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April 2, 2013 | Spring Football Central | Football Notebook | Roster | Twitter

Shepard & Saunders Sizzle

If there has been one comment that epitomizes the play of Oklahoma's wide receivers this spring, it comes courtesy of co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach Jay Norvell.

"Jalen Saunders and Sterling Shepard have kind of just picked up where they left off last season," the veteran coach offered.

Norvell has plenty of expertise when it comes to grooming top-notch talent at the receiver position. At Oklahoma, Norvell was responsible for the development of Ryan Broyles into the NCAA's all-time leading receiver. In the NFL ranks, he's also worked with the likes of pass catchers like Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.

"It has been a really good spring and we have several guys that are doing really well," said Norvell. "There is a lot of competition at the receiver position and (Sterling) Shepard is having a great spring along with Jalen (Sanders) and Lacoltan Bester is really playing well so like I said, we have several guys that are really stepping up their game."

Shepard played in all 13 games and accumulating 45 receptions for 621 yards with three touchdowns. His 621 yards ranked third among freshman in OU history, while his 45 catches ranked fourth all-time in Oklahoma annals for a freshman. While Shepard certainly hopes to up his receiving numbers, Norvell would love to hear the excitement in the sophomore's voice when he talks about his penchant for blocking.

"We have always prided ourselves on being physical and sealing the edge," Shepard said. "Coach Norvell is really big on taking on the defense and clearing lanes for our backs so there won't be any difference in the way we go about our business as far as the blocking schemes and things. Only difference is who might be carrying the ball. All of our guys (receivers) are physical and strong guys so we can carry our own out there in space. Even Jalen (Saunders) can lay a block and he might be our smallest guy, so we will be alright."

In terms of techniques in the passing game, Shepard is focused on refining several elements of his game.

"I think I just have to get in and out of my cuts faster and that is something I have been watching a lot of film on," he continued. "There are so many things to learn and offenses are constantly evolving, so I just have to work hard and study film and be ready when I am called on."

Saunders has also enjoyed a solid spring and appears to be even more confident on the practice field.

"Last year, I was just coming in fresh into the playbook, fresh into the offense and everything," the senior explained. "This year I know the playbook inside and out now. I know every position, what route is for every position and every play. So now I'm picking up every run concept for where everyone is going to be at for blocks. I'm trying to have everything perfected so when we go into the season it's just bam, like that. I want to have our offense clicking."

Saunders is quick to credit Norvell for much more than his play on the field, though.

"Coach Norvell is really important to me," he concluded. "He's the reason why I really committed here. He's brought me in and been real with me since I signed here. He told me what to expect and how things are going to be around here. I've been living up to it and I'm happy I came here. I look to him as a second father up here. My dad's home and I have no family in Oklahoma so I really look up to him a lot."

Sophomore Sensations?

While Shepard saw plenty of playing time as a true freshman and Trey Metoyer has "flashed" at times this spring, don't be surprised to see fellow sophomore Durron Neal take on a bigger role this fall. The St. Louis native saw duty in 10 games a year ago, catching five balls for 75 yards, but according to Jay Norvell, consistency is the key for Neal to get on the field more in 2013.

"Just playing more consistent and trying to finish down the field and become a bigger play threat, which is the hardest thing for young players to do," said Norvell of where Neal needs to raise his game. "But just that consistency, and now with the quarterback competition, he is getting the chance to prove that he is one of those guys who should get his hands on the ball more. That only comes from doing it every day and if he continues to practice the way he has and push himself, then he should be that kind of guy for us."

According to Neal, he feels that he has made major strides physically and mentally this off-season.

"I've gotten a lot bigger," Neal shared. "Knowing the playbook a lot now has helped me on the field with reads. Just from last year learning and sitting back and when I got in the game I got chances for experience as a true freshman. Now I'm just taking that confidence into this season and just showing my talent ... With coverages I can see them so much more clearly now that I didn't last year. It just looks really clear to me now."

Neal also understands that there will be more expectations placed on his shoulders this season, and he doesn't plan on shying away from that opportunity.

"I'm very excited," he concluded. "I'm up to the challenge. It's one of the reasons why I came here to get put to the challenge. I'm ready and the coaches put a lot of trust in me and my teammates all believe in me and I'm just ready to step up and not let them down."

Oh, and don't forget about Metoyer, who caught 17 balls for 148 yards as a freshman in 2012.

"Last year was just a learning process," he said. "I step back and watch and realize that I've got to bring it into (this) year and go all out and try to do what I do best and help the team win."

Scooba & Dannon

Another player with limited playing time in an OU uniform who could be poised for bigger things in 2013 is senior Lacoltan Bester. After leading East Mississippi College with 76 receptions for 1,042 yards and 17 TDs in 2011, Bester saw duty in 12 games last season for the Sooners, primarily on special teams. At 6-3, 208 pounds, Norvell says that Bester brings another dimension to the OU receiving corps.

