Inside The Huddle, October 3, 2013

G A M E D AY TA B L O I D F O R S O O N E R F O O T B A L L | F R E E

INSIDE THE HUDDLE OCT. 5

NO. 11

Oklahoma vs.

TCU COVER STORY

The Road Warrior Can Blake Bell keep OU unbeaten? P 6 COLUMN

Knight Rider Should the Sooners utilize Trevor Knight’s mobility?

In just his second start, junior quarterback Blake Bell did something no Sooner signal caller had done since 1956: beat Notre Dame. What will he have in store for his encore effort against TCU? P 6

P8

COLUMN

Who’s got next?

Sophomore receiver Sterling Shepard emerges as OU’s go-to receiver P 10

ILLUSTRATION BY ORIANA LOVERA/THE DAILY

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Inside the huddle

• Thursday, October 3, 2013

The Daily’s Sports Desk 2013 Pick ’em Challenge

WEEK SIX

sports editor

assistant sports editor

Sports Reporter

sports columnist

inside the huddle editor

Julia Nelson

Joe Mussatto

Demetrius Kearney

Joey Stipek

Dillon Phillips

julia.nelson@ou.edu

jmussatto@ou.edu

Demetrius.V.Kearney-1@ou.edu

joey.stipek@ou.edu

dillon.phillips@ou.edu

9-6

11-4

12-3

9-6

11-4

Florida State

Florida State

Florida State

Florida State

Florida State

Kansas State at No. 21 Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Kansas State

Kansas State

Oklahoma State

No. 4 Ohio State at No. 16 Northwestern

Ohio State

Northwestern

Ohio State

Ohio State

Northwestern

No. 15 Washington at No. 5 Stanford

Stanford

Stanford

Washington

Stanford

Stanford

Texas Christian at No. 14 Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

SEASON RECORD

No. 25 Maryland at No. 8 Florida State

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Inside the huddle column

This year’s Sooner squad resembles 2000 team sports columnist

Trent Crabtree Trent.J.Crabtree-1@ou.edu

D

oes all of the hype surrounding this rising Sooner team seem familiar? Well, to the OU faithful, it should.

When you take a look at the makeup of this team as well as the context of the season, it is hard not to see similarities to the 2000 national championship squad.

This team just seems to have something special about them. They play fast, hard and with the kind of passion on defense that took the college football world by storm in 2000.

Like the 2000 team, the players are blue-collar. You don’t see the highly prized recruits who, coming out of high school, were touted as future NFL stars. Many guys, especially on defense, were either lowly ranked or not on recruiting radars at all. For every Heupel, Thatcher and Calmus, there is a Colvin, Nelson and Saunders. They come to practice every day and put in the work that earns success. Fame isn’t important to them; they just want to win and continue the tradition.

Perhaps the most important comparison, however, is

the associated press

OU coach Bob Stoops receives a Gatorade bath from his players following the Sooners’ 13-2, national championship game victory against Florida State on Jan. 4, 2001 in Miami. It is OU’s last national title.

that this team appears to be an overlooked group that is getting better each week.

Remember when the 2000 Sooners came into the season ranked No. 19 in the country? They then proceeded to go on an epic midseason run that saw them knock off No. 11 Texas as well as No. 2 Kansas State and No.1 Nebraska in backto-back-to-back weeks.

Before Sooner Nation knew it, they were cheering on the top-ranked team in America.

This year OU came into the season ranked No. 16, which is the first time they have been ranked outside of

the preseason top 10 since — you guessed it — 2000.

Currently in the No. 11 spot after the big win in South Bend, the Sooners look poised to make another run with a slate of tough road games ahead. Wins against Baylor, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State — all of whom likely will be ranked — could be enough for a late-season push to the top of the rankings.

With the recent dominance of the SEC, however, getting into position for a shot at a title will be tough.

Unlike 2000, the Big 12 is a weaker conference this time around. Unless there are

some losses by top-10 SEC teams late in the season, the computers might not favor OU, even if they win out.

It is a risky thing to compare a current team to former champions, but the college football season can play out in many ways.

Flying under the radar is unfamiliar to most OU fans, but as 2000 would indicate, it might be part of a championship formula.

Trent Crabtree is a journalism sophomore and sports columnist at The Daily.

