Oklahoma Sooners

Months of speculation ended Saturday afternoon as ESPN Watch List quarterback Justice Hansen (Edmond, Okla./Santa Fe) confirmed he has committed to the Sooners on his unofficial visit for OU’s spring game.

Hansen picked OU over Texas A&M and offers from schools such as Ole Miss, Auburn and Kansas State. He said earlier this week he was going to make his decision at the spring game, but it was unknown if it would be for OU or A&M.

Hansen first appeared on the radar for OU quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel when Hansen was a freshman. Hansen has camped at OU the last two summers and has been a frequent visitor to campus for games the last two seasons.

Any doubt about how OU felt regarding Hansen was removed in February when OU offered Hansen at junior day. He was the only quarterback offer at the time and is still the only quarterback offer.

Heupel won’t have to make any more.

The Sooners were the clear favorite until the Aggies entered the race in January. Hansen took an unofficial visit to College Station, Texas, last month. A&M made a great impression, but the Sooners were never too far from his mind.

“He handled this process so well,” Edmond Santa Fe coach Lance Manning said. “He never felt any pressure. If you spent time with him this week, you would have had no idea he was getting ready to make such a huge decision.”

Hansen’s A&M visit opened his eyes that there is more out there than what’s in the state. But he also realized his position. As much as he wanted to wait it out more and get a better feel of what’s out there, he felt he couldn’t.

To be fair to the Aggies and Sooners, he wanted to make his decision as soon as he felt he was comfortable. Saturday was that time.

Hansen is the fourth in-state quarterback to pledge to the Sooners during Bob Stoops’ tenure. Jason White (Tuttle) and Sam Bradford (Oklahoma City Putnam City North) each won the Heisman Trophy, and Kendal Thompson is a sophomore at OU.

“He knows what it means to be a quarterback at OU from Oklahoma,” Manning said. “He’s not going to be afraid of that.”

NORMAN, Okla. -- Those hoping for some grand revelation to come out of the quarterback competition this spring -- or for that matter, Saturday’s Red-White spring game -- might want to sit back.

This could take a while.

Blake Bell, Kendal Thompson and Trevor Knight all entered the spring vying to be Oklahoma’s next starting quarterback. Barring something unforeseen in the next week, they’ll all exit the spring doing the same.

“None of those guys have earned it yet,” said offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel. “It doesn't mean they're not playing well. It's just nobody has earned that spot.”

While evenly splitting up time with the first-team offense, all three quarterbacks have had their moments. Had their mistakes, too.

During Sunday’s two-hour scrimmage , Bell, Thompson and Knight all engineered touchdown drives. All three had nifty dashes out of Heupel’s new-look offense that relies on the legs of the quarterback.

But Knight threw a pick-six to freshman safety Ahmad Thomas. Thompson was also intercepted while trying to make something happen downfield. And Bell took two sacks on his first series, which ended with a three-and-out.

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NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma offense will feature a different look this spring. Gone is four-year starting quarterback Landry Jones. In his place, the Sooners will feature their first quarterback competition in six years.

Regardless of who emerges out of the quarterback derby, the offense will change to fit the skill sets of Blake Bell, Trevor Knight and Kendal Thompson. How much change will be something offensive coordinator Josh Heupel determines this spring.

“Ultimately, whether we find the guy this spring or it happens in training camp, you're going to put in the schemes that he feels comfortable with,” Heupel said. “Your play calling is going to be in part based on what he has an opportunity to be successful in, as well.”

The good news for Heupel and the Sooners is that Bell, Knight and Thompson share one distinguishing skill -- they can run. In the past, Heupel has said he would prefer to stay away from calling designed runs for his quarterbacks.

But Thursday, as OU prepares to open spring ball this weekend, he confessed that running the quarterback will be something he will consider implementing into the offense.

"We will never give up anything as far as our quarterbacks having the ability to pass -- that's our primary focus first,” Heupel said. “We have great skill guys, and we want to make sure we're able to distribute the ball to those guys.

“But certainly the guys we have on campus are a little bit different than Landry with their ability to extend and make plays with their feet. How many times we'll have designed play calls for them I can't tell you right now, but certainly that's something we'll probably look at in the spring.”

Running the quarterback -- the “Belldozer” package notwithstanding -- has not been something the Sooners have utilized in the Bob Stoops era. When he quarterbacked the Sooners in 1999-00, Heupel was strictly a pocket passer. After two knee injuries, Jason White became the same.

