Charles Tapper was a pleasant surprise when he played his way out of a redshirt season during Oklahoma’s fall camp last August. The defensive end has a limited football background, yet his physical gifts were too much to ignore as the Sooners elected to play him in limited reps during his freshman season.
OU hopes getting Tapper’s feet wet in 2012 will pay off in 2013. And the early signs point to the true freshman making positive steps toward becoming a key member of OU’s defensive line as a sophomore.
Left tackle Lane Johnson, who battled Tapper during bowl practices in December, can tell the difference in the Baltimore native from August to December.
OU hopes getting Tapper’s feet wet in 2012 will pay off in 2013. And the early signs point to the true freshman making positive steps toward becoming a key member of OU’s defensive line as a sophomore.
Left tackle Lane Johnson, who battled Tapper during bowl practices in December, can tell the difference in the Baltimore native from August to December.
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Jake Trotter joined ESPN.com in 2011 after four years with The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman, covering OU and Big 12 football. He's a graduate of Washington and Lee (Va.) University and lives in Oklahoma City with his wife. Email him at trotterjake@gmail.com.
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