Sooner Report: Sophomores Racking Up Stats

Sophomores Stepping Up For Sooners

While junior LB Eric Striker may be the first name of an Oklahoma defender that rolls off the tongue of many fans, Sooners everywhere should get even more familiar with OU's current group of sophomores.

Oklahoma's top three tacklers are all sophomores – LB Dominique Alexander (79), LB Jordan Evans (68) and S Ahmad Thomas (52). Alexander had a season-high 18 tackles last week while Thomas racked up a career-high 14 stops. Thanks to this trio and DT Jordan Phillips, the Sooners' defense has been especially strong up the middle this season. The play of this group helps explain why Oklahoma has yet to relinquish an individual 100-yard rushing performance this season.

Meanwhile, CB Zack Sanchez continues to prove that he's one of the best cover men in the Big 12 Conference. Like Alexander a year ago, Sanchez also earned Freshman All-America honors in 2013 and has only continued to get better for the Sooners. The Fort Worth, Texas, native is tied for the lead in the Big 12 and is tied for seventh in the nation with five interceptions. A semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, Sanchez has posted a team-high 10 passes defended on the season.

How the Sooners Stack Up

While no one is more disappointed in OU's current 6-3 record than head coach Bob Stoops and the Sooners, it's still worth noting that no conversation of the nation's “elite” college football programs is complete without Oklahoma.

Here's how Oklahoma stacks up in some key areas over recent years:

Since the start of the 2008 season, only four “Power 5 conference” teams own more wins than Oklahoma.

Team	Record	Win%
1. Alabama	80-10	.889
2. Oregon	76-13	.854
3. Ohio State	71-16	.816
4. Flordid State	70-20	.778
5. OKLAHOMA	69-20	.775

Since 2010, no Big 12 team owns a better conference record than Oklahoma.

Team	Record	Win%
1. OKLAHOMA	30-13	.732
2. Oklahoma State	29-12	.707
3. Kansas State	28-13	.683

Since 2010, no Big 12 team owns a better record vs. AP Top 25 teams than Oklahoma. OU is the only Big 12 team above .500 in such games over that span.

Team	Record	Win%
1. OKLAHOMA	14-10	.583
2. Oklahoma State	10-11	.476
3. Baylor	9-10	.474

Dating back to 2000, only LSU has more wins vs. AP Top 25 teams than Oklahoma.

Team	Record	Win%
1. LSU	53-31	.631
2. OKLAHOMA	49-25	.662
3. Ohio State	43-22	.662

Since Bob Stoops arrived at Oklahoma in 1999, the Sooners lead major conference teams in home winning percentage. Number two Ohio State has twice as many home losses over that span.

Team	Record	Win%
1. OKLAHOMA	89-7	.927
2. Ohio State	97-14	.874
3. Oregon	88-16	.846

Quick-ly Making an Impact

Another young player making rapid improvement for OU is true freshman WR Michiah Quick. The Fresno, California, native made the first start vs. Kansas State on Oct. 18 and has helped provide an offensive spark, particularly with injuries limiting the availability of WR Sterling Shepard for the past two contests.

After catching the first two passes of his Sooner career against the Wildcats, Quick has led Oklahoma in receptions (14) and receiving yards (150) in the month of November. The freshman hauled in his first touchdown catch of his career against Baylor this past weekend.

“Michiah Quick really played pretty well,” said head coach Bob Stoops. “He and Durron (Neal) made some good plays. They did a pretty good job.”

Quick and the rest of the wide receivers and tight ends may have to continue to shoulder more of the offensive load, as Sterling Shepard recovers from injury.

Knight Named a Wuerffel Trophy Finalist

Trevor Knight is one of 12 finalists for the 2014 Wuerffel Trophy presented by the All Sports Association, Inc. in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. The Wuerffel Trophy annually honors the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement. Oklahoma's sophomore team captain is the only finalist from a Big 12 Conference school.

The San Antonio, Texas, native owns an 11-3 record as Oklahoma's starter and was named the MVP of the Allstate Sugar Bowl after guiding the Sooners to a 45-31 in that contest. Knight was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after leading OU to a 59-14 win at Iowa State as he joined Josh Heupel as just the second quarterback in Oklahoma history to register three rushing touchdowns and three touchdown passes in the same game.