Thursday, October 3, 2013 •

3

AP

OU enters teeth of difficult schedule Murray evans Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — The three-game stretch with Notre Dame, TCU and Texas in successive weeks loomed large for No. 11 Oklahoma at the start of the season.

Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) dispatched some of the program’s demons by winning 35-21 last Saturday at then-No. 22 Notre Dame.

Now the Sooners want to avoid a letdown Saturday against TCU (2-2, 0-1), which has struggled at times after entering the season being considered as a top conference contender.

This would seem to be a classic trap game - a game against a potentially potent foe, right after one of the biggest wins in recent years and just before the always-emotional showdown with archrival Texas.

But Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops says it won’t be hard for the Sooners to focus on TCU. “ We d o n ’ t p lay f ou r g a m e s ,” S t o o p s s a i d Monday, during his weekly news conference. “We didn’t set the whole season up and work all year round to beat Notre Dame. It’s part of the cycle. We’ve got another game this week, an important one. They’re all Big 12 games coming.

No one around here is ever satisfied with beating one team. That’s not how it works. Maybe some other places, but not here. We’ve got to win this week and then the following week and the following week.

Next game up.”

Even though Stoops has tried to downplay the significance of the win at Notre Dame, it was only the second time in 11 opportunities that Oklahoma has beaten the Fighting Irish and the first time since 1956. The win provided evidence that Oklahoma might well be the team to beat in the Big 12 race, especially with TCU and Oklahoma State each having already lost a conference game.

In fact, considering the early season issues of both TCU and Texas, the argument could be made that Oklahoma’s toughest stretch could be back-to-back games at home against No. 20 Texas Tech on Oct. 26 and at No. 17 Baylor on Nov. 7.

Oklahoma’s players aren’t ready to dismiss TCU - which dealt Stoops one of the more embarrassing losses of his 15-year tenure, a 17-10 win in Norman in the 2005 season opener - as a legitimate Big 12 contender. Linebacker Corey Nelson - who returned an interception for an early touchdown against Notre Dame - called the matchup against the Horned Frogs “the biggest game of the season so far.”

“This focus this week has to be 10 times better than it was, compared to last week,” Nelson said. “We have to be even more focused than we were against Notre Dame, because we can’t let TCU come in here and beat us, you know.

We have to keep that intensity and continue to remain humble and hungry in everything that we’re doing. So the focus this week has to be at an alltime high, because we have to win this game to not have another letdown.”

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inside the huddle

• Thursday, October 3, 2013

Analysis

TCU’s trademark defense tasked with curtailing Sooners’ offense OU must limit turnovers against Horned Frogs

Offense OT

OG

Joe Mussatto

Assistant Sports Editor

W h e n Bl a ke B e l l a n d company take the field on Saturday, they will be facing a defense that is part of a record-setting tradition under coach Gary Patterson.

With Patterson at the helm, TCU football has emerged as a nationally recognized program, and the coach’s emphasis on defense has led to this growth.

Patterson has coached the Horned Frogs since 2000, and during that span, TCU has led the nation in total defense five different seasons — more times than any other program.

While the Frogs last led the nation in 2010 — before they entered the up-tempo Big 12 — defense is still the priority for Patterson’s squad.

“They play great defensively, very sound and disciplined in how they play,” coach Bob Stoops said of TCU. “As a coach, you always appreciate that when you watch another team play that way.”

Currently, the Frogs are 40th in the nation in total defense. While well below his standards, Patterson’s team is covering up its flaws by forcing turnovers.

TCU has forced 12 turnovers through its first four games, putting the Frogs in the top ten of that category nationally.

And for Patterson’s squad to upset the undefeated

Texas Christian’s starters

C

OG

OT

WR

WR

WR brandon wade/the associated press

SMU wide receiver Jeremy Johnson is unable to catch a pass as TCU safety Derrick Kindred defends during the first half of TCU’s win.

Sooners on Saturday, forcing turnovers will be a must.

Led by a strong front seven, TCU’s defense will attempt to force Oklahoma to move the ball through the air. It is not yet known if reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Devonte Fields, who is battling injury, will be ready to play for the Frogs.

