Stoops announces Ryan Broyles and Quinton Carter will start Saturday: Oklahoma Head Coach Bob Stoops announced Friday afternoon that Ryan Broyles and Quinton Carter will start for the Sooners in Saturday's game against Texas. OU and UT meet at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas in the AT&T Red River Rivalry with kickoff slated for 11 a.m., on ABC. Broyles suffered a shoulder injury early in the game at Miami on Oct. 3. His missed last week's game against Baylor. The sophomore receiver leads Oklahoma in receptions (23), receiving yards (346) and touchdowns (7). Before being sidelined, he also was the Sooners' leader in all-purpose yards, kickoff return yards and punt return yards. Carter, a safety, left last week's game against Baylor with a knee ailment, but has been cleared for this week's contest. He is OU's third-leading tacckler with 32 and also has one interception on the season. (SoonerSports PR)
Ryan Broyles to play against Texas: OKBlitz.com Sports Director Dean Blevins has learned that OU receiver Ryan Broyles will play Saturday in the annual Red River Rivalry. Head coach Bob Stoops said that Broyles' status would be determined as practice went on this week. But two sources close to Broyles have confirmed that he is ready to play and will suit up. (OKBlitz.com)
No updates on Broyles or Carter: Sophomore receiver Ryan Broyles practiced on Wednesday, but no decision has been made on his status for Saturday’s game against Texas. Coach Bob Stoops said a decision would likely be made today or Friday. Junior safety Quinton Carter also practiced, but could be a game-time decision. (The Oklahoman) Both Broyles and Carter have practiced all week.
Note: Oklahoma fullback Matt Clapp will play against Texas on Saturday with a broken hand. Clapp wore a cast against Baylor.
Former Sooner WR Manuel Johnson expects Ryan Broyles to play: Dallas Cowboys rookie receiver Manuel Johnson, who is on the team's practice squad after playing at Oklahoma last season, said Wednesday that he expects injured Sooners receiver Ryan Broyles to play Saturday against Texas in Dallas. OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said earlier this week that there is really no chance that Broyles could injure himself worse by playing. It really comes down to range of motion and pain tollerance for Broyles, Wilson said, and how productive he can be for the team. Johnson said he often texts and talks to Broyles and is confident that he'll play against the Longhorns. Johnson played with Broyles last season in Norman. "Yeah, he'll play," Johnson said from the Cowboys practice facility at Valley Ranch. "It will help." (Dallas Morning News)
Stoops: Simmons Out; Broyles may play against Texas: Starting left guard Brian Simmons will miss No. 20 Oklahoma's game against third-ranked Texas this Saturday with a right knee injury. Simmons left in the third quarter of the Sooners' 33-7 victory over Baylor last week, hopping toward the sideline before trainers met him and helped him the rest of the way off the field. Stoops refused to say how long Simmons will be out. However, Stoops says Ryan Broyles, the Sooners' leading receiver, returned to practice and "there's a chance he could play" Saturday in Dallas. (AP)
OU WR Ryan Broyles to miss only 2-4 weeks: Sophomore receiver Ryan Broyles fractured his shoulder blade on the Sooners' second play from scrimmage against Miami, but should only miss two to four weeks, said coach Bob Stoops. Stoops originally said Broyles would be out of the lineup four to six weeks, but called the injury a "light fracture" on Monday. The process for Bradford's return would remain the same, and the junior Heisman winner is set to return to practice later today. "Until you see them progress you don't know. Until you get out there and work it, you don't know," Stoops said. (The Oklahoman)
Sooners WR sidelined with fractured shoulder: The Oklahoman, is reporting... University of Oklahoma wide receiver Ryan Broyles suffered a fractured left shoulder during the Sooners 21-20 loss to Miami on Saturday and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. (NewsOK.com)
Broyles receives no punishment after leaking practice details: Sophomore receiver Ryan Broyles wasn't assigned any extra conditioning as punishment for releasing details of quarterback Sam Bradford's return. After Bradford returned to practice last Monday, Broyles said he saw the Heisman Trophy winner throwing short passes, prompting coach Bob Stoops to say he was "disappointed" some of his players had so much to say about the return. "I can't say anything now, I learned my lesson," Broyles said. "But he didn't address anybody by name, he just said overall." (The Oklahoman)
