Oklahoma Sooners: Damien Williams
OKLAHOMA SOONERS
2012 record: 10-3
2012 conference record: 8-1 (tied for first, Big 12)
Returning starters: Offense: 7; defense: 4; kicker/punter: 1
Top returners
RB Damien Williams, FB Trey Millard, WR Jalen Saunders, WR Sterling Shepard, C Gabe Ikard, DE/DT Chuka Ndulue, LB Corey Nelson, CB Aaron Colvin
Key losses
QB Landry Jones, WR Justin Brown, WR Kenny Stills, OT Lane Johnson, DE David King, CB Demontre Hurst, FS Tony Jefferson, SS Javon Harris
2012 statistical leaders (*returners)
Rushing: Damien Williams* (946 yards)
Passing: Landry Jones (4,267yards)
Receiving: Kenny Stills (959 yards)
Tackles: Tony Jefferson (119)
Sacks: Chuka Ndulue* (5)
Interceptions: Javon Harris (6)
Spring answers
1. Playmakers abound: The Sooners might have lost leading receivers Kenny Stills and Justin Brown, but there’s plenty of firepower back to support whoever wins the starting quarterback job. Jalen Saunders was actually Oklahoma’s most efficient receiver the second half of last season and seems primed to take over as the go-to target. The Sooners also have several talented up-and-coming receivers who had good springs, led by slot extraordinaire Sterling Shepard. The backfield is even deeper, with leading rushers Damien Williams and Brennan Clay back, to go along with Trey Millard, one of the top all-around fullbacks in the country.
2. Cortez will flank Colvin: The secondary was decimated by graduation and Tony Jefferson’s early entry into the NFL draft. One of those voids was cornerback, where Demontre Hurst had started the previous years. That void at least, however, appears to have been filled. Arizona transfer Cortez Johnson seized the job from the first day of spring drills, and has given the Sooners every indication to believe they’ll have a big, physical corner to pair with All-American candidate Aaron Colvin in the fall.
3. The linebackers will play: In a desperate move to slow down the high-powered passing attacks of the Big 12, defensive coordinator Mike Stoops pulled his linebackers off the field. The plan backfired, as opposing offenses ran at will over the linebacker-less Sooners. This spring, Stoops has renewed his commitment to the linebacker, which, ironically, could be the strength of the defense. Corey Nelson, Frank Shannon and Aaron Franklin are all athletic and capable of generating negative plays, something Oklahoma’s defense sorely lacked last season.
Fall questions
1. Who the QB will be in October: Bob Stoops said he would wait until the fall before naming a starter, and so far, he’s made good on his word. Junior Blake Bell took a lead in the competition during the spring, as expected. But sophomore Kendal Thompson and redshirt freshman Trevor Knight, who both got equal reps as Bell, played well at times, too. It’s hard to see Bell not starting the first game. But if he struggles against a tough September schedule, it’s not unthinkable one of the younger QBs would be given a shot.
2. How the new offense will fare: Looking to utilize the skill sets of their mobile quarterbacks, the Sooners will be running a very different offense from the one Sam Bradford and Landry Jones both operated. Offensive coordinator Josh Heupel kept most of these new plays - including loads of read option -- in his hip pocket during the spring game. But it will be interesting to see how the Sooners -- and just as important, opposing defenses -- adjust to this new era of offense in Norman.
3. Defensive line play: The Sooners went into spring ball with just three defensive tackles on the roster, and little experience at defensive end. The unit showed strides during the spring, with Chuka Ndulue making a smooth transition from end to tackle, and tackle Jordan Phillips coming up big in the spring game. But that was the spring. The defensive line will have to continue to grow rapidly in the fall for the Sooners to have any hope of improving from last year defensively.
