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Oklahoma DL Ethan Downs Named to Allstate AFCA Good Works Team

Sooners' defensive lineman Ethan Downs was honored for his work off-the-field on Tuesday morning.

Randall Sweet

Oklahoma DL Ethan Downs Named to Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
Oklahoma DL Ethan Downs Named to Allstate AFCA Good Works Team /
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NORMAN — Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables opened his Tuesday morning press conference with praise for one of his veteran defensive lineman.

"I'd like to open up just by congratulating Ethan Downs on being named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his tremendous community service," Venables said. "He's the only representative from the Big 12 conference and one of 11 (FBS) players in the country to receive this honor. So, great job Ethan, wonderful honor."

Downs is one of only 22 NCAA football players named to the Good Works Team, which is designed to recognize college athletes who are committed to making an impact off the field.

In February, Downs partnered with the OU Food Pantry to develop the G.I.V.E. Mission, which featured a friendly competition between athletic teams and Greek organizations on campus to see who could bring in more donations. 

The campaign was a success, and netted over 4,000 pounds of donations.

Over the past two years, Downs has also participated in service trips to South Africa, Brazil and Miami Gardens, FL. 

Additionally, the Weatherford, OK, product served as a camp counselor at the Cavett Kids Foundation, participated in "Art with a Heart OKC" twice, donated autograph signing proceeds to his hometown's Connections Food and Resource Center and been a guest speaker for an elementary school D.A.R.E. graduation in Weatherford during his time as a Sooner.

Downs is the seventh Oklahoma football player to be honored on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, joining Jacob Gutierrez, Nic Harris, Gerald McCoy, Quinton Carter, Caleb Kelly and Chanse Sylvie.

As a sophomore last season, Downs recorded 13.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and three pass breakups, landing the in-state product Second Team All-Big 12 honors.

Heading into 2023, Downs was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team by the media.

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Randall Sweet
RANDALL SWEET

Randall is a recruiting analyst and staff writer at AllSooners focusing primarily on OU Football and the recruiting trail. Working as a journalist, Randall has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and high school sports across the state. A 2022 University of Oklahoma graduate, Randall hails from Lubbock, TX. While in college, Sweet wrote for the OU Daily in addition to working with Sooner Sports Pad and OU Nightly. Following his time at OU, Sweet served as the Communications Coordinator at Visit Oklahoma City before leaving to join the team at AllSooners. The West Texas native has bylines in the Norman Transcript and is a Staff Writer for Inside the Thunder. Randall holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK. 

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