The Hurry-Up: Volume 2

NORMAN – The Sooners are one week into preseason camp and donned full pads for the first time on Thursday. The second edition of The Hurry-Up for the new year features senior tight end Brayden Willis, senior defensive lineman Marcus Stripling, senior defensive back Trey Morrison and redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Tyler Guyton.

Senior TE Brayden Willis
Thursday was the team's first day practice in full pads. What were your thoughts?
"We've got a lot to improve on, but I love the resiliency of this team. If there's any team that's going to be able to take advantage of these next few weeks, it's going to be us. It's hot out here and you have to grind, but it's on the leaders to keep us accountable. So far, camp has been great. We've been flying around and playing physical. We've had some really good days, and we just have to keep stacking them."

How would you describe this team after one week of camp?
"This is by far the closest team I've been a part of. And I don't just say that or take that lightly. Guys are all bought in. A lot of that comes from the top. Having a coaching staff that pours into us and believes in us and promotes the togetherness, this team has been really close. We've gone through a lot together already, so that's only going to help us as we go further into the season and face more adversity."

What areas you worked to improve in the offseason?
"I tried to put on some weight. I'm currently at 242 right now. I was already in the high 230s but just putting on a little more weight to maintain that size and be consistent and be able to still move well. In terms of technique, working on my first step and being explosive after catching the ball. Yards after catch and getting up the field."

What was your perspective on summer workouts?
"It was hard, for sure. It was a big change. A lot of lifting, a lot of running. The biggest challenge was trying to balance running a lot and also putting on the weight. You have to eat a lot more calories to make up for the ones that you're burning. When you're working out with Coach Schmidty you're burning a lot of calories. So that was probably the hardest part."

Senior DL Marcus Stripling
How did the first practice in full pads go?
"It was a good day, very aggressive. We have a lot of improvement we can make, but it was a good day. It felt good being in full pads, especially under Coach (Brent) Venables. It was just amazing. I was waiting to get in full pads, get around him, let his camaraderie build me up, and today was that day."

How was the first week of fall camp?
"Camp has been a grind and a process, but I know it's getting us better for the season. I know we're going to have a better season than any other year, because we've been camping and practicing harder than ever."

How did summer workouts help you prepare for camp and the season?
"Weightlifting and conditioning with Coach Schmidty this summer made a tremendous difference in my game. I can see a difference in me moving people and my speed off the ball. Coach Schmidty most definitely helped a lot this summer with strength and weightlifting."

What have you worked on in the offseason to improve in your game?
"Mainly my pass rushing. I want to be an elite end rusher at the next level, so I've just been working on my pass rushing and honing my pass rushing and getting to the quarterback."

Senior DB Trey Morrison
How was the first practice in full pads?
"It's always fun being physical. It's always a plus when you put those pads on. You go out there and go 100%. I think the energy was up, but I think the next day we have pads, we'll bring even more energy. We're going to stack the energy."

What are your thoughts on the DB room?
"I think the DB room is solid. It's very deep. Everybody in the room can play. Each day we're getting better and better. The coaches tell us everyday to come out here and stack the chips every day. Just stack on what you did (yesterday) and get better every day."

What is something that you worked to improve in the offseason?
"I've been working my patience in the slot, working on my drops, trying to be bigger and faster, more explosive. Just trying to get the best me out there."

How did summer workouts help you prepare for camp and the season?
"I love Schmidty. Coming here, he's done nothing but push me every single day. He pushes every single player on this team. He's going to make sure you reach your limit every single day. He's going to get you to your limit every day. He's going to push everything that's in you, out of you. I really like that about him. He really cares."

Redshirt Sophomore OL Tyler Guyton
How was the first practice in full pads?
"It was good to put the pads on, it was very physical. But we have plenty to improve on, we still have to get a lot better, offense and defense. This is OU, so we have to live up to the expectations."

What are your thoughts about the first week of fall camp?
"I like what we're building. The schedule is really player-friendly so we have breaks and we're able to get out of the facility at a decent hour. This is a different kind of fall camp than I've experienced in the past, but I like it a lot more."

How would you describe the energy around this program?
"I see why this program wins a lot of games and has so much success. You're not here to just have fun and play ball, you're here to win championships. It's changed my mindset."

What part of your game did you work to improve in the offseason?
"During the summer I worked a lot on my hands and feet and quickness. Now I'm just trying to work that into my game as we're getting close to the season. And just my play overall as I'm getting older."