2012 record: 10-3
2012 conference record: 8-1 (tied for first, Big 12)
Returning starters: Offense: 7; defense: 4; kicker/punter: 1
Top returners
RB Damien Williams, FB Trey Millard, WR Jalen Saunders, WR Sterling Shepard, C Gabe Ikard, DE/DT Chuka Ndulue, LB Corey Nelson, CB Aaron Colvin
Key losses
QB Landry Jones, WR Justin Brown, WR Kenny Stills, OT Lane Johnson, DE David King, CB Demontre Hurst, FS Tony Jefferson, SS Javon Harris
2012 statistical leaders (*returners)
Rushing: Damien Williams* (946 yards)
Passing: Landry Jones (4,267yards)
Receiving: Kenny Stills (959 yards)
Tackles: Tony Jefferson (119)
Sacks: Chuka Ndulue* (5)
Interceptions: Javon Harris (6)
Spring answers
1. Playmakers abound: The Sooners might have lost leading receivers Kenny Stills and Justin Brown, but there’s plenty of firepower back to support whoever wins the starting quarterback job. Jalen Saunders was actually Oklahoma’s most efficient receiver the second half of last season and seems primed to take over as the go-to target. The Sooners also have several talented up-and-coming receivers who had good springs, led by slot extraordinaire Sterling Shepard. The backfield is even deeper, with leading rushers Damien Williams and Brennan Clay back, to go along with Trey Millard, one of the top all-around fullbacks in the country.
2. Cortez will flank Colvin: The secondary was decimated by graduation and Tony Jefferson’s early entry into the NFL draft. One of those voids was cornerback, where Demontre Hurst had started the previous years. That void at least, however, appears to have been filled. Arizona transfer Cortez Johnson seized the job from the first day of spring drills, and has given the Sooners every indication to believe they’ll have a big, physical corner to pair with All-American candidate Aaron Colvin in the fall.
3. The linebackers will play: In a desperate move to slow down the high-powered passing attacks of the Big 12, defensive coordinator Mike Stoops pulled his linebackers off the field. The plan backfired, as opposing offenses ran at will over the linebacker-less Sooners. This spring, Stoops has renewed his commitment to the linebacker, which, ironically, could be the strength of the defense. Corey Nelson, Frank Shannon and Aaron Franklin are all athletic and capable of generating negative plays, something Oklahoma’s defense sorely lacked last season.
Fall questions
1. Who the QB will be in October: Bob Stoops said he would wait until the fall before naming a starter, and so far, he’s made good on his word. Junior Blake Bell took a lead in the competition during the spring, as expected. But sophomore Kendal Thompson and redshirt freshman Trevor Knight, who both got equal reps as Bell, played well at times, too. It’s hard to see Bell not starting the first game. But if he struggles against a tough September schedule, it’s not unthinkable one of the younger QBs would be given a shot.
2. How the new offense will fare: Looking to utilize the skill sets of their mobile quarterbacks, the Sooners will be running a very different offense from the one Sam Bradford and Landry Jones both operated. Offensive coordinator Josh Heupel kept most of these new plays - including loads of read option -- in his hip pocket during the spring game. But it will be interesting to see how the Sooners -- and just as important, opposing defenses -- adjust to this new era of offense in Norman.
3. Defensive line play: The Sooners went into spring ball with just three defensive tackles on the roster, and little experience at defensive end. The unit showed strides during the spring, with Chuka Ndulue making a smooth transition from end to tackle, and tackle Jordan Phillips coming up big in the spring game. But that was the spring. The defensive line will have to continue to grow rapidly in the fall for the Sooners to have any hope of improving from last year defensively.
NORMAN, Okla. -- On Thursday, offensive tackle Lane Johnson became the 13th Sooner under Bob Stoops to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft. In 2014, Stoops could have another first-rounder in cornerback Aaron Colvin.
SoonerNation breaks down Colvin’s prospects as well as what the rest of the 2014 OU draft class could look like:
SoonerNation breaks down Colvin’s prospects as well as what the rest of the 2014 OU draft class could look like:
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NORMAN, Okla. -- Following Saturday's spring game, SoonerNation has updated the "Oklahoma 10" -- a composite ranking of the 10 best players on the team. The list:
1. FB Trey Millard (Last ranking: 1): Millard was held out of the spring game as a precaution, something Bob Stoops usually does with his stars. Despite manning an unheralded position, Millard certainly fits the bill of a star. You wouldn’t know it by the number of touches he gets, but Josh Heupel’s new option-oriented offense -- which, like Millard, was kept on the shelf Saturday -- could get the ball in Millard’s hands more often. That’s always good for the Sooners – and bad for opposing defenses.
