OU safety Darien Williams had two sacks last Saturday against Iowa State and is now tied with middle linebacker Zach Latimer for the team lead.

The Sooners have nine as a team, but surprisingly, only one has come from defensive ends Larry Birdine, Calvin Thibodeaux or C.J. Ah You.

Birdine, who has one sack, said that must change.

“It’s time for the guys who weigh over 250 pounds to step up,” he said.

For now, it’s Holmes

Lendy Holmes and D.J. Wolfe have been battling for the boundary cornerback spot all season. So far, each has made three starts.

But Holmes, who had five tackles (two for losses) against Iowa State, is on pace to take the lead Saturday against Colorado.

“It is a competition,” he said. “No one wants to be on the bench looking at the game. I know that we all want to be in there and play. Every week I go out there and go hard, that’s how I know how I can get on the field.”

Defensive backs coach Bobby Jack Wright said the competition for the two won’t stop.

“No one owns any positions out there,” he said. “You have to earn them every week.”

John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com