Oklahoma Sooners

ESPN.com's SoonerNation is running excerpts from Jake Trotter's “I Love Oklahoma/I Hate Texas,” the first book to detail the Red River Rivalry from the Oklahoma viewpoint, examining the games, moments and heroes Sooners fans love to remember. And those they hate to remember, too. Read the first excerpt from Trotter's book here.

“I Love Oklahoma/I Hate Texas” is on sale now in Oklahoma bookstores and online at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. View the book's Facebook page for more information.

From the chapter, "Red River Heroes We Love," read the excerpt after the jump:

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Our official list of the Big 12's top 25 players entering the 2012 season marches on. Here's more on my criteria for who makes it, who doesn't and who lands where.

The official list is locked away in a vault in an undisclosed location, but we'll be revealing one player a day leading up to the season.

Next up on the list:

No. 13: Tony Jefferson, S, Oklahoma

2011 numbers: Made 74 tackles (52 solo) and had 7.5 tackles for loss. Picked off four passes and made 4.5 sacks. Also forced a fumble and broke up three passes.

Most recent ranking: Jefferson was unranked in our postseason list of the Big 12's top 25 players.

Making the case for Jefferson: No. 13 on this list feels low for Jefferson when it comes to total talent, but for Jefferson the production has to be there too. I expect that to be the case this year, and for Jefferson to make his case as a top 10 player, if not a contender for Defensive Player of the Year.

Why? He's moving back to his more natural position under new coordinator Mike Stoops. Jefferson will be patrolling the free safety spot instead of spending so much time at the nickel back spot. Teammates know that's where Jefferson's strength lies, and we'll see it on display this year. The Sooners have a solid replacement for him at nickel back in Joseph Ibiloye, and the Sooners move arguably their most talented defender to the spot where help is needed most.

The back of the defense was exposed far too often last season, and on big stages. Jefferson's move should plug that up, and give him more freedom to roam where he's far more comfortable. Jefferson shared the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year Award in 2010, but was relatively quiet last season. Three of his four interceptions came on consecutive possessions against Ball State.

This year, I hope you're not expecting the 5-foot-11, 212-pound California native to stay quiet for long.

The rest of the list:

• No. 25: Justin Gilbert, CB/KR, Oklahoma State
• No. 24: Ben Habern, C, Oklahoma
• No. 23: Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor
• No. 22: Josh Boyce, WR, TCU
• No. 21: Cyril Richardson, OL, Baylor
• No. 20: Trey Millard, FB/TE, Oklahoma
• No. 19: Quandre Diggs, CB/KR, Texas
• No. 18: Kenny Stills, WR, Oklahoma
• No. 17: Brodrick Brown, CB, Oklahoma State
• No. 16: Stansly Maponga, DE, TCU
• No. 15: Gabe Ikard, OL, Oklahoma
• No. 14: Alex Okafor, DE, Texas

Running back Daniel Brooks, who committed to the Sooners in March 2011 then suffered a knee injury his senior year of high school, is finally running again and hopes to regain his health as he redshirts this season.

“He wasn’t able to practice but we still brought him in with the 105 group (this summer), so that he could rehabilitate,” Bob Stoops said Tuesday. “He’s been diligent out there with the trainers and he’s been running the past week-and-a-half. He’s been very diligent just going through the rehab phase. And he’s doing well with it.”

Stoops added that the Sooners never wavered in honoring Brooks’ scholarship, even though it was apparent he had a long recovery back from severed ligaments in his knee.

“It is the right thing to do,” Stoops said. “He made a commitment to us and we were committed to him. Now, it’s a different story had you offered a guy and he never committed to you. You’re not obligated there. But if we tell a guy that, then we’re going to stay with it. Most all the coaches I know would do that. I’d be pretty surprised if anyone didn’t do that.”

NORMAN, Okla. -- Dominique Whaley barely participated in Saturday’s scrimmage, the first of the preseason for the Sooners. But that doesn’t mean Bob Stoops hasn’t liked what he’s seen from the former walk-on running back.