1. FB Trey Millard (Last ranking: 1): Millard was held out of the spring game as a precaution, something Bob Stoops usually does with his stars. Despite manning an unheralded position, Millard certainly fits the bill of a star. You wouldn’t know it by the number of touches he gets, but Josh Heupel’s new option-oriented offense -- which, like Millard, was kept on the shelf Saturday -- could get the ball in Millard’s hands more often. That’s always good for the Sooners – and bad for opposing defenses.
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RB Ross still turning heads for Sooners
March, 27, 2013
Mar 27
8:00
AM CT
By
Jake Trotter | ESPN.com
NORMAN, Okla. -- Even though they were set at running back last fall with Damien Williams and others, the Sooners nearly still played Alex Ross as a true freshman. He was that impressive through summer workouts and two-a-days, drawing comparisons from position coach Cale Gundy to former OU standout Mike Gaddis, who glided past defenders until he tore his ACL in 1989.
This spring, after an offseason in which he’s gotten stronger and faster, Ross has continued to impress.
“He’s really good,” said fellow running back Brennan Clay. “He’s big, and he’s going to be physical. He’s a one-cut, type of guy and he’s just fast. Once he hits that vertical, he’s going to be good. We like backs like that at Oklahoma, and he’s going to do a great job.”
The 6-foot-1, 218-pound Ross tore up OU’s winter testing, posting a 40-yard dash time of 4.46 seconds, third-best among the Sooners’ offensive players. The only two to beat him in the 40 -- Roy Finch and Sterling Shepard -- weigh just 167 and 188 pounds, respectively.
That combination of speed and power has allowed Ross to reel off several big plays in OU’s team sessions so far this spring.
“He’s done some positive things, made some explosive plays with the ball in his hands in some of our run game, which is what you expect,” said offensive coordinator Josh Heupel. “He has great speed, a physical runner. And he’s got a much better grasp of what we’re doing offensively, too, which has given him a better chance to perform at a high level.”
It will be interesting to see how many carries Ross gets this season. In Williams and Clay, the Sooners return their top two backs from last season. Fullback Trey Millard also is back. Notwithstanding all that, OU is likely to run its quarterback a good amount in 2013. Carries will be scarce.
But with Williams, Clay, Millard and Roy Finch all being seniors, Ross could be the heir-apparent in the OU backfield for 2014. Which alone could warrant him time in the rotation this season.
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Cal Sport Media via AP ImagesRunning back Alex Ross was No. 70 in the 2012 ESPN 150.
Cal Sport Media via AP ImagesRunning back Alex Ross was No. 70 in the 2012 ESPN 150. “He’s really good,” said fellow running back Brennan Clay. “He’s big, and he’s going to be physical. He’s a one-cut, type of guy and he’s just fast. Once he hits that vertical, he’s going to be good. We like backs like that at Oklahoma, and he’s going to do a great job.”
The 6-foot-1, 218-pound Ross tore up OU’s winter testing, posting a 40-yard dash time of 4.46 seconds, third-best among the Sooners’ offensive players. The only two to beat him in the 40 -- Roy Finch and Sterling Shepard -- weigh just 167 and 188 pounds, respectively.
That combination of speed and power has allowed Ross to reel off several big plays in OU’s team sessions so far this spring.
“He’s done some positive things, made some explosive plays with the ball in his hands in some of our run game, which is what you expect,” said offensive coordinator Josh Heupel. “He has great speed, a physical runner. And he’s got a much better grasp of what we’re doing offensively, too, which has given him a better chance to perform at a high level.”
It will be interesting to see how many carries Ross gets this season. In Williams and Clay, the Sooners return their top two backs from last season. Fullback Trey Millard also is back. Notwithstanding all that, OU is likely to run its quarterback a good amount in 2013. Carries will be scarce.
But with Williams, Clay, Millard and Roy Finch all being seniors, Ross could be the heir-apparent in the OU backfield for 2014. Which alone could warrant him time in the rotation this season.
OU linemen: Bedenbaugh brings intensity
March, 14, 2013
Mar 14
10:00
AM CT
By
Brandon Chatmon | ESPN.com
NORMAN, Okla. -- Bill Bedenbaugh has been at Oklahoma for less than a month, yet his impact has already been felt. OU's new offensive line coach has brought intensity and focus to the Sooners' program with his constant discussion about the open competition along the offensive line.
“I’m about to go grade practice and whoever grades out the best will go with the ones,” Bedenbaugh said after OU’s first spring practice in pads. “And this is an everyday deal. It’s not one of those deals where you have a position one day then you have it. We’ll grade them every day and guys move up and down based on their grades.”
That’s not to say starting spots were always secure under previous offensive line coaches James Patton and Bruce Kittle.
“That hasn’t changed; we’re always evaluated,” tackle Daryl Williams said. “Every practice, whether we knew it or not.”
Yet the intensity has changed. At practice on Tuesday, Bedenbaugh could often be heard easier than he could be seen, and he plans to be unyielding in his commitment to push OU’s offensive linemen to higher levels of play.
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Liam Foley/Icon SMINew Sooners offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh wants to bring an attitude to the OU linemen.
Liam Foley/Icon SMINew Sooners offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh wants to bring an attitude to the OU linemen.That’s not to say starting spots were always secure under previous offensive line coaches James Patton and Bruce Kittle.
“That hasn’t changed; we’re always evaluated,” tackle Daryl Williams said. “Every practice, whether we knew it or not.”
Yet the intensity has changed. At practice on Tuesday, Bedenbaugh could often be heard easier than he could be seen, and he plans to be unyielding in his commitment to push OU’s offensive linemen to higher levels of play.
After making a visit to take in an Oklahoma practice Tuesday, Samaje Perine knew he didn’t need to wait any longer.
The ESPN Watch List running back from Pflugerville (Texas) Hendrickson went home, talked it over with his parents and decided it was time to make it official: He’s going to be a Sooner.
On Wednesday, the 5-foot-11, 213-pound power back became Oklahoma’s third 2014 verbal commit.
“It feels great,” he said. “I had a good relationship with the coaches and I felt like home away from home.”
Perine chose Oklahoma over Alabama and TCU, and he also held offers from Tennessee, Houston and Purdue. The Sooners have been the favorite for a while now, especially after running backs coach Cale Gundy convinced Perine he’d have a chance to play right away when he gets to Norman, Okla.
With backs Damien Williams, Brennan Clay and Roy Finch set to graduate after this season, Perine likes the opportunity OU offers. That ended up being a major reason he had to turn down an offer from the national champion Crimson Tide.
“Alabama is a great school, but they just have so many backs right now and they’re going to have a lot of great backs when I graduate,” Perine said. “There wasn’t a need for me there.”
In the end, though, it was his relationship with Gundy that sealed the deal.
The ESPN Watch List running back from Pflugerville (Texas) Hendrickson went home, talked it over with his parents and decided it was time to make it official: He’s going to be a Sooner.
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Max Olson/ESPN.com Watch List tailback Samaje Perine turned down offers from TCU and Alabama to commit to the Sooners.
Max Olson/ESPN.com Watch List tailback Samaje Perine turned down offers from TCU and Alabama to commit to the Sooners.“It feels great,” he said. “I had a good relationship with the coaches and I felt like home away from home.”
Perine chose Oklahoma over Alabama and TCU, and he also held offers from Tennessee, Houston and Purdue. The Sooners have been the favorite for a while now, especially after running backs coach Cale Gundy convinced Perine he’d have a chance to play right away when he gets to Norman, Okla.
With backs Damien Williams, Brennan Clay and Roy Finch set to graduate after this season, Perine likes the opportunity OU offers. That ended up being a major reason he had to turn down an offer from the national champion Crimson Tide.
“Alabama is a great school, but they just have so many backs right now and they’re going to have a lot of great backs when I graduate,” Perine said. “There wasn’t a need for me there.”
In the end, though, it was his relationship with Gundy that sealed the deal.
PFLUGERVILLE, Texas -- Adrian Peterson suffered a torn ACL and MCL in December 2011. So did Samaje Perine.
One of them went on to win the NFL's MVP award and nearly broke the all-time rushing record. The other? Well, he had a pretty good comeback year, too: 2,017 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.
One of them went on to win the NFL's MVP award and nearly broke the all-time rushing record. The other? Well, he had a pretty good comeback year, too: 2,017 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.
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NORMAN, Okla. -- One area where the Sooners will suffer little attrition from 2012 is running back. Yes, Dominique Whaley has graduated, but Whaley didn’t contribute to the backfield after the first three games as he struggled to regain his agility from a broken ankle he suffered in 2011.