"Lacoltan Bester has had a really good spring," Norvell said. "He has really come on and has started to make some really big plays for us and he is just so physical. What a good blocker on the perimeter he is and he has that big body and he is one of the most competitive players on the entire team. You can really tell that when kids love to practice, they love to play ball and that is the way Lacoltan is. Well, I call him 'Scooba' because he is from Scooba, Miss., but he loves to play and that is something that really rubs off on the rest of the guys."

And perhaps one of the wild cards in the receiver equation is early enrollee Dannon Cavil, who by all accounts is growing by leaps and bounds this spring.

"Dannon (Cavil) is a guy that has had a really good spring so far," Norvell said. "It's amazing when they are just babies and that is what Dannon is, you see huge growth in every practice and he learns a little bit more each day and becomes a little more comfortable ... He has been a different kid since coming back from spring break. He is super conscientious and is a quick learner and because of that, he has made a lot of strides on the field so far. If he continues to progress, he can really help us in the fall. We have an old saying around here and that is, 'those who work the hardest improve the fastest.' Dannon is a hard worker and he is extremely athletic and he can flat out run so we are excited about him."

Durron Neal has also been impressed with Cavil's willingness to soak up knowledge.

"Dannon is always ready to learn," Neal explained. "Dannon is always in the ear of other players wanting to know what to do, what do I have here. He's going to be a good player. Tall, physical, he's going to be a really good player."

TUESDAY'S PRACTICE
The Sooners practiced inside for the fourth time this spring and eighth time overall. Here's the latest:

Photo Gallery (36 photos)
Video

Spring Practice Report No. 8
Video

Mic'd Up: Coach Jay Norvell
Video

  WR Sterling Shepard Interview
  Coach Josh Heupel w/Media
  Sooner Sound Bytes
Post-Practice Quotes

INSTAGRAM P.O.T.D.
Chuck Fairbanks passed away Tuesday at the age of 79. Fairbanks coached OU to a 52-15-1 record from 1967-72. Leave your condolences for the Fairbanks family on our official Instagram at @ou_football:

TUESDAY NOTEBOOK
The Sooners practiced indoors at the Everest Training Center due to rainy conditions in Norman on Tuesday. The team will have two days off from practice before returning to the field on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
The list of national visitors continues on Wednesday when Matt Hayes of Sporting News makes the trek to the Switzer Center.
Jay Norvell was the assistant coach who was wired for sound during Tuesday's practice. Up next will be Jay Boulware on Friday.

A LOOK AT THE WRs
Senior Jalen Saunders | Bio
Finished third on the team with 62 receptions and 829 yards in nine games (eight starts) in 2012 despite missing the season's first four contests.
Tied a school record with 15 catches vs. Notre Dame (10/27/12), finishing with 181 yards.
Had a game-changing 81-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. Oklahoma State (11/24/12) in addition to catching 10 passes for 162 yards.

So. Sterling Shepard | Bio
Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year Honorable Mention
Played in every game with four starts as a true freshman in 2012, totaling 45 receptions, 621 yards and three touchdowns.
Finished with the third-most receiving yards by a freshman and the fourth-most receptions by a freshman in program history.

So.Trey Metoyer | Bio
Played in 11 games with four starts last season, totaling 148 yards and a touchdown on 17 receptions.
Caught his first-career touchdown against Florida A&M (9/8/12) on an 18-yard reception.

So. Durron Neal | Bio
Played in 10 games as a true freshman last season, grabbing five catches for 75 yards.

Senior Lacoltan Bester | Bio
Recorded three receptions for 29 yards in 2012.
Played in 12 games on the season at receiver and on special teams.

RS-Sr. Jaz Reynolds | Bio
Has played in 19 games with six starts in his career, totaling 54 receptions, 971 yards and five touchdowns.
Had a career-high 141 receiving yards vs. Ball State (10/1/11).

SOCIAL MEDIA
Stay in tune and go behind-the-scenes with Oklahoma football via our primary social media platforms on Twitter and Instagram:

Twitter: @OU_Football
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SPRING CENTRAL
Track all of our spring football content from analysis to video and photos in Spring Football Central, as well as a practice schedule:

Spring Central | Schedule

QUOTABLE

Coach Jay Boulware
"Coach Stoops has always played with a tight end in his offenses. We're in the process of incorporating our tight ends more and doing some things. It's not going to happen overnight. As you well know, we do have a great tradition of great tight ends that come through here and we're going to get it back to that level."

So.C Ty Darlington
"It's been good. I think it's a good opportunity for me obviously to get reps with that one group against the first set of D-Linemen that we go against. It's helping me getting better as a player, it's putting more responsibility on my shoulders and it's given me opportunity where I know I have to step up."