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November 23, 2005 | Football
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See how the Sooners stack up against OSU in the Bedlam Series presented by the Bank of Oklahoma and Your Oklahoma Ford Dealers! |
The Coaches
Oklahoma: Bob Stoops (Iowa 83), now in his seventh season with the Sooners, is 73-16 overall. He is 3-3 in bowls, 3-2 in January bowls, 2-2 in BCS games, 49-10 vs. the Big 12, 26-7 vs. the Big 12 South, 23-3 vs. the Big 12 North, 3-1 in the Big 12 title game, 25-6 vs. non-conference opponents, 40-2 at home, 21-8 on the road, 12-6 on neutral fields, 21-7 vs. ranked opponents and 4-2 vs. Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma State: Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State 89) is 4-6 in his first season at his alma mater. As an assistant coach at OSU (2001-04 and 1990-94), he was 2-6-1 vs. Oklahoma. As a player for the Cowboys (1986-89), he was 0-4.
The Festivities
Game sponsor: Bank of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Ford Dealers.
Pre-Game: Don Key Award presentation and senior ceremony.
Halftime: Bands from both schools will perform.
Sooner FanFest: Opens three hours before kickoff on the Brooks Mall, north of the stadium.
The Program
Oklahoma owns one of the most storied and accomplished traditions in all of college football ...
OU's all-time record is 755-289-53.
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 509 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 66.
The Last Meeting
Oklahoma took a 38-35 win at Stillwater on Oct. 30 of last season ...
Early OU miscues paved the way for the Cowboys to take a 14-7 lead, but riding three first-half TD passes by Jason White, the Sooners went to the locker room with a lead, 21-14, they would never relinquish.
Adrian Peterson carried 33 times for 249 yards and one touchdown. The run for the TD, an 80-yarder, was the longest of his career.
Conversely, OU's defense became the first to hold Oklahoma State RB Vernand Morency under 100 yards. He carried 17 times for 93 yards.
OSU's Jason Ricks had a chance to send the game to overtime, but missed a 49-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining.
Ties With This Week's Opponent
Oklahoma recruiting coordinator and running backs coach Cale Gundy is the younger brother of OSU head coach Mike Gundy.
Oklahoma's Most Recent Game
Texas Tech scored on the final play to take a 23-21 win over OU at Lubbock last Saturday ...
Oklahoma trailed for most of the game, but took a 21-17 lead with 1:33 remaining when Adrian Peterson ran in from 13 yards out.
On the ensuring Tech drive, which covered 65 yards after Garrett Hartley's kickoff sailed out of bounds, three plays were reviewed by the replay official. One was overturned and two were upheld, including Taurean Henderson's two-yard run on the last play.
Peterson cracked the 100-yard mark for the third straight game when he carried 29 times for 108 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
FS Darien Williams led OU with 11 tackles, his second double-digit game of the season.
DE C.J. Ah You had three tackles for loss, including two sacks.
Bowl Stuff
Any number of bowl scenarios could still unfold for Oklahoma. This much is known ...
This will be Oklahoma's 39th bowl appearance, a figure that ranks No. 8 nationally.
OU will be playing in its seventh consecutive bowl game. That's the second-longest streak in school history. The Sooners played in eight straight from 1975-1982. During part of Bud Wilkinson's tenure, schools were precluded from attending bowl games in consecutive seasons. The 1956 national championship team did not go bowling because the 1955 squad had done so.
Oklahoma's all-time bowl record stands at 23-14-1. Those 23 victories rank No. 4 nationally.
The Sooners have played in 11 different bowl games. Since Bob Stoops arrived, OU has played in the Independence, the Orange (twice), the Cotton, the Rose and the Sugar bowls.
Bob Stoops will be coaching in his 17th bowl game. That is tops on this staff ahead of Brent Venables at 12.
Barry Switzer took Oklahoma to bowl games 13 times. Bud Wilkinson did so on eight occasions. Stoops is next with seven bowl teams including this one.
OU Has Nation's Toughest Schedule
Oklahoma has played the nation's most difficult schedule this season based on a pair of NCAA rating systems. The Sooners' cumulative schedule and past opponents both rate as the most staunch among I-A teams this season.
Last season, Oklahoma's end-of-year schedule strength ranked No. 11. That ranking was No. 23 in 2003, No. 37 in 2003, No. 60 in 2001 and No. 21 in 2000.
The four teams that have defeated OU are a combined record of 37-5 and all four are ranked.
It won't be a big surprise if the 2006 schedule also rates high. The non-conference portion of that slate is not complete, but already includes a home game with Washington and a road game at Oregon.
Injury Bug Bites
Oklahoma players have combined to miss 36 full games this season due to injury. There are another six who missed partial games (more than half of the game).