Dominique Franks and Ryan Broyles to handle special team duties: OU special teams coordinator Chris Wilson says Dominique Franks and Ryan Broyles will be returning kicks this year. Franks returned just six punts a year ago, while Broyles brought back 23 for 223 yards, including a 68-yarder for a touchdown at Kansas State. He says Matt Moreland continues to battle Tress Way for kickoff duty. And he continues to tout the improvement of OU's kickoff coverage, which was woeful last season. "Like I've said before, I believe we had good guys on (the coverage team) a year ago," Wilson said. (Tulsa World)
Ryan Broyles named to Biletnikoff Award watch list: As the preseason watch lists continue to emerge, so do the names of many local stars. Oklahoma States Dez Bryant and OU's Ryan Broyles have been named to the watch list for the 2009 Biletnikoff Award which honors college football's top receiver. Broyles accumulated a record 678 yards last year, the most ever by an OU Freshman Receiver. (KSBI.com)
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)
Broyles suffers broken collarbone in practice; out remainder of the spring: Once again, Ryan Broyles has been shut down just when it seemed he was getting started. Coach Bob Stoops said Monday that on March 12, during a scrimmage in the closing minutes of Oklahoma's final practice before spring break, Broyles, the Sooners' fleet-footed freshman wide receiver, sustained a broken collarbone. "He'll be all right," Stoops said Monday, after the fifth of 15 spring practices. "That's something that shouldn't be a big deal." Stoops said Broyles had stood out once again in his first four spring practices before the injury. "Yeah, Ryan was having a really good camp," said receivers coach Jay Norvell. "He's a young guy that just needed to play, and he got more reps than anybody the first couple weeks of camp before he got hurt, and he was really learning from those opportunities and gaining confidence from those opportunities."(Tulsa World)
Saturday scrimmage open to public:Coach Stoops announced Saturday's public scrimmage will begin at 11 a.m. at Memorial Stadium and open to the public.
Ryan Reynolds injury:Linebacker Ryan Reynolds suffered a sprained ankle on Monday but "should be back in a day or so." (Tulsa World)
Stoop fine after surgery: Head coach Bob Stoops had arthroscopic shoulder surgery on Tuesday, but was out of his sling by Wednesday. He said the procedure removed bone spurs. (Tulsa World)
Lendy Holmes likely out of Fiesta Bowl? The father of Oklahoma junior defensive back Lendy Holmes of South Oak Cliff said Saturday that his son is academically ineligible and won't play in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2 against West Virginia. Lendy Holmes Sr. said his son's eligibility came down to one class and he "was missing one grade point." Holmes' father said the matter isn't totally resolved yet and there was still an outside chance his son could "make it right" and gain his eligibility. (Dallas Morning News)
Suspended Broyles sees action on scout-team: [Ryan] Broyles has drawn the scout-team duty for impersonating West Virginia quarterback Pat White. OU has no quarterbacks who can simulate the speedy and shifty White in practice, so Broyles got the job. "He's doing a good job of it," Stoops said Wednesday. "(Tulsa World)
OU-Colorado game time announced: Fox Sports Net will broadcast OU's game at Colorado on Sept. 29. The game will kick off at 12:30 p.m. (NewsOK.com)
Single game OU-TU soldout; Ticket packages available: Single-game tickets have been sold out for the OU-TU football game. A limited number of mini-paks remain available. Mini-pak plans are a three-game package that includes tickets to the Oklahoma, UAB and Houston games. Prices are $102 and $90. Call 631-4688 to purchase a mini-pak. (Tulsa World)
Ryan Broyles receives deferred sentence and $100 fine:Update: Ryan Broyles arrested... Although they tried, Norman police investigators said Monday they never learned how a suspended University of Oklahoma football player got a key and an override code to a gas pump at a city convenience store. Ryan Broyles, 19, pleaded no contest in Cleveland County District Court Friday to a misdemeanor count of attempted petty larceny, effectively ending their investigation, Capt. Leonard Judy said. In an unscheduled court appearance, Broyles entered the plea before Special District Judge Reg Gaston. Gaston placed Broyles on a six-month deferred sentence and fined him $100. "Without anything further to go on, we essentially came to a dead end,” Judy said, implying that Broyles never told investigators how a key and code came into his possession. (NewsOK.com)
QB matchup highlights OU-TU QBs: The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award will highlight the game at Tulsa -- Sam Bradford versus Paul Smith -- as its marquee matchup for this week. Smith is on the O'Brien preseason watch list, and Bradford is among the nation's leaders in several statistical categories. The O'Brien Award this season has opened its voting to fans. Fans can vote once daily at cf,fgc www.DaveyOBrien.com. b = [100.0] The top three vote-getters will be added to the semifinalist list, and fan votes will then count 5 percent toward determining the finalists and winner. (Tulsa World)
