Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops announced Tuesday at his weekly news conference OU linebacker Austin Box will backup Ryan Reynolds at middle linebacker and freshman LB Ronnell Lewis could see playing time this Saturday.
The announcement came a day following the release of Oklahoma's depth chart and news linebacker Mike Balogun would not travel with the Sooners to compete against BYU due eligibility issues. OU's inital depth chart had Balogun listed as the backup at middle linebacker and Box listed as backup to Travis Lewis.
Third-ranked Sooners play No. 20 BYU at Dallas Cowboys Stadium this Saturday.
Box expected to miss spring practice: Oklahoma linebacker Austin Box is expected to miss spring practice due to elbow surgery, coach Bob Stoops said Wednesday. Box dislocated the elbow as a senior at Enid High School, and injured it again last year causing him to miss most of spring practice. Box, a rising sophomore, has battled several injuries since coming to Norman. (The Oklahoman)
Stoops reaction to Williams, Gresham, Bradford return: In addition to Sam Bradford's announcement that he plans to remain at Oklahoma, two other Sooners also announced that they plan to play for the Sooners next year. Both tight end Jermaine Gresham and Trent Williams said they will return for the 2009 season. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy announced earlier that he also will return. "We are pleased that these players are returning to our program," said OU head coach Bob Stoops. "They understand the value of gaining another year of experience and improving their position in the draft along with the value of either finishing their degree or being within a few hours of completing it. "I also think our players recognize the opportunities we have as a program to pursue more championships and that's something that means a lot to all of us." (SoonerSports.com)
Balogun to start at linebacker: Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables said after Tuesday's practice that Mike Balogun will start at middle linebacker over Austin Box, who's returning from a knee sprain. Venables said Box would play, but he said how much would depend a lot on how Balogun performs. Box said Tuesday that he feels 100 percent and is ready to go. (The Oklahoman)
Box, Balogun expected to play: Oklahoma middle linebacker Austin Box, who sustained a knee sprain against Oklahoma State on Nov. 29, is also back at practice. Brent Venables said that Box and the backup Mike Balogun would play against Florida. After practice Sunday, Coach Bob Stoops said Box's knee was "loosening up for him and he's moving around pretty well, really." (NY Times)
Former Sooner Clayton visits team: Ex-Sooner and current Baltimore Ravens wideout Mark Clayton made an impromptu appearance at OU's press conference Sunday morning at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. Clayton wished defensive coordinator Brent Venables and several Sooner players luck in the BCS National Championship before heading to Dolphin Stadium for Baltimore's NFL playoff game against Miami. The Ravens stayed at the Harbor Beach Marriott over the weekend, the same hotel where all the BCS National Championship press conferences were held. (The Oklahoman)
Box expected to return today: Coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday he expects middle linebacker Austin Box to return to the practice field today. Box suffered a knee sprain at Oklahoma State and missed the Big 12 Championship. "He supposed to go," Stoops said. "We'll have to see" how he does. Stoops also said defensive end Alan Davis, who's also been out with a knee sprain, has returned to the practice field. (The Oklahoman)
Bradford suffers torn ligaments in left hand: Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said that sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford has some torn ligaments in his left (non-throwing) hand and will have to have surgery on the hand after the Big 12 championship game Saturday against Missouri in Kansas City. Stoops said Bradford would be fine to play against Missouri but would likely have to wear a soft cast on his left hand. (Dallas Morning News)
Also: Box likely out 3-4 weeks: Stoops said that starting middle linebacker Austin Box will miss three to four weeks with a similar knee sprain that starting defensive end Auston English is recovering from now. Box was injured in OU's win Saturday night at Oklahoma State. (Dallas Morning News)
Annual 14 Foundation Holiday Food Drive is Saturday: The eighth annual 14 Foundation Holiday Food Drive collection will be held this Saturday prior to the Oklahoma-Nebraska game. Volunteers will be stationed outside the stadium gates to accept cash donations only. The event was founded by Josh Heupel's 14 Foundation and has picked up partnerships with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In its early years, the food drive extended to just a few families, but the scope has grown considerably. This year the drive will target 750 families in seven communities across Oklahoma. It is expected that some 3,000 meals will be served as a results. Families have been chosen in Ada, Enid, Kingfisher, Norman, Oklahoma City, Sand Springs, and Stillwater to help this Thanksgiving. The food will consist of a Thanksgiving meal along with four additional meals for each family. The Sooner Football program assists, each year, in meeting the Norman families by hosting a night at the Switzer Center for each of them to enjoy meeting the players. The Sooner players also assist in the distribution of the food to the families in attendance. (SoonerSports PR)
Box forced to learn early against K-State: The first game as No. 4 Oklahoma's first-string middle linebacker was filled with learning moments for (Austin) Box, a redshirt freshmen who's now being called on to replace injured starter Ryan Reynolds. Some of them, particularly that 29-yard touchdown catch by Kansas State tight end Jeron Mastrud that left Box visibly upset with himself, were harder lessons than others. "It was definitely a big wake-up for me. I like to think that I handled it well and eventually settled in and kind of got my feet under me," Box said. (More at The Oklahoman)
Sooners to use Box, Balogun, Crow to replace Reynolds: Oklahoma will work former weakside linebackers Austin Box and Mike Balogun, along with backup Brandon Crow, as replacements for middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds, coach Bob Stoops said after Monday's practice."We'll work some different guys and we'll be ready to play [Saturday against Kansas]," Stoops said. "We'll experiment some. We're not going to be real detailed about it." (Star-Telegram)