The rest of the backfield returns intact, and that includes Damien Williams. The former juco transfer had a breakout first season in Norman, leading the Sooners with 946 rushing yards while scoring 11 touchdowns and averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Williams would have easily surpassed the 1,000-yard barrier had an ankle sprain not slowed him in November.
Williams gives the Sooners one of the top returning backs in the league. OU also returns Brennan Clay, who proved to be a solid No. 2 back during his junior season. Filling in for Williams at Iowa State, Clay rushed for 157 yards while averaging 6.5 yards a carry. Clay also scored the game-winning overtime touchdown against Oklahoma State.
The rest of the backfield returns intact, and that includes Damien Williams. The former juco transfer had a breakout first season in Norman, leading the Sooners with 946 rushing yards while scoring 11 touchdowns and averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Williams would have easily surpassed the 1,000-yard barrier had an ankle sprain not slowed him in November.
Williams gives the Sooners one of the top returning backs in the league. OU also returns Brennan Clay, who proved to be a solid No. 2 back during his junior season. Filling in for Williams at Iowa State, Clay rushed for 157 yards while averaging 6.5 yards a carry. Clay also scored the game-winning overtime touchdown against Oklahoma State.
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3-star OL Dionte Savage flips to Sooners
February, 4, 2013
Feb 4
1:50
PM CT
By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
Three-star offensive lineman Dionte Savage (Yuma, Ariz./Arizona Western) entered his official visit to Oklahoma this weekend as a Baylor commitment.
Now he's a Sooner. Savage confirmed on Monday afternoon he has switched his commitment and will sign with the Sooners on national signing day.
“Sold out for 14 years. More than 88,000 people. It really doesn’t get any better than that,” Savage said.
Savage committed to Baylor two weeks ago but admitted earlier in the week he almost wished he hadn’t. His trip to Waco, Texas, was his first official visit, and he said he had no idea what other opportunities were going to be coming his way.
The OU opportunity, though, was far from guaranteed. Savage, who is 6-foot-5 and 340 pounds, had not heard from any of the Sooners coaches until OU quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel called him Tuesday.
A point of concern for Savage is the depth chart. He doesn’t have a redshirt season left. He must play his two years. OU has a lot of depth in the interior, but there have been some injuries to Tyler Evans and Adam Shead that helped open the door for Savage.
Now he's a Sooner. Savage confirmed on Monday afternoon he has switched his commitment and will sign with the Sooners on national signing day.
Savage committed to Baylor two weeks ago but admitted earlier in the week he almost wished he hadn’t. His trip to Waco, Texas, was his first official visit, and he said he had no idea what other opportunities were going to be coming his way.
The OU opportunity, though, was far from guaranteed. Savage, who is 6-foot-5 and 340 pounds, had not heard from any of the Sooners coaches until OU quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel called him Tuesday.
A point of concern for Savage is the depth chart. He doesn’t have a redshirt season left. He must play his two years. OU has a lot of depth in the interior, but there have been some injuries to Tyler Evans and Adam Shead that helped open the door for Savage.
We're grading each Big 12 team's season right now, and we'll move on to the next team on the list: The Oklahoma Sooners.