Several positions have been impacted, but none like the center spot. Jon Cooper, the third player to hold the position this season, went down with a dislocated/fractured right ankle in the second quarter. He was replaced by Chris Bush, who was nursing a broken hand. Bush had replaced Chris Chester, who was sidelined for four weeks with a knee injury, then broke his hand in the week leading up to the Texas Tech game. OU has back-ups J.D. Quinn and Kelvin Chaisson, both of whom played the center during the spring, ready to go if needed. If someone other than Bush or Chester plays the spot (Cooper is out for the year), it will represent the fourth-different player to snap the ball (other than special teams) this season.
Going four-deep is not unprecedented this season. OU started fourth-string running back Jacob Gutierrez against Baylor. He ran for 173 yards and two touchdowns in that game. But that didn't make him immune -- Gutierrez incurred a dislocated elbow at Nebraska the following week.
OU was without leading rusher Adrian Peterson for all or more than half of four games (ankle) and has been without leading receiver Travis Wilson for one full game and nearly half of another. He will not play in this game after undergoing surgery on a fractured right foot Sunday.
Sooner Youth Movement
Last February's recruiting class was lauded as one of the nation's best, and that talent has found its way to the field. With 12 true freshmen seeing game action so far this season, which ranks No. 6 in the nation.
Sooners Eclipse Three Million in Attendance Under Stoops
Oklahoma has sold out all 42 home games of Bob Stoops' tenure and during the Tulsa game the total attendance for that period exceeded three million. The total stands at 3,312,808. OU has exceeded its listed capacity of 82,112 in 17 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 755-288-53. OU is one of just eight schools with 750 victories. With 1,096 games played, the Sooners are just four away from 1,100. Nineteen other schools have played 1,100 games.
OU Brand Among the Nation's Most Popular
The Collegiate Licensing Co., announced its top-selling entities for the most recent fiscal year and the OU brand ranks a highest-ever No. 5. North Carolina is tops followed by Michigan, Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma. Some of the Sooner proceeds benefit Bizzell Library on the OU campus.
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 o-linemen were in their first game at that particular position. Only Chris Bush, who had two previous starts at RG (one in 03 and another in 04) was in a spot he had previously held. The line that started had a combined 41 career starts, down 27 from the opener.
Three freshman 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.
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 stats 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).
The Kansas State Game
Four true freshmen started, including both safeties -- Reggie Smith (FS) and Nic Harris (SS). Harris had seven tackles and one sack in his first start. Smith had an interception.
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. 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 TD 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 eighth freshman to start a game..
The Baylor Game
Six players missed the game (five to injury, one to suspension). Of that six, five were seniors. The game-winner in the second OT 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.
The Nebraska Game
True freshman Malcolm Kelly led Oklahoma with eight receptions. OU had nine sacks, one by a senior. The Sooners matched a season high by playing 18 first-year players and used more true freshmen, 11, than in any other game to date.
The Texas A&M Game
True freshman C Jon Cooper made his first career start. Bomar (RFr.) was the top passer, Peterson (soph.) the to rusher, Kelly (TFr.) the top receiver and Wolfe (soph.) the top tackler.
The Texas Tech Game
Of the three players who scored for Oklahoma, all were sophomores or younger.
The leading tackler was sophomore Darien Williams with 11.
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 90 consecutive games dating back to Nov. 7, 1998.
Under Stoops, OU has rushed for 200 yards 26 times, including 21 over the last four seasons.
Also under Stoops, OU has 90 TDs of 25+ yards and 207 scoring drives that lasted less than two minutes.
Peterson Goes Over 2,000 Yards
Soph RB Adrian Peterson now has 2,712 yards for his career ...
Since missing all or more than half of four straight games with ankle injuries, he has now ripped off three straight 100-yard performances -- 146 at Nebraska (two TD), 135 vs. Texas A&M (two TD) and 108 at Texas Tech (two TD).
Despite all of the missed time, Peterson has a shot at 1,000 yards. He needs 213.
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 13 of 20 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 (2,269) and Adrian Peterson (2,712) both over 2,000 career rushing yards, it marks the first time since 1987 that two concurrent Sooners eclipsed the figure. 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.
Both continue ascensions up the career rushing touchdown list at OU. Jones is tied at No. 6 with Steve Davis with 35. Peterson has 27. He needs three to crack the top 15.
Rushing Game Revival
Against Kansas, 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 for its third 200-yard performance.
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.
Adrian Peterson carried 24 times for 146 yards at Nebraska and the Sooners had 45 for 180 as a team.
Against Texas A&M, Oklahoma racked up 211 yards and three touchdowns on 48 attempts. Peterson carried 27 times for 135 and two scores.