The Sooners will look to establish their ground game early against TCU, as co-offensive coordinator Josh Heupel said his team likes to do in each game. This would set up for a physical contest up front, but if the Sooners are unable to establish its rushing attack, look for a

change of pace.

As displayed in OU ’s last two games with Bell as the starter, Heupel could spread his offense out and rely on the Sooners’ speed at the skill positions. Against Notre Dame, Bell found his rhythm early in the game with short screen and bubble passes to senior Jalen Saunders and sophomore Sterling Shepard.

No matter how Oklahoma plans to attack TCU, the Sooner offense should be ready for the toughest defense they will face this year in Norman.

Joe Mussatto jmussatto@ou.edu

WR

QB

RB

Defense

69 Aviante Collins

So.

56 James Dunbar

Sr.

56 James Dunbar

Sr.

77 Jamelle Naff

So.

55 Joey Hunt

So.

61 Rich Morgan

Sr.

73 Eric Tausch

Sr.

75 John Woodridge

Sr.

74 H. Vaitai

So.

56 James Dunbar

Sr.

88 Cam White

Jr.

81 Ja’Juan Story

So.

3 Brandon Carter

Jr.

20 Deante’ Gray

So.

85 LaDarius Brown

So.

7 Kolby Listenbee

So.

14 David Porter

Jr.

10 Matt Brow

Jr.

2 Trevone Boykin

So.

12 Tyler Matthews

R-Fr.

32 Waymon James

Sr.

23 B.J. Catalon

So.

DE

DT

NT

DE

LB

LB

CB

CB

S

S

S

97 Jon Koontz

Sr.

40 James McFarland

So.

96 Chuck Hunter

Jr.

90 Terrell Lathan

So.

57 Davion Pierson

So.

98 Jon Lewis

Jr.

95 Devonte Fields

So.

91 Matt Anderson

Jr.

54 Marcus Mallet

Jr.

19 Antonio Graves

Jr.

41 Jonathan Anderson

Jr.

47 Paul Dawson

Jr.

2 Jason Verrett

Sr.

16 Keivon Gamble

Sr.

25 Kevin White

Jr.

27 Travoskey Garrett

So.

17 Sam Carter

Jr.

31 Derrick Kindred

So.

3 Chris Hackett

So.

21 Zach Jackson

R-Fr.

6 Elisha Olabode

Sr.

28 Geoff Hooker

Jr.

inside the huddle

Oklahoma’s depth chart Offense LT

LG

C

RG

RT

WR

WR

WR

QB

RB

FB

Defense

71 Tyrus Thompson

Jr.

55 Josiah St. John

Jr.

74 Adam Shead

Jr.

77 Dionte Savage

Jr.

64 Gabe Ikard

Sr.

56 Ty Darlington

So.

68 Bronson Irwin

Sr.

54 Nila Kasitati

So.

79 Daryl Williams

Jr.

72 Derek Farniok

So.

11 LaColtan Bester

Sr.

16 Jaz Reynolds

Sr.

8 Jalen Saunders

Sr.

17 Trey Metoyer

So.

3 Sterling Shepard

So.

5 Durron Neal

So.

10 Blake Bell

Jr.

9 Trevor Knight

R-Fr.

24 Brennan Clay

Sr.

26 Damien Williams

Sr.

33 Trey Millard

Sr.

48 Aaron Ripkowski

Jr.

RE

RT

LT

LE

OLB

MLB

NICK

RCB

SS

FS

LCB

85 Geneo Grissom

Jr.

99 Chaz Nelson

Jr.

80 Jordan Phillips

So.

93 Jordan Wade

So.

98 Chuka Ndulue

Jr.

95 Quincy Russell

Jr.

91 Charles Tapper

So.

40 P.L. Lindley

So.

7 Corey Nelson

Sr.

25 Aaron Franklin

Jr.

20 Frank Shannon

So.

19 Eric Striker

So.

2 Julian Wilson

Jr.

23 Kass Everett

Sr.

15 Zack Sanchez

R-Fr.

22 Cortez Johnson

Jr.

10 Quentin Hayes

Jr.

13 Ahmad Thomas

Fr.

9 Gabe Lynn

Sr.

32 Trey Franks

Jr.

14 Aaron Colvin

Sr.

6 Stanvon Taylor

Fr.

