Sooners Seek Sweep of Big 12 North

Sooner Gameday Central - Nebraska | Season Stats | Notes (PDF)

OU at Nebraska
Oklahoma goes in search of its third consecutive victory this Saturday, and attempts a sweep of the Big 12 North portion of its schedule, when it travels to Nebraska. It is OU's first visit to Lincoln since 2001. The Huskers look to rebound from last week's 41-24 loss at Missouri.

The game at Memorial Stadium is scheduled to kick shortly after 11 a.m. and will be televised by ABC Sports. Check Sooner Gameday Central for complete media coverage and information for Sooner fans attending the game in Lincoln.

O-Zone Live Tuesday : Callahan (11 a.m.) & Stoops (Noon)
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After this meeting, OU and UNL will not see each other again in the regular season until 2008 due to the Big 12's schedule rotation.

This is just the second true road game of the season for Oklahoma, which played neutral field games against Texas and Kansas. The other road contest was against UCLA at the Rose Bowl. This will be the Sooners' first game on an artificial surface this season. Their only other road game this season also will be played on plastic at Texas Tech.

OU Heisman winners Billy Sims and Steve Owens are scheduled to be in attendance as is legendary Sooner coach Barry Switzer.

The Series Overall
Oklahoma leads, 41-37-3
At Norman: Oklahoma leads, 22-16; At Lincoln: Nebraska leads, 21-17-2
At Oklahoma City: Oklahoma leads, 1-0; At Miami, Fla.: Oklahoma leads 1-0
At Omaha, Neb.: The two teams tied.
Oklahoma's Widest Margin of Victory: Three victories by 48 points, most recent 54-6 in 1956
Nebraska's Widest Margin of Victory: 69-7 in 1997
Oklahoma's Highest Point Total: 55 in 1954
Nebraska's Highest Point Total: 73 in 1996
Shutouts by Oklahoma: Eight
Shutouts by Nebraska: 12
Oklahoma's Longest Series Winning Streak: 16 games, 1943-1958
Nebraska's Longest Series Winning Streak: Seven games from 1991-1997

Series Notes
The home team has won four straight in this series ... Oklahoma has lost its last six games in Lincoln dating back to a 17-7 victory in 1987 ... Memorial Stadium in Lincoln is one of only two Big 12 venues at which Bob Stoops does not yet have a win. The other is Darrell K. Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, but Stoops has never coached a game there since OU and Texas meet annually in Dallas.

The Coaches
Oklahoma: Bob Stoops (Iowa 83), now in his seventh season with the Sooners, is 71-15 overall. He is 3-3 in bowls, 3-2 in January bowls, 2-2 in BCS games, 47-9 vs. the Big 12, 25-6 vs. the Big 12 South, 22-3 vs. the Big 12 North, 3-1 in the Big 12 title game, 25-6 vs. non-conference opponents, 39-2 at home, 20-7 on the road, 12-6 on neutral fields, 21-6 vs. ranked opponents and 2-1 vs. Nebraska.

Nebraska: Bill Callahan (Illinois Benedictine 78) is 10-8 in his second season at Nebraska. He is 0-1 against Oklahoma.

The Program
Oklahoma owns one of the most storied and accomplished traditions in all of college football ...
OU's all-time record is 752-288-53. n Seven national championships (1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, 2000).
Thirty-eight bowl appearances (No. 7 nationally) with 23 victories (No. 3 nationally).
Since WWII, Oklahoma is the most successful college football program with 508 victories.
OU's all-time winning percentage of .711 ranks No. 4 among Division I-A members.
From 2000 forward, OU leads the nation in victories with 64.

This Week's Opponent
Nebraska has matched its win total from last season with five.
The Huskers rank No. 4 nationally in net punting (40.39) and No. 9 in rushing defense (95.29). Terrance Nunn ranks No. 2 nationally in punt returns (22.42), Sam Koch No. 9 punter (44.64) and Jordon Congdon tied for No. 10 in FG (1.71/game) with OU's Garrett Hartley and four others.