OFFENSE: The year got off to a rocky start out in El Paso, with the Sooners needing late touchdowns from Brannon Green and Damien Williams to break away from a near upset to the Miners. After another ugly game against Kansas State full of costly turnovers, the Sooners hit their stride. It all started with 41 points on the road against Texas Tech in a stadium the Sooners historically struggled in, but a 63-point outburst in the Red River Rivalry had Oklahoma fans thinking big again. Landry Jones was still continually unappreciated, but he helped win shootouts down the stretch against Baylor, Oklahoma State and West Virginia, and carried the Sooners in a tough game against TCU. The streakiness hit a bad spot in the Cotton Bowl loss to Texas A&M, which costs them in my grade. The running game was OK, but not outstanding outside of some long runs from Williams, but credit Jones for developing chemistry with a whole new unit of receivers. This was a gutsy finish from the offensive line, too, which dealt with a ton of injuries this year. Lane Johnson, Gabe Ikard and Ty Darlington all played well down the stretch. GRADE: A-
DEFENSE: The memories of 500-yard outings from Tavon Austin and Johnny Manziel are fresh in their minds, but this defense wasn't as awful as some believed. The linebackers were quiet this year in Mike Stoops' well-publicized scheme that stressed gap responsibility and freed up Tony Jefferson to make well over 100 tackles and leave for the NFL. Before Nov. 10, Oklahoma had given up more than 24 points just one time, and that team (Notre Dame) played for the national title. The end of the season wasn't as rosy, and the Sooners gave up 34, 49, 48 and 41 points. It was a bad finish, but Oklahoma did fix its problems stopping the deep ball from last year. That's something, and it helped Oklahoma win eight consecutive Big 12 games, which is no small feat. GRADE: B
OVERALL: Bob Stoops has gone a postseason crusade making it clear mediocrity isn't enough, but this really is a tough balance. Oklahoma's won 10 games in three consecutive seasons after a disappointing eight-win campaign in 2009, and won at least a share of a Big 12 title in two of the last three seasons. Oklahoma hasn't been to the BCS since the 2010 season, but they've won a whole bunch of games, just not enough to come anywhere close to the national championship game, which Stoops set as a standard early in his coaching tenure in Norman. Oklahoma's season ended ugly, but all three losses were to teams in the top 11 this year, and A&M might have been the hottest team in the country to close the year. This was an unsatisfying year in Norman, but how unsatisfied can you really be with a share of the Big 12 title? GRADE: B+
More Big 12 report cards:
OFFENSE: The year got off to a rocky start out in El Paso, with the Sooners needing late touchdowns from Brannon Green and Damien Williams to break away from a near upset to the Miners. After another ugly game against Kansas State full of costly turnovers, the Sooners hit their stride. It all started with 41 points on the road against Texas Tech in a stadium the Sooners historically struggled in, but a 63-point outburst in the Red River Rivalry had Oklahoma fans thinking big again. Landry Jones was still continually unappreciated, but he helped win shootouts down the stretch against Baylor, Oklahoma State and West Virginia, and carried the Sooners in a tough game against TCU. The streakiness hit a bad spot in the Cotton Bowl loss to Texas A&M, which costs them in my grade. The running game was OK, but not outstanding outside of some long runs from Williams, but credit Jones for developing chemistry with a whole new unit of receivers. This was a gutsy finish from the offensive line, too, which dealt with a ton of injuries this year. Lane Johnson, Gabe Ikard and Ty Darlington all played well down the stretch. GRADE: A-
DEFENSE: The memories of 500-yard outings from Tavon Austin and Johnny Manziel are fresh in their minds, but this defense wasn't as awful as some believed. The linebackers were quiet this year in Mike Stoops' well-publicized scheme that stressed gap responsibility and freed up Tony Jefferson to make well over 100 tackles and leave for the NFL. Before Nov. 10, Oklahoma had given up more than 24 points just one time, and that team (Notre Dame) played for the national title. The end of the season wasn't as rosy, and the Sooners gave up 34, 49, 48 and 41 points. It was a bad finish, but Oklahoma did fix its problems stopping the deep ball from last year. That's something, and it helped Oklahoma win eight consecutive Big 12 games, which is no small feat. GRADE: B
OVERALL: Bob Stoops has gone a postseason crusade making it clear mediocrity isn't enough, but this really is a tough balance. Oklahoma's won 10 games in three consecutive seasons after a disappointing eight-win campaign in 2009, and won at least a share of a Big 12 title in two of the last three seasons. Oklahoma hasn't been to the BCS since the 2010 season, but they've won a whole bunch of games, just not enough to come anywhere close to the national championship game, which Stoops set as a standard early in his coaching tenure in Norman. Oklahoma's season ended ugly, but all three losses were to teams in the top 11 this year, and A&M might have been the hottest team in the country to close the year. This was an unsatisfying year in Norman, but how unsatisfied can you really be with a share of the Big 12 title? GRADE: B+
More Big 12 report cards:
2012 review: Improvement, regression 
January, 8, 2013
Jan 8
8:00
AM CT
By
Brandon Chatmon | ESPN.com
For the second straight year, Oklahoma finished the season with a 10-3 record. Both seasons featured disappointments late in the season (Oklahoma State in 2011, Texas A&M in 2012) yet the Sooners were in the Big 12 championship mix heading into the final game of the regular season each season. OU saw some improvements in 2012, but they were joined by some clear steps backward. Here’s a look at how the Sooners improved, how they regressed and how they maintained in 2012.
