TxStar61
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2005 PREVIEW: Oklahoma Sooners
The college football world can be just a wee bit demanding. All Oklahoma has done over the last five years is win sixty games, that's an average of twelve per season for those of you who didn't major in math, with a mere seven losses. Two of those defeats were in national title games, one (Nebraska in 2001) was against a team that played for the national title, and one was in the 2003 Big XII title game (the others were to Texas A&M in 2002 and to Oklahoma State in 2001 and 2002).
By any way you want to measure it, OU has been on one of the most impressive five-year runs in college football history, but after getting the long end of the stick in the last two BCS debates, and after losing 55-19 to USC last year, the program isn't quite getting the respect it deserves.
The expectations, by many, will be for a major letdown after losing college football household names like Jason White, Mark Clayton, Dan Cody, Lance Mitchell, Jammal Brown and Vince Carter, along with several other top players. There isn't the who's who of NFL prospects like there has been over the past few seasons, and there are major question marks and concerns in the secondary, offensive line, the receiving corps and the kicking game.
Don't start weeping for poor Bob Stoops and the boys just yet.
This is still one of the nation's most athletic teams with a world of talent led by running back Adrian Peterson and soon-to-be first round NFL draft pick Davin Joseph at tackle. With all due respect to White, the quarterback situation is even more exciting with mobile, all-around threats like Rhett Bomar and Paul Thompson waiting to shine. The defensive front seven doesn't have the all-stars of the past few years, but it's still rock solid. Even the areas of concern aren't all that bad compared to the rest of college football world.
So for the first time in several years, OU will get to play a bit of the underdog role. Don't be stunned if the team takes on a new, meaner attitude and finds itself right back in the national title mix helped by...
The Schedule: ... a slate that isn't all that bad. The road games at UCLA, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas Tech are tough, but the Sooners will be favored in each one. The hardest home dates are against Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. Outside of the rivalry game against the Aggies, those shouldn't be too much of a problem. Of course, the focus will be on the Texas game, but the pressure will be completely on the burnt Orange side of the field.
- Third quarter scoring: Oklahoma 121 - Opponents 44- Third down conversions: Oklahoma 108 of 200 (54%) - Opponents 66 of 182 (36%)
- Rushing yards per game: Oklahoma 208.4 yards - Opponents 94.6 yards
Instant Impact Players
Ryan Reynolds LB 6-2 220 Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) Nev.
Four-year letterman ...played linebacker, defensive back, tight end, and fullback ...had 94 tackles and six sacks as senior ... recorded 96 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and six sacks as junior ... ran for a season-best 393 yards as junior ... announced he would become a Sooner at the U.S. Army All-American Game ... clocked at 4.57 in the 40-yard dash ... bench presses 395 pounds ... honors student ... participated in wrestling in high school where he was a state champion ... also a five time National Judo champion ... honors student
Jesse White OL 6-3 295 Denver (Mullen) Colo.
Named Gatorade player of the year in Colorado his senior season ... named first team All-State his final two years ... Gave up zero sacks during his career ... graded a 96 percent as a senior and 93 percent during his junior season ... one of the strongest prep players in the country with a 460 pound bench press, 650 squat, and a 32-inch vertical jump ... son of two-time Colorado All-American offensive lineman Leon White, also known as Vader in the professional wrestling circles
The college football world can be just a wee bit demanding. All Oklahoma has done over the last five years is win sixty games, that's an average of twelve per season for those of you who didn't major in math, with a mere seven losses. Two of those defeats were in national title games, one (Nebraska in 2001) was against a team that played for the national title, and one was in the 2003 Big XII title game (the others were to Texas A&M in 2002 and to Oklahoma State in 2001 and 2002).
By any way you want to measure it, OU has been on one of the most impressive five-year runs in college football history, but after getting the long end of the stick in the last two BCS debates, and after losing 55-19 to USC last year, the program isn't quite getting the respect it deserves.
The expectations, by many, will be for a major letdown after losing college football household names like Jason White, Mark Clayton, Dan Cody, Lance Mitchell, Jammal Brown and Vince Carter, along with several other top players. There isn't the who's who of NFL prospects like there has been over the past few seasons, and there are major question marks and concerns in the secondary, offensive line, the receiving corps and the kicking game.