The Last Meeting
Oklahoma won 30-3 over Nebraska last season in Norman ...
A record crowd of 84,916 saw 23 Sooners in their final game on Owen Field.
Jason White connected on 29-of-35 passes for 383 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. During the game, he set an OU record with 18 consecutive completions.
Travis Wilson established career highs with nine receptions for 135 yards.
OU nearly posted a shutout, but the Huskers got a 39-yard field goal on the games final play.

Ties With This Week's Opponent
Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor is a native of Norman, Okla., (Norman HS) and the son of Sherwood Taylor, formerly a standout out DB for Oklahoma. The elder Taylor lettered with the Sooners from 1977-79. OU won two of three meetings with the Huskers during that stretch, but lost in its only trip to Lincoln, 17-14, in 78.
Nebraska defensive line coach John Blake was Oklahoma's head coach from 1996-98. He played at OU from 1979-82 and graduated in 1986.
Nebraska offensive coordinator Jay Norvell was on the OU staff for one month during the off-season in 2002, but never coached a practice or game with the Sooners. He left to join the coaching staff with the Oakland Raiders.

Oklahoma's Most Recent Game
Oklahoma dominated statistically in its win over Baylor last week, but a string of miscues opened the door for the Bears, and the Sooners needed two overtimes to secure a 37-30 victory ...
OU had whopping advantages in first downs (28-12), rushing yards (205-68), total yards (474- 291) and time of possession (41:40-18:20).
It was just the second overtime game in school history, the first in Norman. OU is now 2-0 alltime in overtime games including a victory over Texas in 1996 (30-27).
OU got the game-winner on a 21-yard pass from redshirt freshman Rhett Bomar to true freshman Juaqin Inglesias. It was Inglesias' only reception of the game. The Sooner quarterback was roughed on the throw and the penalty pushed the Bears back to the 40 for their next and final possession.
Two injuries and a suspension claimed OU's top three running backs, but the Sooners still managed 205 yards on the ground. Fourth-stringer Jacob Gutierrez ran for 173 on 30 attempts, while Allen Patrick, a converted defense back, got another 49 on 15 tries. Gutierrez had 14 rushes going into the game and Patrick had two.
Oklahoma entered the game with just 13 second-quarter points on the season, but put up 24 in the second frame against the Bears. It was the best scoring period of the year for OU.
DE C.J. Ah You had five tackles, two fumbles forced (both of which were recovered by Oklahoma) and a sack on an attempted two-point conversion by Baylor.
K Garrett Hartley was good on a career-high three field goals (3-of-3) with makes from 32, 25 and 39 yards. The latter of those knotted the score at the end of the first overtime and forced the second extra period. Hartley also coverted all three point after touchdown kicks and booted four touchbacks. He was named the SBC Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.
The Sooners had an interception returned to their six, which BU converted to a touchdown, and lost two fumbles, one at the Baylor 18 with 2:39 remaining. The Sooners led 27-19 and were driving towards a game-icing score, but Baylor converted a 55-yard touchdown pass and two-point conversion to force overtime. Earlier in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma had the ball 2nd-and-goal from the Baylor one, but incurred a procedure penalty and had to settle for a field goal. The special teams suffered a rare breakdown when Baylor returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.

North Country
Oklahoma has won its last 11 regular season games against the Big 12 North Division. That dates back to the Sooners' last trip to Nebraska in 2001 when the Huskers prevailed, 20-10.
The 11 straight does not include a loss to Kansas State in the 2003 Big 12 title game. Sandwiched around that setback, the Sooners won the Big 12 crown with a pair of victories against North Division champion Colorado in 2002 and 2004.

Injury Bug Bites
Oklahoma playes have combined to miss 30 full games this season due to injury. There are another four who missed partial games (more than half of the game). Through seven games last season, OU players had combined to miss just 11 games due to injury.

Fourth Down Fun
OU has converted 6-of-9 fourth-down tries including their last four in a row. Two of those last four came on faked kicks (punt vs. Texas, FG vs. Kansas). Sooner opponents are 2-of-8 on fourth down. Under Stoops, OU is 65-of-112 (58%) on fourth down; the opponents are 49-of-132 (37%).

