Sooners Battle Cowboys in Bedlam Game

Oklahoma begins a three-game homestand this Saturday in a pivotal Big 12 South showdown against in-state rival Oklahoma State. It is the 98th renewal of the Bedlam Series. A victory would give OU a two-game lead over four of the five teams in the division, while a loss would drop the Sooners into a first-place tied with OSU and Texas.

THE POLLS
Oklahoma is No. 1 in the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls and has been since the preseason rankings were released. Oklahoma State is No. 14 in the AP poll and No. 15 in the coaches voting.

Sooner Gameday Central
OU Football Press Conference
2003 Sooner Awards

SERIES HISTORY
Oklahoma has dominated this series by a count of 74-16-7, although the Cowboys have won the last two. The Sooners' series lead includes a 35-8-2 mark in games played in Norman. Oklahoma has held a national ranking in each of the last three meetings, but this is the first time since 1988 (OU No. 8, OSU No. 12) that both teams have entered the game with a national ranking. Both teams have been ranked at the time of the game in six previous meetings and OU won all six. The Sooners are 6-0 against the Cowboys when ranked No. 1. OSU is 1-7 (the win came in 1945) against Oklahoma when carrying a national ranking. The highest cumulative ranking for the game came in 1984 when the No. 2 Sooners dumped the No. 3 Cowboys in Norman, 29-10.

THE COACHES
Oklahoma: Bob Stoops (Iowa 83), now in his fifth season with the Sooners, is 51-9 overall. He is 3-1 in bowls, 3-0 in January bowls, 2-0 in BCS games, 30-7 vs. the Big 12, 16-5 vs. the Big 12 South, 14-2 vs. the Big 12 North, 2-0 in the Big 12 Championship game, 21-2 vs. non-conference foes, 27-1 at home, 15-6 on the road, 9-2 on neutral fields, 17-2 against ranked foes and 2-2 vs. Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma State: Les Miles (Michigan 76) is 19-13 in his third season at OSU. He is 2-0 against Oklahoma.

ON THE AIR
ABC has the regional telecast that will go to more than half of the country. The broadcasters are Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Bob Griese (color) and Lynn Swann (sideline). The Sooner Network has the radio call with Bob Barry, Sr., (play-by-play), Merv Johnson (color) and Mark Rodgers (sideline). In addition, ESPN GameDay will be in Norman. Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit, who also were on hand for this year's Sooner win at Alabama, will be back on the OU campus for the first time since a pair of visits (North Carolina and Kansas State) in 2001. ESPN radio's Dave Revsine and Mel Kiper, Jr., also are due for a visit.

OKLAHOMA'S LAST GAME
Oklahoma withstood a late Colorado rally, but still managed a 34-20 victory at Boulder last Saturday ...
OU led by 10 or more points for most of the game and had a 27-7 bulge at one point. CU rallied to within 27-20 and forced Oklahoma to post a late score to ice the win. With 2:13 remaining and facing a third-and-six from their own 41, the Sooners converted on a short toss from Jason White to Mark Clayton. The elusive Clayton weaved his way to a 59-yard touchdown, 58 of which came after the catch.
Clayton had six receptions for 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
White was 19-of-28 for 248 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Renaldo Works rushed 20 times for a career-high 131 yards and one touchdown.
Colorado managed just 227 yards of total offense. Through three quarters, the Buffaloes had posted just 115 yards on 37 snaps.
OU doled out seven sacks by seven different players.
Trey DiCarlo made both of his field goal attempts, recovered an onside kick and made a tackle in kick coverage.
OU had lost just one fumble going into the game, but lost three against the Buffs. It marked the first time this season that the offense had lost a fumble (the previous fumble lost was on special teams play).

