OU updates football depth chart
Oklahoma updated its depth chart late this week for the first time since the close of the 2009 season. Scan past the chart for a few thoughts.
| Offense | ||||
| LT | 59 Donald Stephenson |
Jr.
|
6-6
|
285
|
| 76 Jarvis Jones |
Jr.
|
6-7
|
297
|
|
| LG | 77 Stephen Good |
Jr.
|
6-6
|
291
|
| Bronson Irwin |
Fr.
|
6-5
|
322
|
|
|
C
|
61 Ben Habern |
Jr.
|
6-3
|
288
|
| 84 Gabe Ikard |
R-Fr.
|
6-4
|
252
|
|
| RG | 75 Tyler Evans |
So.
|
6-5
|
280
|
| 72 Tavaris Jeffries |
Sr.
|
6-4
|
309
|
|
| RT | 70 Cory Brandon |
Sr.
|
6-7
|
310
|
| 73 Josh Aladenoye |
R-Fr.
|
6-5
|
342
|
|
| TE | 69 Eric Mensik |
Sr.
|
6-6
|
265
|
| 47 Trent Ratterree |
Jr.
|
6-3
|
225
|
|
| WR | 24 Dejuan Miller |
Jr.
|
6-4
|
224
|
| 8 Brandon Caleb |
Sr.
|
6-1
|
187
|
|
| WR | 16 Jaz Reynolds |
So.
|
6-2
|
181
|
| 6 Cameron Kenney |
Sr.
|
6-1
|
190
|
|
| SL | 85 Ryan Broyles |
Jr.
|
5-11
|
178
|
| 17 Mossis Madu |
Sr.
|
6-0
|
200
|
|
| QB | 12 Landry Jones |
So.
|
6-4
|
216
|
| 15 Drew Allen |
R-Fr.
|
6-5
|
224
|
|
|
FB
|
32 Marshall Musil |
R-Fr.
|
6-2
|
218
|
| 48 Brandon Crow |
Sr.
|
6-1
|
221
|
|
| RB | 7 DeMarco Murray |
Sr.
|
6-1
|
214
|
| 23 Jermie Calhoun |
So.
|
6-0
|
218
|
|
| Defense | ||||
| DE | 44 Jeremy Beal |
Sr.
|
6-3
|
261
|
| 90 David King |
So.
|
6-5
|
236
|
|
| NG | 97 Jamarkus McFarland |
So.
|
6-2
|
296
|
| 53 Casey Walker |
So.
|
6-0
|
302
|
|
| DT | 86 Adrian Taylor |
Sr.
|
6-4
|
291
|
| 92 Stacey McGee |
So.
|
6-4
|
272
|
|
| DE | 84 Frank Alexander |
Jr.
|
6-4
|
259
|
| 95 Justin Chaisson |
R-Fr.
|
6-4
|
257
|
|
| SLB | 56 Ronnell Lewis |
So.
|
6-2
|
234
|
| 12 Austin Box |
Jr.
|
6-2
|
220
|
|
| MLB | 42 Tom Wort |
R-Fr.
|
6-0
|
220
|
| 31 Daniel Franklin |
So.
|
6-2
|
219
|
|
| WLB | 28 Travis Lewis |
Sr.
|
6-2
|
232
|
| 55 Jaydan Bird |
So.
|
6-1
|
227
|
|
| FCB | 19 Demontre Hurst |
So.
|
5-9
|
165
|
| 9 Gabe Lynn |
R-Fr.
|
6-0
|
186
|
|
| SS | 27 Sam Proctor |
Jr.
|
6-0
|
208
|
| 5 Joseph Ibiloye |
So.
|
6-3
|
208
|
|
| FS | 20 Quinton Carter |
Sr.
|
6-1
|
193
|
| 13 Marcus Trice |
So.
|
5-8
|
178
|
|
| BCB | 3 Jonathan Nelson |
Sr.
|
5-11
|
172
|
| 32 Jamell Fleming |
Jr.
|
5-11
|
178
|
|
Surprises:
* OU’s lack of depth on the offensive line for the spring is underscored by 1) freshman tight end Gabe Ikard being the top backup at center and 2) incoming freshman Bronson Irwin being the top backup at left guard. The Sooners should have more players to work with on the line come August, barring injury. But with Ben Habern and Jarvis Jones expected to miss the spring, OU will remain thin there for awhile. Still, it’s hard to believe that Ikard will remain on the line with Austin Woods, Habern and Brian Lepak all expected to man the position in the fall. Like Brody Eldridge, Ikard will probably be an emergency center. But who knows? If Ikard shows something at center in the spring, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson could leave there full time.
* It’s not really a surprise, but the fact that Jaz Reynolds is starting at WR over Brandon Caleb shows just what the Sooner staff feels about the rising sophomore’s performance late in the season, notably the Sun Bowl. Reynolds had a pair of crucial third-down catches that went for first downs in that game. It appears the starting job is now his to lose.