Broyles charged with misdemeanor: An attempted larceny misdemeanor charge was filed against Oklahoma wide receiver Ryan Broyles Tuesday, in connection with Broyles' arrest early last Friday for using a key and override codes to steal gas from a Norman convenience store. According to Greg Mashburn, the Cleveland County District Attorney's Office representative who filed the charge, a guilty verdict carries a maximum 15-day jail term and $1,000 fine. (Tulsa World)
Big 12 to name Commissioner today? Interim Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe and Indianapolis attorney Jack Swarbrick are the finalists to replace Kevin Weiberg as Big 12 commissioner, according to two sources close to the search. The two will interview this morning with the Big 12 Board of Directors, made up of presidents and chancellors from all the conference's schools, and plans are to announce the new commissioner today, the sources said. (Dallas Morning News)
Stoops on early kickoffs: "Selfishly, for us, (early kickoffs are) great, and the players as well," he said. "Because you get up and you're not having to sit around and think about it and wait for it all day. You get up and here it is, you go. So for us, I love it. But I recognize for the fans and everyone else that it is not the best. But we have no say-so at all in scheduling. That's all TV. We just play when they tell us to." (Tulsa World)
Patrick expected to start: Running back Allen Patrick returned to practice Monday and is expected to start. His injured ankle was the only medical question the Sooners had going into the season opener. "We had everyone practice yesterday and everyone looks good," Stoops said. Patrick will start Saturday and Chris Brown should play after missing the North Texas game due to a one-game suspension. "Like we planned all along, we want to rotate those guys in," Stoops said. "Give a guy a series here, give him a break here. If a guy's hot, stay with him a little longer." (Norman Transcript)
Gundy on D. Murray performance: "He's a terrific athlete," Oklahoma running backs coach Cale Gundy told The Post. "He can play cornerback, running back and wide receiver. I don't know how many touches a game we're going to get him, but we talk about that more than any other topic." (NY Post)
Store owner says no conspiracy theory in Broyles attempted theft: Ron Henderson, owner of the Mr. Shortstop where Broyles was arrested, distanced himself from the university when contacted Friday. "I've heard all these conspiracy theories that I'm a donor or supporter of the program. Nothing could be further from the truth," he said. "Other than I'm a general fan like everybody in Norman might be. I've never met Ryan Broyles, and don't know anything about him other than what I've read about his as a player. "I've never had a key to those pumps and I've been here 36 years. I'm totally amazed to find out something like this could happen. My real concern is who might have those keys or codes and how long this has been happening. We've had problems balancing our inventory and some irregularities the last two or three months. We thought the problems were leakage in the lines or tanks. We never dreamed it might be something like this." (Tulsa World)
Update: OU's Broyles arrested on suspicion of theft: Suspended:Update previous post; Oklahoma's Coach Bob Stoops released an official statement on Broyles.. "We are aware of a matter involving Ryan Broyles," OU head coach Bob Stoops said today in a statement released by the OU sports information office. "Effective immediately, Ryan is suspended from the team for an indefinite period of time. I take very seriously the conduct of our players, and I will not compromise my expectations for anyone associated with our program." (NewsOK.com)
NCAA approves OU's Mitchell fundraiser request: High School. Coach Stoops will present the family with a framed Oklahoma jersey. Checks should be mailed to: The NCAA approved OU's waiver request Thursday to accept funds to help defray funeral costs for football recruit Herman Mitchell killed last week. Those who wish to contribute should mail checks to the OU Athletics Department made out to "O-Club, Inc. " with "Mitchell Fund" written in the memo line. The checks will not be accepted unless the memo line contains "Mitchell Fund". The money will be deposited in an account designated specifically to defray funeral costs for the family. The NCAA also approved Oklahoma's request for head coach Bob Stoops and two additional OU coaches to travel to Houston. The Oklahoma coaches will meet with members of Mitchell's family and visit Westfield.
