THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY OCTOBER 18, 2012
PAGE 5B
ings
LEE/KANSAN
ck during the
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FOOTBALL GAMEDAY PREVIEW OKLAHOMA 4-1(2-1) #9
FARZIN VOUSOUGHIAN
fvousougian@kansan.com
OFFENSE
After coming in as a backup in the first three games, running back Damien Williams has evolved into a starter and has made an impact. Williams ran for a career-high 167 yards against Texas last week. He's rushed for over 500 yards and six touchdowns this year. With Williams' recent rise, expect the Sooners to feed him the ball a lot against Kansas. Fullback Trey Millard may also get in on the action; he's been active with 23 touches for 264 yards, which is rare for fullbacks in football nowadays. The offense still revolves around quarterback Landry Jones. He's been a little more quiet on the field than he has in previous seasons but still gets the job done to help Oklahoma win.
Pos. NAME No. Year
QB Landry Jones 12 Sr.
RB Damien Williams 26 Jr.
FB Trey Millard 33 Jr.
WR Kenny Stills 4 Sr.
WR Justin Brown 19 Fr.
LE Taylor McNamara 88 Sr.
LT Lane Johnson 69 Fr.
LG Adam Shead 74 So.
C Gabe Ikard 64 Jr.
RG Bronson Irwin 68 Jr.
RT Daryl Williams 79 So.
K Michael Hunnicutt 18 So.
Oklahoma fullback Trey Millard is grabbed by Texas cornerback Carrington Byndom during the first half of the Cotton Bowl Saturday in Dallas.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
DEFENSE
Oklahoma's defense is second in the Big 12 and is one of the best in the nation. The Sooners are seventh in the nation in first downs allowed and 14th in total defense. Defensive backs Tony Jefferson, Javon Harris and Aaron Colvin are the top tacklers on the team. Oklahoma's 4-2-5 nickel package has brought them a lot of good fortune this season. Harris and Colbin co-lead the team in interceptions with two. Even though the Sooners are unaware of who the starting quarterback is for Kansas this Saturday, they will still come out with the same mentality and will do very little to adjust if and when a quarterback change is made.
STARTING LINEUP
| Pos. | NAME | No. | Year |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| LE | David King | 90 | Sr. |
| DT | Casey Walker | 53 | Sr. |
| DT | Jamarkus McFarland | 97 | Sr. |
| RE | Chucka Ndulue | 98 | So. |
| OLB | Corey Nelson | 7 | Jr. |
| MLB | Tom Wort | 21 | Jr. |
| CB | Aaron Colvin | 14 | Jr. |
| CB | Demontre Hurst | 6 | Sr. |
| CB | Gabe Lynn | 9 | Jr. |
| FS | Tony Jefferson | 1 | Jr. |
| SS | Javon Harris | 30 | Sr. |
| P | Tress Way | 36 | Sr. |
Oklahoma is 7-0 all-time when facing Kansas with Stoops as head coach. The Sooners have always had the best of the Jayhawks since their first meeting in the Stoops era on Sept. 30, 2000. In the seven matchups during the Stoops era, Kansas has never scored more than 21 points and have been outscored 259-90.
AT A GLANCE
Stoops has a lot of strengths on his football team each season, and this year's team is no exception. Oklahoma's offense is ranked fifth in the Big 12 and has been sparked by the rushing game. The defense stands tall at second in the conference. Stoops and his staff have also stressed the importance of special teams, which is currently in the top three in the Big 12 in kickoff return and punt return average.
COACHING
Bob Stoops played defensive back at Iowa from 1979 to 1982. Seven years after playing for the Hawkeyes, Stoops took a job with Kansas State University as a defensive assistant under Bill Snyder. He also spent three seasons at the University of Florida as a defensive coordinator for Steve Spurrier's staff. After he learned from some of the best in Snyder and Spurrier, Stoops took a job as the head coach of Oklahoma in 1999 and is in his 14th season with the Sooners.
Stoops
PLAYER TO WATCH
Backup quarterback Blake Bell could be one of the most notable backup quarterbacks in college football today. While his five-of-seven passes for 74 yards aren't eye-grabbing statistics, his rushing numbers are doing all the talking. Oklahoma has a lot of plays for Bell that involve him in short-yardage situations. He can help his team get a first down,
and other times he takes the ball to the end zone. Nicknameu the 'Belldozer,' Bell leads the team in rushing touchdowns with seven on the year.
Bell
SPECIAL TEAMS
QUESTION MARKS
Kicker Michael Hunnicutt missed two extra point attempts and one goal field this season, but he is still second in the Big 12 among all kickers in scoring with 46 points on the season. Roy Finch and Brennan Clay have handled the kickoff returns and average 26.6 yards per return. On punt returns, Justin Brown and Kenny Stills have done a good job trying to give Oklahoma's offense good field position as they average 16.3 yards per punt return.
Will Oklahoma's defense be ready for both Kansas quarterbacks?
Kansas coach Charlie Weis said both of his quarterbacks will play this Saturday against Oklahoma. But Oklahoma won't know who will start until game time. That forced the Sooners to spend all week preparing for both quarterbacks. Dayne Crist and Michael Cummings are different in their own way, giving Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops a lot to prepare for before Saturday's match.
BABY JAY WILL WEEP IF ...
Oklahoma shuts down Kansas in the second half. In last year's meeting, Oklahoma cruised in the second half against Kansas, 20-0. The Sooners eventually went on to win by 30. The Jayhawks have struggled in the second half this season until last week against Oklahoma State. If Kansas carries over its second-half momentum to Norman and expands it to four quarters, fans might be in for an exciting game.
21,OU
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Texas quarterback David Ash fumbles after he was sacked by Oklahoma linebacker Tom Wort and defensive back Tony Jefferson during the second half of an NCAA college football game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
Texas Tech's Seth Doege is hit by Oklahoma's Casey Walker as Chuka Ndulue nears Doege during a game.
BY THE NUMBERS
59 players under Stoops who have been drafted in the NFL.
wins for Oklahoma under Stoops since 1999.
consecutive home sellouts at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.