to be one of the NFL’s best in 2025. But if they want to be the best, Harmon’s impact will be key. Lining up next to Benton and Heyward, he could help anchor a dominant front. For that to happen, Harmon will need to play at a high level as a rookie. That’s a big task, but the coaching staff believes he’s more than capable. He’s shown the strength, quickness, and awareness they were hoping for. The Steelers didn’t draft him to sit. They want him to contribute now. If Harmon does that, this defense should be in very good hands for the 2025 season.
Much has been said about the Green Bay Packers’ wide receiver room in the offseason, but there is also still a lot to discover about the group. For one, rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden, for all the hype he’s been getting, has yet to show what he can do downfield in an official NFL game. He will get his chances soon, though, with the NFL preseason coming up for the Packers and the 2025 NFL regular season just around the corner. Meanwhile, other wide receivers like Romeo Doubs are a known factor for the Packers, as he enters his fourth season in the NFL. Still, he must be motivated to have a big season ahead, considering that he has no contract beyond the 2025 campaign. Selected in the fourth round (132nd overall) of the 2022 NFL draft by the Packers, the former Nevada football star is hard at work in the offseason, improving his chemistry with his teammates, most importantly with star quarterback Jordan Love. Jordan Love, Romeo Doubs connect for spectacular touchdown at Green Bay Packers training camp During a recent training camp session, Doubs beat defensive backs Javon Bullard and Evan Williams downfield and caught a pass from Love for a huge 55-yard touchdown. A slo-mo video of that play was posted by the Packers on social media, particularly on X, leaving Green Bay and football fans buzzing. Last season, Doubs finished fourth on the team with 601 receiving yards to go along with four touchdowns on 46 receptions and 72 targets. He only played in 13 games, as he missed four games due to a concussion he suffered in a Week 12 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
Playing quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the preseason could be far too risky for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Jacksonville Jaguars host the Steelers in their first preseason game Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. Rodgers, 41, typically hasn't played in the preseason throughout his career but seems open to the idea. "I do think it's in the plan for me to play this week," the QB told the media Wednesday. "But whatever [head coach Mike Tomlin] wants to do, I'm fully on board." Tomlin, meanwhile, was noncommittal about Rodgers playing Saturday. Perhaps he's realizing it may be a bad idea. Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury when he played for the New York Jets during the 2023 season. Since then, the former Green Bay Packers star has lost some of his mobility. In 17 starts with the Jets in 2024, he took 40 sacks, the fifth most in his career. Starters don't play entire preseason games. Still, if Rodgers were to suffer an injury, it could throw a wrench into the Steelers' plans. Pittsburgh's other options at the most important position aren't great. Backup QB Mason Rudolph has a 9-8-1 starting record in the regular season, and his career passer rating (84.7) is below average. Rookie QB Will Howard fractured his throwing hand during Tuesday's practice, and the sixth-round pick out of Ohio State is expected to miss the rest of preseason. Steelers QB4 Skylar Thompson went 1-2 in three starts in three seasons with the Miami Dolphins. He also tossed more interceptions (three) than touchdown passes (one) in 10 games played. The Steelers offense was reportedly struggling at the beginning of camp, but it appears Rodgers is developing better chemistry with one of his new wide receivers. With the offense improving, playing the four-time MVP in preseason games may not be a must-do for the Steelers.
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