Checks should be mailed to: OU Athletics Department McClendon Center for Intercollegiate Athletics 180 W Brooks, Suite 3575 Norman, OK 73019
Again, please make out the check to "O-Club, Inc." and write "Mitchell Fund" in the memo line. (SoonerSports PR)
Franks may return kicks? "I remember recruiting Dominique," Sooner assistant Chris Wilson said. "Every week he was returning something (for a touchdown)." Though [Dominique] Franks isn't listed on OU's kick-return depth chart -- Reggie Smith, Juaquin Iglesias, Manuel Johnson and Lendy Holmes are -- coach Bob Stoops mentioned him as well as freshman tailback DeMarco Murray as candidates. (Tulsa World)
OU's Broyles arrested on suspicion of theft: Ryan Broyles, a freshman wide receiver on the University of Oklahoma football team, was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of trying to steal gasoline from a Norman convenience store. The 19-year-old Norman High graduate was arrested on suspicion of attempted larceny and taken to Cleveland County jail. He was released on a $200 bond. Norman Police Capt. Leonard Judy said an officer around 12:10 a.m. spotted a sport utility vehicle parked at the gas pumps of the Mr. Shortstop store at Alameda Street and 12th Avenue SE. The store was closed, but the officer saw a man standing between the vehicle and a gas pump. The investigating officer reported the man having a key to the pump along with overriding codes to activate the pump. The key unlocked a pump door that leads to a keypad on which to type the code. (NewsOK.com) Update:Stoops: Broyles Suspended Indefinite Period of Time WR Strong quits team: Oklahoma wide receiver Fred Strong has left the football team, university officials confirmed Thursday. Strong, a sophomore from Austin, caught nine passes for 73 yards last season. Strong was expected to contribute to this year's team but wasn't healthy in the preseason and was passed on the depth chart by sophomore Adron Tennell and freshman Ryan Broyles. (Tulsa World)
Limited OU/North Texas tickets available: The University of Oklahoma Athletics Ticket Office has received a limited number of returned tickets from the University of North Texas for this Saturday's game. Tickets are currently available 24 hours a day online at SoonerSports.com, by calling the Athletics Ticket Office at 800-456-4668 or 405-325-2424 during regular business hours Monday-Friday between 8 a.m.-5 p.m., or in person at the Athletics Ticket Office on the west side of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Tickets for the game are $47 each. The Sooners and Mean Green kick off this Saturday at 6 p.m. (SoonerSports PR)
Stoops pleased with class of 2007: "Once again we met all our needs and addressed them in a very good way," Stoops said. "This is a very balanced class. We hit our numbers perfectly. We weren't able to sign a bigger class due to our numbers limitations this year, but we feel great about the quality. We signed some excellent players." Of the 20 players signed, five are offensive linemen. Three are linebackers while another three are defensive ends and three are receivers. Two each are listed at defensive back and athlete. One each was signed at quarterback and kicker. (More at SoonerSports.com)
Q. On if any of this year's commitments can compete to play right away: A. "We expect them all to. Anymore, with our limited numbers, we get them all ready to play. Obviously, the offensive line is a thin position for us. We lose Chris Messner, so that will be important. It is important that Keith (Nichol) competes at the quarterback position. We have the mindset of getting them all ready to play. If they can all play and make us better, then they are going to play." Oklahoma Football Recruiting Page.
