Completed Event: Football versus Auburn on September 20, 2025 , Win , 24, to, 17
Final
Football
24
vs Auburn
17
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Bowen, Jackson Named to ESPN Freshman All-America Team
December 29, 2024 | Football
NORMAN — First-year Oklahoma defensive lineman Jayden Jackson and cornerback Eli Bowen were named to ESPN's 2024 Freshman All-America team after their standout debut campaigns.
Jackson, an Indianapolis, Ind., product, was also named a True Freshman All-American by On3 and was a Freshman All-SEC selection. He played in all 13 games and made 10 starts at defensive tackle this season, and totaled 30 tackles, including 3.0 for loss and 2.0 sacks, and a pass breakup. He made at least one tackle in 12 contests and registered a career-high five stops against Texas on Oct. 12. He also notched four total tackles against South Carolina on Oct. 19 and against Alabama on Nov. 23, and he made three against Tennessee on Sept. 21 and at Missouri on Nov. 9.
When he started OU's season opener against Temple on Aug. 30, Jackson became only the fourth OU true freshman to start on the defensive line in a season opener and the first since Tommie Harris in 2001. He registered his first career sack against South Carolina and added a sack in the Missouri game. He also recorded a tackle for loss against Alabama.
Bowen played in the final 11 games of the season and started at cornerback in each of the last eight. He totaled 30 tackles, including 2.0 for loss, an interception and four pass breakups. On Nov. 23, he jumped a route and intercepted a pass from QB Jalen Milroe and returned it 25 yards setting up Oklahoma's first touchdown of the second half in its 24-3 win over then-No. 7 Alabama. He notched a season-high eight tackles (one for loss) against Texas on Oct. 12, tallied four stops each against Alabama and in the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy and had a tackle for loss vs. Maine.
Jackson and Bowen were part of an Oklahoma defense that allowed just 318.2 total yards per game and 21.5 points per game, its lowest average allowed in both categories since the 2009 season. The Sooners also gave up just 203.2 passing yards per game, their fewest allowed since 2015.
Jackson, an Indianapolis, Ind., product, was also named a True Freshman All-American by On3 and was a Freshman All-SEC selection. He played in all 13 games and made 10 starts at defensive tackle this season, and totaled 30 tackles, including 3.0 for loss and 2.0 sacks, and a pass breakup. He made at least one tackle in 12 contests and registered a career-high five stops against Texas on Oct. 12. He also notched four total tackles against South Carolina on Oct. 19 and against Alabama on Nov. 23, and he made three against Tennessee on Sept. 21 and at Missouri on Nov. 9.
When he started OU's season opener against Temple on Aug. 30, Jackson became only the fourth OU true freshman to start on the defensive line in a season opener and the first since Tommie Harris in 2001. He registered his first career sack against South Carolina and added a sack in the Missouri game. He also recorded a tackle for loss against Alabama.
Bowen played in the final 11 games of the season and started at cornerback in each of the last eight. He totaled 30 tackles, including 2.0 for loss, an interception and four pass breakups. On Nov. 23, he jumped a route and intercepted a pass from QB Jalen Milroe and returned it 25 yards setting up Oklahoma's first touchdown of the second half in its 24-3 win over then-No. 7 Alabama. He notched a season-high eight tackles (one for loss) against Texas on Oct. 12, tallied four stops each against Alabama and in the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy and had a tackle for loss vs. Maine.
Jackson and Bowen were part of an Oklahoma defense that allowed just 318.2 total yards per game and 21.5 points per game, its lowest average allowed in both categories since the 2009 season. The Sooners also gave up just 203.2 passing yards per game, their fewest allowed since 2015.
Players Mentioned
DL
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