Beal, Murray decide to return for senior season: Defensive end Jeremy Beal and running back DeMarco Murray each expressed prior to the 4 p.m. deadline that they were staying because they felt like they had more to do at OU. "Even though it was a good year, I've still got a lot of stuff to improve on becoming a better player," Beal told the Tulsa World in a telephone interview from his family home in Carrollton, Texas. "I look at it as a building block for another level I have to get to." Murray told ESPN, "I felt I wasn't done here. I still had some more things I wanted to get accomplished with my teammates and become a better player as well." (Tulsa World)

Labels: DeMarco Murray, Jeremy Beal, NFL Draft, Oklahoma Sooners

OU's Beal among seven finalist for Hendricks Award: Oklahoma defensive end Jeremy Beal has been named one of seven finalists for this year's Hendricks Award. The honor is presented annually to the nation's top defensive end. The list of seven was pared down from 25. Beal is the second Sooner to be named an award finalist in 2009. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is one of four finalists for the Rotary Lombardi Award. Beal, a junior from Carrollton, TX, leads the Sooners in sacks (11) for the second straight season. He finished the regular season with 65 tackles, 18 for loss and an interception. His sack total ties for 4th-best in Oklahoma history and his tackles for loss total ranks 11th. Nationally, Beal ranks T-10th in sacks and T-12th in tackles for loss. His highlight game this season came against Texas, when he recorded 12 tackles. Also during the campaign, he became the first player in OU history to record three sacks in back-to-back games (Tulsa, Miami). The final vote for this year's Hendricks Award will be concluded Dec. 8, with the winner announced the following day. (SoonerSports PR)

Related:
Previous OU Football Award Winners

Labels: Award, Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma DE Jeremy Beal earns Big 12 weekly honors: Oklahoma defensive end Jeremy Beal has been named the Big 12 Conference's Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in last Saturday's game at Miami. The junior from Carrollton, Texas, logged three sacks in Oklahoma's 21-20 loss at Miami. He finished with five total tackles and also knocked down two passes. It was the second-straight game in which Beal had three sacks. He ranks No. 3 nationally in sacks and No. 8 in tackles for loss. Four of his eight TFL have come against nationally-ranked opponents. Beal now has six sacks through four games this season. The school record of 14 was set in 1997 by Martin Chase. Other weekly Big 12 honors for the week went to Kansas State's Grant Gregory (offense) and Emmanuel Lamur (special teams). (SoonerSports PR)

Labels: Big XII, Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma DEs Beal and English on mid-season Hendricks Award watch list: Oklahoma defensive ends Jeremy Beal and Auston English are two of forty players on the mid-season watch list for the Hendricks Award. The award is presented yearly to the best defensive end in college football. In three games, Beal has nine tackles (five for losses) and three sacks. He has also forced a pair of fumbles. English has five tackles (two for loss) and one sack. (KTUL)

Labels: Auston English, Defense Line, Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma Sooners, Watch List

Beal only starter named at defensive end: Oklahoma assistant coach Chris Wilson says the competition at defensive end is still wide open. Sophomore Frank Alexander and redshirt freshman R.J. Washington have impressed coaches, but none have played to the level of Jeremy Beal, who Wilson said was the only player he could name as a starter this early in camp. "He's playing really smart," Wilson said. Wilson said Auston English is also in the mix for a starting spot. As for Washington, Wilson says he's happy that the 6-foot-3, 247-pounder is starting to play to his potential. "He had that label of being the top player a couple years ago, and that's a lot of pressure for a young guy," Wilson said. (The Oklahoman)

Sooners working out several at center: Two days into practice, the Sooners had lost their top-two centers to injury in Ben Habern (inflamed back) and Brian Lepak (high-ankle sprain). As a result, offensive line coach James Patton has been forced to work tackle Trent Williams, guard Stephen Good and tight end Brody Eldridge at center. (The Oklahoman)

2009 Heisman Watch: DeMarco Murray: Athlon Sports

Great expectations for OU, Ohio State this season: The Oklahoman

OU coach Bob Stoops says more credit due to five Sooners: The Oklahoman

The Main Event: Best OU openers of all time: The Oklahoman

Madu's motor offers options: Tulsa World

Meet the OU offensive line: Tulsa World

Labels: Auston English, Defense Line, Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma Sooners