Thursday, October 3, 2013 •

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INSIDE THE HUDDLE

• Thursday, October 3, 2013

THE ROAD WARRIOR While junior quarterback Blake Bell hasn’t had to brave the blistering heat of the Outback or battle post-apocalyptic gangs in high-speed highway chases, by leading the Sooners to a victory at Notre Dame last weekend, he’s earned the title — at least for now — of Road Warrior.

DILLON PHILLIPS

Inside the Huddle Editor

It doesn’t take the most insightful football mind to notice the Sooners’ offense has looked a little bit different with junior quarterback Blake Bell under center.

Since taking over for redshirt-freshman quarterback Trevor Knight against West Virginia — half because of Knight’s knee injury, half because of his costly red zone interceptions — Bell has guided OU’s offense from sloppily sputtering its way to just 16 points against the Mountaineers, to averaging 43 points in its last two games.

With Bell at the helm, the Sooners’ offense not only has improved, it’s excelled.

The Belldozer has completed 52-of-73 passes for 683 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions. An impressive stat line on its own merit, but when compared to Knight’s numbers — 22 of 49 for 211 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions — it makes you wonder just how in the world there was a quarterback controversy in the first place.

Bell’s ability to throw the ball downfield — a trait he supposedly lacked, which coaches said led to Knight receiving the nod earlier this season — has separated him from Knight and sophomore quarterback Kendal Thompson.

“The more someone plays the more they see things

and the more comfortable they become,” said coach Bob Stoops at his Monday press conference. “I think that will keep happening for Blake.”

The numbers aren’t the only difference, though; the offense itself seems to have shifted from the pass-happy days of Landry and Sammy B to a more traditional, smashmouth philosophy.

But exactly how different is the offense, really?

Make no mistake: the Sooners are a run-first team.

For the first time since AD donned the crimson and cream, OU is unwilling to let its quarterback carry the brunt of the responsibility on offense.

So far this season, the Sooners have ran the ball 193 times and thrown it just 122. To put that in perspective, OU has ran the ball almost half as many times through four games this as it did through 13 games last year.

But the Sooners’ run-first mentality has created the perception that the offensive system has changed schematically. However, with the exception of a few old-school veer option plays out of the “Sooner” formation — a pistol variation of the inverted wishbone — and a new empty set featuring jet sweeps and tunnel screens, OU’s offense remains, for the most part, unchanged.

The Xs and Os essentially are the same. It’s the tendencies that are different.

Regardless of whether the Sooners are running or

throwing the football, they still want to spread the ball out.

Against Tulsa, OU ran 36 plays out of 10 personnel — that’s football jargon for a four-wide receiver set — and 26 plays using four wide receivers against Notre Dame. Even when the Sooners struggled to move the ball against West Virginia, virtually abandoning the pass in the fourth quarter, they still ran 25 plays out of 10 personnel.

When the Sooners do go heavy and substitute fullbacks Aaron Ripkowski and Trey Millard — and occasionally tight end Brannon Green — into the game, they’re tipping their hand and daring to defense to stop them from pounding the rock.

“Toughness-wise, I feel like we can play physical football,” Stoops said after the Sooners’ win at Notre Dame.

But they still prefer to stick to their spread roots.

So what does all that mean for the average fan? How could this new run-heavy offense be described?

To put it in terms of the food industry: New look, same great taste.

Dillon Phillips dillon.phillips@ou.edu

Thursday, October 3, 2013 •

7

Western History Collections (3rd floor, Monnet Hall)

August & September

Souvenirs of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair Advertising in the West B.M. Bower: Female Pioneer of Western Fiction Good Miles of Hospitality: Traveling America with the Fred Harvey Company

October - December

From the Pueblos to the Northern Plains: American Indian Art

History of Science Collections (5th Floor, Bizzell)

On Exhibit September 2013: Crossing Cultures October 2013 - Feburary 2014: Tracings of Science: Stonehenge to Galileo

8

• Thursday, October 3, 2013

inside the huddle

Column

Knight could be viable short-yardage QB sports editor

Julia Nelson julia.nelson@ou.edu

J

unior quarterback Blake Bell went down with what, at first glance, looked like a leg injury on Saturday, and I’m pretty sure all of Sooner Nation held its breath until he jogged off the field.

