Oklahoma Sooners Football: Updating the 5 Best Spring Football Battles (Video)

Wide Receiver

Kenny Stills and Jaz Reynolds are the top guys, as expected, but Trey Metoyer is already making a name for himself in his first year on campus. Several players have raved about his abilities in interviews and SoonerSports.com recently released a video of Metoyer making an incredible one-handed catch and run for a touchdown.

Trey Franks has been getting a lot of time in the slot and has looked ready for a big year. From top to bottom, this might be the best group of receivers in the country next season.

Safety/Cornerback

The solution to the cornerback issue is going to have to wait until last year's starting strong safety Aaron Colvin returns from shoulder surgery. Many expect Colvin to move to cornerback opposite Demontre Hurst, Javon Harris to move over to strong safety and Tony Jefferson to slide back to free safety.

Kass Everette, Gabe Lynn, Lamar Harris and Joe Powell have been battling it out at corner, but according to defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, things aren't going as well as he would like. “Our young corners need a lot of work,” Stoops said. “We have to continue to get better at the other corner position.”

Javon Harris has adjusted well to his new role at strong safety where he isn't as responsible for the deep part of the field, meaning Colvin could move to corner where he excelled last year when he was used as a stop-gap.

The extra reps for the young guys have indeed helped develop depth at a key position, so its a win-win all around. The combination of Hurst and Colvin at corner and Jefferson and Harris at safety has the potential to be something special.

Defensive End

Reports out of Norman say that R.J. Washington has definitely locked down one of the starting defensive end spots and has stepped up his leadership role. That leaves David King, Chaz Nelson and Chuka Ndulue to fight it out for the other starting spot.

P.J. Lindley, listed on the roster as a linebacker, has also been getting reps at end. In all reality, it will probably be a pretty heavy rotation, especially early in the year. David King has the most experience of all the ends, so I would bet on him getting more snaps.

Backup Quarterback

This is an interesting situation for the Sooners and it depends on how exactly you define the role of "backup quarterback."

While Blake Bell took more snaps than Drew Allen last year, Allen was and is still considered the backup if Landry Jones were to go down. He has been much more accurate and polished in spring practices, but Bell might still get more snaps this season if the Bell-Dozer package continues to move the ball like it did last year.

“They're both doing a good job,” Jones said. “Blake is a big kid who can move around a little bit. Drew is probably further along in the offense, but he's been here a year longer so he's expected to be a little further along."

So in review, Blake Bell will likely get more time on the field but Drew Allen is technically the backup. Yes, it's as confusing as it sounds.

Offensive Tackle

Senior Lane Johnson is locked in at left tackle, the most important position on the line protecting Landry Jones' blind side. Having converted from tight end and defensive end, his above-average athleticism suit him well for the position.

Sophomores Tyrus Thompson and Daryl Williams have been getting work at right tackle, but the final decision will have to wait for JUCO transfer Will Latu to get on campus this summer.