New, old pieces lead to productive offseason for Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Sooners won last year’s Big 12 Championship and were selected to play in the College Football Playoff. And while many of those players return, head coach Bob Stoops called this season’s version a “new team.”
Stoops was the last coach to address reporters July 18, the last day of Big 12 Media Days.
“There are enough new pieces that it’s still a new team all together,” he said. “But I’ve been really pleased with the overall intensity and the effort and the winter conditioning and spring practices and what they’ve been doing here this summer.”
Three pieces that remain are with quarterback Baker Mayfield and running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon.
Stoops said those running backs are as good as the Sooners have had during his 18 years in Norman. He complimented their great ability to catch the ball as well as their speed.
“I’m trying to think of some of the same tandems,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve had two of that quality. They’re amazing when you watch the coaches version of the end zone copy, the holes they pick and the patience they have. Then you notice the obvious — the strength and power — and they rarely get caught.”
While receiver Sterling Shepard is through with his eligibility, Stoops rattled off several athletes who will help at receiver, including Dede Westbrook and Mark Andrews.
“Dede Westbrook … can create more big plays in that type of way this year,” he said. “And Mark Andrews was a guy everybody was clamoring to get on the field a year ago, who was a different type than Sterling, but was highly effective when he was on the field. He is a guy who will have a bigger role now.”
And he believes Oklahoma will have more prepared receivers this season than a year ago.
“So I feel like overall we will be able to absorb the absence of Sterling with better play for more guys,” he said.
Stoops called the four players he brought to media days — linebacker Jordan Evans, safety Ahmad Thomas, Mayfield and Perine — his “four great leaders on the team.”
But they aren’t the only ones, the coach added, noting defensive back Matt Romar and safety Steven Parker are two others who are filling leadership roles.
Those defensive players, as well as defensive lineman Charles Walker, will be asked to lead a defense in a tough schedule that includes Houston in week one. And though there’s work to do, Stoops was optimistic.
“I feel like we have some talented guys that are now in a position to hopefully take control of those positions,” he said.
Mayfield’s backup seems to be true freshman Austin Kendall. Kendall spent the winter and spring on campus.
“Really loved what he did,” he said. “He did a great job through the spring. Really smart in his decision making, avoided the bad plays, you know, for a guy who’s just out of high school, talented arm. I feel good about him. He’s only going to keep improving and getting better.”
As to whether Mixon should be punished more for an incident where he allegedly punched a woman two years ago, Stoops said he and the administration believe Mixon’s one-year suspension from all team activities is enough.
“That was the right punishment, and he’s met all the conditions we put in front of him and he was removed for the entire season,” the coach said. “He continues to have to meet high standards to remain part of the football team, but he has done so all along.”
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