At Texas Tech, the Sooners ran for 162 yards. Adrian Peterson led the way with 108, but QB Rhett Bomar, due in large part to no sacks, also finished on the plus side of the ledger wtih 25.
Bomar Sooner
A look at RS QB Rhett Bomar, who came off the bench in the opener, but has since been the starter ...
His seven TD passes have come in the last seven games.
Since completing just 7-of-18 passes over his first two games, he has hit on 50% or better in six of the last eight.
He has positive rushing yards in seven of 10 games.
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.
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 12 rushes of more than 10 yards with a long of 42 vs. K-State. He had a 32 yards vs. Texas A&M and a 28 yarder vs. TCU.
Only twice during the last two seasons (2003, 2004) did a starting Sooner QB 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 six of nine games to date. That's impressive considering he has thrown 257 passes and been sacked 20 times. In White's defense, before being slowed by two knee surgeries, he was a dangerous runner.
That 2001 Kansas game stood as the most recent time that a Sooner quarterback had led the team in rushing (White 12-117) 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.
Bomar has 137 rushing yards and four TD. Paul Thompson is the top rushing quarterback by yards during the Stoops era with 183 in 2003. Heupel is next with 144 in 2000, then Bomar. Heupel was the top TD scorer among Stoops' QBs with seven in 2000 and five in 1999. Bomar is next.
The Good Hands Backs
RB Kejuan Jones and FB J.D. Runnels rank as two of the most potent backfield receivers in Oklahoma history (see chart at right). Quentin Griffin is the leader in catches, yards and touchdowns. He had seven receiving TDs. Runnels has four and is tied for second among the backs with James Allen. Jones has one.
Young But Catching On
The receiving corps is another place where Oklahoma's youthfulness manifests itself. Nine of the 16 players with a catch this season have at least two years of eligibility remaining after this season.
The six touchdown throws have gone to a sophomore (two), a true freshman (three) and a senior (one).
Patchwork Trenches
Due in large part to a rash of injuries, Oklahoma has had five different starting line-ups along its offensive line through 10 games. Last year's team had three different line-ups through 13 games. Vince Carter ended his career last season with 26 straight starts at center. So far, three different playres have started at that position for OU this season. And the Sooner offensive linemen have played a number of positions during the respective careers ...
LG Davin Joseph has 28 starts at right guard, seven at left tackle and one at left guard.
RG Chris Bush has five starts at left guard, six at right guard and three at center. Bush has four starts at right guard and five at center this season.
C Chris Chester has two starts 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 and has since returned to the line-up in that same slot.
Surprising Sacks Numbers
Oklahoma has surrerendered 21 sacks this season, which is definitely higher than the nine of 2004, but considering all of the injuries and youth in the line it isn't all that bad. Currently, it rates as the fourth-best season for low sacks during the Stoops tenure. OU has allowed just three sacks over its last three games.
About the Sooner Defense
OU has forced at least one turnover in 79 of Bob Stoops' 89 games and has at least one interception in 58 of the last 76 games. OU has multiple picks in 20 of its last 47 outings.
Opponents completed 50% or more of their passes in less than half of their games against Stoops-coached teams -- 42 times in 89 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 season OU is No. 10 nationally in rushing defense (99.0) despite the fact that the Sooners have played four of the top 55 rushing teams, including No. 2 Texas.
Picks and Sacks Compared Favorably with 04
Through 13 games last season, Oklahoma logged eight interceptions. Through 10 games of this season, the Sooners have 11.
OU logged 39 quarterback sacks in 04. This team has 38. The 05 Sooners has an outside shot at the sacks best for the Stoops era. That number was set at 45 in 2003.
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 18 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 72.
Alexander is the team's top tackler with 85.
He had seven TFL in his career heading into the Tulsa game then logged four vs. TU. He got three more against Kansas. His total for the season now stands at 13.
He has eight pass break-ups, one interception, two fumbles 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. 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.
No. 1 nationally among DTs with 16 tackles for loss. His career total of 43 ranks No. 6 at OU ahead of thel ikes of Tony Casillas, Lee Roy Selmon and Dan Cody.
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 had three more TFL and another sack against Kansas. Four TFL, one sack and his first career interception (on any level) at Nebraska.
An All-District 6 Academic selection and a candidate for Academic All-America.
Sure Trivia Winner
Who is Oklahoma's leader in sacks? It's DE Calvin Thibodeaux with eight. The senior entered the season with a career total of two.
OU is minus half of its anticipated two-deep at DE for the season. Larry Birdine was lost during the August drills with a torn left biceps. John Williams suffered a torn left ACL vs. TCU.
