A few holes to fill for OU football

John Shinn
The Norman Transcript

March 05, 2008 12:05 am

— The spring has traditionally been Oklahoma’s time of uncertainty. Who will win the quarterback job? Who will score touchdowns? Who will be that lockdown cornerback?
But this spring won’t be so much about identifying who those players will be for next season. The Sooners already know.
Sam Bradford is the unquestioned quarterback. Just about all the starters from last season’s record-setting offense are still around. Even the defense, which has a few holes to fill, is mostly intact.
What will OU do with its 12 practices and three scrimmages?
“More than anything, I think it is critical this time of year to build your depth,” OU coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday. “Building your team and building players, preparing them to play at any time. We want all players to perform better and play more consistent.”
The Sooners hit the practice field for the first time today and most of the immediate concerns will be filling those few holes on the defense.
The biggest void is at linebacker, where the early departure of Curtis Lofton for the NFL draft has left a gaping hole. Lofton was the Big 12’s defensive player of the year in his only season as a starter. But he also left before a definitive heir could be identified.
OU will spend the spring seeing if Ryan Reynolds, who played the weakside spot last season, can move into the middle.
“We have guys that are capable, guys that are prepared that will have to step up to be prepared to make those kind of plays,” Stoops said. “And that's where we'll start and hope that these guys will be competitive. The guy that plays will be the guy that is doing the best job and the most consistent job.”
Mike Reed, who came in last spring to play the position, is expected to transfer following the spring semester.
If Reynolds moves over, it will leave OU looking to fill the weakside and the strongside spot, vacated by Lewis Baker.
Stoops mentioned redshirts freshman Austin Box and junior Keenan Clayton, who moved from strong safety last season, as players the coaching staff will keep keen eyes on throughout March and April.
The same will go in the secondary where Quinton Carter, Dominique Franks, Jamell Fleming and Brian Jackson will be trying to emerge as starters.
“They will be competitive and we will pay very close attention to them all the way through, because there is a lot of potential there,” Stoops said.
The Sooners also are looking to replace kicker Garrett Hartley. Redshirt freshmen Jimmy Stevens and Matthew Moreland will handle the chores in the coming weeks. Incoming freshman Tress Way will join the battle in the fall.
But the a lot of those returning starters won’t be on the field over the next five weeks.
Running backs DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown are both out after having knee surgeries following last season. The Sooners will only have two running backs — Mossis Madu and incoming freshman Justin Johnson — for the spring.
On the defensive side, ends Auston English, John Williams and safety Nic Harris will be held out of spring drills.
Stoops said defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger will go through spring drills. Granger was arrested for shoplifting Dec. 29, and Stoops sent him home prior to the Fiesta Bowl.
As far as getting back in good graces, Granger still has some work to do.
“He still has to be consistent through the spring and summer,” Stoops said. “But the things he’s done since have been positive.”
Those players have already proved they can help OU win games. This spring, the Sooners will be working on identifying more of them.