While coaches attempted to work out the cramp on Bell’s calf on the field, quarterbacks Trevor Knight and Kendal Thompson played catch on the sidelines to warm up.

One of them was going to go in, we just didn’t know whom. Part of me wonders if coach Bob Stoops even knew whom he was going to send in Bell’s place.

Nevertheless, Knight got the nod to take over for the injured starter.

That series could have been a disaster for Knight, but instead, he showed the

Sure, his completion percentage might not have PLAYER PROFILE been as high as coaches Trevor Knight would have liked in his two starts, but he is going to imYear: prove as the season goes on.

RedshirtIt’s clear that the coaches freshman favor a read-option style for Position: Knight — most of Bell’s runs Quarterback are that way by design.

The Belldozer was a great Statistics: thing, but it might be time Knight averages a teamfor it to take a backseat. high of 7.7 yards per Plus, it’s not ideal to have carry on 22 carries. your starting quarterback taking some of those big hits in that formation anyway. crowd what he had shown Knight has started a few the coaches all offseason. games and at least has that We still didn’t see much of familiarity with the offense. his arm, but the kid can run.

It just makes sense to experIf there were any doubts iment with his skill set. about his legs, those are all Stoops said in Monday’s gone. lunchtime press conference The read option was that he wouldn’t rule out made for Knight. CoKnight as a change of pace offensive coordinator Josh quarterback. I think that’s Heupel knows it; it was one of the smartest things the first play he called for he’s done since starting Bell Darron cummings/the associated press Knight once he got in the OU quarterback Trevor Knight runs during the second half of the Sooners’ 35-21 win against Notre Dame at Notre Dame. game.

The race for the starting on Saturday in South Bend. Knight had two carries for 30 yards while relieving an injured Blake Bell.

Knight ran that play and job was so close between took off on a 30-yard gain. the two, it’d be good to go Yeah, I’d say that was pretty for the Sooners. and short, most things His teammates have alahead and get both of them effective.

Think Belldozer but didn’t work for Oklahoma. ways said he does a great Bell should be the starting smarter.

Enter Knight. impersonation of the Texas involved in the offense. quarterback for the rest of The Sooners tried using He doesn’t have Bell’s A&M quarterback Johnny Julia Nelson is a journalism his tenure at Oklahoma, but the Belldozer against Notre bulk, but he does have Manziel on the field.

Knight has the makings of Dame. It didn’t work, plain more speed, and he is far He also has the ability to senior and sports editor at The Daily. a good change of pace back and simple. In fact, on third more elusive on the run. throw.

inside the huddle

Thursday, October 3, 2013 •

column

column

Low expectations allow Sooners to ‘overachieve’

Revamped defense impresses in first four games of season

sports editor

Julia Nelson julia.nelson@ou.edu

A

s it turns out, Oklahoma is a much better football team than we ever imagined.

When the preseason hit, Oklahoma opened at No. 16 in the AP Poll. The last time it was ranked outside the top 10 to start the season was 2000.

Ouch.

That number, though — the arbitrary rank — might have fueled the Sooners to open the season 4-0.

The defense already had something to prove this year. After giving up more than 700 yards against West Virginia and getting destroyed against Texas A&M, the unit faced plenty of criticism. Almost all the players said they had a chip on their shoulders, and it has driven them to play harder this season.

And the Sooners have proven something this season. They had arguably the most difficult non-conference schedule in the FBS, and they emerged from it undefeated. They stormed into South Bend and left with a win — something that hadn’t been done in over 50

years.

And now, people are starting to notice.

OU moved to No. 11 in the AP Poll this week and into the top 10 in the coaches’ poll. A buzz is beginning to surround the team, not only in the Big 12, but on a national scale.

That’s great and all, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

“The Sooners have proved something this season. They had arguably the most difficult nonconference schedule in the FBS, and they emerged from it undefeated.”

sports columnist

AT A GLANCE OU’s Remaining Schedule Oct. 12 – Texas* Oct. 19 – Kansas Oct. 26 – Texas Tech Nov. 7 – Baylor Nov. 16 – Iowa State Nov. 23 – Kansas State Dec. 7 – OSU Home games in bold *Denotes home game

defense is also extremely green.

