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University of Oklahoma Athletics
2004 Season Preview: Defensive Tackles
July 26, 2004 | Football
Defensive Tackles
Players with starting experience at the position: Dusty Dvoracek, Lynn McGruder
Dusty Dvoracek is not the biggest defensive tackle in college football, but few are better at getting from point A to point B. And point B is usually in the opposing backfield.
Dvoracek is a playmaker as evidenced by the fact that his 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks were tops among OU's interior players last year.
[ Defensive Tackle Photo Gallery ]
Lynn McGruder was a much-heralded high school product who transferred to Oklahoma from Tennessee. He has been a steady contributor as part of a four-man rotation over the last two seasons. The door swings open for him a bit this season with the graduation of Kory Klein and the early departure of Tommie Harris.
The backup roles will take some sorting out among a group of players with no I-A playing experience. Redshirt freshmen Lawrence Dampeer, Carl Pendleton and Steven Coleman fall into that category, as does junior college transfer Remi Ayodele, who arrives in August.
Oklahoma still has good talent on its defensive interior. A little good fortune in the injury department will allow the Sooners to develop the depth at a reasonable rate.
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Quarterbacks Stories don't come much better than that of Jason White. Two reconstructive knee surgeries and a Heisman Trophy all in the span of three years is the stuff of legend. And now a curtain call? |
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Running Backs Two years ago, Kejuan Jones was OU's short-yardage back. Last season, while sharing time with Renaldo Works, he evolved into a more typical role. Works' graduation leaves Jones... |
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Receivers Speed, elusiveness, strength ... they all reside at Oklahoma's receiver position. In fact, the only commodity that may be in better supply is experience. The Sooner receiving corps will be a strength... |
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Tight Ends This coaching staff has produced three players who are now tight ends on NFL rosters. Their appreciation for the position is well-documented. The productivity dropped somewhat last year as... |
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Offensive Line All five starters return. Three of the five have been starters for three seasons and all five have been starters for all or part of two seasons. The group owns 133 combined starting assignments... |
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Defensive Line Dusty Dvoracek is not the biggest defensive tackle in college football, but few are better at getting from point A to point B. And point B is usually in the opposing backfield. Dvoracek is a playmaker... |
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Defensive Ends The unvarnished truth is that the defensive end position will likely be one of the strongest on the team. Dan Cody and Jonathan Jackson have played in a combined 70 games at Oklahoma... |
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Linebackers If there is such a thing as a blessing in disguise, the blessing's name is Lance Mitchell. OU's physically imposing middle linebacker went down with a torn ACL in the third game of the 2003 season... |
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Secondary It took a mighty big spotlight to capture Oklahoma's secondary last season. Cornerback Derrick Strait was nailing down the Nagurski and Thorpe Awards, while former All-American Brandon Everage... |
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Special Teams With the exception of holder Matt McCoy, anyone who handled the ball on Oklahoma's special teams last season is back. Replacements for McCoy's job will be auditioned. Otherwise, it's the same cast... |
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