“Dominique Whaley has looked really good,” Stoops said. “He didn’t get a lot in the scrimmages intentionally, but in our inside drills and other sessions where we are going hard, he really looks to be pretty close to where he was.”

Whaley, who is coming back from a broken ankle, said earlier in the month he feels 100 percent. Those around him are beginning to feel the same way.

“It’s always hard to say is he fully back,” Stoops said. “But he hasn’t had any setbacks whatsoever and he’s closer and closer – so that’s really positive.”

NORMAN, Okla. -- Linebacker Corey Nelson has enjoyed his first few months with Tim Kish as the Oklahoma’s new linebackers coach. He feels the former Arizona coach has preached discipline, on and off the field.

“Coach Kish has done and excellent job with us, to stay on us, on and off the field.” Nelson said. “Those are the key things he’s done to be an amazing coach. As a linebacker corps, I feel like we are so much closer than we were last year, we are able to trust each other with anything.”

More trust could lead to fewer blown assignments for the Sooners defense, a major problem during the disappointing 2011 season.

NORMAN, Okla. -- Wide receivers coach Jay Norvell weighed in Tuesday on his freshman receivers.

On Sterling Shepard: “Sterling has had a very good camp. He’s got really good quickness. He’s got good strength and he’s learning how to play against college corners, which is a challenge because they’re strong and physical. He’s learning how to find space in our offense and work with Landry. He’s had a good camp.”

On Durron Neal: “Durron Neal is strong and explosive for a freshmen football player. It’s the same thing, he’s learning how to be a receiver and run routes and get open and make plays consistently versus college cornerbacks. That’s not easy especially when we’ve got pretty good corners. He’s had a good camp.”

On Derrick Woods: “Derrick Woods has had some bumps and bruises and he’s fighting through that but he’s shown quickness, speed and playmaking abilities as well.”

And on Trey Metoyer: “He’s had a good camp but the challenge is to go out there every day and play at the highest level and to try and do all the little things better than everybody else. Until they do that, he ain’t ready. He’s just got to continue to push himself and that’s the challenge. That’s the challenge of training camp.”

Colleague Travis Haney put college football's blue bloods under the microscope this week , projecting when each team will be best suited to make a run at the national title.

You'll need Insider to see the full thing, and I'd encourage you to do so, but in the Big 12, there's no doubt about which programs carry the banner of national power.

When will Oklahoma be in position to win a national title?

You won't have to wait too long. Haney correctly notes that expectations inside and outside the program are measured after last year's debacle, but the team could be in position to win the whole thing in 2012. The Sooners clearly have the talent to do it and a preseason top-five ranking to match.

Landry Jones is back, and despite his criticisms, he's still got loads of experience and can handle the rigors of the season, but everything around him will have to be perfect for the Sooners to make a run. The offensive line suddenly became a big question mark with the losses of Tyler Evans and Ben Habern, and the receivers are a big question mark, too, after last season's post-Ryan Broyles struggles.

Still, for the Sooners, the time is now for an eighth national title and a second under Bob Stoops.

As for the Longhorns? They may prove that 2012 is their breakthrough year, but if you're wanting a national title, keep your eyes on 2013, Haney writes.

I wholeheartedly agree there. Oklahoma State and Texas are going to be scary in 2013, but particularly the Longhorns, whose running game is only going to get better and better.

Recruiting expert Tom Luginbill weighed in, too, and says Texas' recent recruiting and newcomers to the coaching staff have the pieces in place for a very, very bright future.

SoonerNation's Bob Przybylo talks with 2014 defensive end prospect Deondre Clark (Oklahoma City/Douglass) about OU and his upcoming junior season.

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma offensive linemen Austin Woods and Bronson Irwin have been roommates ever since they enrolled early at OU. When Irwin heard his friend was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the spring, it shocked him. What hasn’t shocked him is Woods’ mentality during the process.