SOONERS NO. 1
The Sooners are 66-6-0 when carrying the No. 1 ranking.
The Associated Press college football poll debuted in 1936. Since that time, no team has spent more time in the No. 1 position than Notre Dame with 95 weeks. Oklahoma is second on the list and closing. Including this week's poll, OU has been the No. 1 team in 89 weeks. Ohio State is next at 73, followed by Miami at 68 and Florida State at 60.
This is the 17th week that Oklahoma has held AP's No. 1 spot since Bob Stoops arrived.
Oklahoma has been ranked among the AP's top 10 in every week but one since Oct. 6, 2000. That one exception saw the Sooners dip to No. 11 prior to defeating Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl at the end of the 2001 season. That win vaulted them back into the top 10.
Oklahoma was the preseason No. 1. It marked the ninth time overall and the first time since 1987 that the Sooners entered a year atop the AP rankings. In four of those seasons, OU went on to win the national championship.
Oklahoma has the third-longest active streak in terms of consecutive weeks in the AP rankings. Michigan tops the list at 86, followed by Miami at 64 and OU at 62.

SOONERS RATE HIGH IN NCAA STATISTICS
Oklahoma's superlatives in the NCAA Team Statistics ...
Team: Pass Efficiency -- No. 1 (174.79), Scoring offense -- No. 2 (44.25), Pass Efficiency Defense -- No. 3 (90.50), Pass Defense -- No. 4 (154.75),Total Defense -- No. 5 (255.88), Turnover Margin -- No. 6 (+1.38), Punt Returns -- No. 6 (15.69), Scoring Defense -- No. 9 (15.13), Passing Offense -- No. 9 (307.13), Total Offense -- No. 14 (459.88).
Individual: Passing Efficiency -- Jason White, No. 2 (174.58), Scoring -- Trey DiCarlo, No. 5 (11.00), Field Goals -- Trey DiCarlo, No. 7 (2.0/game), Punt Returns -- Antonio Perkins, No. 8 (15.69), Total Offense -- Jason White, No. 17 (281.88), Interceptions -- Brodney Pool, No. 17 (.50/game).

HALF-A-HUNDRED FOR STOOPS
Bob Stoops got the 50th win of his coaching career, all at Oklahoma, when the Sooners defeated Missouri earlier this season. Stoops reached the 50-win plateau in his 59th game. Barry Switzer got his 50th OU win in 56 games, while Bud Wilkinson did it in 58. The only other Sooner coach to reach that milestone in the post WWII era was Chuck Fairbanks, who got win No. 50 in his 66th game. Fairbanks later coached at Colorado.

OU TOPS BIG 12 GRAD RATES
University of Oklahoma has announced that its students athletes achieved a record graduation rate of 74%, leading the Big 12 Conference. The graduation rate was announced as part of a national release by the NCAA. This report, which measures the class that entered in 1996, recognizes OU as one of 15 institutions that will receive a $20,000 achievement award sponsored by USA Today. The OU rate, which showed a 40% hike, experienced the greatest increase in I-A. OU also announced a record rate in football of 65%, which ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 behind Baylor's 75%. Eleven of 17 football players graduated. Four of the six who did not transferred in good academic standing.

THE WHITE STUFF
QB Jason White tore his left ACL in the 2001 game at Nebraska. He then tore his right ACL in last season's game against Alabama. In neither case was he injured by contact.
Rates high in several NCAA stats: No. 2 in passing efficiency (174.58), No. 3 in yards per attempt (9.19), No. 3 in touchdown passes (25), No. 4 in points responsible for (18.75), No. 6 in yards per completion (13.62), No. 6 in completion percentage (.674), No. 17 in total offense (281.88),
He has drilled 168-of-249 passes (.675) for 2,288 yards with 25 touchdowns and four interceptions. He threw two of his picks against UCLA and was hit on the release both times.
Has at last one completion of 45 yards or more in each game this season. Has 12 completions of 40 or more yards this season. That's the most ever by an OU quarterback. Josh Heupel (1999) and Steve Davis (1973) both had 11.
White is just the second Oklahoma quarterback to throw 25 touchdown passes through the first eight games. Josh Heupel also did it in 1999. He finished with 33 that season.
White is now No. 5 on OU's career passing list with 2,624 career yards. He needs 595 to move ahead of Bobby Warmack for No. 4. White has played in 17 games.
In his 12 career starts (OU is 11-1) combined, White is 225-of-340 (.662) for 2,862 yards and 27 TDs with seven INT. He did not play past the mid-point of the second quarter in two starts.
The 64-yard TD from White to Brandon Jones (vs. North Texas) was a personal long for both. White's 56-yard pass to Mark Clayton (vs. Fresno St.) was the second-longest of his career.
Due to a scoring margin, Jason White has finished only three games this season.

