It's Football Time in Oklahoma

NORMAN – It's great to be back. The University of Oklahoma football team opened its 2016 training camp Thursday with a fast-paced two-hour practice that started at 6 a.m. It was the first of 29 scheduled on-field workouts before the Sooners open their season Sept. 3 against the Houston Cougars in the AdvoCare Texas Kickoff at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Head coach Bob Stoops, who is starting his 18th year in Norman, explained what he's looking for the first few days of camp.

"As much as anything I just want to see from our guys the intensity to learn, to comprehend what we're trying to do offensively and defensively with all of our concepts, and guys pushing themselves physically and mentally, and staying on the field," said Stoops, who has led OU to nine Big 12 titles. "It's a big thing to avoid little muscle pulls, strains and those kinds of deals. Just want them to stay on the field and keep improving and keep understanding what we're trying to give them."

The Sooners will practice again Friday and then on Saturday 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.

CARRYING OVER SUMMER MOMENTUM

Thursday was the first day of fall camp, but quarterback Baker Mayfield was back to his scrambling ways at the Sooners' first practice.

Head coach Bob Stoops said Director of Sports Enhancement Jerry Schmidt indicated this has been the best summer in Schmidt's 18 years on staff in terms of players buying in to the offseason program and really investing themselves from both physical and mental standpoints.

Asked for specifics, Stoops responded, "Just everybody's overall intensity in their workouts and handling the volume of work that our strength and conditioning staff has given them. To be able to handle it and go through it with some energy and enthusiasm, and some intensity about it, Coach Schmidt feels like they did that really well."

Schmidt, who has won national titles at OU, Florida and Notre Dame, expounded.

"I just think the accountability was excellent. Every year the leadership changes, and this year we had guys like (Baker) Mayfield, Samaje (Perine), Joe Mixon and those kind of guys who set the tempo on a daily basis."
-- Director of Sports Enhancement Jerry Schmidt

"I just think the accountability was excellent," he said. "Every year the leadership changes, and this year we had guys like (Baker) Mayfield, Samaje (Perine), Joe Mixon and those kind of guys who set the tempo on a daily basis. And all the coaches have really stressed, with the graduation of some key guys like Sterling Shepard, that other guys have to step forward. So that really helped offensively. And defensively, it's amazing how you lose guys like (Eric) Striker and (Charles) Tapper, but guys like Matt Romar, Steven Parker and Ahmad Thomas — Ahmad was kind of the backbone of the defense in the summer — those guys let everybody know the importance of the offseason. It was really impressive to see the accountability as a team."

Schmidt said his summer program is pretty much the same year in and year out. But the last couple of years his staff has been able to adjust its approach thanks to evolving technology. The players now wear portable GPS devices during workouts that record key performance data.

"I think it has helped us be smarter," said Schmidt. "We ran more as a complete team this summer — more volume — like we would in big games. You kind of know how much you're going to run in those big games and you try match that during the summer so their bodies get used to that. So that GPS information tells us how fast we're running and how far. That's important, because we're trying to get faster as a team.

"The players are normally going to run 3,000 to 5,000 yards in a big game, so we try to match that in the summer. How fast you run on each play is critical. If you're not matching that in the summer and getting ready for it, you're going to have problems (during the games). So I think we've been smarter with how we train."

EXCITED TO GET STARTED

The Sooners were up well before the sun on Thursday, practicing in the early morning hours to beat the Oklahoma heat.

Fall camp can be a grind. With long practices, meetings, film sessions and workouts, players put themselves through a lot in order to be prepared to take the field for the season opener. Despite the hard work awaiting them, players are always relieved to leave behind exhausting summer conditioning and get back to what they love: football.

"I was really excited to get back on the field, and I know all of my teammates were, too," said junior safety Steven Parker. "Everybody was ready to go. Everybody was amped up this morning. I couldn't really get any sleep last night, and as far as everybody else I think it was the same. Overall, it was a pretty great day.

"The first day we're just trying to get our legs back and work on the communication, just getting everything back in order. We're trying to start playing as a unit again when we get back on the field."

Parker's defensive teammate, redshirt sophomore Tay Evans, shared Parker's eagerness to get on the grass.

"We're really excited to be back out here," said Evans. "Just happy to be running around on the field after what Schmidty (Jerry Schmidt) had us going through. We're ready to put that work on the field."

Evans is looking to step into a new role this season, trying to earn the starting spot at inside linebacker left by the departure of Dominique Alexander. Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Browns, Alexander posted triple-digit tackle totals in both 2014 and 2015. Evans knows he must step up mentally if he wants to take over that role.