Reynolds' plans to undergo rehab? Ryan Reynolds' knee injury against Texas, his third, raises the question of whether or not the junior linebacker wants to try to rehab the injury and continue his football career. "Yes," Stoops said. "Talking about it, I believe that's what his intention is. And we hope it is. I said to him, 'What the heck else you gonna do?' He loves it. "I saw him out there today, our guys are running sprints and he's over there doing sit-ups. I picked him up off the ground and said, 'What're you doing?' He said, 'Well, usually the guys that are injured do something else if they can't run.' I said, 'Well, we're going to give you an exception here for a couple days.' (Tulsa World)
Kansas-OU set for 2:30 kickoff on ABC: ABC has announced that it will televise the Oklahoma-Kansas football game from Norman this Saturday. The network has set the kickoff time for 2:30 p.m. Oklahoma is ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press poll released today, while the Jayhawks, who own Big wins over Iowa State and Colorado, are No. 16. (SoonerSports.com)
OU-Texas 2nd highest rated CFB game of '08: From Sports Media Watch...The Longhorns' 45-35 victory over the Sooners drew a 6.3 overnight rating on ABC Saturday, marking the second best overnight of the season, behind only an 8.4 for Ohio State/USC in September. The 6.3 overnight is the best for a Noon regular season college football game since Ohio State/Michigan drew a 6.4 in 2007.
Box to replace Reynolds? Bob Stoops indicated Sunday that having Box play the middle is "probably what we'll do, but we're going to work through that." "Austin is not ready to be declared the guy," defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "You have to go out there and earn it. It will be whoever is most consistent and whoever can make the plays that position requires you to make." (Tulsa World)
Venables on DeMarcus Granger recovery: "We hope and expect that he continues to get better and get a steady number of more snaps every week," defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "We'll just see how that all works."(Norman Transcript)
Bradford confident with OU's receivers: "I heard that comment (that Kelly's departure would hurt) all spring, and it really didn't make sense to me," Sam Bradford said. "We've got so many wide receivers that can make plays, and they proved it tonight." (Tulsa World)
Loadholt and Broyles suspended one game: [Phil] Loadholt's suspension may have stemmed from a June arrest for suspicion of DUI. OU coach Bob Stoops said Loadholt and Broyles were suspended for one game for "team reasons" and would be available to play Saturday against Cincinnati. (The Oklahoman)
Williams to play in '08? Defensive end John Williams also missed Saturday night's game, as he tries to determine if he's going to play the '08 season. Williams was awarded a sixth season of eligibility after the '07 season, much of which he missed after tearing his Achilles' tendon at Tulsa. (Tulsa World)
Granger dropped to No. 2 on depth chart due to back injury? Defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger did not start but played in the first quarter. Granger was sent home from the Fiesta Bowl after being charged with misdemeanor theft. Stoops, however, had said Granger's drop to No. 2 on the depth chart was related to a sore back that hampered him during August drills. Adrian Taylor started at tackle. (The Oklahoman)
Box likely to return against Cincinnati but where? Enid's Austin Box, who sat out Oklahoma's 57-2 rout of Chattanooga Saturday after having knee surgery earlier this month, should play this week against Cincinnati. "I anticipate he will," said OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables. Whether Box will return to his starting weakside linebacker spot is uncertain. Travis Lewis, who started in Box's place Saturday, led the Sooner defensive charge with four solo and two assisted tackles. "He's got to go back there and earn it," Venables said of Box. "We'll see how it goes." (Enid News and Eagle)
Second longest game in Sooner football history: Saturday's game, which spanned four hours and nine minutes, will go down as the second-longest in program history. The 2005 Baylor game, which went 4:12 through two overtimes, ranks as the longest. There have been five 4-hour games in OU history. The others: at Texas Tech in 2007 (4:03), Kansas State in 2000 (4:03) and Texas-El Paso in 2002 (4:00). (The Oklahoman)
Austin Box has knee surgery; "doubtful" for season opener: Oklahoma linebacker Austin Box underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday to repair torn cartilage in his left knee. OU head coach Bob Stoops said that the anticipated recovery time is three weeks. Stoops called Box "doubtful" for the season opener against Tennessee-Chattanooga, but "probable" for game two against Cincinnati. (SoonerSports.com)
University of Oklahoma Football Second Scrimmage stats and quotes at SoonerSports.com
Box may return next weekend: Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said Box might return to noncontact work next week. Venables also said it was important for Reynolds to be back. "He's not 100 percent," Venables said, "but he needs to be out there to get some of the positioning down as much as anything, get a presence about him." (Tulsa World)
Recruits visit Norman: Centennial Frisco (Texas) High School quarterback Ryan Mossakowski was one of several blue-chip recruits in attendance. Mossakowski, the No. 53-ranked player in the nation according to Rivals.com, was accompanied at the scrimmage by Las Vegas defensive end Justin Chaisson, who is the No. 27-rated prospect in the country. Four-star cornerback Gabe Lynn of Jenks saw his second OU scrimmage. He was in Norman last weekend as well. Linebacker Tom Wort of New Braunfels, Texas, and tight end Greg Brown of Bixby were also in attendance Saturday. (The Oklahoman)
Bradford on the no huddle: Telling the Tulsa World "Today was about as game-like as we've had with the no-huddle as far as the referees and the clock and everything going," Bradford said. "I think we did move the ball pretty well. We did have some penalties that hurt us, but I thought our tempo was good today and guys for the most part, we were on the same page."