BEST QB STARTS AT OKLAHOMA
Best eight-game starts by OU quarterbacks ... Jason White's efficiency rating of 174.58 and his 67.47 completion percentage have never been exceeded at this point of the season ... his 25 TDs tie for No. 1 ... his four interceptions are lowest among those with at least 15 TD tosses.

THE “MARK” OF A GREAT RECEIVER
Mark Clayton is one of the top receivers in the nation and certainly one of the hottest ...
Has a touchdown reception in four straight games. Six of his eight TD grabs this season have come over the last four games.
Has four 100-yard games this season and has had 93 or more receiving yards in six consecutive outings. Caught two passes for 14 yards in the opener, but his worst game since then was three grabs for 54 yards.
Has six pass receptions of 40 or more yards this season. Only Tinker Owens exceeded that number with seven in 1973.

CATCHING ON
Oklahoma entered this season minus the top four pass catchers in school history (by receptions). RB Quentin Griffin, WR Curtis Fagan, WR Antwone Savage and TE Trent Smith all finished their eligibility last season. Here's some quick information on this year's corps ...
Mark Clayton, a junior, is fashioning some impressive career numbers. In 33 games, he has 117 receptions for 1,720 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has seven career 100-yard receiving games, a school record. Clayton's 59-yard reception at Colorado was the longest of his career and his fourth of 50 or more yards. Clayton is leading the club in receptions (44), receiving yards (785), yards per catch (17.8) and touchdowns (8). Clayton ranks No. 11 nationally in receiving yards per game at 98.1.
Through his first two seasons of eligibility, Brandon Jones had 10 receptions for 178 yards and three touchdowns. Through eight games this season, he has 33 catches for 454 yards and four touchdowns. In the opener against North Texas, Jones caught 10 passes for 121 yards and one touchdown. He also had a career-long grab of 64 yards in that game.
Jejuan Rankins ranks second on the team with five touchdown receptions, including one in three of the last four games. His three-yard touchdown reception from Jason White in the first quarter of the opener against North Texas was the first reception and touchdown of his career. The last player to score a touchdown on his first career pass reception was Arthur Guess in 1987 against Tulsa on a 21-yard play. Rankins later caught another TD in the game.
Mark Bradley had his first career reception at Alabama. He actually caught two passes in the game -- one for 35 yards and another for 44.
Will Peoples missed the first two games due to injury, but has rebounded with 12 catches for 162 yards and two TDs.

AREA OF GREATEST IMPROVEMENT?
It could be in the OU pass rush. Last year's team had 37 sacks through 14 games (2.6/game). The 2003 Sooners have 31 sacks in eight games (3.9/game). Last year's team had 111 QB hurries (not an official NCAA stat) or 7.9 per game. This year's team already has 100, which is 12.5 per game.
The defensive line (two ends and two tackles) already owns 26 sacks this season. Last year, those same positions accounted for just 19 through the entire 14-game schedule.
This team has a shot at the school record for sacks in a season. The 1997 club owns that distinction with 41. The 97 team played 12 games (3.4 sacks per game).

TREY GOOD FOR THREE
K Trey DiCarlo is enjoying a strong season ...
He has made 16-of-17 field goals. Seven (7-of-7) of his field goal makes came from 40 yards or longer. He had just three makes from at least 40 yards all of last season.
Of the I-A kickers who have at least 15 attempts, only one has a higher field goal percentage than DiCarlo's .941. Ole Miss's Jonathan Woods has made 22-of-23 for .957.
Equaled his career-long field goal with a 46-yarder in the opener against North Texas.
Has made 11 straight field goals, the longest string of his career. He has made 23 of his last 25 field goal attempts and now ranks No. 7 on the school's career list with 32.
He has 12 multiple field goal games including six this season.
He has 21 touchbacks on kickoffs after posting just nine all of last season.