Norman's Broyles signs with OU: After a week of waffling, the Norman High School standout [Ryan Broyles] signed a national letter of intent with the Sooners on Wednesday. It marked the third time he had switched his commitment in the past week, alternating between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, but this time around, his choice is binding. "I'm a hundred percent to Oklahoma now," Broyles said. "I'm not willing to change that at all." Broyles originally committed to the Cowboys on Jan. 14, but later that day, the Sooners offered a scholarship. A couple weeks later, Broyles switched his commitment to the Sooners, only to switch back to the Cowboys a few days later. And as late as 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Broyles said he was committed to OSU. (NewsOK.com)
Scholarships available, Cohen offered: Extra scholarships became available when RB Adrian Peterson declared for the NFL draft and TE Aaron Cummings, OL Ben Barresi and OL Curtis Bailey suffered career-ending injuries. OU also awarded a scholarship to P Michael Cohen, who averaged 41 yards per punt in 2006. (Dallas Morning News)
Packers may trade up for Peterson in NFL draft?FOXSports.com Peter Schrager writes, "Don't be surprised if Ted Thompson and the Packers try to move up a few spots if Adrian Peterson slips out of the top five. " The Packers have the 16th selection overall.
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes Broyles commits to OU: Norman High School standout Ryan Broyles made official his verbal commitment to Oklahoma on Tuesday, according to recruiting Web sites OUInsider.com and SoonerScoop.com. Broyles had committed to Oklahoma State on Monday, but then experienced some indecision Monday night. He told OUInsider.com that telling OSU coaches he'd changed his mind was "definitely tough." OU also got a re-commitment from New Orleans wide receiver Tyler Stradford. Stradford originally committed to the Sooners in December, then last week decommitted and changed to Southern Mississippi. A phone call from OU coach Bob Stoops, Stradford told OUInsider.com, cemented his original decision. (Tulsa World)
Norman Coach Peters denies Report: Broyles' high school coach, Butch Peters, told The Transcript Tuesday night that the wide receiver/defensive back prospect still hadn't made up his mind, despite the Internet report that came out earlier in the day. Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy met with Broyles Tuesday, according to Peters. If other media reports are true, he would have had to return from an out-of-state recruiting trip to make the visit. "Ryan is just Ryan," Peters said. "I spoke to him (Tuesday) and he said he was going to meet with coach Gundy and think about things. I guess that will determine what Ryan’s going to do." Tuesday afternoon, OU Insider ran a full interview with Broyles. In it, Broyles sounds fully committed to the Sooners. "I just felt like that I have 'Jr.' (Madu) here and I am right here in Norman with my parents," Broyles said in the interview. "I guess, in the beginning, I wanted to go to OU because I have always liked OU. But in the end, there are even more important reasons why I am going to OU." (Norman Transcipt)
No Comment from Broyle: [Ryan Broyles] did not return numerous phone calls and text messages from The Oklahoman. (NewsOK.com)
#4 DE Corley likes Oklahoma? McGill-Toolen of Mobile defensive end Sidell Corley is on the move. The former Florida commitment plans to visit LSU this weekend and will announce his college choice Monday, said his father, Sidell Corley Sr. The elder Corley said he made his son keep his word after he made an emotional decision to commit to Florida after an unofficial visit last spring. "They had a good time and that's where he wanted to be, being a 17-year-old kid," said the prospect's father. "When we sat down and talked about it, Sidell probably wanted to get out of it in October. But I told him to hold firm. `Florida is doing exactly what they're supposed to do. So we're going to do what we're supposed to do.'" Rivals.com ranks Corley the No.4 strongside defensive end in the nation. He is also the fifth-ranked prospect in Alabama, according to The Birmingham News' preseason Super Seniors list. Previous official visits were to Alabama, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Corley Sr. said his son could go to Oklahoma and fit in their rotation immediately. Corley visited the Sooners in December. (The Birmingham News)
Stradford Recommits to the Sooners: Three-star New Orleans wideout Tyler Stradford recommitted to Oklahoma early Tuesday, after spending a week on Southern Miss' oral commitment list. Stradford originally committed to OU on Dec. 17, but decommitted in mid-January after receiving interest from Southern Miss and Alabama. On Jan. 22, he committed to the Golden Eagles. But eight days later, he was back in the Sooners' fold. (NewsOK.com)
