Four Downs: Camp Expectations

NORMAN – The University of Oklahoma football team was back on the practice field Friday morning for day two of 2015 training camp. Similar to Thursday's opening session, the Sooners practiced without pads for about two hours in the seasonal Oklahoma heat. Afterwards sophomore Samaje Perine and seniors Nila Kasitati and Charles Tapper stopped to talk about the first couple days of action.

SOPHOMORE RUNNING BACK SAMAJE PERINE

How has your mentality or preparation for camp changed this season compared to last year?
“I'm still just trying to get better. Last year I didn't know what to expect, but this season I know I have to play a bit of a bigger role in the offense. I am just coming in to work hard and do whatever I can to help the team.”

Has the attention you received last year and in the offseason changed you or your approach?
“Not at all. Some of that happened in high school. I was a pretty good player in high school so I got a little bit of fame. I try not to let it get to my head because I have seen guys that do that and they get cocky. That's not who I want to be. I want to be the same humble guy throughout my career however long I am in it. I just want to stay quiet and stay humble and stay hungry.”

With all the talent in the backfield, what are opposing defenses going to be dealing with? Could you be the best backfield in the nation?
“It is going to be something that I have never seen before. With as many talented guys as we have, it is going to be fun to see. With myself, Joe (Mixon), A-Ross (Alex Ross), D-Brooks (Daniel Brooks) and Rodney Anderson—those are some of the best names out there. I just can't wait to see what we do. It is going to be great.”

What have you seen from Anderson so far, and what do you have planned for an encore this year?
“Powerful, powerful runner. And he will surprise you with his speed. He will be great to watch. I am just going to do my best. I can't tell you anything you don't already know. I am just going to work hard and do my best to help the team in any way I can. Hopefully I make some big plays here and there and lead my team to a lot of victories.”

SENIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN NILA KASITATI

How do you approach this camp knowing it's your final one?
“From the beginning you want to give it everything you've got, but you definitely have a different mindset knowing this is your last camp. You know you have to give everything. I'm just making sure that I'm being a good leader to these younger guys and setting a good example for them.”

Has your leadership role changed this season?
“It's way different than last year. Last year I had Darryl Williams and Tyrus Thompson and people like Adam Shead and those guys who I could look up to and I would learn from them. This year it's different, but it's necessary to show these younger guys how to do it and to go full speed with everything that you have. I'm still learning how to take on that leadership role.”

How has the offensive line looked through the first couple days of camp?
“I definitely think we have the potential to be a great offensive line. We have a bunch of big, solid, physical and athletic guys. We have a great coach who does a great job of teaching us how to not only do just our job, but help us learn everybody else's job on the line and learn the front and things like that. I think we have the potential to be really great.”

What do you want to see from yourself through camp and the season as a whole?
“I definitely want to see improvement with technique and staying low and stuff like that. I have a chance to be on the field and I really want to do a good job of earning my right to stay there and making sure that I'm doing everything I need to do to stay on the field, whether it's learning my position in plays and the mental side of things, but also with my health, too.”

SENIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN CHARLES TAPPER

What aspect of your game did you improve the most during summer drills?
“I would have to say conditioning and getting bigger. I put on a little weight to play as a 4-technique so I won't get pushed around down in the trenches, but I still kept my speed up. I worked a lot of speed training and footwork drills. I worked with the defensive backs a lot doing their drills to work on quickness, and I really improved there.”

What is your biggest personal goal during training camp?
“To make the guys beside me better. As long as I can make my d-line unit better and all of us are productive, we can make the whole defense productive. It's like falling dominoes; once one thing gets better everything else will get better. And of course, working toward a Big 12 championship and national championship.”

What guys do you think are most likely to step in and replace former players like Jordan Phillips and Chuka Ndulue?
“You've got Charles Walker. You've got Jordan Wade who started since my sophomore year. Matt Romar played in a lot of games last year. Matt Dimon came back ready to work and he loves Coach (Diron) Reynolds. And we brought some guys down who are going to make a big difference on the defensive line. We've got some surprises for a lot of people.”

Has it sunk in that this is your last fall camp as a Sooner?
“Yeah, I'm just taking it one day at a time. Every day feels like my last. Every practice feels like my last game because I can't get any of these days back. I won't be able to get back these times with my teammates anymore.”

Saturday the team will participate in OU's annual “Meet the Sooners Day” and media day activities at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Fans ages 14 and younger will have the opportunity to meet and interact with their favorite players and coaches, and may bring one item to have signed. For the general public, the event begins at 10:30 a.m. and will conclude at noon. For complete details on “Meet the Sooners Day,” click here.

SOPHOMORE RUNNING BACK SAMAJE PERINE

SENIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN NILA KASITATI

SENIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN CHARLES TAPPER

Players Mentioned

Dominique Alexander

Rodney Anderson

Daniel Brooks

Matt Dimon

Nila Kasitati

Nila Kasitati

Chuka Ndulue

Samaje Perine

Samaje Perine

Jordan Phillips

Matt Romar

Alex Ross

Adam Shead

Charles Tapper

Charles Tapper

Tyrus Thompson

Jordan Wade

Charles Walker

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics