The Hurry-Up: Volume 1

NORMAN – The Oklahoma football team is four practices into preseason camp, battling the typical heat and humidity of August to prepare for the 2022 season. This first edition of The Hurry-Up for the new year features fifth-year linebacker DaShaun White, senior running back Eric Gray, fifth-year defensive lineman Jeffery Johnson and sophomore wide receiver Jalil Farooq.

Fifth-Year LB DaShaun White

Describe the summer workouts with strength coach Jerry Schmidt.
"Physicality. I know we're not in pads, but it was getting intense in there. You can tell speed and physicality is there. The intention and purpose, those two words are really big things we've been working to focus on the last two weeks that you can tell were there in these first few days of practice.

What have you personally worked to improve in the season?
"The biggest thing I've focused on this entire offseason is just being a leader. I feel like that was the one big spot in my game where I needed to improve the most. I made myself really uncomfortable this offseason, really leaned into what Coach (Brent) Venables and Coach (Ted) Roof wanted out of me for this team and I'm trying to do it the best I can."

What are your expectations for the team during fall camp?
"Incremental growth every single day, getting better. Taking one day at a time and when we get to the first game, win the opener. That simple."

Senior RB Eric Gray

What carried over from the spring into summer workouts?
"The intensity. The effort and intensity that we had, the accountability that we had coming from January all the way through spring, through summer, until now, you can definitely see it all over the field. The electric energy is influencing the entire team."

What part of your game have you worked to improve in the offseason?
"I'm trying to make my game all-around, show everybody that I'm an every-down back, I can run in between the tackles, outside the tackles, catch the ball in the backfield, be great in pass protection, just trying to show everything I can do."

What are your expectations for the team during fall camp?
"Our goal is to win the opener. That's the only thing we're worried about now. We're less than 30 days from UTEP and just trying to get better each and every day."

Fifth-Year DL Jeffery Johnson

What were you most looking forward to in your first camp at OU?
"Really being around a great group of guys. The D-line, offensive line making us better. Specifically, being coached by Coach (Todd) Bates. He is the guy that has the tools for our success, and I give praise to him. I'm looking forward to having a great fall with him."

Describe the summer workouts with Coach Schmidt.
"It was very intense. I saw a lot of guys come in day-in and day-out, put in the work so we come out here and get ready for fall camp and go into the season. Working out with Schmidty is a different mentality. He is on 10 all the time, so he's going to push us to become our best. That's what's expected. He is going to love us on the field."

What part of your game have your worked to improve in the offseason?
"My pass rush. I think I am a really great run-stopper, but I think I can take it to another level. My pass rush has been as an interior guy. Not a lot of interior guys get a lot of sacks and pressure like that, so I think it will be effective to press the pocket and get pressure on the quarterback. Hopefully end up with double digit sacks this year."

Sophomore WR Jalil Farooq

How was your summer and working out with Coach Schmidt?
"It was a hard transition. Coming in with Coach Schmidty, everyone knows he makes us put in work and pushes us. We all had to keep our heads straight and have a 'Mamba Mentality' mindset and get that work in."

What part of your game have your worked to improve in the offseason?
"I worked on a lot of my exploding off the ball, releases, finishing out the catch and getting as much speed as possible and attacking the ball while it's in the air."

How would you describe the energy around the program?
"It is unexplainable. This coaching staff brings a lot of energy to the team. I feel like our team is closer than we have ever been. They bring the energy. The energy is going back-and-forth, so it is all coming in place."