Stoops: Quarterback Race is Wide Open

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said Friday that no one should jump to conclusions in the Sooners' race for a starting quarterback.

Stoops said it seems many pundits have decided there's a pecking order for the quarterbacks that developed during the time that passed between the end of spring practice and the start of fall camp.

"We came out of spring believing that they each had a scrimmage or two that they were good at and one or two that they made some mistakes at," Stoops said. "Each of them did that and in our mind there was not a separation going into (Thursday's) practice. I feel it's unfortunate that so many of you in the media have ranked them and have put them in place so that players have to hear that the entire summer. It's really not fair."

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Junior Paul Thompson, sophomore Tommy Grady and redshirt freshman Rhett Bomar are competing to follow former Heisman Trophy winner as Oklahoma's quarterback.

"They all have skill ability. They are all guys who work hard and they have the respect of their teammates. They are all bright guys, and you put that all together and you have a group of great quarterbacks," Stoops said.

Better then Brown?
Offensive line coach Kevin Wilson said Davin Joseph, who will move from right guard to left tackle this season, is the best of Oklahoma's offensive linemen this year and was last year, too, although others got most of the acclaim.

Wilson said Joseph, a 6-foot-3, 306-pound senior, compared favorably to AP All-American tackle Jammal Brown, a first-round draft pick by the New Orleans Saints, and all-Big 12 center Vince Carter. Joseph was picked to the Big 12's second team last season.

"Davin Joseph is our best player, was our best player last year, if you all would have asked," Wilson said. "But you all wanted to talk about Jammal and Vince, so we just answered about Jammal and Vince. But Davin was the best guy last year.

"If you don't believe me, call Jammal."

Joseph was hesitant to accept the praise and said he learned a lot from Brown and Carter the last few years.

"I don't want him to discredit Jammal and what he's done. Jammal is a very dominant player. He won the Outland Trophy. He was the 13th pick overall in the draft. A hell of a player," Joseph said. "But for him to say that, that's a compliment -- a big compliment. The truth in that, I don't know."

Dusty's Return
Stoops said defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek continues ahead of pace in his return from a torn left bicep.

"He has trained really hard and looks great," Stoops said. "The doctors feel he is a few weeks ahead of schedule. It will be a lot to hold him back. I know how he is and he wants to be out there. He ran great (Thursday) and physically he is chomping at the bit to get out there. We'll have to restrain him from doing too much too early."

Dvoracek was kicked off the team in September after he was involved in a fight at a Norman bar. He received a medical redshirt from the NCAA in December that allowed him to return for a fifth season with the Sooners.

Stoops said he didn't expect any problems with Dvoracek, who was not available for interviews on Thursday. Oklahoma officials are also restricting access to Dvoracek after practices, but say he will give interviews later in fall practice.

"As far as any off the field issues he has been excellent in the classroom as usual. He has been a leader around the team and he continues to go through some steps and guidelines that we require and that the university requires," Stoops said. "He has lived up to all of them and we expect him to continue to do that."

Dvoracek was selected as a third-team All-American following the 2003 season.

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