Don't start weeping for poor Bob Stoops and the boys just yet.
This is still one of the nation's most athletic teams with a world of talent led by running back Adrian Peterson and soon-to-be first round NFL draft pick Davin Joseph at tackle. With all due respect to White, the quarterback situation is even more exciting with mobile, all-around threats like Rhett Bomar and Paul Thompson waiting to shine. The defensive front seven doesn't have the all-stars of the past few years, but it's still rock solid. Even the areas of concern aren't all that bad compared to the rest of college football world.
So for the first time in several years, OU will get to play a bit of the underdog role. Don't be stunned if the team takes on a new, meaner attitude and finds itself right back in the national title mix helped by...
The Schedule: ... a slate that isn't all that bad. The road games at UCLA, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas Tech are tough, but the Sooners will be favored in each one. The hardest home dates are against Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. Outside of the rivalry game against the Aggies, those shouldn't be too much of a problem. Of course, the focus will be on the Texas game, but the pressure will be completely on the burnt Orange side of the field.
Best Offensive Player: Sophomore RB Adrian Peterson. He would've been the first pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. He'll have to operate behind a line that isn't nearly as good as last year's, and he won't have as high octane a passing game to take the focus off so expect a drop-off from last year's 1,925-yard campaign. Even so, he'll still be one of the top picks when it's his time to come out.
Best Defensive Player: Senior DT Dusty Dvoracek. Back after getting booted off the team last year, he didn't let himself get soft and if a fall camp away from being back to his all-star form.
Key player to a successful season: Cornerbacks Eric Bassey, Marcus Walker and Chijoke Onyenegecha. Even with Antonio Perkins, Brodney Pool and Donte Nicholson in the secondary, OU only picked off eight passes and had problems with deep passes. The 2005 corners might be the most athletic in the country, but they have to prove they can consistently cover someone.
The season will be a success if ... Oklahoma wins the Big XII title. At this point in the Stoops era, nothing else is worth shooting for.
Key game: Oct. 8 vs. Texas. This is the only game on the schedule OU likely won't be favored in. Another win will likely mean another trip to the Big XII title game. Another win might mean a trip to Pasadena.
2004 Fun Stats:
- Third quarter scoring: Oklahoma 121 - Opponents 44- Third down conversions: Oklahoma 108 of 200 (54%) - Opponents 66 of 182 (36%)
- Rushing yards per game: Oklahoma 208.4 yards - Opponents 94.6 yards
2005 Recruiting Class
Star of the Class
DeMarcus Granger DL 6-3 315 Dallas (Kimball) TX
Totaled 79 tackles, including 25 for loss, and 17 sacks during his senior year ... also forced 11 fumbles ... recorded 68 tackles and 17 sacks his junior year ... named Class 4A All-State and the Dallas area defensive player of the year as a junior ... clocked at 5.2 seconds in the 40-yard dash ... bench presses 405 pounds and squats 550 pounds
Star of the Class
DeMarcus Granger DL 6-3 315 Dallas (Kimball) TX
Totaled 79 tackles, including 25 for loss, and 17 sacks during his senior year ... also forced 11 fumbles ... recorded 68 tackles and 17 sacks his junior year ... named Class 4A All-State and the Dallas area defensive player of the year as a junior ... clocked at 5.2 seconds in the 40-yard dash ... bench presses 405 pounds and squats 550 pounds
Instant Impact Players
Ryan Reynolds LB 6-2 220 Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) Nev.
Four-year letterman ...played linebacker, defensive back, tight end, and fullback ...had 94 tackles and six sacks as senior ... recorded 96 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and six sacks as junior ... ran for a season-best 393 yards as junior ... announced he would become a Sooner at the U.S. Army All-American Game ... clocked at 4.57 in the 40-yard dash ... bench presses 395 pounds ... honors student ... participated in wrestling in high school where he was a state champion ... also a five time National Judo champion ... honors student
Named Gatorade player of the year in Colorado his senior season ... named first team All-State his final two years ... Gave up zero sacks during his career ... graded a 96 percent as a senior and 93 percent during his junior season ... one of the strongest prep players in the country with a 460 pound bench press, 650 squat, and a 32-inch vertical jump ... son of two-time Colorado All-American offensive lineman Leon White, also known as Vader in the professional wrestling circles