Sam Bradford and Jones were recruited as prototypical quarterbacks, and both did their damage in the pocket.

Heupel, however, admitted a running quarterback could add stress to opposing defenses. The Sooners found that out firsthand facing Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, who set a Cotton Bowl record with 516 total yards.

“As much as anything, I think it changes how defenses play you in all downs, but certainly in third down,” Heupel said. “Defensive linemen, guys stay in their rush lanes, and they have to keep an eye on the quarterback, [and] his ability to extend plays and run downfield and make a 15-, 20-yard gain with his feet.

“That is certainly an added dimension and stress that will be a little bit different for defenses that we play."

After recruiting them for several months, Oklahoma's coaching staff was finally able to talk publicly about the players the Sooners added to the program on signing day. Over the next week or so, SoonerNation will review some of the key things coaches had to say about the players signed at each position group during their signing day webcast on Soonersports.com.

The Sooners are confident they landed a diamond in the rough with K.J. Young (Perris, Calif./Citrus Hill). The receiver signee didn't see his recruiting pick up until the final weeks of the process but was a hot commodity in January.

“K.J. is a guy that everybody kept finding out about a little bit late," OU head coach Bob Stoops said while noting at Oregon and Nebraska were among the schools pursuing Young in January. "He has good size, and an amazing athlete. Everyone started to realize what a great athlete he is. He makes all kind of plays and is a strong kid. A good player who can do a lot of things.”

At 6-foot, 183 pounds, Young appears to have the skills and versatility to play the slot or outside receiver for the Sooners. He flew under the radar until linebackers coach Tim Kish unearthed him for the Sooners after his stellar senior season.

"He really blew up during the course of his senior year," offensive coordinator Josh Heupel said. "He’s a great athlete, explosive and he uses his hands well.”

Once he got a glimpse at his game film, offering Young wasn't a hard decision for receivers coach Jay Norvell. It's easy to see with Young, he has terrific ball skills, open field ability and appears to have a innate ability to make plays.

"It doesn't really matter when you find a guy, when you see the film, the film doesn't lie," Norvell said. "He's a very versatile guy, he has great hands, great body control."

Norvell compared Young to former Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowl receiver Marvin Harrison as a 6-footer with long arms and big hands, allowing him to play bigger and longer than his height. He said it's a unique trait which always intrigues him when he sees it in a receiver.

"There's no doubt he'll fit in perfectly in our offense," Norvell said. "He does a lot of things very well and it's hard to deny a kid like that from coming to your program when he can help your team in so many ways."

Though Oklahoma has not officially announced it, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck confirmed to the Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette that offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh is leaving the Mountaineers to take the same position with the Sooners.

So just exactly who is Bedenbaugh? SoonerNation quizzed Mike Casazza of the Charleston (W.Va.) Daily Mail for some answers.

1. What style a coach would you say Bedenbaugh is?

He's from that mold that fits Hal Mumme and Mike Leach and Dana Holgorsen in that you'd better be good learners or you'll lose your spot to someone else who grasps what is, by all accounts, good teaching.

He's big on technique-through-repetitions, which makes practices the determining factors in his most important decisions. But he has a commanding presence. Big guy, booming voice and a way to make his point quickly. And really, if he has depth to work with, which he didn't have at WVU, watch out because that first point can take off quickly. It generates competition and improves results when you know the guy behind you can take your job.

2. There's been some talk about how he's a strong recruiter -- is that the case? If so, what makes him a strong recruiter?

Hard to say because this 2013 class was the first one this coaching staff got to sink into. The 2011 class was compromised because of the coaching change and the 2011 class had the Big 12/Big East mash-up and the Mountaineers couldn't fully flaunt the Orange Bowl.

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After recruiting them for several months, Oklahoma's coaching staff was finally able to talk publicly about the players the Sooners added to the program on signing day. Over the next week or so, SoonerNation will review some of the key things coaches had to say about the players signed at each position group during their signing day webcast on Soonersports.com.

Oklahoma offered Dannon Cavil (San Antonio/Madison) late in the recruiting process but it was just in time to land the receiver and get him on campus for spring football. The late addition could be the most physically impressive of the Sooners receivers signees at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds.