Sooners Taking a Different Position
Paul Thompson's move from QB (he's still the No. 2) to WR and Allen Patrick's change from DB to RB continues a venture that has been successful under Bob Stoops -- players changing positions. Here is a look at some of the more successful moves over the last seven seasons ...
Lewis Baker LB SS Started two games this season at SS.
Mark Bradley DB WR Drafted by Chicago after last season.
Jammal Brown DL RT Outland winner, first round pick by New Orleans.
Chris Chester TE C Started first game of 05 as OG then next two at C.
Brandon Daniels QB, DB WR, KR Set OU season kickoff return record (508 yards).
Curtis Fagan CB WR Top five in OU history (receptions and yards).
Cory Heinecke LB/LS DE Started for 2000 national championship team.
Josh Norman RB WR Signed with San Diego as a tight end.
Allen Patrick DB RB Got first plays at RB over the last three games.
Paul Thompson QB QB/WR Has started at QB and WR this season.
Frank Romero DL OL All-Big 12 player who signed with Philadelphia.
Jimmy Wilkerson LB DE Drafted by Kansas City.
D.J. Wolfe RB CB Started every game this season at corner.
Andre Woolfolk WR/CB CB Drafted by Tennessee.

Sooners Eclipse Three Million in Attendance
Under Stoops Oklahoma has sold out all 41 home games of Bob Stoops' tenure and during the Tulsa game the total attendance for that period exceeded three million. The total stands at 3,227,865. OU has exceeded its listed capacity of 82,112 in 16 straight games.

Oklahoma Picks Up Win. No. 750
The win over Tulsa was the 750th all-time for Oklahoma. The Sooners' all-time record now stands 753-288-53. OU is one of just eight schools with 750 victories. With 1,094 games played, the Sooners are just seven away from 1,100. Nineteen other schools have played 1,100 games.

OU Brand Among the Nation's Most Popular
The Collegiate Licensing Company has announced its top-selling entities for the most recent fiscal year and the OU brand ranks No. 5, the highest ranking ever for the Sooners. North Carolina topped the list followed by Michigan, Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma. A portion of the proceeds from the Sooner marks benefit an endowment for Bizzell Library on the OU campus.

Early Games Illustrate Changing of the Guard
A game-by-game look at the youth and change on this year's team ...

The TCU Game
Seven defensive players made their first career start.
Thirteen freshmen (eight true, five redshirt) played.
The starting offensive players in last season's finale had a combined 301 starts. The offensive starters in the 05 opener had a combined 130. The offensive line that started in the Orange Bowl last season at 188 career starts compared to just 68 for the group that started this year's opener.

The Tulsa Game
Eighteen first-year players saw action. Of those, 16 were freshmen, including 10 true.
Four of the five starting offensive linemen were in their first game at that particular position. Only Chris Bush, who had two previous starts at right guard (one in 03 and another in 04) was in a spot he had previously held. The offensive line that started against TU had a combined 41 career starts, down some 27 from the opener.
Three freshmen linemen played, including RT Branndon Braxton in his first career start.
CB D.J. Wolfe led OU with 12 tackles. At the same time last year he was a reserve RB.
OU's leading rusher and receiver was a sophomore (Adrian Peterson), the QB was a redshirt freshman (Rhett Bomar), the P was a sophomore (Cody Freeby), the K was a sophomore (Garrett Hartley), the leading tackle was a sophomore (D.J. Wolfe) and three of the four sacks were made by players who either weren't here last season or were playing offense in 2004.

The UCLA Game
Three true freshmen started in the game in RT Branndon Braxton, WR Malcolm Kelly and SS Reggie Smith. To put that in perspective, only four true freshmen even played for OU all of 2004.
Of the 15 players who had statistics on offense or in returns, 10 have at least two years of eligibility remaining, as did the leading tacklers Demarrio Pleasant and Darien Williams (both had 10), both of whom are sophomores.

The Kansas State Game
Four true freshmen started, including both safeties -- Reggie Smith (FS) and Nic Harris (SS). Harris responded with seven tackles and one sack in his first career start. Smith had an interception and a 14-yard return.
In the third quarter, the Sooners faced a third-and-seven at their own 19. The offense came out in a three-receiver set and all three were true freshmen -- Malcolm Kelly, Manuel Johnson and Juaquin Iglesias. Rhett Bomar, a redshirt freshman himself, hit Iglesias for 18 yards.