AP ALL-AMERICAN
OU's version of AP, Antonio Perkins, is certainly bucking for that honor in the role of return specialist. The junior tied a pair of NCAA records with a 69-yard punt return touchdown against Missouri. It was the seventh of his career and his fourth this season ...
The NCAA single season mark for punt return touchdowns is held by 11 players, including Perkins. The NCAA career record of seven is held by Perkins,OU legend Jack Mitchell, Wes Welker, who currently plays for Texas Tech, Johnny Rogers of Nebraska and David Allen from Kansas State.
Perkins, with 1,145 yards in career punt returns, trails OU career punt return yardage leader Jarrail Jackson (1996-99) by 102 yards. Jackson tallied 1,238.

WORKS FOR US
Renaldo Works entered this season with one 100-yard game, a 109-yard effort against Arkansas State in 2000. He has now exceeded that career best twice in the last three games. He had 112 yards (15 carries) against Texas, then came back with 130 yards (20 carries) at Colorado.

FLYING THE SOONER SKIES
Oklahoma “worst” passing day (vs. UCLA) resulted in 243 yards. Last year's Sooner team exceeded 243 yards just four times ...
OU hasn't thrown more than 14 incompletions in a game this season. Sooner opponents have had more than 14 misfires in six contests. OU averages one interception every 53 passing attempts, the foes average one every 19.7 attempts.
OU's “worst” completion percentage this season was 58.8% vs. Missouri (20-of-34).
It's far too early to begin discussing records, but it's worth a mention that this team's completion percentage of .683 would obliterate the current school mark of .642 set in 2000. Four of the five top season completion percentage marks at OU have been set since Bob Stoops arrived. The record for interception avoidance was set in 1992 when 2.5% of the aerials were picked. This team is at 2.1%.

ONE HUNDRED IF BY LAND
Oklahoma's passing game has been potent. So much so that some questioned the effectiveness of the running game. That criticism has evaporated in light of the statistics ...
Over the last six contests, the Sooners have rushed for an average of 173.8 yards per game and 4.3 yards per carry.
OU has eclipsed 100 rushing yards in seven of its eight games this season.

A REALLY STRONG SAFETY
SS Donte Nicholson, a junior in his first season at OU, is emerging as one of the top DBs in the Big 12. Twenty-six (11 vs. Texas, 10 vs. Missouri) of his 52 tackles (ranks No. 2 on the team to Teddy Lehman) have come over the last two games. Holds his lofty team ranking despite posting zero tackles in the opener. He has one sack in each of the last five games.

THAT'S A COMBINED 602 POUNDS ON THE PROWL
Two of OU's bigger linemen covered some serious ground in making plays this season ...
Jammal Brown (6-6, 313), OU's right tackle, ran down and tackled UCLA LB Spencer Havner at the end of a 72-yard interception return.
DT Tommie Harris (6-3, 289) covered 21 yards to tackle Iowa State receiver Jack Whitver from behind and force a fumble that OU's Derrick Strait recovered. When ISU QB Austin Flynn released the pass, Harris was four yards deep in the Cyclone backfield at the ISU 22. The tackle occurred at the ISU 43.

TURNOVERS TURNED OFF
OU had fewer turnovers than its opponent in 15 of 22 games over the last two seasons.
OU ranks No. 6 nationally in turnover margin at +1.4.
OU has 21 takeaways to just nine turnovers lost.

ABOUT THE SOONER DEFENSE
The defense has two touchdowns this year -- both on interception returns. A 34-yarder by Eric Bassey against UCLA and a 21-yarder by Jonathan Jackson against Texas.
From 1999-02, no college team had more interceptions than Oklahoma's 88. The Sooners also gave up just 88 touchdowns in that time, second only to Southern Miss' 78.
Oklahoma has forced at least one turnover in 54 of the last 60 games (Stoops' tenure) and has at least one interception in 42 of the last 48 contests. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that OU has had multiple interceptions in 13 of the last 20 contests.
Sooner opponents have completed 50% of their passes just 24 times in the last 60 games.
OU foes have scored 14 or more points just 23 times in the last 60 games.
Under Stoops, the Sooners have five shutouts. Opponents failed to score more than seven points in 20 of the 60 games.
Last season, OU led the nation with 24 interceptions. It was the third straight season the team posted 20, a first at OU.
Over its last three bowl games, all in January and two as part of the BCS, OU has given up a grand total of 19 points. Only two touchdowns have been scored against the OU defense.