“He’s a great player who is already in our program," offensive coordinator Josh Heupel said. "He’s a really mature kid, he approaches things the right way, he’s bright, he’s disciplined, focused, he wants to be a great player. Trevor Knight has talked about how far along he is for a guy coming in mid-year. We feel like we got a steal with him.”

As an early enrollee, Cavil is already working out with the Sooners and participated in testing in various drills and events, impressing the coaching staff.

“We already put our players through testing and he was probably in the top three of our receivers," running backs coach Cale Gundy said. "And here he is supposed to still be in high school. Great 40-yard dash, explosive in the broad and long jump.”

An hamstring injury hampered Cavil during his junior season, resulting in limited game film for the Sooners coaches to evaluate. After a strong -- and healthy -- senior season, Norvell evaluated Cavil and was confident he could help the Sooners.

"He did not play as a junior, didn’t have the film," Norvell said. "We’ve been trying to add size to our receivers. He’s a tremendous athlete for a big kid. How athletic he is and smooth he is is very rare for a kid his size. He’s a guy we absolutely love."

Departing senior Justin Brown showed the Sooners the value of a big physical receiver on the outside who can use his body and ball skills to create plays on third downs and in the red zone. Cavil fits that mold and could be even faster than Brown providing a better deep threat along with his unique size.

After recruiting them for several months, Oklahoma's coaching staff was finally able to talk publicly about the players the Sooners added to the program on signing day. Over the next week or so, SoonerNation will review some of the key things coaches had to say about the players signed at each position group during their signing day webcast on Soonersports.com.

Receiver Austin Bennett (Manvel, Texas/Manvel) signed with the Sooners despite late interest from Texas. His athletic traits fit right in line with the physical skills of recent Sooners slot receivers.

"Austin has a lot of the same qualities Jalen Saunders has," said receivers coach Jay Norvell, Bennett's primary recruiter. "We got to spend a lot of time with Austin at one of our satellite camps in Houston and that was a big benefit for us because we got a chance to work with him. You can look them in the eyes, tell them to do things and see how they react. I was so impressed with him. He has great agility in space. He has the ability to take direction then put it into play physically which is a real strength for a receiver. He has great characteristics, great mental toughness.”

The opportunity to evaluate prospects during those satellite camps can be invaluable. Norvell can see how a player responds to competition and how quickly they can apply coaching tips given to them during those camps. It's a way for recruits to separate themselves from other players of similar skills. And Bennett was one of those players who did exactly that last spring.

“Austin is such a good athlete he could play on both sides of the ball," running backs coach Cale Gundy said. "Obviously he’s not going to, he’s going to be on our side, but when you’re talking about a guy who could flip over and play corner, obviously he’s very talented. He’ll be a slot guy an extremely talented young man, a Jalen Saunders, Ryan Broyles-type.”

Broyles and Saunders make plays largely thanks to their quickness and open field ability and the Sooners think Bennett has the same traits. Even though Bennett only caught 42 passes for 676 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior, the Sooners are confident he can be a productive slot receiver in OU's system.

“Austin played in a great program," offensive coordinator Josh Heupel said. "We feel like he’s an electric player, he was at our camp in Houston and competed at a high level. He has the ability to make plays, great ability to make guys miss in space. His dad’s a coach, we love a lot of his makeup.”

After recruiting them for several months, Oklahoma's coaching staff was finally able to talk publicly about the players the Sooners added to the program on signing day. Over the next week or so, SoonerNation will review some of the key things coaches had to say about the players signed at each position group during their signing day webcast on Soonersports.com.

Running back Keith Ford (Cypress, Texas/Cypress Ranch) was the headliner of the class, ranking No. 27 in the ESPN 150 as the third-ranked running back in the nation. The UnderArmour All-American was unyielding in his commitment to the Sooners and earned high praise on signing day.

“He’s extremely strong and physical; he doesn’t look like an 18-year old kid," offensive coordinator Josh Heupel said. "He’s a highly competitive player, he’s an inside runner who has the ability to hit home runs, he’s a guy that catches the ball out of the backfield really well, too. He’s a multidimensional back, a guy that’s only going to get better."

Even though Ford was highly productive in high school, the Sooners believe he still has upside and ways to improve. Like any high school running back, pass protection and toughness between the tackles should top the list of areas to improve for Ford. Yet that doesn't mean he's not ready to help right away.

"Because of the way he’s prepared his body to be a great player, he can come in and compete for a spot right away," Heupel said. "He feels confident in the opportunity that is here and the tradition at running back.”

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