Improved
• Passing game
Improved
• Passing game
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Each week, SoonerNation ranked Oklahoma’s top 10 performers of the season. Following OU’s 41-13 loss to Texas A&M in the AT&T Cotton Bowl, here is the final Oklahoma 10 of 2012:
1. QB Landry Jones (Last week: No. 1): Jones didn’t have the kind of career finale he had hoped for. But without him, the Sooners go 8-5 this season, at best. His turnovers can drive one crazy, but Jones was OU’s best player this season. He will be tougher to replace than most OU fans think.
2. FB Trey Millard (5): The only silver lining to come out of Friday night was Millard’s announcement that he’s coming back to school for his senior season. Millard finished with 198 yards on 33 carries. If the Sooners are going to be a serious team in 2013, Millard’s touches need to triple.
1. QB Landry Jones (Last week: No. 1): Jones didn’t have the kind of career finale he had hoped for. But without him, the Sooners go 8-5 this season, at best. His turnovers can drive one crazy, but Jones was OU’s best player this season. He will be tougher to replace than most OU fans think.
2. FB Trey Millard (5): The only silver lining to come out of Friday night was Millard’s announcement that he’s coming back to school for his senior season. Millard finished with 198 yards on 33 carries. If the Sooners are going to be a serious team in 2013, Millard’s touches need to triple.
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3 Up, 3 Down: Texas A&M 41, Oklahoma 13
January, 5, 2013
Jan 5
9:00
AM CT
By
Jake Trotter | ESPN.com
Who was up and who was down in Oklahoma’s 41-13 loss to Texas A&M in the AT&T Cotton Bowl.
THREE UP
1. FB Trey Millard: With 28 yards on four carries, Millard was one of the few Sooners to have a decent day. More importantly, Millard declared during the postgame that after contemplating going pro he has decided to come back to school for his senior season. Millard has been one of OU’s best players the last three seasons, and his return gives the Sooners one of their best playmakers and blockers for another season.
THREE UP
1. FB Trey Millard: With 28 yards on four carries, Millard was one of the few Sooners to have a decent day. More importantly, Millard declared during the postgame that after contemplating going pro he has decided to come back to school for his senior season. Millard has been one of OU’s best players the last three seasons, and his return gives the Sooners one of their best playmakers and blockers for another season.
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Oklahoma doesn’t need Alex Ross to make an impact next season. But don’t be surprised if the redshirting running back sees playing time in 2013. Why? Because Ross brings a unique combination of size, at 6-foot-1, and terrific speed at 204 pounds.
Asked about Ross's most impressive trait, fellow running back Brennan Clay didn’t have to think twice.
“His speed, of course,” Clay said. “He’s putting on weight and he’s done a great job with the scout team, giving the defense a great look. He’s young and he’s learning. I’m excited to see him get on the field."
Asked about Ross's most impressive trait, fellow running back Brennan Clay didn’t have to think twice.
“His speed, of course,” Clay said. “He’s putting on weight and he’s done a great job with the scout team, giving the defense a great look. He’s young and he’s learning. I’m excited to see him get on the field."
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Juco TE Emmanuel Bibbs down to ISU, OU
December, 17, 2012
12/17/12
12:35
PM CT
By
Bob Przybylo | ESPN.com
There are two days until the first day of the junior college early signing period, and tight end Emmanuel Bibbs (Yuma, Ariz./Arizona Western) is not sure which school he's going to choose.
Bibbs, a three-star prospect who is 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, has been committed to Iowa State since June. He thought his recruitment was over. And then Oklahoma entered the picture. Now it’s a mess.
“Yeah, I have no clue right now,” Bibbs said. “At this point, I don’t know where I’m going to go.”
Bibbs, a three-star prospect who is 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, has been committed to Iowa State since June. He thought his recruitment was over. And then Oklahoma entered the picture. Now it’s a mess.
“Yeah, I have no clue right now,” Bibbs said. “At this point, I don’t know where I’m going to go.”
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