So upon seeing that redshirt freshman Albert Okwuegbunam was getting even more national recognition...

...I suddenly had a revelation: Has Albert O been the best tight end in the country over the last half of the season?

The answer: probably not. Al has 18 catches for 270 yards and nine touchdowns in the last six games, and while the scoring figure is untouchable, OU’s Mark Andrews does have 28 for 389 and three scores in that time, while Penn State’s Mike Gesicki has 29 for 325 and five and UMass’ Adam Breneman has 34 for 346 and three. So he’s been merely among the nation’s best.

Okay, fine, maybe I was overshooting. BUT ... it also hit me that Albert O might have a claim to stake within the SEC. Should he be getting all-league honors? Yes. But maybe second-team.

Okwuegbunam is currently second among SEC tight ends in receptions (he has 25, while South Carolina’s Hayden Hurst has 41) and yards (he has 372 to Hurst’s 518). And while O’s touchdown total laps everybody else’s (he has 11 to Hurst’s two, and no other tight end has more than four), that advantage, plus preseason name recognition, will probably give Hurst the nod unless O gets extra credit for his second-half surge. (Hurst has just 221 yards and no scores over the last six games.)

But if O is anything less than second-team, we riot.

Okay, we passive aggressively complain on a message board.

Second-team isn’t bad considering he had seven catches halfway through the season, though, huh? Hell, he had two catches after three games. You’re lucky, Hurst.

More Football Links:

• MINI MOVIE TIME!

• Josh Heupel is evidently in consideration for the South Alabama job. Not going to speculate on this specific job, but here’s a reminder that Barry Odom might not have him around for more than another year or so. Hope he’s got a succession plan in place.
• Mitch Morse rules.

• Marcell Frazier was also among the SEC’s best last weekend.

More Links:

• The “learning how to win” thing might get old after a while, but I’d say Mizzou Hoops still safely qualifies. Jontay Porter, meanwhile, is learning and maturing awfully quickly. And here’s to hoping that Jordan Barnett can remain smoking hot in Orlando.
• Our friend Carrington Harrison thinks MPJ plays by February 1 or so.
• Tigers! Jayhawks! 6 p.m. CT on Friday! (Looks like you can watch online.)
• It’s really good to be on the right side of these bets.

• Rhyan Loos is going back in for another round of scans. Cross your fingers.