ABOUT THE SOONER OFFENSE
With 212 yards against Fresno State, Oklahoma has now exceeded the 200-yard rushing mark in eight games over the last two seasons (fell one yard shy at Iowa State).
OU ranked among the top 30 in the nation in scoring in each of Bob Stoops' four years.
Under Bob Stoops, OU's offense has produced the career passing leader, the top four career receivers and the No. 4 career rusher in school history.
Over the last five seasons, the Sooners have scored 62 TDs that covered 25+ yards.
The quick-striking offense has 163 scoring drives of two minutes or less under Bob Stoops.
OU has scored on its first offensive possession in all eight games -- four FG and four TD.

ABOUT THE SPECIAL TEAMS
A look at special teams notes from Bob Stoops' era as OU's head coach ...
There have been 20 special teams touchdowns, including 13 in the last 31 regular season games. Those 13 came via five different plays -- five punt returns, two faked field goals, a blocked punt, a kickoff return and a faked punt. The special teams also own one safety.
OU has returned five kickoffs and 11 punts for touchdowns.
The Sooners have blocked 15 kicks.
The current special teams rank No. 6 in the nation in punt returns (15.69).

SOONER STUFF
Oklahoma is 8-0 for the fourth consecutive season and for the 15th time in its history ... Under Bob Stoops, OU has held a double-digit lead in 52 of 60 games ... OU has not suffered back-to-back losses under Stoops ... OU is 37-23 in Big 12 play since the conference formed for the 1996 season, 29-7 since Bob Stoops arrived in 1999 ... earlier this season, OU scored more than 50 points in four straight games, a first in school history ... OU's depth chart includes 20 freshmen or sophomores ... the offensive line contains no seniors, but has a combined 123 starts ... Oklahoma has 114 third-down attempts, the opponents have 118 -- the Sooners converted 48, the opponents just 32 ... Oklahoma has outscored its opponents in the second period of games this season by a whopping count of 129-16.

HEAD COACH BOB STOOPS
When Bob Stoops arrived at Oklahoma prior to the 1999 season, it had been five seasons since the storied Sooner program had finished above .500, four since it last played in a bowl game.
In Stoops' first four seasons, OU captured a national championship, 43 victories and four bowl appearances. The lightning-quick return to national prominence was so complete as to almost obliterate perhaps the most impressive achievement of all ... the turnaround itself.
Few could have envisioned OU's dip in the middle 90's. Fewer could have predicted the extent to which the Schooner would be righted under Stoops.
The head coach stubbornly points to the program as a whole when defining the resurgence. Humility aside, it is Stoops who deserves a lion's share of the credit ...
He is the first OU coach to take his first four teams to bowl games.
One of 18 head coaches hired on the D-I level in 1999, he has been the most successful of the class with a 51-9 mark.
More than 70 school records have been set during the his tenure.
In 28 home games, his teams have out-scored their opponents 967-276.
Every home game of his OU tenure has been a sellout.
During his tenure, OU has 21 national television appearances, nine vists from ESPN's GameDay and six cover photos on Sports Illustrated.
The team set a record football graduation rate of 65%, which ranked No. 2 in the Big 12 Conference in the most recently released figures.
If not for its meteoric pace, Stoops' career would read like a textbook rise in the coaching profession.
A four-year starter as a player at Iowa, he began his coaching career in a volunteer capacity at his alma mater in 1983. He worked through the ranks until he became co-defensive coordinator at Kansas State from 1991-95. With the Wildcats, he played a key role in the impressive turnaround. During his final four seasons there, K-State was 35-12 with three bowl appearances.
Then came a three-year stint as Florida's defensive coordinator from 1996-98. It was during that time that the national spotlight focused on his accomplishments. The move to a head coaching role was a hiring for the ages in Norman.

