Wide Receiver John Humphrey Joins Sooners

OU Set to Resume Spring Ball on March 23

March 18, 2015 | Football

By: Athletics Communications

The start of spring football at the University of Oklahoma took an unexpected detour last week as the Sooners and head coach Bob Stoops cancelled a pair of practices in a display of solidarity as the team united to speak out against racism.

On March 12, members of the team issued a statement announcing their objectives. Following a silent protest, seven team leaders and Stoops spoke that afternoon, further enunciating their desire to increase awareness of this issue, impact positive changes at OU and across the nation, as well as their desire for accountability.

OU President David L. Boren and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione both issued statements supporting the football student-athletes. Boren is slated to meet to meet with team leaders upon their return from spring break, continuing the open and ongoing dialogue that OU student-athletes have long enjoyed with University and Athletics leadership.

While there no doubt will be ongoing attention focused on the issues of the past several weeks, the team has stated its intention to resume practice on March 23 in anticipation of the OU Spring Game presented by U.S. Fleet Tracking on April 11.

Individuals, institutions and Sooners across the nation have shown their support for the actions of the University of Oklahoma, President Boren and our student-athletes who have taken a stand against racism. Certainly those efforts will be ongoing, as will OU's commitment to its preparation for the 2015 football season.

With that said, let's take a moment to revisit some of the storylines that will be taking place between the hashmarks for the Sooners this spring as Stoops enters his 17^th campaign leading the storied Oklahoma Football program in 2015.

Running back Samaje Perine returns after leading the Big 12 with 1,713 ground yards during a record-setting freshman season, while senior wide receiver Sterling Shepard hopes to replicate the sizzling numbers he racked up during the first half of 2014. Defensively, the Sooners return arguably their three most dynamic players in linebacker Eric Striker, defensive end Charles Tapper and cornerback Zack Sanchez.

“We are all excited to start spring ball,” said Stoops. “They have worked hard and have had a great attitude, the guys have had a good winter…and everyone is anxious to get on the field.”

While a strong nucleus of proven performers will provide stability, there are plenty of questions to be answered in 2015, as well. Lincoln Riley enters his first season as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, as Stoops seeks to return to OU's offensive roots in the Mike Leach offense that served the Sooners so well at the start of his storied tenure in Norman. Assistants Cale Gundy and Jay Boulware will take on new responsibilities on offense, while Bill Bedenbaugh returns for his third campaign mentoring the offensive line.

“We understand the positive part of our offense,” Stoops said. “It is very similar to what we started with in 1999 and 2000. It has been very easy because (our coaches) have had experience in this system, so everything has come to them very quickly.”

Consistency at the quarterback position likely ranks near the top of Riley's spring agenda. Riley inherits a talented quartet of signal callers, including three who own Big 12 victories as starters. Trevor Knight boasts an 11-4 record as Oklahoma's starter and looks to return to form in 2015 after missing the final three regular season contests last year. Baker Mayfield is well versed in Riley's offense after working with him at Texas Tech, while Cody Thomas went 2-1 last season. All three will compete with Justice Hansen, who redshirted in 2014.

“As coach John Wooden always said, 'Competition is a coach's best friend,” Stoops continued. “It is fair to say that it will be an open competition when you have a new system. I feel that we have several quality quarterbacks who are quality guys. We have to see who can handle it and make the right reads, make the right throws, and be the most consistent.”

The Sooners may have the nation's deepest and most talented stable of running backs, headlined by Perine. Oklahoma's offensive line permitted an FBS-low 9.0 sacks in 2014, but will have to replace three starters who all have NFL futures. Shepard headlines a receiving corps that also includes 2014 starter Durron Neal and a host of young players looking to emerge in a revamped offense.

Striker was a consensus All-Big 12 First Team pick a year ago after leading the Sooners with 17.0 TFLs and 9.0 sacks. He pairs with Tapper to give OU a pair of disruptive pass rushers. Sanchez was also a consensus All-Big 12 First Team honoree and anchors a talented, but young secondary. Oklahoma's top two tacklers from 2014 also return. Dominique Alexander (107 tackles) led the squad last season, while Jordan Evans (93) was a close second.

Boulware has continued Oklahoma's penchant for strong special teams under Stoops, a trend that doesn't appear ready to change in 2015. Alex Ross ranked second in the nation with a 31.2-yard kickoff return average in 2014. However, the Sooners will need to replace kicker Michael Hunnicutt and punter Jed Barnett, who have both graduated. Austin Siebert, who excelled as both a kicker and punter in high school, will join Oklahoma in the fall, meaning competition will abound for both spots in the spring. Numerous candidates could also audition for the punt return chores, as well.

