Bell earns Elite status
Sooner QB recruit Blake Bell, the Wichita standout, can add another level of accomplishment to his stud status.
Elite 11 quarterback.
Bell is among 12 quarterbacks picked to participate at the EA Sports Elite 11 camp.
As for the math, 12 QBs/Elite 11, it must require some newfangled calculator. Or the 11 stands for something beyond the number of players in the mix.
But the consensus is that Bell belongs.
Here’s the take of ESPN’s Tom Luginbill on Bell:
“Bell’s physical measurables (6-foot-5, 212 pounds) and upside are enormous. He did not have a great regional workout, but his tape does not lie. He’s been a starter at quarterback for only one season — he was an All-State wide receiver prior to that as a sophomore — but there are lots to work with here.”
Bell will be among some premier QBs at the camp, working alongside, among other touted signal callers, Nick Montana, Joe’s son.
The experience should be invaluable, not only as a checkpoint to measure himself with the nation’s best, but the instruction there is outstanding.
– By John Helsley
Clay and Finch highlights
We have more video of Brennan Clay and Roy Finch on the way. But here’s a peak at some video of the two blue-chip running backs who committed to Oklahoma in June.
Roy Finch (No. 24)
Brennan Clay (No. 15)
By Jake Trotter
Where did the three wins go?
On a previous comment, Claude Raines claimed that Oklahoma possesses 791 victories, three fewer than I had given the Sooners when comparing all-time wins.
The College Football Data Warehouse, which stores loads of information about all-time college football results, lists 788 wins for OU. But the university, which claims CFDW as its source as well, lists 791.
So, why the discrepancy?
I was curious. So after a little research, I discovered the reason is 1972.
That year, OU was forced to forfeit three games due to, as the Sports Illustrated vault recounts, “Kerry Jackson, the hotshot quarterback whose high school transcript was altered, resulting in OU being put on probation for two years and costing the Sooners three 1972 victories.”
Wins over Missouri, Kansas and OSU were changed to losses.
So in reality, OU has both 788 wins and 791 wins, depending on how you view those three games in question (by the way, forfeits are different from vacated victories. A forfeit is a loss. A “vacate” is neither a win nor loss).
Either way, the Sooners are 7th all-time in wins, and 5th in winning percentage.
** Predictably, Alabama announced Wed. that the school would appeal the 21 victories that are currently being vacated by the NCAA for violations. Will be interesting to see what happens, but my guess is that the Tide will get their victories back.
** Got an email from a writer who covers Missouri a couple of days ago, asking who would be OU’s top newcomer this season (freshman, redshirt freshman, JUCO). I responded with JUCO WR Cameron Kenney, who I interviewed and wrote a story about earlier this summer. Kenney’s ability to help OU on special teams is intriguing, in addition to his obvious talents at receiver.
But what about others? Is there another newcomer to watch who may overtake Kenney in terms of impact?
Here are some possibilities:
Tress Way, punter
Way is almost assured of handling the punting duties this year
Bryce Easley, kicker
Obviously, if he wins the place-kicking job, that would be a big-time impact
Brian Lepak, guard/center
He’s one injury away from being a starter
David King or R.J. Washington, defensive end
One of the two will play significant snaps; lately, OU has annually produced a standout newcomer at DE
** Picture of the day
Imagine this happening on a weekly basis next season. Q Carter can lay the hammer down.
Photo by The Oklahoman's Bryan Terry
** Video of the day
OU running back commitment Brennan Clay (No. 24 here) of San Diego Scripps Ranch High School. Clay will be among the top RB recruits for the Class of 2010.
** Congrats to Trent, Shane, Jason and Dog for their right answers to Boise State boasting one of the top-10 all-time winning percentages.
Next trivia question: How many college football offenses in history have had a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard receiver, and two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season? How many, and who were they? Bonus points for specific players.
By Jake Trotter
OU hoops boast No. 6 class
The bad news of Juan Pattillo being kicked off the team this week shouldn’t linger too long.
That’s because the Sooners have the No. 6-ranked incoming recruiting class, according to ESPN.com.
