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
The Hurry-Up: Vol. 4
August 22, 2017 | Football
NORMAN — With the season opener just 11 days away, fall camp has ended for Oklahoma football. Co-offensive coordinator/director of recruiting/inside receivers coach Cale Gundy, senior defensive back Steven Parker, junior offensive lineman Dru Samia and sophomore linebacker Caleb Kelly spoke to SoonerSports.com and gave their final thoughts in the fourth and final installment of "The Hurry-Up."
Assistant Coach Cale Gundy
What were your impressions of the receiver group during training camp?
“I felt they competed. I felt they made some strides toward the end, which is very important. We were performing well. We had some drops early that were concerning, but I think after that first week they kind of got that stuff out of them and started heading in the right direction. You're just so limited on practices. Shoot, we're less than two weeks away from the first game. We had a really good scrimmage on Saturday. Guys are starting to perform well, eliminate the small subtle mistakes and starting to get ready to play.”
How have you seen Mark Andrews progress?
“He had a good camp. I stayed on him as much as I could, and those guys know that and expect it from me. He's a strong, very consistent player. I would say he made a few more competitive plays. People don't really see him not making plays, but to us we've seen a few more opportunities he's stepping up and making those competitive plays, whether it's a bang-bang or he gets it when last year maybe he would've put it on the ground.”
Have you seen anyone step up to fill the void created by Nick Basquine's season-ending injury?
“Mykel Jones stepped up and was doing well. Obviously he played last year, but now he knows it's really his time. And then a walk-on behind him, a young man by the name of Myles Tease, has really started to perform well and catch the ball well. He's really become a huge student of the game and is putting more time into really understanding what he's doing, and it's showing on days that we're practicing.”
Grant Calcaterra and Charleston Rambo were two highly regarded receivers in the 2017 recruiting class and are lined up inside now. What have you seen from them?
“Grant's performed well throughout camp. In the last two to three weeks he's really kind of stepped up and worked on the little things. He always catches the ball really well. Charleston's doing good. We look forward to him having a good year and help us wherever he can, whether it's on offense or special teams. And CeeDee Lamb is playing really well, too. He's a good player.”
Senior DB Steven Parker
How did you see the position battles develop throughout training camp?
“Just like the DB group, there have been a lot of battles throughout camp. Everybody came out and showed. We knew it was going to be a tough camp. I don't think anybody really shied away from it. I felt like all the defensive backs were really into getting better. It starts up front with me and (Jordan Thomas), and everybody embraced the opportunities. It was great.”
What is your biggest focus heading into your final season?
“Do your job. We have a lot of playmakers on this team and a lot of talent. Sometimes we're a little overaggressive. Sometimes we have to learn to do our own job.”
What is it like every day to go against some of the best quarterbacks and wide receivers in the nation?
“I feel like we have the best offense in the country, hands down. If we're going against them and we are making plays, then I feel like we are going to have a good defense.”
What is your biggest goal for the season?
“Really it's to go ahead and win the national championship and have the No. 1 defense in the country. Offensively, I know they want to have the No. 1 offense in the country. As far as a being a DB, I want to have the No. 1 defense in the Big 12 and in the country.”
Junior OL Dru Samia
How do you think camp went?
“I thought camp was really good. As a team, we started really coming together. The defense really started rising up, so every day was a back-and-forth competition. I felt like it was really competitive and a really good camp.”
Last year you started at right tackle but then shifted to right guard. Where are you playing now?
“I'm moving around. I'm still at guard but we keep it moving. It feels fine, I've played guard for a whole year so it's been good to do something different and switch it up a little. It's a process each day but it's good.”
How does the depth of the line create competition among everyone?
“It pushes everyone. Bobby Evans' backup isn't necessarily the next tackle on the roster. Coach (Bill) Bedenbaugh will find a way to get the best guys on the field. If the best tackle is playing guard right now, if the best guard is playing center, he's going to find the right combination. It just pushes everybody.”
Are there any pro players you model your game after?
“Zack Martin. I like his technique and watch a lot of Dallas Cowboys games, so I'm definitely watching him.”
Sophomore LB Caleb Kelly
How has your role changed from your first year to your second year?
“I'm expected to do a lot more as a teammate and from the coaches. I'm learning a whole new position playing “Will,” too; that's been a big deal. Having to learn that position, I'm expected to do more there and try to get out on the field more. I'm now in a leadership role, going from being a young guy who played to now being a guy who the younger guys coming in expect to help them out. And I want to help them out. It's about being a big brother to some of these guys, too.”
After playing well down the stretch of the 2016 season, how do you carry that over?
“You just keep it rolling. I didn't play the best football I ever will. I played a good game in the Sugar Bowl, but the games before that were not as good. I know I can always improve, and that's what I'm going to try and do every single week. I can also learn more of the game because there are some things I don't know. It's about continuing to improve my all-around knowledge of the game and learning the little things that will help me be better.”
What was your biggest takeaway from preseason camp?
“It was about physicality and competition. I think as a team we have been real physical, and our competition has been way up. Last year's camp was nothing compared to this and how much we were going against each other and how physical we were. We were making each other better, and I felt we did a lot more of that this year.”
What are some things you want to improve before the season starts?
“I want to know the defense. You can always know the defense better. I want to work on those little techniques like staying low in your stance, getting in good position, not getting complacent at all and starting off strong. Last year we didn't start as strong, and Coach (Lincoln) Riley has been pushing that.”
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