Oklahoma Sooners

We're walking through each Big 12 team and identifying its most irreplaceable talent. He's the guy they can least afford to lose, and the guy to whom an injury or departure would have the most effect.

Let's move on with Oklahoma.

More most indispensable players.

Most indispensable player: OL Gabe Ikard

Why Oklahoma can't afford to lose him: This was a tough pick, and I narrowed it down to three players: CB Aaron Colvin, LB Corey Nelson and Ikard. Oklahoma doesn't have any All-Americans on this roster in terms of pure talent, so it's tough to look at one player and say, "Man, if Oklahoma loses him, they're a completely different team." There's just not a guy like that on Oklahoma's roster.

Still, I point to Ikard because he's held down Oklahoma's offensive line together even as it was trimmed to a razor-thin unit. It was a unit basically reduced to five guys that couldn't afford to sit for exhaustion or injury at the end of 2012. He's the most talented player on the Sooners' offensive line and showed some versatility by moving over to center from left guard last year following Ben Habern's injury in preseason camp.

With a new quarterback, strong play up front on the offensive line is a must-have. That's going to make life easier on any quarterback, but the gap between an inexperienced quarterback with a good offensive line and a poor offensive line is enormous. That extra second or two in the pocket can be the difference between 10-15 percent of third-down conversions to keep the ball, move the chains and put points on the board. Ikard's the biggest key and most experienced member of the Sooners' line with 38 career starts entering the season. Oklahoma simply can't afford to lose him. It just might be the difference between an eight-win season and an 11-win season.

Midlands Regional Coordinator Damon Sayles stops by to talk about the recent success of the Oklahoma Sooners, and the strategy ESPN 150 safety Jamal Adams is using in his recruitment.

David Ubben says defensive inexperience and an underrated receiving corps is Oklahoma's reason for hope and concern in 2013.

NORMAN, Okla. -- Malcolm Kelly finished his college career as one of the most prolific receivers in Oklahoma history. But after hauling in 21 touchdown catches and 144 receptions during a sparkling three seasons in Norman, Kelly’s relationship with the OU coaching and training staff soured at the end.

Kelly claimed OU misdiagnosed a partially torn quad that ultimately sidelined him from the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, which the Sooners lost to West Virginia, 48-28. Then, things worsened when Kelly said the OU strength staff failed to notify him he would be testing on field turf instead of AstroTurf on his pro day, which led to a blowup between him and strength coach Jerry Schmidt.

The Washington Redskins still drafted Kelly in the second round, but chronic knee issues derailed his pro career after just two seasons.

Kelly, who’s now a businessman in his native Longview, Texas, agreed to speak with SoonerNation about life after football, his relationship with OU now and what he thinks of the current Sooners’ offense:

SoonerNation: What have you been up to since football?

Malcolm Kelly: Well, I have an oil well testing company and a trucking company. We do a lot of pressure tests for fracking companies and stuff like that. The trucking company hauls a lot of dirt. Right when I got let go of the Redskins, I had already started it. We haul dirt, gravel and sand for different companies. The well testing company, we work with different oil and gas companies. I’m meeting with a guy next week, and we’re hoping to start doing business in Oklahoma.

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When ESPN 150 linebacker Kyron Watson committed to Kansas, it was arguably their biggest commit in years. Damon Sayles discusses the implications of that commitment, and Saint Louis, Missouri recruiting being an underrated hotspot. Max Olson also stops by to talk the latest in Baylor recruiting.