Knight was recently named a Capital One Academic All-District honoree as chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The sophomore finance major currently holds a 3.31 grade-point average. After graduating from high school early in 2012, he helped his father, George, wage a successful battle with throat cancer. Knight accompanied his dad to chemotherapy treatments and gave him a pair of boxing gloves to inspire him to embrace a “fighter's mentality” throughout the process.

The Wuerffel Trophy is named after former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, who led the Florida Gators to the 1996 national championship, played six years in the National Football League and has received national recognition for his humanitarian and community service efforts with Desire Street Ministries in New Orleans and around the country.

A committee that includes the Wuerffel Trophy national directors, selection committee members and past winners, will vote on the finalists later this month, and the winner will be announced on December 9. The 2013 winner was Oklahoma center Gabe Ikard, who became the inaugural OU football student-athlete to earn that accolade.

Geneo Grissom

Grissom Headed to Senior Bowl

The Reese's Senior Bowl announced Monday that linebacker Geneo Grissom has been added to its South roster. Grissom is the initial OU player to accept an invitation to the annual all-star game played in Mobile, Ala. The 2015 contest will be played at Ladd-Peebles Stadium at 3 p.m. CT on January 24 and will be broadcast by NFL Network. Other additions to the roster will take place leading up to the game.

Over the past six seasons, a total of 15 Oklahoma players have been invited to Mobile to display their talents in front of NFL executives, coaches and scouts.

Grissom currently ranks second on the OU squad in both TFLs (6.5) and sacks (3.5). The Hutchinson, Kansas, native has 38 tackles (27 solo) on the year to go with two forced fumbles, four pass breakups and a 38-yard INT return touchdown vs. Tulsa. He owns three career defensive touchdowns, scoring on an eight-yard fumble return in the Sugar Bowl vs. Alabama and returning an interception for a 54-yard score vs. Texas last season. The versatile performer has worked at both defensive end and tight end during his tenure at Oklahoma.

For a complete list of previous Sooners invited to the Senior Bowl visit:

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=208798431

Sooner Notes and Statistical Nuggets

Since the start of 2000, OU has never dropped back-to-back regular season games under Bob Stoops. The Sooners are 32-0 in regular season games following a regular season loss over that span.
Oklahoma and Utah State are the only two FBS teams to permit less than 160 rushing yards in every game this season.
Oklahoma and Baylor are the only two Big 12 squads that haven't allowed an individual 100-yard rusher this season.
The Sooners rank second in the Big 12 in rushing defense (121.8 ypg).
Oklahoma is 83-0 under Stoops when scoring 40 points or more.
In OU's 10 wins against Texas Tech during Stoops' tenure, the Sooners have topped the 40-point barrier five times. In those 10 OU victories, OU has outscored Tech by an average of 42.4 to 18.1 ppg.
The Red Raiders are 0-8 under Kliff Kingsbury when permitting 40 points or more.
Oklahoma's 47-game active winning streak (4-0 in 2014) when leading at halftime leads the nation.
RB Samaje Perine has 11 rushing TDs in 2014, setting the record for the most by a freshman in Big 12 history (excluding Big 12 Champ. Games).
Freshman RB Samaje Perine ranks third in the Big 12 in rushing (87.8 ypg) and is second in rushing TDs (11). Texas Tech RB DeAndre Washington ranks second in yards per game (88.4).
WR Sterling Shepard ranks fourth among FBS players, averaging 119.6 receiving ypg.
OU has won 37 straight games when rushing for 200 or more net yards since 2006. OU is 65-1 (3-0 in 2014, 5-0 vs. Texas Tech) under Stoops when hitting that plateau. OU gained 277 rushing yards vs. Texas Tech (10/26/13). Texas Tech has lost nine straight games when allowing 200+ rushing yards.
RB Alex Ross is seeking to become the first OU player to produce three KO return TDs in a season. He is third in the FBS KO return average.
K Michael Hunnicutt (425) is tied for eighth on the FBS all-time scoring chart (sixth among kickers) with Penn State K Kevin Kelly (425). He needs nine more points to overtake Louisville K Art Carmody (433) for seventh overall.
Oklahoma has permitted a Big 12-low 6.0 sacks, a figure that ties for third among FBS squads.

On the Call

Saturday's matchup between Oklahoma and Texas Tech is slated to kickoff at 2:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN. In the booth for the broadcast will be Bob Wischusen serving as the play-by-play announcer and Matt Millen filling the role of analyst. Joining the two from the sideline will be Quint Kessenich.