Sooner defenders named to Nagurski Watch List: Oklahoma's Jeremy Beal and Gerald McCoy are on the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Award. The honor is presented annually to college football's top defensive player. It is selected by the Football Writers Association of America and presented by the Charlotte (NC) Touchdown Club. Beal, a junior defensive end from Carrollton, Texas, started all 14 games for OU last season when he logged 61 tackles, including 15.5 for loss and 8.5 sacks. McCoy, a senior defensive tackle from Oklahoma City, also started 14 games last season with 30 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. (SoonerSports PR)

Labels: Gerald McCoy, Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma Sooners, Watch List

Trio of Sooners on Bednarik List: Oklahoma's Jeremy Beal, Travis Lewis and Gerald McCoy are on the watch list for the 15th Chuck Bednarik Award. Maxwell Football Club President, Ron Jaworski made the announcement today. Beal, a junior from Carrollton, Texas, started all 14 games at defensive end last season and was a firs-team All-Big 12 player by the Associated Press. He finished with 61 tackles, including 15.5 for loss with 8.5 sacks and three fumbles caused. Lewis, a sophomore linebacker from San Antonio, Texas, was Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2008 when he notched 144 tackles with 11.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He broke Brian Bosworth's freshman tackle record, which stood at 133. McCoy, a junior from Oklahoma City, was a first-team All-American last season by The Sporting News. He had 30 tackles from his defensive tackle position along with 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented since 1995 and is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a former University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Eagle great. Mr. The only previous Oklahoma winner was LB Teddy Lehman, who claimed the honor in 2003.(SoonerSports PR)

Labels: Gerald McCoy, Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma Sooners, Travis Lewis, Watch List

Pair of Sooners named to Hendricks Award watch list: Oklahoma's Jeremy Beal and Auston English are two of the 15 players who have been named to the preseason watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award, which is presented annually to college football's top defensive end. The Ted Hendricks Foundation, which sponsors the award, made the announcement. Beal started all 14 games last season logging 61 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and three fumbles caused. The Carrollton, Texas, junior also broke up four passes. English, a senior from Canadian, Texas, played in 11 games last season with nine starts. He sustained a sprained knee in the 10th game (Nebraska) of the season and saw a reduction in playing time. He still finished with 33 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He also recovered one fumble and broke up one pass. The Hendricks Award, now in its eighth year, is named in honor of college football's first three-time, first-team All-American. After a college career at Miami (Fla.), Hendricks's professional career spanned 15 years and 215 consecutive games. (SoonerSports PR)

Labels: Auston English, Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma Sooners, Watch List

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Eight Sooners on All-Big 12 team; Bradford named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska) and Phil Taylor (Baylor) highlight the 2009 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team, chosen by media representatives who cover the Conference. Bradford was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and selected the preseason squad's quarterback. The 2008 Heisman Trophy winner was Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year last season and earned All-Big 12 First Team honors. Bradford was also a consensus All-America while winning the Davey O'Brien and Sammy Baugh awards. Suh garnered honors as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and as a defensive linemen on the preseason team. He was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team a year ago after leading the Conference linemen with 76 tackles. Taylor, a transfer from Penn State, was named Preseason Newcomer of the Year. The defensive tackle will have two years of eligibility remaining after playing in 18 games as a freshman and sophomore at PSU. He sat out the 2008 season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules. (Big 12 Sports PR)

2009 Media Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team
Offensive Player of the Year: Sam Bradford, Oklahoma (QB, 6-4, 223, Jr/2L, Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Defensive Player of the Year: Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska (DT, 6-4, 300, Sr/3L, Portland, Ore.)
Newcomer of the Year: Phil Taylor, Baylor (DT, 6-4, 355, Jr/TR, Clinton, Md.)

Offense
Pos Name School Ht Wt Cl/Exp Hometown
WR Dez Bryant* Oklahoma State 6-2 215 Jr/2L Lufkin, Texas
TE Jermaine Gresham* Oklahoma 6-6 258 Sr/3L Ardmore, Okla.
OL Russell Okung* Oklahoma State 6-6 305 Sr/3L Fort Bend, Texas
OL Trent Williams* Oklahoma 6-5 318 Sr/3L Longview, Texas
C Chris Hall# Texas 6-4 295 Sr/3L Irving, Texas
OL Adam Ulatoski* Texas 6-6 310 Sr/3L Southlake, Texas
OL Brandon Carter Texas Tech 6-7 354 Sr/3L Longview, Texas
WR Dezmon Briscoe# Kansas 6-3 202 Jr/2L Dallas, Texas
QB Sam Bradford* Oklahoma 6-4 223 Jr/2L Oklahoma City, Okla.
RB Kendall Hunter* Oklahoma State 5-8 190 Jr/2L Tyler, Texas
RB DeMarco Murray^* Oklahoma 6-1 214 Jr/2L Las Vegas, Nev.
PK Alex Henery Nebraska 6-2 175 Jr/2L Omaha, Neb.
KR Perrish Cox Oklahoma State 6-0 195 Sr/3L Waco, Texas