The Texas Game
For the second straight game five freshmen were in the starting line-up, including three true frosh. RG J.D. Quinn, a redshirt freshman, made his first career start after Chris Bush moved over to the center spot to spell ailing Chris Chester, a senior.
Quinn was one of three offensive players making a first career start, sort of. Paul Thompson, a junior, started this year's opener at quarterback, but made his first-ever start at WR against Texas. Sophomore RB Jacob Gutierrez lined up in the slot on the first play to earn his first start.

The Kansas Game
OU's lone offensive touchdown was scored by true freshman Malcolm Kelly on a 25-yard pass from RS freshman Rhett Bomar. The Sooners' other TD was scored by sophomore CB D.J. Wolfe, who played RB last season. WR Juaquin Iglesias became the eight freshman to start a game this season, the fifth true freshman to do so.

The Baylor Game
Six players missed the game (five due to injury and one due to suspension). Of that six, five were seniors. The game-winner in the second ovetime was a 21-yard pass from redshirt freshman Rhett Bomar to true freshman Juaquin Inglesias.
With its top three running backs sidelined, fourth-string back Jacob Gutierrez, a sophomore, rushed for 173 yards. His back-up was converted DB Allen Patrick, who gained 49 on 15 tries.
The Sooners matched a season high by playing 10 true freshmen.

About the Sooner Offense
Under Bob Stoops, OU has produced its career leader in passing and receiving, while also turning out the fourth-leading rusher in school history and the school record holder for single season rushing yards.
Oklahoma has scored at least one touchdown in 87 consecutive games dating back to Nov. 7, 1998.
Under Stoops, OU has rushed for 200 yards 25 times, including 20 over the last four seasons.
Also under Stoops, OU has 88 TDs of 25+ yards and 202 scoring drives that lasted less than two minutes.

Peterson Goes Over 2,000 Yards
Soph RB Adrian Peterson crossed over the 2,000 yard mark for his career vs. Tulsa, when be bolted for 220 against the Golden Hurricane. Peterson now has 2,327 yards for his career ...
Peterson has been slowed by bad ankle in the last four games (did not play vs. Baylor). Three weeks ago against Kansas State he had 51 yards through one quarter and a half when he left the game with an ankle injury. He had a 22-yard TD run before retiring. Two weeks he had just three carries for 10 yards against Texas, the last week he had five totes for -4 yards while playing in the first half only against Kansas.
The Tulsa game was the fourth 200-yard game (his fourth-highest total) and his fourth three-touchdown game. His 32 carries tied for his third-highest total, but with two receptions, the 34 touches ranked second. He had 36 touches (all rushes) against Kansas State last season.
Last season, Peterson carried 339 times for 1,925 yards. His attempts ranked No. 1 in the nation, while his net yards was No. 3.
During the off-season he had surgery on his left shoulder, which precluded his participation in spring practice.
Peterson set a single season rushing record at OU in 2004, surpassing the previous best of 1,896 yards by Billy Sims in 1978.
Peterson eclipsed Ron Dayne's (1,863) NCAA single season mark for a freshman. Peterson set other NCAA freshman standards for consecutive 100-yard games (nine) and 100-yard games (11). He tied (Emmitt Smith, Florida, 1987 and Marshall Faulk, San Diego State, 1991) the record for reaching 1,000 yards the fastest by a frosh by doing so in the seventh game.
Peterson averaged 164.0 yards vs. the four ranked foes in 2004.
He gained 100 yards in 11 of 13 games as a frosh and has done so in 12 of 19 games during his career.
He had the highest finish in the Heisman voting ever by a freshman (second) and was the first freshman to be named a finalist for the Doak Walker Award. He also was a finalist for the Maxwell.

Two X 2,000
With Kejuan Jones (2,199) and Adrian Peterson (2,323) both over 2,000 career rushing yards, it marks the first time since 1987 that OU has two backs over that figure on the same roster. Lydell Carr finished with 2,910 and Jamelle Holieway with 2,713 that year. It also happened in 1986 when Carr and Spencer Tillman both eclipsed 2,000.
It's also interesting to note that both Jones and Peterson figure to continue their respective ascensions up the career rushing touchdown list at OU. Jones is tied at No. 7 with Steve Davis with 34. Peterson has 21. He needs just nine to crack the top 15.