Freshman Rarity Happened Just Once Before
Two true freshmen started 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 Sun Bowl. S Keith Stanberry got his only start of the year and CB Elbert Watts got his seventh.
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 46 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.
Against Nebraska, OU faked a field goal with H Cody Freeby pitching to K Garrett Hartley for a six-yard gain and a first down. OU scored on the next play on a 17-yard rush.
Many Happy Returns
OU special teams under Bob Stoops ...
Kickoff Returns -- There have been 37 returns of 25 yards or more with five TDs.
Punt Returns -- There have been 39 returns of 15 or more yards with 13 TDs.
Interceptions -- There have been 52 returns of 10 or more yards with 14 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. He ranks No. 15 nationally with an average of 43.1. OU is No. 11 in net punting at 37.8.
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.
Tulsa: 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.
UCLA: Averaged 45.6 yards on five punts and allowed the then-nation's leading returner, Maurice Drew, just one attempt for five yards.
Kansas State: Only two of his six boots were returned for a total of two yards.
Texas: Scooped up a bad snap and kicked a 55-yarder, one of two 50-yarders in the game.
Baylor: Averaged 41.7 yards on six punts with one downed at the three and one at the one.
Texas A&M: Averaged 54.8 yards on four punts for the third-best day in school history. None of the kicks was returned and one was downed at the A&M four.
Texas Tech: Averaged 48.4 yards and uncorked a 73-yarder, the longest of his career. It matched the longest of the Stoops era.
Sooners Have Hart-ley
Garrett Hartley, Oklahoma's kicker, has been especially impressive with his kickoffs ...
Hartley has 55 full kickoffs (including squibs) with 25 touchbacks. He had five touchbacks against KSU, three more against Texas (on four kicks) and Texas A&M.
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 50-yarders against Nebraska and TCU.
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 50 career games.
Dennison a Special Teams Stud
Russell Dennison, a senior FB, has 37 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, oneFF and two PBU, one of which was intercepted, vs. Kansas ... five tackles, one sack and two FF vs. Baylor ... also in that game he got a sack on a two-point try (doesn't count in stats) ... credited with a sack assist for a safety against Texas A&M ... three TFL and two sacks at Texas Tech.
LB Rufus Alexander: Double digit tackles in five games -- 13 vs. Nebraska, 11 vs. Tulsa, 10 vs. TCU, Texas and Kansas ... three sacks at Nebraska ... 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, then got the nod at Texas Tech.
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 Kansas and Baylor games with an injury.
QB Rhett Bomar: Back-up 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: 37 career special teams tackles ... picked up first down on a four-yard reception off a faked FG vs. Kansas.
DT Dusty Dvoracek: Has at least on tackle for loss in all but three 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 ... had at least one catch in each of the first seven games.
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 ... 73-yarder at Tech ... only 14 of his 57 kicks have been returned.
RB Jacob Gutierrez: Won United Way and the Junior League award for community service ... gained 11 yards on this first career rush (vs. TCU) ... tipped a punt vs. Kansas St., and had 9 carries for 32 yards ... 30 rushes for 173 yards and two TD vs. Baylor ... suffered elbow injury early in the Nebraska game and missed most of the contest.
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 and Nebraska games 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 2,269 career rushing yards on just 12 starts ... started vs. UCLA, Texas... two rushing TD vs. Kansas State ... 17-yard TD run at Nebraska.
OL Davin Joseph: Started the opener at LT then moved to LG for game two ... back at LT for game three ... spent the first three years of his career at right guard.
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” ... two of his four receptions came at UCLA.
DT Carl Pendleton: Started eight games last season as a redshirt freshman then drew his first start this year vs. Kansas State.
RB Allen Patrick
Moved from corner during the first month of the season ... had 49 yards against Baylor and 42 against Texas A&M, including a 28-yard touchdown.
RB Adrian Peterson: See offensive notes page.
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 ... being used primarily as the punt returner ... slowed recently by ankle sprain.
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 ... picked off a pass against Texas A&M.
DE Calvin Thibodeaux: Missed most of last season after suffering a knee injury at Kansas State ... fumble recovery and sack vs. Kansas ... three sacks vs. Texas A&M.
QB/WR Paul Thompson: Back-up QB now splitting time at receiver ... two catches for 21 yards vs. Kansas State in his first game at WR ... four catches at Tech ... first start at WR vs. 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 ... missed Kansas and Baylor games with injury, but came back at Nebraska with three receptions for 42 yards ... TD grab against Texas A&M ... surgery on fractured right foot on Nov. 20.
CB D.J. Wolfe: Playing well in his first season at corner ... took an interception 65 yards for a touchdown at Kansas ... had another pick against Texas Tech ... had 12 tackles against Tulsa and leads OU's defensive backs with 56.