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Oklahoma defender announces end of his Sooner career

by:Austin Brezina•11/13/21•

AustinBrezina59

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Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

An Oklahoma Sooner senior announced the end of his Oklahoma playing career on Saturday after a season-ending injury will cut his year short. Linebacker Caleb Kelly‘s career was ended early after an undisclosed season-ending injury that he suffered against Baylor on Saturday.

Caleb Kelly’s Oklahoma Sooner career ends

“Well looks like I’ve played my last game in the Crimson & Cream,” shared Kelly on Twitter after receiving the news that his season was over. “I love you Sooner Nation! I gave everything I had and went out on the field. You all turned a California kid into an Oklahoma man. We’ve made a lot of memories that I’ll cherish forever! #BoomerSooner. CK out.”

The touching message comes after an already emotional day for Oklahoma and their fans. Oklahoma fell to Baylor, 27-14, for their first loss of the season.

The former five-star recruit and team captain Caleb Kelly missed the majority of the 2019 season and all of his 2020 season with two separate ACL tears. Kelly finishes his OU career as a sixth-year senior with 176 tackles, five sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception.

In 2017, Kelly made a pair of memorable plays to end the season and establish himself with Oklahoma. In the Big 12 Championship game against TCU, Kelly recorded a scoop-and-score touchdown in the win for Oklahoma. Then, in a 2017 Rose Bowl that Oklahoma would lose, Kelly forced a fumble that led to a touchdown against Georgia.

After being involved in the College Football Playoff conversation, the Sooners will have to wait and see how far down they will slip in the rankings as the season draws closer to ending.

Bob Stoops on Oklahoma getting no respect

The Oklahoma Sooners were a perfect 9-0 on the season before Saturday’s loss to Baylor. Despite their success though, Oklahoma had received no love in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Sooners were ranked eighth in the last update of playoff rankings.

Former longtime Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops was disappointed with the committee’s lack of respect for the Sooners.

“When did losing not matter? I complained a week ago there were four teams ahead of OU, who is 9-0,” Stoops started. “The longest win streak in America. I’ll tell you what they thought of my opinion.

“They put another one-loss team ahead of OU.  So, now there’s five one-loss teams ahead of OU. Give me a break.”

As Stoops mentioned, there were five one loss teams ahead of Oklahoma in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. The teams ahead were Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State.

Unfortunately, Baylor has now forced Oklahoma to join their ranks as a one-loss team in pursuit of a possible playoff bid. The Sooners still have Iowa State and Oklahoma State on their schedule for the season as they seek another Big 12 Championship.