Rushing Game Revival
In the last two games, OU's ground game has found its groove even in the absence of All-American Adrian Peterson ...
Against Kansas, the Sooners wound up with 96 rushing yards for the game, but that was due mostly to sacks. Donta Hickson (18-59) and Kejuan Jones (16-51) both eclipsed 50 yards while splitting the reps. A case could be made that one back might have made it over the century mark.
The following week against Baylor, OU got 205 yards on the ground against Baylor for its third 200-yard performance of the season.
Jacob Gutierrez went for 173 on yards on 30 carries against Baylor. Prior to that game, the soph's career numbers (all this season) were 14 rushes for 73 yards.

Bomar Sooner
A look at RS QB Rhett Bomar, who came off the bench in the opener, but has since been the starter ...
He had a string of 73 throws without an interception snapped against Texas when one of his tosses bounced off a Sooner receiver into the hands of a Longhorn defender.
Over the last two games, he is 40-of-73 for 475 yards. He has two TD and four interceptions during that stretch, although one of the picks was a hail Mary at the end of regulation vs. Baylor.
In a two-game stretch vs. UCLA and Kansas St., he was 32-of-51 for 380 yards with one TD and no INT.
He has rushed for a touchdown in two games. Prior to leading OU in rushing with 67 yards on eight carries against Kansas State, he rushed 13 times for 28 at UCLA. In those two games, he had 21 totes for 95 yards, an average of 4.5 yards per attempt.
He has eight rushes of more than 10 yards with a long of 42 vs. K-State. He had a 28 yarder vs. TCU.

Rushing QB Returns at Oklahoma
Only twice during the last two seasons (2003, 2004) did a starting Sooner quarterback have rushes of 10 or more yards. Jason White picked up 10 yards against Texas in 2003 and then had a 12-yard jaunt against USC last season. White finished in positive rushing numbers just five times over those two seasons (once in 03 and four times in 04).

Bomar has had a positive rushing number in five of eight games to date. That's impressive considering he has thrown 175 passes and been sacked 18 times.

In White's defense, before being slowed by two knee surgeries, he was a dangerous runner. He rushed 12 times for 117 yards at Kansas in the 2001 game. Two weeks later he suffered the first of two knee injuries during a game at Nebraska.

That 2001 Kansas game stood as the most recent time that a Sooner quarterback had led the team in rushing for a game until Bomar's 67 yards topped OU in this year's Kansas State tilt.
Bomar rushed for touchdowns in back-to-back games (UCLA and Kansas State), a first at OU since Nate Hybl did it against Air Force and North Texas in 2001. He since got another against Baylor.

Four Touchdown Passes, but ...
While it's true that Oklahoma has just four touchdown passes this season, the air game has played a significant role in other OU trips to the end zone ...

The UCLA Game
Bomar completed passes of 10 and 18 yards to the Bruin 16 before running to the end zone from there.

The Kansas State Game
Bomar hit Finley on a 17-yard throw to the KSU three. Kejuan Jones score on the next play.
Bomar hit Travis Wilson on a 24-yard play o the Wildcat four. Jones scored two plays later.

Young But Catching On
The receiving corps is another place where Oklahoma's youthfulness manifests itself. Seven of the 15 players with a catch this season have at least two years of eligibility remaining after this season. n The four touchdown throws have gone to a sophomore (two) and a true freshman (two). n Seven of those with a catch either weren't on the active roster in 04 or were playing a different position.

Geez, Mr. Wilson
Travis Wilson is just one reception away from 100 for his career, eight receptions away from OU's career top 10 and 107 yards away from OU's career top 10 ...
In the opener, Wilson led OU with five receptions for 52 yards. Seventeen of those yards after the catch.
He had seven catches for 103 yards at UCLA. He also rushed twice for 61 yards, including a 56-yard TD.
Against Kansas State, he caught five passes for 68 yards and returned one kickoff for 34.
Wilson logged 30 receptions for 345 yards and five touchdowns over his first two seasons before erupting in his junior campaign with 50 catches for 660 yards and the 11 scores.

