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Oklahoma Sooner's Notes and Articles

No Sign of Keith: Brandon Keith, the junior offensive lineman who transferred from Northeastern, missed Oklahoma's practice for the fourth straight day. He may not be considered AWOL much longer. "He's not with us today," coach Bob Stoops said. "He may not be with us anymore. We'll see. We haven't actually been able to get a hold of him to communicate. So I guess I'm assuming he just quit. "But we're having a hard time tracking him down to be definitive on it." Coaches were on the verge of mixing Keith in with the first team on Saturday, but he didn't show up for practice and hasn't been seen since. (NewsOK.com)

Peterson & Walker Returns: Running back Adrian Peterson was held out of most drills during Saturday and Sunnday's practices as well as Monday's scrimmage. He was in full pads for the first time Tuesday morning. Peterson has been battling a tight hamstring and has been held back to prevent the injury from getting any worse. Peterson wasn't the only player in full pads for the first time Tuesday. Cornerback Marcus Walker suffered a shoulder injury Saturday, but went through both drills Tuesday. (Norman Transcipt)

Birdine Steps on Wilsons Ankle: In the morning practice, defensive end Larry Birdine stepped on receiver Travis Wilson's ankle. Wilson returned after getting the ankle heavily taped. But Tuesday afternoon, coach Bob Stoops suggested to Wilson: "You'd better get that tape off if you want to get deep on (the defensive backs)." Wilson laughed. (NewsOK.com)

Quarterbacks "don't know" either: Oklahoma quarterbacks Paul Thompson and Rhett Bomar have no idea which one will start the season opener against TCU on Sept. 3. "I want to get a sign on my shirt that says, 'I don't know,'" Thompson said. "Everywhere I go, people ask, 'Are you starting?' Well, we'll see." Bomar said: "We don't have anything to say about it. That's basically our answer. We don't know." The biggest question facing the Sooners this season cannot be answered with haste, according to coach Bob Stoops. Thompson, Bomar and Tommy Grady all have the necessary skills. The Sooners may need the rest of the month to figure out which one is best suited to replace Heisman Trophy winner Jason White and lead the defending Big 12 champions. Who has the edge? The coach isn't helpful. "In our mind going into (Friday's first) practice, there was not a separation, not a ranking," Stoops said. (San Antonio Express)

Players sitting out: Senior tailback Kejuan Jones, who suffered a sprained left ankle in Monday's scrimmage, watched practice Tuesday on crutches, the ankle encased in a protective boot. Stoops said Jones' injury wasn't serious. Also, Others who missed practice because of minor injuries included: receivers Malcolm Kelly, Fred Strong and Jermaine Harrison, defensive backs Eric Bassey and Brett Bowers, and offensive linemen Ben Barresi, Branndon Braxton and Chris Bush. Barresi could miss as much as a week more with a knee injury; the others could return sooner. Sophomore defensive end Alonzo Dotson missed Tuesday's morning practice for what Stoops described as a "class issue." (NewsOK.com)

Covers Big 12 Oklahoma Preview: Covers.com has released their Big 12 Preview Oklahoma Sooner's Prediction: 11-0 straight up (SU), 7-4 against the spread (ATS) If this were any program other than Oklahoma, it would be in trouble. After a bad end to last season -- a blowout loss to USC in the national championship game -- and losing 15 starters in the offseason, including 10 NFL draft picks, the Sooners will not be the team they used to be. But coach Bob Stoops is one of the best salesmen in the country and after four straight top 10 recruiting classes, a few Adrian Peterson-type surprises are surely waiting in the wings. The biggest question is, who will replace Jason White at quarterback? It's down to junior Paul Thomson and redshirt freshman Rhett Bomar, neither of which seems to have the advantage at this point, but Bomar’s two interceptions in the spring game could haunt him when it comes time to name a starter. The defense is looking shaky, with only four starters retuning. (More on Oklahoma Preview along with Big 12 at Covers.com)

Sooners keeping it simple in secondary: The Oklahoman

OU returns to one practice Wednesday: SoonerSports.com