Wolfe suffers strained quadriceps: OU co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Bobby Jack Wright said Wednesday that senior strong safety D.J. Wolfe should not be limited Friday by a mild quadriceps strain that has bothered him this week. But just in case, Wright has gotten extra work for a few other players at the strong safety position this week, namely senior Darien Williams and freshman Dominique Franks. "If an emergency came up, we've got guys that are ready to go,” Wright said. (NewsOK.com)
Lofton plays sick against Utah State: Curtis Lofton's effort against Utah State last week -- a career-high 12 tackles and his first career interception, which he returned 45 yards for TD -- was strong enough on its own merit. Then came defensive coordinator Brent Venables' disclosure Monday. "He was sick before the game, threw up all over the linebacker drills," Venables said. "There were noodles on the 26-yard line." Still sick, Lofton took several intravenous fluids Monday. (Tulsa World)
McCoy out against Utah State: Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Gerald McCoy didn't start for the first time this season and didn't get into the game. Backup Steven Coleman, a senior from Skyline, started in McCoy's place. McCoy broke the fourth metacarpal bone in his right hand against Miami last week and has been wearing a cast ever since. McCoy said earlier this week that the cast slows him down.(Dallas Morning News) Hartley career long: Garrett Hartley banged home a 53-yard field goal Saturday, a yard longer than his previous career best against Texas in 2005. "It came off my foot really well, with a little right-to-left draw," he said. "I couldn't tell how much I had to spare. It was good enough from 53, I know that." (Tulsa World) Nichol #2 QB: True freshman Keith Nichol, who had been the Sooners' No. 3 quarterback in the previous two games, entered as the second-string signal caller Saturday. Nichol was 1-of-6 passing for 10 yards. He turned the ball over on a fumbled snap, but also threw a well-placed deep pass that Garrett Bothun could not pull in near the goal line. Joey Halzle also entered the game late, completing his only pass. (NewsOK.com) OU Two minute drill: The Oklahoman
Sooners rout Utah State 54-3: Since Sam Bradford took over as quarterback, winning sure seems simple for No. 3 Oklahoma. Bradford threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns in another efficient performance, and the Sooners notched their third blowout of the season with a 54-3 win against Utah State on Saturday. "Nothing's easy at all, but I got in that rhythm early and I did feel I got a lot of confidence that way and saw things very clearly," said Bradford, a redshirt freshman who entered the game as the nation's top-rated passer. "I felt really comfortable today." Bradford completed his first 11 passes -- including two for scores -- to reach 21 straight passes without an incompletion. He'd already had a school-record run of 22 straight completions that ended in the Sooners' 51-13 rout of Miami last week. Malcolm Kelly caught his sixth and seventh touchdown passes of the season and Allen Patrick showed his sprained ankle has fully healed with a 69-yard TD sprint as the Sooners (3-0) piled it on again. (AP/SoonerSports.com)
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)