PLAYER NOTES
LB Gayron Allen
OU's shortest linebacker at 5-10 ... had first career sack in season opener against North Texas.

DB Eric Bassey
Started every game at SS in 02, but moved to CB in spring ... returned an interception 34 yards for a TD vs. UCLA (his second career TD -- 45-yard fumble return against Alabama last season) ... also forced a fumble against the Bruins.

DE Larry Birdine
RS frosh got his first career start at Colorado ... has a sack in four of the last seven games ... eight total TFL.

WR Mark Bradley
Moved from CB to WR in preseason ... two receptions for 83 yards at Alabama and a tackle in punt coverage ... first career KO return at Iowa State went 100 yards for a TD ... caught 39-yard TD pass at Iowa State.

LT Jammal Brown
A starter in 20 consecutive games ... has graded the highest of all the OU offensive lineman thus far ... 70 knockdowns and one sack allowed ... ran down UCLA linebacker Spencer Havner to make the tackle on a 72-yard interception return
.
C Chris Bush
Started game one at center ... may be OU's most versatile lineman ... seeing action as a reserve at left guard.

C Vince Carter
On watch list for Rimington Award ... slowed by a sore knee in preseason, he got his first start at Alabama ... has 28 career starts ... has 38 knockdowns and just one sack allowed this season.

OG Kelvin Chaisson
Has started 13 straight games at left guard.

LB Wayne Chambers
Soph became the starter in the middle when Lance Mitchell went down ... had 10 tackles against UCLA in his first start.

WR Mark Clayton
No. 3 at OU with 16 career TD receptions ... 18th player in school history to log 1,000 career receiving yards ... at least one reception of 40 or more yards in five games this season ... 190 receiving yards (OU record) vs. Texas, 118 vs. UCLA, 110 vs. Fresno State, Missouri ... first KOR of the season vs. MU went for 29 yards ... four special teams tackles.

DE Dan Cody
Has five sacks ... entered season with three career sacks ... six QB hurries vs. Alabama and UCLA ... three tackles for loss against Missouri, including one sack for -11 ... missed Colorado game due to injury.

K Trey DiCarlo
On preseason watch list for Groza Award ... had made 16-of-17 field goals ... has 21 touchbacks on kickoffs ... made at least one field goal of 40 yards in six games (7-of-7 from 40 or more yards) ... made 11 consecutive field goals.

TE Lance Donley
Blue collar worker who is the most experienced of OU's large tight end corp ... had no TD receptions through the first 37 games of his career and has two this season.

DT Dusty Dvoracek
Leads team with seven sacks ... two sacks each vs. Iowa State and Missouri ... batted a pass against Texas that Jonathan Jackson intercepted and returned 21 yards for a TD ... started every game this season.

FS Brandon Everage
On watch list for the Thorpe Award after being a semifinalist for that award last season ... sat out the first game, then logged 10 tackles, including one for loss at Alabama ...

P Blake Ferguson
Has a 43.6-yard average on 27 punts ... seven have been downed inside the 20 (one at the four and another at the one) ... has nine boots of 50 or more yards (two more than last season) ... season-best 59-yarder vs. Alabama and Missouri.

DT Tommie Harris
On Lombardi, Nagurski and Outland watch lists... returned a fumble 14 yards against UCLA ... one sack and a fumble forced at Iowa State (on the FF, he ran 21 yards to hit a receiver from behind) ... four QB hurries against Missouri.

RB Donta Hickson
Had 18 rushes for 57 through the first five games, but has 23 for 62 in the last two ... 55-yard reception against Texas.

DE Jonathan Jackson
OU's most experienced defensive end with 18 career starts ... led the team with 21 hurries last season and is leading again this year with 21 ... returned an INT 21 yards against Texas for his only career TD ... five sacks, including four over the last three games.

LB Pasha Jackson
Plays on strong side ... missed Iowa State, Texas, Missouri and Colorado games with a sprained knee.

