Up for awards

By John Shinn
The Norman Transcript

October 19, 2007 01:33 am

— Thursday was a big day for Oklahoma on the awards front. Defensive end Auston English and punter Michael Cohen were added to watch lists for individual awards. Offensive lineman Duke Robinson was named a semifinalist for another.
Robinson, OU’s left guard, has been named a semifinalist for the 38th Rotary Lombardi Award, which recognizes the best lineman or interior player in the country.
The junior from Atlanta is working on a string of 21 consecutive starts. The 6-5, 352-pounder is grading at 80 percent for the season and averaging 10 knockdowns per game. His high game for knockdowns was 13 against Miami.
Robinson became the 13th Sooner to reach the semifinal round for the award, but the first offensive lineman since Greg Roberts in 1978. Past OU winners include Tommie Harris in 2003, Tony Casillas in 1985 and Lee Roy Selmon in 1975.
English became eligible for the Ted Hendricks Award Thursday. That honor goes to college football’s top defensive end.
The Canadian, Texas, native jumped in the mix with 71⁄2 sacks in OU’s first seven games and another 71⁄2 tackles for loss.
English, a sophomore, came up big in OU’s last two games. He had two sacks against Texas and a career-high nine tackles and 11⁄2 sacks against Missouri.
No Sooner or player from the Big 12 Conference has ever won the award.
Punter Michael Cohen, who leads the Big 12 with a 44.3 yards per kick average, is now in the running for the Ray Guy Award.
Six of Cohen’s boots have surpassed 50 and he has had at least one 50-yard kick in the last three games.
If Cohen gets the honor, he’ll be the first Sooner to do so. Jeff Ferguson was a finalist in 2001.

Injury report
Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said OU will likely be without senior defensive tackle Steven Coleman against Iowa State. Coleman, who has five tackles and one sack on the season, suffered an abdominal strain last week and didn’t play against Missouri.
The only other player expected to miss the Iowa State game is backup middle linebacker Mike Reed. He will miss the trip while tending to family matters. Reed’s wife recently underwent surgery and he’s been taking care of the couple’s two children.
“He is simply helping her and his kids with that,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “Hopefully, his wife continues to heal and he can get back with us as soon as possible.”
Running back DeMarco Murray (knee) and linebacker Ryan Reynolds (neck, arm and knee) have been dealing with nagging injuries, but are expected to play.

No plans
Two of Stoops’ prized pupils will meet each other Sunday. Former Sooner standouts Adrian Peterson (Vikings) and Roy Williams (Cowboys) will face each other when Minnesota faces Dallas at Texas Stadium.
OU is off next week, but Stoops said he has no plans to venture down to Dallas and watch in person.
“I didn’t know they were playing,” he said.
Peterson has rushed for 607 yards in the first five games and was named the NFL’s Rookie of the Month in September.
The only prediction Stoops had for the game was what will happen the first time Peterson and Williams collide Sunday.
“It will be loud,” Stoops said.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com