Defense
Pos Name School Ht Wt Cl/Exp Hometown
DL Ndamukong Suh# Nebraska 6-4 300 Sr/3L Portland, Ore.
DL Gerald McCoy* Oklahoma 6-4 297 Jr/2L Oklahoma City, Okla.
DL Jeremy Beal# Oklahoma 6-3 261 Jr/2L Carrollton, Texas
DL Sergio Kindle Texas 6-4 255 Sr/3L Dallas, Texas
LB Sean Weatherspoon*^ Missouri 6-2 245 Sr/3L Jasper, Texas
LB Joe Pawelek*^ Baylor 6-2 240 Sr/3L San Antonio, Texas
LB Travis Lewis Oklahoma 6-2 232 So/1L San Antonio, Texas
DB Darrell Stuckey* Kansas 6-1 205 Sr/3L Kansas City, Kan.
DB Jordan Lake*^ Baylor 6-1 215 Sr/3L Houston, Texas
DB Dominique Franks# Oklahoma 6-0 192 Jr/2L Tulsa, Okla.
DB Earl Thomas Texas 5-10 197 So/1L Orange, Texas
P Derek Epperson Baylor 6-3 235 Jr/2L Southlake, Texas
PR Dez Bryant* Oklahoma State 6-2 215 Jr/2L Lufkin, Texas
^ 2008 Preseason Team
* 2008 All-Big 12 First Team selection
# 2008 All-Big 12 Second Team selection

Related Post:
Big 12 Media Preseason Poll Released
Bradford, Gresham, McCoy to Represent OU at Big 12 Media Day

Labels: Big XII, DeMarco Murray, Dominique Franks, Gerald McCoy, Jeremy Beal, Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma Sooners, Sam Bradford, Travis Lewis, Trent Williams

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

LSU offense tackle, Jarvis Jones transfers to Oklahoma: Sophomore offensive tackle Jarvis Jones has transferred from LSU to the University of Oklahoma and will be eligible to play football at OU in 2009. Jones is enrolled at Oklahoma for the upcoming fall semester and attended practice Thursday, watching from the sideline while wearing shorts and a T-shirt, OU spokesman Kenny Mossman said. Jones, a 6-foot-7, 295-pound native of Rosenberg, Texas, was dismissed from the LSU football team on July 17 for violating unspecified team rules. Coach Bob Stoops on Thursday declined to be interviewed, but in an OU press release, said, "Jarvis is a talented guy who we recruited when he was in high school. We're excited that he has joined the team." (Tulsa World)

Britt Mitchell to play at UTEP not joining the Marines: [Britt] Mitchell, a freshman offensive lineman who enrolled at OU early to participate with the team during this past spring, quit the squad during the summer in order to join the Marines. Instead, Mitchell transferred to UTEP to play football, according to a report in the El Paso Times. "I just didn't enjoy it up there" in Norman, Mitchell told the Times. "Since I've been here at UTEP I've loved every minute of it. I like it a lot better here." (The Oklahoman)

Practice time changed: Today's practice has been rescheduled to 9:30 from 9:00 a.m. at the OU Rugby Fields.

Beal in a cast, not expected to miss any practice time: Defensive end Jeremy Beal was seen wearing a cast on his hand Thursday. The sophomore said he broke a bone in his hand but he wouldn't miss any practice time. The Sooners are counting on Beal to start at end opposite Preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Auston English. (The Oklahoman)

Jarvis Jones arrives at Oklahoma: SoonerSports.com

Sooner linebacker the picture of health: Norman Transcript

Stoops defensive at heart: Tulsa World

Practice Report: Tulsa World

Gundy and Stoops switch roles: Tulsa World

Is this the year?: The Oklahoman

Oklahoma in good shape going into camp: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Labels: Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma Sooners, Transfer