Versatility in the Trenches
The Oklahoma offensive linemen have played a number of positions during the respective careers ...
LG Davin Joseph has 28 starts at right guard, three at left tackle and one at left guard.
RG Chris Bush has five starts at left guard, five at right guard and three at center. Bush has three starts at right guard and two at center this season.
C Chris Chester has one start at RG, three at C. He's the only offensive lineman on the team with a touchdown. That came on a fake field goal at Missouri in 2002 when he played TE and caught a pass.
OT Chris Messner started the 2003 Alabama game at left tackle, then got the nod at right tackle in this year's season opener.

About the Sooner Defense
OU has forced at least one turnover in 76 of Bob Stoops' 86 games and has at least one interception in 55 of the last 73 games. OU has multiple picks in 18 of its last 45 outings.
Opponents completed 50% or more of their passes in less than half of their games against Stoopscoached teams -- 41 times in 86 games.
Foes scored less than 14 points in 48 of the games.
OU has eight shutouts under its current coach. During that same period, the opponents failed to score more than seven points 26 times.

This Corps Living Up to Standard at Linebacker U.
With four Butkus winners (Brian Bosworth - 1984-85, Rocky Calmus (2001) and Teddy Lehman (2003), no school has won the honor more than OU.

This year, Clint Ingram (SLB), Zach Latimer (MLB) and Rufus Alexander (WLB) are living up to the tradition. Ingram and Alexander were on the Watch List for this year's Butkus award.

Ingram, who missed the UCLA game with an injury, has three interceptions this season. Against TCU he returned a pick 23 yards and against Tulsa he went 48 yards for a touchdown.

In his career, he has three INT, two fumbles caused, two fumbles recovered (vs. Texas last season, he caused and recovered a fumble on the same play) and five PBU in 17 starts.
His two sacks came vs. Kansas State and Texas. Latimer made his first career start against TCU. The junior responded with 15 tackles, including 11 that were solo. Latimer entered the game with 12 career tackles.
He got 12 stops against Texas and is the team's second-leading tackler with 51. Alexander is the team's top tackler with 58.
He had seven TFL in his career heading into the Tulsa game then logged four vs. TU. He got three more against Kansas
He has 134 career tackles and eclipsed the century mark with six at UCLA.
He has four pass break-ups, one interception, one fumble forced and one fumble recovery.

Dvoracek On Pace to Eclipse His Previous Best
DT Dusty Dvoracek is back after being dismissed from the 2004 squad and is now a team captain. He is a former All-Big 12 performer and CoSIDA Academic All-District selection. In 2003, he was credited with 40 tackles, including seven sacks and 16 TFL. All three of those numbers were tops on an OU interior line that included Tommie Harris, the Lombardi Award winner and a first-round draft choice of the Chicago Bears.

Dvoracek is on pace to eclipse his 2003 numbers. With 26 tackles through five games, he's on pace for 48. With 10 TFL, he's on pace for 18.
Ranks No. 7 nationally and No. 1 among DT's with 11 tackles for loss.
He had four tackles at UCLA, three for loss. He logged a 10-yard sack despite the fact that the Bruin lineman was flagged for holding him on the play. He came back with three more TFL and another sack against Kansas.
With a 3.4 GPA he also will be a candidate for Academic All-America honors.

Freshman Rarity Happened Just Once Before
OU started two true freshmen at the safety spots in two games this season -- SS Reggie Smith and FS Nic Harris. The only other time two true freshmen started in the OU secondary was the 1981 season at the Sun Bowl vs. Houston. S Keith Stanberry got his only start of the year and CB Elbert Watts got his seventh.

Which End is Up?
OU is minus half of its anticipated two-deep at DE. Larry Birdine was lost during the August drills with a torn left biceps. John Williams suffered a torn left ACL against TCU. Both will miss the rest of the season.

Special Teams Stuff
A look at special teams notes from Bob Stoops' era as OU's head coach ...
There have been 22 special teams TDs, including 15 in the last 44 regular season games. Those 15 came via five different kinds of plays -- nine 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 13 punts for touchdowns.
The Sooners have blocked 18 kicks. n In this year's opener, OU did not block a kick or return one for a TD, but did get a big play when Jason Carter tackled the TCU punter. The Sooners converted the play into a field goal.
Against Kansas State, Jacob Gutierrez tipped a punt that traveled just eight yards.
Against Texas, OU faked a punt with J.D. Runnels rushing to gain a first down.
Against Kansas, the Sooners faked an extra point with H Cody Freeby completing a pitch pass to Russell Dennison for a first down.

