Fall Camp Hurry-Up: Volume 2

NORMAN – The Oklahoma football team enters Week 2 of preseason camp, hitting the rugby fields for the first practice in full pads in preparation for the 2026 season. The second edition of SoonerSports.com's annual Q&A series, "The Hurry-Up," features junior defensive back Eli Bowen, senior wide receiver Jer'Michael Carter and fifth-year tight end Hayden Hansen.

Eli Bowen Hurry-Up: Volume 2

DB Eli Bowen

Q: What's one word to describe fall camp so far?

"Grind."

Q: How is it being coached by Coach (Lamar) Morgan?

"It's great. He's a chill coach, but he can flip the switch right when he gets to practice. Outside of practice, he's really chill. He makes jokes with us and trolls us too, so he loves it."

Q: If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be, and why?

"Probably Moses from the Bible. Just because of the journey he went on, and everything he went through just to not experience the promise land."

Q: What's the best piece of life advice you've ever gotten?

"When people try to say you only live once, I've learned from other people that you live every day, so I'm going to take that mentality every day."

Jer'Michael Carter The Hurry-Up: Volume 2

WR Jer'Michael Carter

Q: How's fall camp going for you and the offense?

"It's going pretty smooth. We're improving in the run game, for sure. We've got big enough tight ends to handle the pressure. I feel like we have every piece that we need to be great."

Q: How is it being coached by Coach (Emmett) Jones?

"He's hard-nosed, but he wants the best out of us, so I try to bring my best every day."

Q: What's one thing that you think you can beat anyone in the locker room at?

"Fishing. I love fishing. I'm a country boy."

Q: What's the best piece of advice you've ever gotten?

"Be yourself. Just be who God created you to be and try to outwork people."

TE Hayden Hansen

Who's been the most surprising standout so far in camp?

"Standout is hard because I feel like it was a pretty explosive spring ball on the offensive side, but I'd say Noah Best. He's a young freshman, and he's shown up whether it's with the ones or the twos, just wherever he's needed. He's not afraid, and he'll give the ones some work and get in hard reps. It's been pretty impressive."

How is it being coached by Coach (Jason) Witten?

"It's just surreal. You walk in there every day, and some days in fall camp you're tired or you can't think straight, but you have in the back of your mind that you're about to get coached by a hall of famer each day. He's just the best of the best, and he's done it his whole life. It's nothing you can take lightly. I would be a fool to look back in ten years and be like 'dang, I had Jason Witten as my coach and I didn't maximize every opportunity.' He knows our weaknesses, and we are just all in on what he says."

What is one thing you can beat anyone in the locker room at?

"I feel like I have a couple actually. I would say swimming; I have that swimmer build, you know. I'm pretty mean at pickleball with my wingspan, too."

Does pineapple belong on pizza?

"Pineapple actually has an enzyme that helps with allergies, so I eat it all the time… but I have to draw the line at pizza."

What's the best piece of life advice you've ever gotten?

"A couple of years ago I was listening to a podcast with Aaron Rodgers. Some people have the quote worded differently, but basically it says 'never take criticism from someone you wouldn't take advice from'."

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DB Eli Bowen

WR Jer'Michael Carter

TE Hayden Hansen

Players Mentioned

Noah Best

Eli Bowen

Jer'Michael Carter

Hayden Hansen

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics