Completed Event: Football versus Illinois State on August 30, 2025 , Win , 35, to, 3
Final
Football
35
vs Illinois State
3
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sooner Report #1 ? Springing into Action
March 09, 2015 | Football
Sooners “Spring Ahead”
The first whistle of Saturday morning's initial practice of the spring marked head coach Bob Stoops' 17th season at the University of Oklahoma. Saturday's session began indoors at the Everest Training Center with the second session of spring practice slated for Monday afternoon. The team will workout again on Wednesday before taking a respite for spring break with the squad set to resume its schedule on Monday, March 23.
A Big Opportunity for Young Linebackers
Dominique Alexander earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors a year ago after leading the Sooners with 107 tackles. According to Stoops, Alexander recently underwent wrist surgery and will miss spring drills, opening the door for younger players like Curtis Bolton and Tay Evans to get much-needed reps at the inside linebacker post.
“Not that you don't want everyone to be there, but Dom has played a lot of really good football for us,” Stoops indicated. “He should be fine and released full-go by the time we start in the summer.
“We're anxious to see Tay Evans and Curtis Bolton doing more,” Stoops continued. “Those are guys that we feel need a lot of snaps, so they'll get those.”
Bolton and Evans, who both redshirted as true freshmen a year ago, will have a chance to blossom into contributors during the spring season. Bolton prepped at Vista Murrieta High School in Murrieta, Calif., while Evans came to Oklahoma from Allen High School in Allen, Texas.
“It's really exciting to get out there, get some reps and learn the defense on the field,” said Evans.
“It was good to be out there and take some reps with Jordan (Evans) and the first unit,” added Bolton. “Jordan has been a real big help. It's good to play with guys who really know what they're doing.”
Both players are enthusiastic about another season working with coach Tim Kish.
“It's going to be good,” Evans smiled. “He's intense, but that's good. He's an excellent coach and he really helps us.”
And even though Alexander isn't on the field for spring practice, Bolton points out that he still plays a major role in the meeting rooms, helping younger players.
“Dom's been a big help in the winter helping us to figure out the defense and the new stuff we're putting in. He's a good person to have in your ear.”
Senior P.L. Lindley is another veteran performer who could also take advantage of the opening at Alexander's post in the spring.
“P.L. Lindley is out at SAM but he can always play inside,” Stoops said. “That's what he was initially recruited for.”
Receivers Ready to “Sauce It” in 2015
Among numerous seniors seeking to conclude their OU careers on a winning note is WR Durron Neal. Neal registered 42 catches for 513 yards with three touchdowns, numbers he's anxious to build upon in 2015.
“The energy was really good and guys were excited to get back on the field,” the St. Louis native said of Saturday's practice session. Everyone came out here and played relaxed. We were loose and having fun.”
While there is plenty of information for the receiving corps to soak in, Neal said he has a simple approach for making the transition to Lincoln Riley's offensive scheme.
“Just play fast,” he grinned. “If you're going to make a mistake, doing it at 100 mph. Don't think too much.
Saturday's play of the day came courtesy of Neal, who barely broke stride as he hauled in a tipped ball that caromed off a defender's hands as he proceeded to stride into the end zone.
So what is the secret to winning the “tip drill” as an offensive player?
“First of all, just catch it,” he continued. “Don't get too excited or relax. Catch it like another go ball and score.”
After his impressive (and unconventional catch), Neal and the rest of the receiving group could be seen making a unique gesture and yelling “Sauce It!”
“That's a thing I saw (Houston Rockets guard) James Harden do,” Neal explained. “He always does this little twirl with his finger after a big play. I told the wideouts that this is our new thing. I just added my own flavor to it. We're going to sauce it up. We want to have the mentality that every time we get the ball we're going to sauce somebody.
More Young Players to Watch
Spring is always a time where new players can make a positive impression on their coaches and their fellow teammates. According to the head coach, a couple receivers who may have the potential to “Sauce It” for the Sooners are WRs Dede Westbrook and John Humphrey.
Westbrook was a mid-year transfer from Blinn Community College, where he ranked second in the nation with 76 receptions and led the JUCO ranks with 1,487 yards to go with 13 touchdowns. Humphrey is an early enrollee who caught 88 passes for 1,195 yards with eight TDs during his prep career at Clear Falls High School in League City, Texas.
“Dede (Westbrook) has been very impressive,” Stoops noted. “He's very fast and quick. He and John Humphrey have more explosive speed in there than maybe everyone, but Sterling (Shepard). They've looked really good with that speed. It's different when you watch them, how well they run.”
And while the Sooners are very well stocked at the running back position, Stoops and other members of the coaching staff haven't been shy about extoling the praises of another early enrollee, running back Rodney Anderson.
“Rodney Anderson has been really impressive at the running back position,” Stoops said. “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, and he's been able to do it. I think he's put on 10 pounds, and he's every bit as fast or faster than when he came in.”
The Completed Coach Puzzle
OU Football was on the upswing of the coaching carousel this off-season. The sideline will house four new faces: Lincoln Riley as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach; Kerry Cooks as assistant for defensive backs; Dennis Simmons as the outside receivers' assistant, and Diron Reynolds as the defensive lines coach.
Each of these new hires fits in with the program's mission and direction, according to Coach Stoops.
“You're always looking for guys that can contribute schematically to the offense, defense, or whatever you're doing if they see the big picture,” Stoops said. “I feel our staff is where it needs to be, but I'm never opposed (to adding more) if we feel we need something.”
Stoops is confident in Riley, who comes from East Carolina, and his ability to lead the offense back.
“I feel like we have made good progress and are ready for the spring offensively,” Stoops said. “We have a lot of experience in Coach Riley's system. It may be a little different terminology, but that is easy to get a hold of.”
Simmons, who had a stint with Riley in East Carolina and Texas Tech, comes in from Washington State. He shares receiver responsibilities with inside receivers coach Cale Gundy, who previously coached running backs.
“I just thought it would be a positive thing,” said Stoops of having dual-receivers coaches. “Coach Gundy is going to know what they are telling them for the outside as well. Realistically on different occasions one might have the left side (and say) 'you take the right side.'”
On the defensive side of things Cooks and Reynolds have extensive resumes.
Cooks comes from Notre Dame and has national championship experience. Stoops is confident that he can lead this talented class in the back field.
“(Cooks) has a lot of experience and a lot of understanding of defense,” Stoops said. “We have had a lot of great meetings and feel like we are in really great shape heading into the spring.”
Reynolds, who brings NFL experience under the likes of Tony Dungy and other coveted coaches, bolsters the Sooners' outlook for spring and beyond.
“He has been around and worked with people that we really believe in,” Stoops said. “He's an incredibly bright guy- communicates great. That's what you've got to want – to have those abilities – and he does. And he's a very bright guy when it comes to technique and on the board, even offering slight adjustments to overall schemes, not just what he's doing up front.”
And with such a talented defensive line, Stoops said that Reynolds is perfect to lead.
“All of those people had glowing remarks for him and maybe what kind of mattered more to me were the defensive people he has been with,” Stoops said. “He had all the qualities we were looking for and we feel fortunate that he was in a position that this worked.”
Pro Day Set for Wednesday
Oklahoma's Pro Day is set for Wednesday, with more than 20 displaying their athletic wares for NFL coaches and personnel men. Over 20 NFL squads have already reserved credentials, and typically all but a handful of teams are annually represented.
Graduating seniors like Tyrus Thompson, Blake Bell and Daryl Williams will highlight the participants, while Jordan Phillips and Dorial Green-Beckham have been projected as possible first-round picks in several mock drafts.
Other former Sooners who have had a taste of the NFL and are looking to get back in will work out, as well, including players like Jamarkus McFarland. The NFL Network will send Bucky Brooks and a crew to cover the event.
“I heard Blake (Bell) did well and ran pretty well (at the NFL Scouting Combine),” Stoops observed. “I know he catches and does all of that. I think it's fair that he has a big upside in that he has only played a limited amount of time. I heard Daryl (Williams) did really well from what I understood. Dorial (Green-Beckham) sounded like he did really well. We'll see. I'm anxious to see how they do (at OU Pro Day).”
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