Box expected out remainder of spring football: Enid's Austin Box is expected to miss the rest of Oklahoma's spring football practice with a sprained elbow. "That was the likely scenario, according to coach (Bob) Stoops," said OU sports information director Kenny Mossman. Box, who redshirted as a true freshman, was starting at linebacker before his injury. He did not play in the Sooners' first major scrimmage Saturday. Mossman said he didn't know when the injury occured. Box dislocated the same left elbow during his senior season at Enid. Box could not be reached for comment Monday night. (The Enid News & Eagle)
Agent clears up rumors about Malcolm Kelly's health: Agent Chad Speck sent a letter to all 32 NFL teams Monday, along with a letter from the doctor who has been treating Kelly, to let them know that the receiver projected as a possible first-round draft pick is healthy. The injury first was diagnosed as a deep thigh bruise, but Kelly actually had a small quadriceps tear. The agent also pointed out that Dr. Michael Hatrak of Alpharetta, Ga., also found "all other structures assessed within normal limits." Kelly tore an ACL in junior high and had arthroscopic knee surgery during his sophomore year at Oklahoma. "The intent of the letter is certainly to end speculation on Malcolm's health status," Speck said. "He is 100 percent healthy and as Dr. Hatrak states, has no further risk of injury." "The rumors that are currently circulating regarding his knees are irresponsible and untrue!" Speck wrote to NFL general managers and scouts. (The Oklahoman)
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes Sooners' WR bunch shines: While you're at it, keep an eye on OU's wide receivers this afternoon, and not just after they've caught passes. "I don't think since I've been here I've seen that group play that hard," Sooner wide receivers coach Kevin Sumlin said of last week's victory over Miami. "They went after it both run and pass. It makes you feel good as coaches because we've been harping on that." The willingness of Malcolm Kelly, Manuel Johnson and Juaquin Iglesias to block is especially crucial on the bubble screen passes Sam Bradford likes to throw, and when tailback DeMarco Murray turns a run outside, as he is prone to do. (Tulsa World)
Oklahoma Connection: Utah State coach Brent Guy graduated from Oklahoma State in 1983 and served as graduate assistant and linebackers coach at OSU. But he has downplayed the significance of returning to Oklahoma Saturday. “That’s not what the game is about,” he said. “The game will be about our guys going in there and playing against a team that’s ranked in the top three in the country." (Norman Transcript)
Box may be redshirted? Even though coach Bob Stoops said linebacker Austin Box would be one of three freshmen to play this season, Box has yet to step on the field, suggesting he will redshirt this year. "I wasn't completely sold,” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "He could play, but we're in a situation health-wise we don't have to do that. "In the end, I think he gets more value picking up that year down the road.” (NewsOK.com)
Box enrolls early at OU: The Plainsmen standout will enroll in Norman on Jan. 16. In the final analysis, Austin Box simply couldn't wait. After going back and forth and back again, Enid's All-America senior linebacker has decided to enroll early at the University of Oklahoma and begin his college football career seven months early. "He felt like, 'I really want to play football,' " said Box's father, Craig. "He's always been that way. I think he figured, why wait?" Box, a scholar-athlete, has enough credits to be considered a high school graduate and is thus eligible to begin undergraduate studies when classes resume at OU on Jan. 16. In fact, Craig Box said, he already has 14 college hours from a concurrent enrollment program at Northern Oklahoma College. (Tulsa World)
Peterson draft announcement? After the Fiesta Bowl, Sooner Nation and the respective NFL bottom feeder fans, can expect a likely announcement on Tuesday, January 9th. (Oklahoma FanHouse) Update: Hearing announcement is likely for Friday.
Sooners in the Final Polls: AP Top 25 10. West Virginia 11-2 1,035 11. Oklahoma 11-3 933 12. Rutgers 11-2 884
USA Today Coaches Poll 10. West Virginia 11-2 1,012 11. Oklahoma 11-3 849 12. Rutgers 11-2 841