Many Happy Returns
OU special teams under Bob Stoops ...
Kickoff Returns -- There have been 36 returns of 25 yards or more with five TDs.
Punt Returns -- There have been 38 returns of 15 or more yards with 13 TDs.
Interceptions -- There have been 51 returns of 10 or more yards with 13 TDs.
Fumbles -- Three returns of 15 or more yards with three touchdowns.

Sooners Get a Freeby
Sophomore Cody Freeby, is in his first season at Oklahoma's punter.
The left-footer also is the holder for Garrett Hartley's placements.
In his first game, Freeby averaged 38.3 yards on eight punts with three downed inside the 20 and no touchbacks. Only one of his punts was returned and that one went for 10 yards.
Against Tulsa, when he averaged 50.0 yards on five kicks, his 70-yarder was the first by a Sooner to cover that distance since Jeff Ferguson got off 71-yarder at Air Force in 2001.
At UCLA, he averaged 45.6 yards on five punts and allowed the then-nation's leading returner, Maurice Drew, just one attempt for five yards.
Against Kansas State, only two of his six boots were returned for a total of two yards.
In the Texas game, he scooped up a bad snap and unleashed a 55-yard punt. It was one of two 50-yarders he had in the game.
Against Baylor, he averaged 41.7 yardson six punts with one downed at the three and another at the one.

Sooners Have Hart-ley
Garrett Hartley, Oklahoma's kicker, has been especially impressive with his kickoffs ...
Hartley has 22 full kickoffs (does not include squibs) and his average is 64.0 yards with 18 touchbacks. That means the ball lands or is caught at the one yardline. He had five touchbacks against KSU, three more against Texas (on four kicks). Opponents average 14.6 yards/return.
His 52-yard field goal against Texas was the longest ever by a Sooner against the Longhorns and was a career-best for Hartley.
He made all three field goal attempts against Baylor include a 39-yarder at the end of the first OT to force the decisive second extra period when OU got the win.

Rice Trumps all the Streaks
Jacob Rice, the long-snapper and a former standout TE and DE at Norman High, trumps all the starts and games played streaks. The senior has been a starter in all 47 career games.

Dennison a Special Teams Stud
Russell Dennison, a senior FB, has 35 career special teams tackles (18 in 2003, seven in 2003, eight in 2004 and one in 2005). Dennison also has played LB during his career at Oklahoma.

Individual Player Notes
DE C.J. Ah You
Five tackles, one sack, one fumble forced and two pass break ups, one of which was intercepted, against Kansas ... against Baylor he had five tackles, one sack and two fumbles forced ... also in that game he got a sack on a two-point conversion try (doesn't count in stats).

LB Rufus Alexander
Double digit tackles in four games -- 11 vs. Tulsa, 10 vs. TCU, Texas and Kansas ... four tackles for loss and a sack against Tulsa ... fumble recovery vs. Kansas State ... interception vs. Kansas when he was named the Big 12's Defensive Player of the Week.

DT Remi Ayodele
Started the first three games of the season.

SS Lewis Baker
Spent his first two seasons trying to gain weight, then converted from linebacker to strong safety last spring ... career-high eight tackles against Tulsa.

CB Eric Bassey
Also played SS during his career ... missed the last two games with an injury.

QB Rhett Bomar
Worked in a back-up role in the opener, then took over as the starter prior to the second game.

DE Larry Birdine
Lost for the season with a torn left biceps muscle suffered during preseason camp.

C Chris Bush
Started every game -- was the center vs. TCU and Texas and the right guard in all the other games.

OL Kelvin Chaisson
One of the most experienced players on the team, he starts at left guard.

DT Steven Coleman
Working in a back-up role, but is part of a four-man rotation ... three tackles vs. Tulsa.

FB Russell Dennison
Has also played linebacker at OU ... logged 35 special teams tackles during his career ... picked up a first down on a four-yard reception off a faked field goal against Kansas.