WR Brandon Jones
Plays in the outfield for OU baseball team ... career highs with 10 grabs for 121 yards vs. North Texas (had 64-yard TD grab, longest reception of his career) ... deep threat who has TD catches of 59 (at Colorado) and 47 yards (at Alabama).

RB Kejuan Jones
Got his first career start at Alabama ... season-high 81 yards against Texas (17 rushes) ... coming off strong outing at Colorado when he averaged 5.2 yards per carry on 13 attempts.

OG Davin Joseph
A true sophomore, he is already talked about as one of the most talented players OU has ever had at his position ... moved into a starting role for the Big 12 Championship and Rose Bowl games last season and remained ever since.

DT Kory Klein
Has 35 starts at Oklahoma ... string of 28 consecutive starts ended at Alabama.

LB Teddy Lehman
One of three finalists for the Butkus Award last season ... team leader with 65 tackles ... one of the fastest LBs in the country ... three pass break ups ... 17 tackles and an interception against UCLA ... 10 tackles vs. Missouri.

S Matt McCoy
Plays in nickel and dime situations ... has seven career takeaways (five INT, two FR), including a pick in the North Texas game ... the holder for placements, he ran in a two-point conversion on a faked PAT against Fresno State.

DT Lynn McGruder
Along with Mark Clayton, pulled several injured passengers from an automobile accident on I-35 over the summer ... in the strong four-man rotation at defensive tackle ... illness kept him from making Iowa State trip ... got first sack this season at Colorado.

LB Lance Mitchell
OU's top tackler in 02 with 124, he is out for the year after tearing his left ACL vs. Fresno State. Had surgery 9/22/03.

TE James Moses
Three catches for 30 yards in his first career start (vs. North Texas) ... started first two games ... 28-yard grab vs. UCLA.

SS Donte Nicholson
Double digit tackles in two straight games (11 vs. Texas, 10 vs. Missouri) ... has a sack in five straight games ... TD-saving interception at Alabama ... also had eight tackles in that game ... recovered a fumble and returned it 11 yards at CU.

WR Will Peoples
Slowed in camp by a knee ailment suffered in the first scrimmage ... missed first two games, then had three grabs for 29 yards against Fresno State ... five grabs for 80 yards and a 45-yard TD at Iowa State ... 20-yard TD grab against Texas.

CB Antonio Perkins
One of the top returners in college football also draws the start at CB this season ... interceptions at Alabama, Colorado.

FS Brodney Pool
Started the opener at free safety and had a career-best 11 tackles ... two picks at Iowa State ... leads team with four INT .. ranks No. 17 in the nation with 0.6 interceptions per game ... blocked a PAT at Colorado.

WR Jejuan Rankins
Two touchdown receptions vs. North Texas in first career start ... scored on 15-yard receptions against Iowa State and Texas, then got a 30-yard TD catch vs. Missouri.

FB J.D. Runnels
Starter at H-back ... excellent blocker and deceptively good receiver ... 17-yard reception at Alabama ... caught a TD pass against Fresno State and Texas.

DB Brandon Shelby
Used in extra DB sets ... HM All-Big 12 last season with no starts ... one INT, four sacks and two blocks in 2002.

OT Wes Sims
Has 28 career starts, including 22 at left tackle ... came off the bench against North Texas, but has started since then.

CB Derrick Strait
On Thorpe and Nagurski Watch Lists ... Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week with seven tackles, 1 PBU and 1 FF vs. North Texas ... the career leader for games started and consecutive starts by a DB, saw his streak end at 43 when he was sidelined for the UCLA game ... entered season with one fumble recovery, but has three this season ... career-high 11 tackles with two FR, 1 INT and 3 PBU vs. Texas ... interceptions vs. Texas and Alabama

QB Paul Thompson
Rangy QB with a quick release and good running ability ... Hit 5-of-6 for 38 yards and one TD in opener ... had a 50-yard rush against Fresno State, the longest by a Sooner quarterback since 1998.

QB Jason White
See notes earlier in this release.

WR Travis Wilson
Most physical player in the receiving corps, he had TD catches against North Texas and Iowa State.

RB Renaldo Works
Exceeded 80 rushing yards in five games, including 130 at Colorado and 112 vs. Texas.