Said ESPN, “Four ESPNU 100 players, two of whom are McDonald’s All-Americans, will help soften the blow of Blake Griffin’s early departure from Norman. Center Keith Gallon (Houston/Oak Hill Academy) and PG Tommy Mason-Griffin (Houston/Madison) are the headliners for OU; the duo will be counted upon to be productive from day one. Gallon, at 6-9 and 300 pounds, can score inside, face up to the arc and is a physical rebounding presence. The 5-10 Mason-Griffin is a complete point guard because he can handle, pass and shoot with NBA range. He also is strong enough to handle the contact as a freshman in the Big 12 at 190 pounds. Coach Jeff Capel also added a big-time wing shooter and zone buster in Steve Pledger (Chesapeake, Va./Atlantic Shores). Bookend power forward Andrew Fitzgerald (Owings Mills, Md./Brewster Academy) is a physical scorer on the blocks and a deft offensive rebounder. Powerful rebounder and finisher Kyle Hardrick (Oklahoma City/Putnam City) brings the effort and intensity.”
(To see more recruiting analysis from ESPN, click here. Other notable rankings, Kentucky No. 1, Texas No. 4, Kansas No. 5, Oklahoma State No. 10).
I expect Mason-Griffin and Gallon to be instant starters. With Pattillo gone, Fitzgerald could work his way into the starting lineup as well.
That would leave a starting line up of:
PG Mason-Griffin
SG Willie Warren
SF Tony Crocker
PF Fitzgerald
C Gallon
You won’t win in December with a team like that. But in March, if the youth-movement Sooners gel around superstar Willie Warren, look out, perhaps even for another deep run into the NCAA Tournament.
By Jake Trotter
OU may need JUCO lineman to hit ground running
As basketball player Juan Pattillo showed over the weekend, relying on junior-college players in any sport is, at best, a 50-50 proposition.
But that’s exactly what the Oklahoma football team may have to do on the interior of its offensive line.
During the spring, the Sooners lost center Jason Hannan and guard Kody Cooke, who both decided to transfer.
Now, word is that reserve guard Alex Williams is in the doghouse due to a lack of work ethic and his status with the team is tenuous (remember Bob Stoops’ calling out of the offensive line before spring drills?)
Essentially, that leaves OU with three returning scholarship players on the interior in good standing: guard Brian Simmons, center Ben Habern and guard Stephen Good, who missed the Red-White Spring Game with a shoulder injury.
Walk-on Brian Lepak proved to be a capable back-up. But after that, who knows.
An injury or two to the interior line could leave OU in an unenviable position.
That’s why OU may be counting on 2-star junior-college transfer Tavaris Jeffries to rise to the occasion and contribute immediately to the line rotation, a spot where OU has had pretty good fortune with JUCOs in the past.
Brandon Walker and Phil Loadholt both proved to be instant starters, though those two were highly recruited players, while Jefferies had almost no other Division I offers.
But talking with the coaches in the spring, they feel like Jeffries has tremendous upside and is capable of contributing fairly fast.
Should Williams remain in the doghouse, or someone like Good or Habern, who have injury histories, get hurt, OU will need Jeffries to do just that to avoid major depth issues in the middle of the line.
By Jake Trotter
Cameron Kenney does it all
To get an idea of how versatile incoming Oklahoma wide receiver Cameron Kenney, check out this video from his senior year at Dacula (Ga.) High School.
After sitting out his junior season, Kenney only played one year of varsity football. But, as this video shows, he made the most of it.
The sequence goes something like this: long kickoff return, interception for TD, extra point, punt return, catch for TD, extra point, interception, TD-saving tackle, bone-rattling hit.
By Jake Trotter
QB Blake Bell falls in latest Rivals rankings
When they got a verbal commitment from Wichita product Blake Bell, the Sooner coaching staff thought they were getting the highest-rated high school QB in the nation.
But following a poor showing at Sunday’s Elite Action Combine, Bell tumbled in the latest Rivals100 rankings from No. 25 all the way down to No. 88.
“Blake has worlds of potential based on his big frame, a good arm and unique physical tools, but if you’re going to be the No. 1 quarterback in the nation you’ve got to come strong every time out,” Rivals.com recruiting analyst Barton Simmons said in an article in USA Today. “He had trouble putting good spin on the ball, was very erratic with his accuracy and his arm strength didn’t shine through like it does on film.”
But Bell isn’t the only QB to struggle in the Rivals rankings. No QB is ranked in Rivals’ top 50, suggesting the perceived weakness of this year’s group.
Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) quarterback Phillip Sims is now the top QB nationally, ranked No. 58. He is currently committed to Alabama. Bell is now ranked third.
Curiously, Houston native and Texas commitment Connor Wood, the QB the Sooners first offered, was rated No. 151 in the Rivals top-250 players.
Other than Bell, OU had three of its verbal commitments ranked in the Rivals250.
Pflugerville (Texas) offensive lineman Tyrus Thompson was ranked No. 123, followed by Irving (Texas) DB Eddrick Loften at No. 132 and Flower Mound (Texas) DT Daniel Noble at No. 236.
By Jake Trotter
DeMarco Murray steps up in the weight room
A few tidbits from OU spring practice:
*DeMarco Murray’s rehab is going very well, and he’s stepped it up in the weight room despite not playing this spring. Coach Josh Heupel apparently didn’t even recognize him while walking behind the other day.
* Ryan Broyles is playing both in the slot and at wide receiver. When OU is in power formations, count on Broyles being on the field, even though his natural position in the slot. That means he will get a lot of looks downfield next season.
* Broyles said that QB Sam Bradford is not getting the same pass protection from a young offensive line that he did last year. Obviously, Sam is not getting hit in practice, but OU’s defensive line is getting through a lot more often than last year. Cause for concern?
* Guard Brian Simmons said he’s never, in his life, seen someone in person so physically impressive as fellow guard Stephen Good. Good, a powerlifting champion in high school, is the strongest player on the team right now. And he’s just a rising sophomore.
* Quinton Carter is starting at free safety, while Sam Proctor is working in at strong with the first team. Freshman Javon Harris and Joseph Ibiloye are backing them up, along with walk-on Emmanuel Jones, who is having a nice spring.
* Walk-on Brian Lepak is going to play a lot next season, especially with the departure of Jason Hannan, who is expected to transfer. The Colorado State transfer, originally from Claremore, has been one of the best surprises this spring.
* Cornerback Dom Franks couldn’t stop talking about how impressive the freshman linebacking trio of Ronnell Lewis, Tom Wort and Jaydan Bird have been. “Those kids hit,” Franks said.
* Trent Williams said he’s been challenged to become a leader on the offensive line. He’s not where he wants to be in that department, but that’s something OU needs next season with so many first-year starters.
* According to WR coach Jay Norvell, Dejuan Miller and Jameel Owens have a ways to go before they play significant snaps with the first team. So far, the starting WRs are Brandon Caleb, Adron Tennell and Broyles.
* By many accounts, Landry Jones is having an outstanding spring. He looks to be the solid favorite to replace Bradford, whenever that day comes.
* Owens said fellow Muskogee native Stacy McGee is up to 275. He was about 245 as a high school senior. Still, it may be awhile before McGee is ready to join the DT rotation.
By Jake Trotter
Friday’s links: More Jarboe and an OU recruit
* Sam Bradford rates the other QBs in the Big 12 (Except for OSU and Texas) .
* More on Jarboe here, here, here.
* Recounting the legend of Sooner Magic with Barry Switzer.
* Good video of OU recruit Jonathon Miller of Garland (Texas) Naaman Forest. An Adrian Peterson clone?
* Is Stoops a ‘great’ head coach? This blog says yes.
* OU/NFL blog breaks down OU’s NFL wide receivers. Not so hot?
* ESPN’s college football coverage is good because the network hasn’t screwed it up yet.
* Bleacher Report offers up its Top 25.
Football: OU loses 2009 prospect to Vols
From the Chattanooga Times: “(Tennessee coach) Phil Fulmer accepted the Vols’ first public 2009 signing class commitment over the weekend, when highly touted Philadelphia receiver Je’Ron Stokes pledged during an unofficial visit.Stokes, whose family is close to former Vols receiver, defensive back and return specialist Mark Jones, is rated by Rivals.com as the nation’s No. 44 overall prospect in the 2009 class. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Jones has an impressive offer list that includes Oklahoma, UCLA, West Virginia and most of the Big Ten schools.”