DT Dusty Dvoracek
Has at least on tackle for loss in all but two games this season.

TE Joe Jon Finley
Added 21 pounds in the off-season ... got first career start against Tulsa when OU opened in double TEs ... three receptions for 41 yards at UCLA ... eight catches over the last four games ... four-yard TD grab vs. Kansas State ... 15-yard TD vs. Texas ... only player on the team with a catch in every game this season.

P Cody Freeby
Left-footer is in his first season as OU's punter ... holds for placements ... averaged 50 yards on five punts vs. Tulsa including the first 70-yarder by a Sooner since 2001 ... only 10 of his 43 kicks have been returned.

RB Jacob Gutierrez
Won an award from the United Way and the Junior League of Norman last spring for his community service ... gained 11 yards on this first career rushing attempt (vs. TCU) ... tipped a punt against Kansas State ... nine carries for 32 yards against the Wildcats ... rushed 30 times for 173 yards and two TD vs. Baylor.

FS Nic Harris
Got his first career start (FS) against KSU and responded with a team-high seven tackles and one sack.

K Garrett Hartley
Shed redshirt in the 04 regular season finale ... made 29-yard FG in the BCS title game ... switched from No. 32 to No. 10 ... Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week after making all three of his FGs vs. Baylor.

RB Donta Hickson
Four rushes for 30 yards vs. Kansas State ... had 10 rushes on the season before getting 18 for 59 yards vs. Kansas in his first career start ... missed the Baylor game with an injury.

LB Clint Ingram
Three interceptions ties for No. 11 in a season among OU linebackers ... returned pick vs. Tulsa 48 yards for a touchdown ... eight tackles and an interception (23 yards) vs. TCU ... missed UCLA game with injury.

RB Kejuan Jones
Might be the most accomplished back-up back in the country with 2,199 career rushing yards on just 12 starts ... started vs. UCLA, Texas... two rushing TD's vs. Kansas State ... suspended for the Baylor game.

OL Davin Joseph
Started the opener at left tackle then moved to left guard for game two and was back at left tackle for game three ... spent the first three years of his career at right guard ... left Kansas game early with stiff neck.

LB Zach Latimer
Had 15 tackles in his first career start (vs. TCU) ... 12 stops against Texas.

TE James Moses
Goes by the nickname “Bubba” ... 13 of his 21 career starts came last season.

DT Carl Pendleton
Started eight games last season as a redshirt freshman then drew his first start this year vs. Kansas State.

LB Demarrio Pleasant
Started at SLB in place of the injured Clint Ingram at UCLA ... can play multiple spots in the LB corps.

WR Jejuan Rankins
Had a 26-yard return vs. Kansas State ... season high four receptions vs. Kansas.

LS Jacob Rice
Reliable long snapper now in his fourth season in that role.

FB J.D. Runnels
Devastating blocker ... got second career rush on a faked punt vs. Texas (gained a first down) ... career high six receptions against Baylor.

DB Reggie Smith
SS got his first career start at UCLA and also had four kickoff returns for 97 yards, including a long of 43 ... first career interception came against Kansas State (14 yards) ... also had a 37-yard KO return in that game ... had a 34-yard kickoff return vs. Baylor.

DE Calvin Thibodeaux
Missed most of last season after suffering a knee injury at KSU ... fumble recovery and sack vs. Kansas ... sack vs. Baylor.

QB Paul Thompson
Redshirted last season ... Jason White's back-up in 2003 ... now splitting time at receiver ... two catches for 21 yards against Kansas State in his first game at WR ... got first start at WR against Texas.

DB Marcus Walker
Had off-season shoulder surgery ... missed spring ball, then dislocated his opposite shoulder (left) in August.

DB Darien Williams
Excelled in the spring and started first three games at free safety.

DE John Williams
Had a sack vs. TCU, but then was lost for the season in the same game with a torn left ACL.

WR Travis Wilson
Seven grabs for 103 yards at UCLA ... also in that game, he carried twice for 61 yards including a 56-yard TD ... five catches for 68 yards vs. Kansas State and one KO return for 34 yards ... one of two players (the other is Joe Jon Finley) with a reception i

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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