"The first couple days of camp are all mental, really," he explained. "You just need to make sure you are in the right spots, knowing what you have to do every single play. I think we have guys ready to step in and fill in where we left off. I think we're going to be ready. You just can't mess up. You have to come with it every day. You are the old head now so you can't be making mistakes you did when you were younger."

Second-year offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley giving instruction on day one of camp.

FRESHMEN MAKE THE JUMP

With new expectations, nerves often abound on the first day. Settling in to the new routine is key for all players, but especially rookies.

"First day of camp was good," said freshman quarterback Austin Kendall. "It started off kind of slow but once we got into a rhythm the quarterbacks did fine. We're focused on doing whatever the coaches ask us. We're putting in install. That's what we're doing day-to-day. That's the main focus."

"I think the first day of camp went over great," said Ben Powers, a 6-4, 315-pound offensive guard transfer from Butler Community College. "We're just glad to be back out here. I feel like summer workouts went great. We got after it and we're ready to go. We're just trying to be tough and physical. Trying to get back into the swing of things."

Making the adjustment can be more difficult for newcomers, but Kendall's perspective shows maturity beyond his years.

"Both young skill guys, Abdul Adams and Mykel Jones, they've got some explosion. There's no doubt athletically they are what we thought they would be."
-- Offensive Coordinator Lincoln Riley

"All the young guys are doing well," Kendall said. "Mykel (Jones) and Abdul (Adams) are doing really well. Those are probably the biggest names. Caleb (Kelly) has obviously done well. They just need to push themselves and soak up what the coaches give them. They will coach them and teach them. They'll put them in the right situations. Coach (Lincoln) Riley has put me in the best situation so they just need to follow their lead."

Riley, OU's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, corroborated Kendall's identification of some of the impressive newcomers.

"Both young skill guys, Abdul Adams and Mykel Jones, they've got some explosion," said Riley. "There's no doubt athletically they are what we thought they would be. We'll just have to see how they maintain and grow and if they can stay healthy and mentally if they can stay there. We have a lot challenges for guys like that. We'll learn more about them as they go, but athletically they're pretty good.

"And then some of our young guys have progressed. A.D. (Miller), Dahu (Green), Mark (Andrews) and some of those young freshmen who were just getting their feet wet. You can see bodies have changed a little bit, and they look a little bit stronger, more powerful and more confident. We're hoping that carries over."

HEAD START

True freshman quarterback Austin Kendall takes a snap at OU's first practice of fall camp.

With camp underway, Oklahoma's talented crop of freshmen is seeing its first real football action at this level. It is not uncommon for the youngsters to be a bit wide-eyed the first couple days as they adjust to the pace and physicality. A few of the Sooners' newest additions have a head start on their classmates, however. Austin Kendall, offensive linemen Ben Powers, Ashton Julius and Logan Roberson, as well as defensive back Chanse Sylvie, all arrived on campus in January and were able to participate in spring practice.

"I am so happy I was able to come out here in the spring and get to know the offense so that now in the fall I actually know what I am doing instead of having to learn it," Powers said. "It's a lot easier to play when you know what you are doing than when you are playing and thinking the whole time."

Those extra reps in the spring, particularly the mental ones, will be particularly vital to Kendall. With the departures of Trevor Knight and Cody Thomas, Kendall is the only other eligible scholarship quarterback on the roster for Oklahoma besides starter Baker Mayfield. Kendall will almost certainly serve as Mayfield's backup and should see playing time as a true freshman.

"Oh yeah, that is probably the biggest advantage I have coming out so far," Kendall said. "It's not learning from scratch. It's just refreshing my memory so it's been easier. I'm also more confident. I can just put the ball wherever I want it."

Kendall has been preparing with his role in mind since he arrived seven months ago. Even during summer conditioning, the Sooner staff has been grooming Kendall to lead.

"Schmidty (Jerry Schmidt) definitely pushed us during summer workouts. He pushed me especially because I have to be ready to go in at any minute in any game. He told me to be more vocal."

CARRYING OVER SUMMER MOMENTUM

EXCITED TO GET STARTED

FRESHMEN MAKE THE JUMP

HEAD START

Players Mentioned

Abdul Adams

Abdul Adams

Dominique Alexander

Tay Evans

Mykel Jones

Mykel Jones

Austin Kendall

Trevor Knight

Baker Mayfield

Joe Mixon

Steven Parker

Ben Powers

Ben Powers

Logan Roberson

Matt Romar

Sterling Shepard

Chanse Sylvie

Ahmad Thomas

Cody Thomas

Cody Thomas

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics