Oklahoma Sooners Football: 5 Guys Who Need a Great Spring Performance

After a topsy-turvy 2011 season that included fantastic highs (Florida State! Texas!), demoralizing lows (Texas Tech? Baylor?) and pure embarrassment (you know) the 2012 Sooners will be looking for a fresh start this offseason.

An impressive recruiting class and a shiny new defensive coordinator will help, but it is up to the current players to decide the ultimate fate of next year's squad, one that again will have the highest of expectations.

Sooner Nation is still pointing to the empty spot on the west facade of Memorial Stadium that awaits the year of the program's eighth national championship.

No pressure, right?

Well, for next season it all starts with spring practice. This is where the slate is wiped clean and every job is up for grabs. This is where low-impact rotation guys attempt to fill the shoes of departed All-Americans. This is where Sooner legends separate themselves from mere mortals.

Let's take a look at five Sooners who have a chance to elevate their games this spring and make a lasting impact on the game.

Brennan Clay, RB

Next season is "put up or shut up" time for junior running back Brennan Clay. He was given a chance early last season, getting between 12 and 15 carries during the first three games, but was unable to get double-digit carries again.

The drop off was due to 1) a pesky shoulder injury 2) averaging only 3.9 yards-per-carry in those first three games and 3) the emergence of Dom Whaley. Some of those are in his control and some aren't, but if Clay is to make an impact in Norman like the other two members of the Cali Trio (Kenny Stills, Tony Jefferson) then he needs to rise above those excuses.

A good showing this spring is needed if Clay doesn't want to get lost in what looks to be a crowded backfield next season considering the arrival of JUCO transfer and NJCAA All-American Damien Williams.

Corey Nelson, LB

Sophomore linebacker Corey Nelson took a big leap last season, recording 60 tackles (8.5 for loss) and 5.5 sacks in his first season as a starter.

The middle of the defense was a bit of a roller coaster last season, though, forcing Nelson and others to play several different positions—sometimes within a single game. Nelson even logged time at defensive end after Ronnell Lewis went down.

It reminded me of the famous saying, "you can be good at many things, or great at one thing."

If you are constantly jumping from position to position, you never really get comfortable at any of them. Yes, Nelson is a tremendous athlete and played well last year because of it, but if he wants to elevate his game to the next level, he and the coaching staff need to decide where he is going to play and let him learn that position inside and out.

By allowing Nelson to focus on one position and figure out his role in the defense, it will allow him to pair his off-the-charts athleticism with the necessary mental portion of the game, unlocking his monumental potential.

Lane Johnson, OT

For next season the interior of the offensive line is as solid as it has ever been under Stoops, led by likely All-Big 12 center Ben Habern who is flanked by a guard rotation that is four to five deep.

The offensive tackle position, however, is another story.

Last year's left tackle, Donald Stephenson, graduated, leaving senior Lane Johnson as the only lineman to log serious minutes at tackle.

The two guys behind Johnson on the depth chart are absolute monsters (6'7", 300-lb Dylan Dismuke and 6'9", 325-lb Derek Farniok) but redshirted last year. JUCO transfer Will Latu is expected to start opposite Johnson but won't be in Norman until the summer due to academic concerns.

So this spring it is all up to Lane, who originally came to Norman as a tight end, switched to defensive end and finally landed at offensive tackle before last season. His all-around skill and athleticism make him an attractive option but he will have to accept his role as the guy this spring and really up his game.

Blake Bell, QB

There is no doubt the development of the "Belldozer" package last season was one of the more interesting story lines of the year. Blake Bell and his special formation debuted in Week 8 against Kansas State, vastly improving an offense that struggled in the red zone and short-yardage situations.

The formation's effectiveness tailed off towards the end of the year, however, once opposing coaches realized that Bell was never going to throw the ball out of the set. Bell piled up 13 touchdowns on 44 carries, but only completed one of his four pass attempts and threw a costly interception in the end zone against Iowa State.

Blake can throw the ball, evidenced by his impressive high school tape, but needs to develop his confidence and poise this spring. The package was thrown in midseason last year, so giving Blake a full offseason to work on his game will likely provide major dividends.

If he were even a slight passing threat out of the Belldozer, the Sooners could have one of the most dynamic and potent offensive attacks in the country next season.

David King and R.J. Washington, DE

Head coach Bob Stoops has enjoyed several consecutive seasons of high production from the defensive end position. Jeremy Beal and Austin English had their run together, giving way to Frank Alexander and Ronnell Lewis last year.

Over the past five seasons, those four men accumulated an astounding 151 tackles-for-loss and 77.5 sacks, or 30 and 15.5 per season, respectively.

If the Sooner defense is to keep up that pace, both David King and R.J. Washington are going to have to step up their games in a big way, beginning this spring.

About this time last year, Sooner Nation was calling upon Frank Alexander to make a similar leap, a call he answered by becoming the 2011 Defensive Player of the Year.

Do either of these men have it in them to answer the same call? Time will tell.