Next year could be the year, but I’m not sold on this year’s squad beating an Alabama, Oregon or Oklahoma has proven a Clemson team. lot this season, but it’s only People have a tendency played a single road game to overhype Oklahoma — it and one conference game. comes with the territory. But There’s still a lot left to prove. the realistic expectations The Big 12 title is looking placed on the team this year like it will come down to the have caused Oklahoma Nov. 7 matchup at Baylor. to progress beyond those Both teams could very well expectations. be 8-0 heading into the So let’s keep it realistic game. Whoever wins that for a while. The chip on game will most likely end Oklahoma’s shoulder seems up winning the conference. to be doing the team some That’s a realistic goal at this good. point.

And who knows, with the The national championway things seem to be going, ship, while it may seem with- expectations could continue in arm’s reach, is not realisto rise. tic. Junior quarterback Blake Bell is still young, despite the Julia Nelson is a journalism excellent decisions he made senior and sports editor at against Notre Dame. The The Daily.

BY THE NUMBERS OU’s 2013 Defensive Stats

6th Demetrius Kearney Demetrius.V.Kearney-1@ou.edu

T

he Sooners are currently 4-0, and aside from Blake Bell being the offensive beast we all knew he could be, the Sooners defense has been the biggest shocker of the season.

While the offense has always been explosive, the defense had been an Achilles heel for the Sooners in seasons past.

However, that all seems to be water under the bridge.

In Mike Stoops’s second year as defensive coordinator, the Sooners defense has looked solid so far.

In their first real test of the season against Notre Dame, the Sooners held the Fighting Irish to a mere 104 yards passing, while forcing three turnovers, two of which occurred within the first two minutes of the game.

There seems to be an added intensity surrounding the defensive unit this year, players are flying to the ball, linebackers are making plays and the secondary finally looks solid in coverage.

There used to be a feeling of uncertainty anytime the Sooners played an offense that was equally explosive as theirs. Now, after watching four games,

The Sooners rank among 124 other FBS teams in points against.

130.5

The

amount of rushing yards the Sooners are giving up per game.

169

The amount of passing yards the Sooners are giving up per game.

Source: SoonerSports.com

including their performance at Notre Dame, I can honestly say that I have confidence in the defense to get the job done.

Mike Stoops’ new-look nickel package has proven to be effective and guys like senior linebacker Corey Nelson and redshirt sophomore linebacker Frank Shannon are really flourishing in the new system.

The most improved aspect of this defense has to be the secondary, A lot of uncertainty surrounded the cornerback position and who would compliment shut down corner Aaron Colvin. Surprisingly it seems that Stoops has found a stud in redshirt freshman Zack Sanchez, who has slowly proved he can be a consistent cover corner in the Big 12.

The Sooners are on

9

PLAYER PROFILE Zack Sanchez Year: Redshirtfreshman Position: Cornerback Statistics: Fifth on the team with 17 tackles and leads Sooners with five pass breakups and five deflections

pace to possibly go undefeated and reclaim possession of the Big 12 title. However, their first true test of the season, in my opinion, will be a Thursday night game against Baylor in November.

The Baylor Bears have looked scary good through their first three games of the season, averaging close to 70 points a game and could pose a serious threat to the Sooners if they continue on this dominating pace.

For now the Sooners will focus on Trevonne Boykin and the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday. If the Sooners defense shuts down Boykin and the TCU offense, I will truly be a believer in this defense and commend Mike Stoops for a job well done.

Demetrius Kearney is a political science junior and sports columnist at The Daily.

10

inside the huddle

• Thursday, October 3, 2013

column

Sooners spreading the ball around on offense sports columnist

Sam Hoffman sam.hoffman@ou.edu

When Landry Jones played his last game as a Sooner, the questions started swirling early in the offseason.

Who would take the reins as quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners?

That question needed to be answered because the Sooners have a handful of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball that can break the game open at any point.

There hasn’t been one legitimate standout in OU’s offense this season because everybody has stood out.

It’s been a total team effort on offense so far this year, and if last Saturday is any indication, it doesn’t look like it’s going to stop any time soon. The depth the Sooners have at the offensive skill positions is staggering.

Starting with the running game, the Sooners have two dependable guys who can make the big play. Seniors Damien Williams and Brennan Clay have served as a perfect compliment of size and speed to one another.

