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University of Oklahoma Athletics
2004 Season Preview: Defensive Ends
July 27, 2004 | Football
Defensive Ends
Players with starting experience at the position: Larry Birdine, Dan Cody, Jonathan Jackson
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 and both are on the preseason watch list for the Hendricks Award.
Cody led the team in sacks last season with 10 and Jackson has topped the club in hurries in each of the last two, including his total of 26 in '03. They combine a ton of knowhow with outstanding athletic traits and dogged tenacity.
[ View OU Defensive Ends Photo Gallery ]
The group tucked in behind those two seniors may feature more of the same. Larry Birdine got a start at Colorado last season when Cody was sidelined with an injury. He managed four sacks, one each in four different games, a testimony to his consistency. Calvin Thibodeaux has seen game time, too, and will push for more.
Redshirt freshmen Alonzo Dotson and John Williams raised a lot of eyebrows on the scout team last season. Both have the ability to make a serious run at playing time.
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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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