The strength of the defense will definitely be up front. Tackle Gerald McCoy is a possible First Team All-American and his combination of strength and speed has the attention of NFL scouts.
DE Auston English was impressive in 2007 with 9.5 sacks, and he’s also impressed scouts with his unique athletic ability. When you throw in tackle DeMarcus Granger, OU should have one of the best D-lines in the country.
With the departure of LB Curtis Lofton, the strength of the linebackers may depend on the health of Ryan Reynolds, who has battled both bad luck and injuries throughout his career at Oklahoma.
When healthy, Reynolds is an All-Big 12 caliber performer. JC transfer Mike Balogun make an impact, and coaches hope junior Keenan Clayton finally realizes his potential. There is also plenty of excitement surrounding redshirt freshman Austin Box.
Going into the spring, the secondary had some question marks thanks to the early departure of Reggie Smith. By the end of the Red-White game, most of those concerns were put to rest.
Defensive coordinator Brent Venables will not have to worry about safety Nic Harris (74 tackles in 2007), who will be up for several national accolades and could be the best safety in the Big 12. JC transfer David Sims made a big impression on coaches and should contribute at one of the safety positions.
At corner, sophomore Dominique Franks emerged as a shut down corner in the spring, intercepting Bradford twice in the Red-White game. The other corner spot will be manned by senior Lendy Holmes.
Holmes was solid last season, picking off three passes and returning one for a touchdown against Texas Tech. The former receiver also had eight tackles in each of the final three games.
So, the talent for a title run is there, but how does the road to a title stack up?
Oklahoma has a favorable schedule in 2008. They get Texas Tech and Kansas at home, and won’t have to play North favorite Missouri unless they meet for the conference title. Their toughest road game will be in Stillwater against Mike ‘I’m a man’ Gundy and his Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Once again the swing game will come in October in the Red River Shootout against Texas, with the winner having the inside track to the Big 12 South championship.
If Bradford avoids a sophomore slump, and the secondary continues to show the promise shown in the spring, the sky is the limit for this team.
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