* Eric Mensik is back at tight end. Mensik was solid in two games at right tackle, which is why many believed he may stay considering OU’s lack of boides on the line couple with its rising total of bodies at tight end (Trent Ratterree, James Hanna, Austin Haywood, Trey Millard, Lane Johnson, allegedly Gabe Ikard). But with Ikard now working at center and Haywood questionable to qualify and Johnson still viewed as somewhat of a project, perhaps moving Mensik back to tight end makes sense numbers wise.
* Bob Stoops has been touting the talent of left tackle Donald Stephenson for the last two months. Now, it seems Stoops has backed up that talk by penciling in Stephenson as the starter at left tackle, ahead of Cory Brandon, who currently remains at right tackle. Stephenson, who was suspended all of last season by Stoops for off-the-field reasons, has some talent. How he develops as a starter in protecting Landry Jones’ blind side will be paramount for OU getting to the 10-win mark next season.
Notable omission:
* Quick trivia: who was the No. 1 recruit from the class of 2008? Well, you won’t find him on this depth chart. Defensive end R.J. Washington continues to be overtaken. First it was fellow class of 2008 member David King. Now, it’s Justin Chaisson, listed as Frank Alexander’s backup at end instead of Washington. This is a pivotal year for Washington. If he falls behind Chaisson on the depth chart, then Washington will find it very difficult to garner playing time in a Sooner uniform, especially with talented freshman Geneo Grissom on the way as well.
Other thoughts:
* Marshall Musil’s all-around game apparently has placed him ahead of Brandon Crow on the chart at fullback. But that doesn’t mean Crow won’t play. Expect the senior to see the field in short-yardage situations as a blocking fullback, similar to the role he played last season.
* Mossis Madu is currently backing up Ryan Broyles in the slot. That experiment, however, hasn’t gone completely to plan, as Madu has been slow to develop in his new position (to little fault of his own; Madu is a lifelong tailback). Madu could take some snaps at running back in the spring, especially since the staff is likely to take it easy on starter DeMarco Murray, and third-stringer Jonathan Miller is recovering from knee surgery. With Jermie Calhoun all that’s left to take live reps, seeing what Madu can provide at running back might be worth the look.
* Cameron Kenney needs a big spring. If he fails to produce, WR coach Jay Norvell will take a hard look at moving up freshman Kenny Stills in the spring, and freshman Justin McCay in the fall in the rotation.
* The LBs are currently placed where expected. Tom Wort in the middle, Travis Lewis on the weak side, Ronnell Lewis on the strong side. Look for safety Joe Ibiloye to get a lot of work at strong-side ‘backer too. He’ll play a lot there next season in passing downs as the nickel back. Austin Box is going to be key for the Sooners. He’s listed on the strong side right now, which makes sense. Box’s previous experience is in the middle and on the weak side. Spending the spring learning strong side will give Brent Venables the option of inserting Box at any of the three LB spots and feel comfortable he’ll know what he’s doing.
* Jonathan Nelson, as expected, is being moved back to corner to compensate for the graduation of Brian Jackson and early NFL departure of Dom Franks. Demontre Hurst is listed as the other corner. This is an educated guess, but Nelson is probably on the boundary side because he’s a couple inches taller than Hurst, and about 10 pounds heavier. The boundary corner usually needs to be a little more physical. Hurst has good speed, so putting him on the field side also makes sense. That leaves the original 2009 safety starters: FS Quinton Carter and SS Sam Proctor, who was replaced by Nelson in the starting lineup midway through this past season.
-JT
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Comments
Agreed, nice info for sure. I also believe we need to make long term plans for center. Habern has been injured more than he’s been healthy since he’s been at OU.
Also, Jake if you ever get time, fill us in on what the brass around OU are thinking about Texas’ potential move to either the PAC/Big 10. I don’t believe it’ll happen, but you just never know.
Good job. You answered my question about RJ Washington as I was looking at the depth chart. I know he has the physical skills. I wonder what the issue is?
What is this reference to Austin Haywood questionable to qualify? Did everyone know this already. Nothing was written during recruiting. Is there a chance he will make it? Thanks
Lynn – It’s been out there about Haywood. He may end up in a JUCO it’s sad to say. I hope not, but it is a real possibility. We’ll know for sure by May or April.
I think you are making WAY too much of this depth chart. A depth chart before spring practices even begin serves no purpose whatsover except to motivate certain players that the coaching staff either wants to reward (for hard work during the off season) or warn (for not working hard enough). That’s it. This depth chart will look NOTHING like the depth chart in the fall or even coming out of spring practice. To draw any conclusions about next season based on this depth chart is pure foolishness.
Steve – Who’s drawing conclusions? Who has prognosticated anything on here? It’s perfectly normal to release a 2 deep, especially before any kind of practice is to take place. It’s released pretty much for the exact reason you stated as well, which is to motivate, and let these kids and fans have kind of an idea as to what the future could look like. I think even a football novice recognizes the weight that a spring 2 deep carries come August.
If it happens taking Texas out of the south and mo. out of the north that will leave the big 12, now now big 10 in bad shape. Only answer is to add a couple of big name schools. Steve your probably somewhat right about it being too early to predict starting lineup for next year, but you can bet the coaches know the potential of their recruits and this list will remain close to the same for all practical purposes.
Great post Jake…looking forward to some good insight during the Spring Season…