Oklahoma Football: The Most Important Post-Spring Dates

Spring practices are over and done with.

Post-spring is traditionally a bit of a down period for college football as the coaches and players look to enjoy a nice and relaxing summer break before the new season starts up.

Not quite ready to put college football on the back burners?

Don't fret, here is a list of important dates to look forward to in Sooner land during the coming months.

April 26-28: NFL Draft

Where will former standout Sooner players land in the NFL draft?

While there may never be another draft like the 2010 draft where three Sooners were selected in the first four picks, there are definitely some quality players coming out of Oklahoma.

Cornerback Jamell Fleming is likely the first Sooner who will be taken off the board, according to the most recent mock draft.

Other players to keep a watch for include WR Ryan Broyles, OLB Ronnell Lewis, OLB Travis Lewis, OT Donald Stephenson, TE James Hanna and DE Frank Alexander.

July 23: Big 12 Media Day

The Sooners official Big 12 media day will take place on July 23.

Media days usually include head coach Bob Stoops along with a small group of players making themselves open to the media for questioning.

This year will be the first without Texas A&M and Missouri, but will feature TCU and West Virginia in their place.

Stoops generally doesn't divulge much new information at the Big 12 media days, but it is a nice chance to get out in front of the cameras and remind everyone that college football is right around the corner. 

Early August: Fall Practice

Though the exact date of the first fall practice has not yet been announced, the Sooners traditionally begin walk-through practices the first week of August with two-a-days following shortly after.

While the spring practice provided some insight to the depth heading into the 2012 season, a number of potentially influential prospects have yet to join the team.

JUCO standouts Courtney Gardner and Will Latu will both join the team this summer and look to make an immediate impact.

Gardner will join incoming freshman Durron Neal and Sterling Shepard in the battle for playing time at wide receiver. With a number of returning starters and Trey Metoyer already on campus impressing the coaches, it will be an uphill battle for the incoming prospects to break into the rotation.

Latu will add depth to the offensive line, but will likely be backing up Daryl Williams at left tackle by the time the season starts.

Aug. 20: Back to Class

The 2012 fall semester begins on Aug. 20 in Norman.

All players will be expected to report to their classes to maintain their NCAA eligibility.

Academics are one of the primary focuses at the University of Oklahoma and something that Bob Stoops takes very seriously.

Awards the university has received include the NCAA Champs/Life Skills Program of Excellence Award and the USA Today/NCAA Academic Achievement Award.

Stoops hopes to avoid any academic issues after recent problems in 2011. Standout defensive end Ronnell Lewis struggled with academic eligibility leading up to the start of the 2011 season, which ultimately sidelined him from the Insight Bowl.

Sept. 1: Season Opener at UTEP

The Sooners will travel out to the ends of west Texas on Sept. 1 to kick off the 2012 season.

UTEP finished 5-7 on the season in 2011 and was not bowl eligible.

The Miners should be a relatively easy opener for the Sooners as they start the 2012 season with high expectations yet again.

While the Sooners likely won't show too many new wrinkles in the playbook for the season opener, it will be interesting to see how Mike Stoops lines up his secondary. Everyone is interested to see how the younger Stoops' return to Norman will impact the defense overall—especially the secondary.

Will running back Dominique Whaley be healed up and ready in time for the opener?

Will the Sooners look to employ the Belldozer package from the get-go?

Will Landry Jones' offseason work with George Whitfield show any signs of improvement?

Lots of questions in Sooner nation leading up to Sept. 1.