Oklahoma Football: 3 Early Standouts from Spring Practice

The Oklahoma Sooners opened up last season as national championship favorites, but fell on their face due to injuries and a few other issues that cost them a chance to fulfill their expectations. This season they'll likely be a favorite once again, but there are a few players that will need to step up to make those dreams a reality.

Spring practice is the perfect chance for players to make a name for themselves and not only move up the depth chart, but to earn playing time. As the Sooners prepare to kick off their spring game on April 14, it's time to give props to a couple of players who are standing out early on.

Here are three players who are having a great spring for the Oklahoma Sooners.

OT Derek Farniok

Redshirt freshman Derek Farniok made an impact day one on head coach Bob Stoops, who still likes the 3-star recruit from Sioux Falls, SD.

“He had a huge winter,” Stoops said. “He's a totally different guy than when he walked in here (last summer). It's really exciting to see how hard he's worked, how well he's running. He's the biggest of all of them.”

Oklahoma has majority of their offensive line intact, but it's not too far-fetched to believe he's worked hard enough to see some playing time this season. He has fantastic size at 6'9", 300-plus pounds and gets off the line very quickly.

WR Trey Metoyer

With wide receiver Ryan Broyles graduating, it opens a spot for another big play receiver to step in. So far that spot could be filled by a true freshman named Trey Metoyer who is a 5-star recruit from this year's class.

“He has the speed, the size and the maturity,” Stoops said. “He acts like an older player.”

He's also getting advice from other wide receivers on the team and trying to learn the most he can throughout the spring as well.

“Trey has come in and been in my shadow and trying to see what I can teach him and what he can learn,” wide receiver Kenny Stills said. “That's what I did with Ryan. I wanted to know every little thing that he had in his head.”

Metoyer is a quick receiver, who also has great size at 6'2", 285 pounds. He also catches nearly everything that's thrown his way and runs solid routes as well. This is a guy to pay attention to as we get closer to the regular season.

DE R.J. Washington

R.J. Washington was a top recruit coming out of high school in 2007, but never quite fitting in with the team and having a few issues to deal with, he just never lived up to expectations. Now that he heads into his senior season, he's looking to turn things around and become the starter to fill in the role of Frank Alexander who's no longer around.

"To be honest with you, it really, really bugged me my first couple of years," Washington said. "Just because everyone is like, 'Man you should be starting.' People even to this day say, 'Weren't you the No. 1 recruit in the nation? Shouldn't you already be starting?' And the only thing you can really do is change your attitude."

Washington has changed his attitude and could surprise some people with his play this season as he'll finally get a chance to start full time. But with him changing his demeanor and willing to be a leader on and off the field is a huge step in the right direction and deserves to be recognized.