Lincoln Riley's departure 'blindsided' Oklahoma players, coaches, team captain says

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NORMAN, Okla. — The fallout from Lincoln Riley's departure from Oklahoma continued Monday arsenic 1 of the squad captains opened up astir the concern connected SoonerScoop.

Defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas, a Tulsa autochthonal and squad captain, elaborate Riley's gathering with players Sunday astir his departure pursuing the team's 37-33 nonaccomplishment to Oklahoma State connected Saturday.

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"It truly blindsided america all, coaches included," Thomas says.

"It kinda wounded honestly conscionable due to the fact that of however Coach Riley portrayed himself successful the media saying worldly similar 'I cognize wherever I belong' and each that."

Riley said Saturday earlier the announcement of his determination to USC that helium wasn't taking the caput coaching occupation astatine LSU.

He's headed to the Pac-12 meantime whoever takes implicit astatine Oklahoma volition beryllium headed to the SEC successful 2025.

Thomas says that Riley told players that the USC occupation was an accidental helium couldn't walk up.

"All successful each you person to recognize and respect [his decision] due to the fact that it's conscionable similar if I was successful the NFL and a squad offered maine this and different squad offered maine $10 cardinal with the aforesaid presumption and each that, I would bash what's champion for maine and my household arsenic well," Thomas says.

"I'm not huffy astatine what [Riley] did, it conscionable much truthful caught america disconnected defender however helium did it."

Thomas says helium appreciates Riley and thanked him for the opportunities he's fixed him implicit his 4 years astatine OU.

He's finishing his assemblage career, each nether Riley, with 16.5 sacks.

Former Sooners manager Bob Stoops is expected to capable successful for the team's vessel crippled arsenic they'll apt beryllium retired of the College Football Playoff representation aft missing retired connected the Big 12 Championship game.

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