The Sooners open the 2015 season at home vs. Akron on Sept. 5 before traveling to Tennessee on Sept. 12. Oklahoma hosts Tulsa on Sept. 19 prior to beginning Big 12 play at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium against West Virginia on Oct. 3.

Samaje Perine

The Offense

Running Backs

Oklahoma led the Big 12 and registered its best season on the ground under Stoops by averaging 261.2 yards per game in 2014. Samaje Perine earned Freshman All-America honors by leading that charge with 131.8 ypg, a figure that ranked eighth in the nation. Alex Ross showed plenty of explosiveness by averaging 6.8 yards per carry and ranking second behind Perine with 595 yards. Keith Ford began the 2014 campaign as OU's starter before he suffered an early-season injury against Tennessee. He still averaged 5.5 yards per carry and scored five touchdowns. Daniel Brooks is also in the mix, competing with 2014 five-star recruit, Joe Mixon, who sat out a year ago. Rodney Anderson is an early enrollee who rounds out this talented group. Versatile fullback Dimitri Flowers also gives Jay Boulware a multi-purpose threat in the backfield.

“I believe with our ability to throw the football in a more positive way [our running backs] may have better opportunities to run the football, more room to run the football, and that's what we are after,” Stoops added.

Offensive Line

It's been hard to argue with the play of Oklahoma's offensive front under the direction of Bill Bedenbaugh as the Sooners have put together their two most productive rushing campaigns under Stoops the past two years. For good measure, Oklahoma also relinquished a mere 9.0 sacks a year ago, the lowest total in the nation.

“We haven't given up very many sacks over the past couple of years,” Stoops said “I think in this offense that has a chance to be the case.”

Center Ty Darlington returns to anchor the offensive front after starting every game at that spot in 2015, but both tackles jobs are wide open with the graduation of both Daryl Williams and Tyrus Thompson. Josiah St. John and Christian Daimler both worked at left tackle a year ago, while Derek Farniok was the top reserve at right tackle. Promising players like Orlando Brown, Sam Grant, Kenyon Frison and Joseph Paul should also get abundant spring reps at tackle.

The interior of the offensive line returns the most experience for the Sooners in 2015. In addition to Darlington, fellow senior Nila Kasitati, who was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention pick a year ago, can work at either guard position. Versatile Jonathan Alvarez can play either guard or center. Alex Dalton should get plenty of snaps at center. Nick Hardaway, Dylan Hartsook and Riley Nolan are other candidates at guard. Bobby Evans will be on the field in the spring as an early enrollee, while JUCO transfer Jamal Danley and Louisiana native, Cody Ford, will join OU in the fall.

Receivers

Cale Gundy returns to his roots as a former OU quarterback when he makes the move to coaching the inside receivers in 2015, while former Mike Leach assistant, Dennis Simmons, will coach the outside receivers.

“Coach Gundy has worked in this system in our first many years doing a lot of the same stuff,” Stoops related. “We'll just have more eyes on the receivers.”

The Sooners have a bona fide All-America candidate in senior Sterling Shepard, who was averaging 130.1 receiving ypg through the first seven games of the 2014 season before his season was curtailed by an injury. A healthy Shepard, combined with an offense that has produced prolific numbers by inside receivers could be a potent combination for OU in 2015.

Michiah Quick cracked the starting lineup as a true freshman, finishing last season with 25 receptions for 237 yards and one touchdown. Austin Bennett and Grant Bothun are also slated to work at inside receiver along with true freshman John Humphrey, who is an early enrollee.

In addition to those speedsters, Gundy will have a number of big bodies at his disposal on the inside. Junior Connor Knight returns along with Carson Meier, who redshirted as a true freshman in 2014. The versatile Dalton Wood will join the Sooners for fall practice.

The most productive returnee for Simmons on the outside is senior Durron Neal, who posted 42 catches for 513 yards and three scores in 2014. Jeffrey Mead, Jordan Smallwood, Dallis Todd and K.J. Young will compete with JUCO transfer Dede Westbrook during the spring. Local product Dahu Green will provide another big target when he joins the group for fall practice.

“Dede has been very impressive,” Stoops said of JUCO addition. “He's very fast and quick. He and John Humphrey have more explosive speed in there than maybe everyone, but Sterling. Not many guys can come in and handle the workload, the lifting and running and be up front and be at the same level as these guys.”

Quarterbacks

Oklahoma has won eight Big 12 titles with six different starting signal callers. As the Sooners seek to secure a ninth Big 12 crown under Stoops, four different passers will look to stake their claim to the starting job this spring. Spring quarterback competition is nothing new for Stoops and the Sooners. Two years ago, Trevor Knight, Blake Bell and Kendal Thompson squared off in the spring before Knight eventually secured the job in fall camp. Knight will once again be in the mix in 2015, this time under an entirely different set of circumstances working under a new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in Lincoln Riley. The San Antonio native has started 15 contests for OU over the past two seasons, missing stretches due to injury each season. In 18 career games Knight has completed 258 of 450 passes for 3,119 yards with 23 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, good for a 124.9 rating. Owning four 300-yard passing games and three 100-yard rushing performances, he has shown the ability to make scintillating plays in a variety of fashions.

“I think that competition through the summer and leading up to the summer continues to push guys,” Stoops said of the quarterback competition. “I'm looking forward to seeing it.”

In 2014, Baker Mayfield transferred from Texas Tech, but was not immediately eligible to play. However, Mayfield proved impressive during spring ball a year ago and served as the club's scout team quarterback throughout the fall. In eight games as a walk-on at Texas Tech in 2013, he completed 218 of 340 passes for 2,315 yards with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions, good for a 127.7 rating. He also ran for three scores and led Tech to a win over TCU.

“He was 'Scout Team Player of the Week' just about every week,” said Stoops of Mayfield. “He works hard, and he has experience. It will be exciting to see.”

The third member of the Oklahoma quarterback derby also owns a starting resume. Cody Thomas subbed in three games for an injured Knight in 2014, winning outings against Texas Tech and Kansas. A former two-sport performer for the Sooners, Thomas has opted to set aside his baseball glove to concentrate his efforts on football this spring. The wild card in the QB race is redshirt freshman, Justice Hansen, whose father played on Oklahoma's 1994 College World Series title team.

“With everybody starting new…that position is a lot to think about,” Stoops said of Thomas. “This is all he's thinking about…even though you're limited to how many times you're on the field…he just felt that this is what he wanted to do.”

The Bottom Line

While Lincoln Riley seeks to return the Sooners to their high-powered passing roots under Stoops, he inherits perhaps the nation's best stable of running backs who all bring unique skill sets to the table. Clearly, improving the consistency of all of his passers will be a priority for Riley in the spring as he indoctrinates them in his offense. A potent running attack is the friend of any quarterback, and maintaining OU's ground superiority should remain a priority.

Oklahoma averaged 36.4 points per game in 2014, but untimely turnovers proved to be costly a year ago. Good decision-making and ball security will also be points of emphasis for the Sooners this spring. OU will also need to maintain its high standards on the offensive line, while getting increased productivity from other pass catchers on the roster in addition to Sterling Shepard. Riley and his offensive staff inherit plenty of talent. For both the coaching staff and OU's student-athletes, spring offers an ideal setting for learning, teaching, evaluating and improving.

Eric Striker

The Defense

Oklahoma led the Big 12 in rushing defense in 2014, permitting a mere 106.4 yards per game, a strength the Sooners would love to accentuate once again. In a pass-happy league, a consistent pass rush and steady secondary play are keys for any defense. Fortunately Mike Stoops has a history of fielding OU defenses that force turnovers, get off the field on third down and put pressure on the passer. No doubt, those will be among the many areas of emphasis this spring as the Sooners seek a return to their dominant defensive ways.

“It's simpler when you don't have to chase down as many guys when there are issues (and) you can keep your eyes on more parts of the defense,” the head coach said of his defensive coordinator. “(Mike) has coached up front before. When we were at Kansas State he coached the defensive ends, outside backers, and I feel it will be a positive.”

High-energy linebacker Eric Striker returns for his senior campaign after serving as a defensive captain in 2014. Striker's big motor and versatility are emblematic of the playmaking potential lurking on the Oklahoma defense.

“You are always trying to take advantage of what Eric does so well,” said the 17^th-year Oklahoma head coach. “He can rush incredibly well, but he also does a lot of things out there in the field against the run and pass.”

Senior defensive end Charles Tapper leads a defensive front that lost a pair of key cogs in Chuka Ndulue and Jordan Phillips, but is burgeoning with performers that boast all-conference potential.

The linebacking corps could feature the most experience of any position group on the roster this spring. Dominique Alexander (107) and Jordan Evans (93) combined for 200 tackles in 2014, while returnees like Devante Bond and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo could be poised for breakout years.

Former All-Big Ten safety Kerry Cooks will coach the OU secondary after joining the Sooners from Notre Dame. The veteran coach will oversee a secondary that returns All-America candidate Zack Sanchez and is packed with a plethora of talent.

Defensive Line

Diron Reynolds will coach the Oklahoma defensive front, owning over a decade of NFL experience, in addition to expertise in the college ranks. He'll benefit from having a proven pass rusher at his disposal in Tapper, who owns 8.5 career quarterback takedowns. An All-Big 12 First Team selection in 2013 and an honorable mention pick last season, the Baltimore native will need to continue his disruptive ways for the Sooners to be successful in 2015.

The competition will likely be intense for the spot at the opposite of Tapper in Oklahoma's three-man line. Junior Matt Dimon served as Tapper's backup in 2014 and has seen duty in 20 contests for the Sooners. Redshirt sophomores Charles Walker and D.J. Ward could be a players to watch at that spot, as well. When healthy, both have been consistent playmakers on the practice field. A number of young performers like Dwayne Orso should see plenty of reps, too. Four-star recruit Gabriel Campbell is slated to join the club in the fall along with three-star defensive end prospect, Kenneth Mann. Jordan Phillips departed early for the NFL, meaning Oklahoma will also have a void to fill at defensive tackle. Jordan Wade started eight games at that post in 2013 and should battle with Matt Romar, who played in 12 games at that spot last season. Massive Canadian import, Neville Gallimore, should play a role in that conversation along with redshirt freshman Courtney Garnett.

Linebackers

Versatile and athletic are apt terms to describe Oklahoma's 2015 linebacking corps. Tim Kish will work with the inside linebackers and has helped tutor Dominique Alexander, who has accumulated 187 tackles (98 solo) in his first two seasons. Alexander will miss spring ball due to a wrist injury that was aggrevated during winter workouts. But like Alexander, fellow junior Jordan Evans also started all 13 games in 2014, registering a career-high 14 tackles vs. Texas. Tay Evans and Curtis Bolton will also see plenty of work in the spring.

Mike Stoops will get hands-on coaching Eric Striker as he tutors OU's outside linebackers in 2015. A third-team All-American last season, Striker's 15.5 career sacks are already the most of any linebacker in OU history, a total he seeks to build on as a senior.

“We continue to experiment with (Striker),” Stoops said. “When you have him in another spot, it gives you more to do in coverage and gives him an opportunity elsewhere. So it's a puzzle we are always working with.”

Senior Devante Bond and redshirt sophomore Ogbonnia Okoronkwo have both shown flashes of their explosive skills off the edge and appear ready for bigger roles in 2015. Don't count senior P.L. Lindley out of the mix at outside linebacker, either.

The linebacker competition could get even more heated in August when five-star signee Ricky DeBerry and four-star prospect Arthur McGinnis hit the field for the Sooners. The club's leading tackler from 2013, Frank Shannon, could potentially return to the program for fall drills, as well.

Defensive Backs

Perhaps the position with the most potential to make a rapid ascent in 2015 could be the OU secondary. Despite being banged up for the majority of the 2014 campaign, cornerback Zack Sanchez was a consensus All-Big 12 First Team choice. A consistent ballhawk, Sanchez tied for first in the Big 12 and ninth in the FBS with six interceptions. He also led the Sooners with eight pass breakups. Competition for the spot opposite Sanchez will likely continue into fall camp. Jordan Thomas started the final four games of the year at that spot as a true freshman. He'll be challenged by the likes of juniors Dakota Austin and Stanvon Taylor, JUCO transfer William Johnson, as well as redshirt freshmen Marcus Green and Tito Windham.

Ahmad Thomas started every game at free safety in 2014, finishing third on the squad with 74 tackles (48 solo). Steven Parker earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention as the Defensive Freshman of the Year from the league's coaches. The Tulsa native started four games, wrapping up the year with 31 tackles and six pass breakups. Rangy junior safety Hatari Byrd should also figure prominently in the secondary after playing all 13 games a year ago.

“We'll have some more experienced guys in some ways back there this year and some new guys, so hopefully we can play better,” Stoops indicated.

Making things more interesting for the Sooners is the fact that head coach Bob Stoops has billed this year's incoming recruiting class of defensive backs as one of the best he's been seen. In addition to William Johnson, who will compete immediately at cornerback, a deluge of other defensive backs are set to arrive on campus for fall drills. That group includes safeties Kahill Haughton, Prentice McKinney and Will Sunderland, as well as cornerback P.J. Mbanasor and multi-talented defensive back Antoine Stephens.

“It's a strong position for us,” Stoops said of the nickel spot. “That's where Roy (Williams) played all those years, and the position gets a lot of action. Both (Thomas and Parker) have a chance. A new guy who has been impressive is Will Johnson, possibly. We'll start looking at that.”

Bottom Line

Heading into spring the Sooners boast an intriguing mix of proven performers and promising talent across their defensive roster. Oklahoma has consistently won at the point of attack and maintaining that physicality up front will no doubt remain a priority. Against Big 12 foes, the Sooners allowed 117.2 rushing yards per game, a figure that serves as a starting point for defensive effectiveness.

The Sooners allowed opponents to convert 38.3 percent (82 of 214) of their third-down opportunities in 2014, a figure that ranked fourth in the Big 12. In eight wins OU was 35.7 percent (49 of 137) on third down, while permitting opponents to convert 42.9 percent of the time (33 of 77) in the club's losses. While all three defensive position groups factored into that equation, becoming more consistent on third down typically translates into more victories.

Oklahoma arguably returns the two most productive inside linebackers in the league in Dominique Alexander and Jordan Evans, providing strength up the middle for the Sooners. With Eric Striker serving as the emotional sparkplug for the defense and a pair of talented returnees at the other outside linebacker post, the addition of additional freshman firepower could give Oklahoma one of the Big 12's best linebackers units this year.

Charles Tapper anchors a front that possesses the skills to stuff the run and harass opposing quarterbacks. The biggest question mark in the spring is how quickly a relatively young secondary can continue to evolve around All-America candidate, cornerback Zack Sanchez. Oklahoma's defenses have historically been opportunistic under Stoops and perhaps no current OU player is more adept at creating turnovers that Sanchez, especially if Striker, Tapper and their teammates can put opponents in obvious passing downs.

Alex Ross

The Special Teams

Kicker

Replacing Oklahoma's all-time leading scorer is no easy task, but that's the challenge for Jay Boulware and OU's special teams in 2015. Michael Hunnicutt has graduated, but incoming freshman kicking phenom Austin Siebert will join the Sooners in the fall after being rated as the No. 1 kicking prospect in the nation by ESPN. Nick Hodgson boomed 67.1 percent (58 of 86) of his kickoffs for touchbacks in 2014 to rank second in the nation. Hodgson, Eric Hosek and Jack Braught could all see duty working on placements in the spring.

Punter

Jed Barnett turned in two solid seasons as the OU's punter prior to his graduation. Siebert was also rated as the No. 1 punter in the nation, but it could be time for strong-legged Jack Steed to get his shot at securing those duties in 2014. The lanky 6' 5” specimen challenged Barnett the past two years and should continue to hone his craft under Boulware.

Return Men

Alex Ross served as one of the most electrifying kickoff return men in the nation in 2014, ranking third among FBS players with a 31.7-yard average and tying for the second in the nation with two kickoff return touchdowns.

The punt return chores may not be determined until fall camp. Sterling Shepard, Zack Sanchez and Michiah Quick all handled at least one punt return for OU in 2014. A number of speedy newcomers on the roster will likely get a chance to audition for that role in both the spring and the fall. The Sooners have thrived on special teams scores since Stoops' arrival, registering four punt return touchdowns from 2012-13 alone, a total Boulware would no doubt like to increase in 2015.

Snapper & Coverage Units

Connor Knight handled placements snaps in 2014 while Wesley Horky served as the punt snapper. Both players return in 2015 and could potentially work on both varieties of snaps in the spring. No Power Five kickoff specialist registered more touchbacks than Nick Hodgson (58) in 2014, so look for Oklahoma to once again be among the nation's best in terms of kickoff coverage. Through the first 11 games of last season, Oklahoma only permitted 81 punt return yards (7.4 avg.), providing reason to believe the Sooners can also excel in that department with a number of key players returning on the punt coverage team.

“I feel good about (the special teams),” Stoops concluded. “We have a great kicker coming again, a kicker and punter. All of the snappers and holders are back. Jack Steed has been punting here for three years. We watched him all of last year hit it really well. I feel like we'll be in good shape.”