The Hurry-Up: Volume 2

NORMAN – The Oklahoma football team continued preseason camp Tuesday morning, hitting the rugby fields for the the fifth practice in preparation for the 2025 season. This second edition of SoonerSports.com's annual Q&A series, "The Hurry-Up", features senior running back Jovantae Barnes and sophomore defensive lineman Jayden Jackson.

RB Jovantae Barnes

How's camp going so far?
"I feel good. Second day on the rugby fields today, feeling good. It's my last camp so I'm just excited to get back into the groove of things since I didn't participate in spring ball. Just making sure I learn this playbook head to toe and doing what I can for the team. It's been fun."

What did you focus on this summer?
"The summer was really good, I enjoyed it. Going into the summer I just had a few things on my list that I wanted to check off. Obviously, after my second surgery I wanted to make sure I stayed consistent with my process and knew what it was going to take to be myself again. Keeping the mentality of attacking every day and leading the running back room. Me, Jaydn (Ott) and Xavier (Robinson) and everybody in there, we've been doing a good job of going in and competing every day."

What are your thoughts on the running back room?
"It's an honor to play at the University of Oklahoma. You want to work your tail off. Everything I have right now, I've worked for. Nothing was given. It's just an honor to be at this school with its history of running backs and being coached by one of the greats who ran the ball here. I've been here four years—and we've had some guys in years past—but I think this is probably the most talented room top to bottom. We have speed, strength, guys who can catch the ball out of the backfield, everything. Everybody's going to have a part to play. That's one thing I've wanted to instill in everybody is to come out and be the best group on the field. On the offensive side of the ball, we want to be the best group on the practice field and play like it when it comes to the games. I think we've done a good job of getting to that point by coming out and attacking every day."

How excited are you to play in front of Sooner Nation one more year?
"I'm super excited with it being my last year. My dream is to play in the NFL, so I'm excited to attack the field with my boys one last time and go chase our dreams."

DL Jayden Jackson

How is camp going so far?
"It's been pretty good. Guys are getting at it. We see a lot of young guys stepping up and filling in the role that was expected of them. People are working and consistently grinding. It's a grind and it's going to be a grind. Just work, if I can describe it in one word."

Is there anything you worked on improving in the offseason?
"Definitely my pass rush. Me and a couple of the guys have consistently worked on pass rush, just technique and fundamentals. The little things that can help us in the long run. If we false step with this foot a lot or do that – just working on the little things and emphasizing our pass rush."

Which young players on the defensive line have impressed you so far?
"Right now, Trent Wilson has been picking up really well. There are a couple of things he does need to work on, but overall, he's getting the plays down really well. He's adapted from high school to college pretty well. Just things that not a lot of high schoolers would pick up on."

Going into year two, are you approaching this season differently than you did last year?
"If I'm being honest, it's the same mentality. I still see myself as someone trying to earn a starting spot and trying to get on the field. It's the same mentality. I still have to eat."

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