“That’s the way he has been and that’s the way he will always be,” Irwin said. “It’s a fighter’s mentality. It’s a 12-round prize fight and Austin will be there the whole time.”

Woods, OU's deep snapper on field goals, was diagnosed a week after spring football but hasn’t missed a beat. He only missed two summer workouts and has been cleared to play this season.

Following Tuesday's practice, Woods spoke to the media for the first time since his diagnosis:

SoonerNation: Talking to all your teammates, every single one of them mentions you as an inspiration. What does it mean to you to hear things like that from your teammates?

Austin Woods: It means a lot that they say that about me. We’re all brothers on this team. I knew no matter what I wanted to be there for them. It could always be worse. As bad as you think you are, you’re not as bad as some other people. No matter what you’re going through, we can get through this together.

SN: When did you first notice there might be something wrong?

AW: All spring I had a sore throat and swollen glands. I went to trainer Scott Anderson and showed him and asked if that was normal, he said no, not really. I saw multiple doctors and was finally diagnosed with it. It wasn’t [mononucleosis], wasn’t strep throat but nobody was really talking cancer. Went to an oncologist and thought maybe this is cancer. If that’s the case, (I've) got to let my family know. Got to have my coaches and teammates know and be ready to fight this thing.

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SoonerNation writer Jake Trotter chatted with readers on Monday about Oklahoma football and recruiting. Here's the full transcript. If you didn't get your question answered, send it to the SoonerNation mailbag.

Here are a few highlights from the chat:

Jay (Wichita): What is the word on Jalen Saunders? Why is he getting so many reps, do the coaches have information that he will be cleared to play?

Jake Trotter: Two pretty good sources told us on Sunday that Saunders had NOT yet heard back from the NCAA on his waiver request. The coaches obviously feel decent about his chances, else they wouldn't be playing him on the second team. But no official word yet. Could come any day now.

Billy Joe Bob (Enid): If called into action, will Ty Darlington, Derek Farniok, Nila Kasitati, Kyle Marrs, and Nathan Hughes be able to play at a high level?

Jake Trotter: The second team offensive line is a concern now. Nila Kasitati is practicing, but only a couple weeks from having a heart procedure. OU's other most experienced interior reserve, Austin Woods, is going through chemo. Darlington could emerge as Gabe Ikard's backup at center -- he's gotten some 2nd team reps there. Don't see Farniok, Marrs or Hughes being a factor this season.

Brett (RI): Any word on how the tight ends are looking this year and how they will factor into the offense?

Jake Trotter: They're going to really on Brannon Green to be this year's Brody Eldridge. He's not going to be a big factor in the passing game, but they'll ask him to run block a lot. I expect Trey Millard to get time at tight end in one-back sets. Taylor McNamara could add a catch here or there.

Dig (Doug): How big of a game is the Texas Tech game this year?

Jake Trotter: Big in the sense that's it a dangerous game. OU has never played well in Lubbock, and Tech has to feel confident coming of its win last season. It's also the week before Texas. I would like Tech's chances a lot more, though, if they hadn't beaten OU last season. Sooners should be focused for this one.

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma defensive ends coach Bobby Jack Wright feels good about his starting duo of David King and R.J. Washington.

“David and RJ are having a heckuva camp,” Wright said. “I said in the summer I thought they’d both have a heckuva year and up to this point they are trying to prove me right. I like the way they are working and I think they are going to be two of the better ends in the league.”

Sophomore Chuka Ndulue is giving him confidence that the Sooners will have a quality three-man rotation at the position, at the very least.

“Chuka has probably separated himself from the rest of the pack,” Wright said. “Chuka is a solid third guy.”

The injury to Ronnell Lewis last season could have been a blessing in disguise. Ndulue was forced to progress quicker and earned some playing time in the Insight Bowl which sparked a solid offseason. He has taken that confidence and become a player Wright can count on in 2012.