Williams runs between the tackles and picks up tough yards when he is called upon. This season, he has over 200 yards rushing and a touchdown.

evin morrison/the daily

Freshman running back Keith Ford (21) and senior receiver Jaz Reynolds (16) celebrate after Ford scores a touchdown against Tulsa on Sept. 14 in Norman. The Sooners defeated Tulsa, 51-20, and Ford rushed for 46 yards and one touchdown on seven carries. Ford is one of 10 OU players to carry the ball this season and 12 players to catch a pass.

What first started as a nice compliment to Williams’ game quickly became more after the brennan West Virginia clay game. Clay showed he is more than just a complimentary piece to the puzzle.

Clay rushed for 170 yards against the Mountaineers, and since then, has been a legitimate threat OU’s opponents.

It’s hard not to mention OU’s running game without

talking about senior fullback Trey Millard.

Millard has served as a quality utility man through- trey out his career millard as a Sooner.

Millard has proved his durability and reliability as he can run, catch and block.

When OU isn’t running the ball, quarterback Blake Bell has a plethora of weapons to heave the ball to.

It’s no surprise that one of the top two leading

receivers is senior Jalen Saunders.

Saunders leads the team with 17 receptions and is tied jalen for the team saunders lead with 3 touchdowns.

Playing alongside Saunders is sophomore Sterling Shepard who can create space whenever needed. Shepard has 16 receptions and three touchdowns on the year and leads the team with 229 receiving yards.

Additional playmakers for the Sooners are receivers senior Jaz Reynolds, senior sterling LaColtan shepard Bester, sophomore Trey Metoyer and sophomore Durron Neal. These guys have all stepped up and made plays when the ball is thrown their way.

Now, back to the quarterback situation.

The Sooners are even looking at more playing

time for sophomore quarterback Trevor Knight, who lost the job to Bell after two games.

After Knight stepped up in Bell’s absence in the third quarter against the Fighting Irish, it appears that coach Bob Stoops will implement a package for Knight and his feisty running game.

Jones’ departure doesn’t seem to hindering the OU offense, it seems to helping.

Sam Hoffman is a journalism junior and sports columnist at The Daily.

INSIDE THE HUDDLE

Thursday, October 3, 2013 •

11

STERLING SHEPARD IS NEXT SPORTS COLUMNIST

PLAYER PROFILE Sterling Shepard Year: Sophomore

Carson Williams carson.williams@ou.edu

I

t is 2011 and Ryan Broyles is shredding other Big 12 defenses. Oct. 15, Broyles, the Norman native, gathers in his 317th career catch that would put him in the record books as the all-time NCAA receptions leader.

About 30 miles to the north, you’ll find a normal high school kid by the name of Sterling Shepard; except he’s not so normal. Shepard is the son of former standout Sooner receiver Derrick Shepard and also happens to be one of the top receivers in the Big 12.

Skipping ahead to today, Broyles is in the NFL, and Shepard now stands in the same slot position Broyles

Position: Receiver Statistics: Leads Sooners with 229 yards and three touchdowns on 16 catches.

once shined in.

While Shepherd still has a long, long, long way to go, signs point to him having the same success Broyles had in a Sooners uniform.

A new quarterback and another new top receiver to count on. No longer can you see Landry Jones connecting with Kenny Stills on Saturday nights at Owen Field. No, now you’ll find Blake Bell and Shepherd hooking up for touchdowns.

Through the first four games, Shepard leads the team in receiving with 229

yards on 16 catches and three touchdowns.

Looking at the other receivers, senior Jalen Saunders is the only other one with double-digit receptions.

Shepard has that ability to blow past his defender with his electric first step then continue downfield with his blazing speed.

Sound familiar Sooner fans? A slot receiver with those traits?

But this is now Shepard’s team. He is the leader of the receiving corps and while that may sound a little weird, it is true. Last year, it was Stills’s team. The years before that, it belonged to Broyles.

Times have changed. The offense isn’t the traditional Oklahoma high-octane

offense anymore. But that hasn’t stopped Shepard from making a name for himself as the team’s best receiver.

Carson Williams is a journalism freshman and sports columnist at The Daily.

12

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