Oklahoma'S Dominique Whaley Lost for Season: Which Sooner Will Replace Him

Every Sooner fan is aware of the story behind star Dominique Whaley's meteoric rise up the depth chart this season to become Oklahoma's starting running back.

Despite arriving on campus in 2010 after just one year's experience as a backup at Langston University (NAIA), Whaley has turned heads as a Sooners walk-on, passing more heralded recruits with his bruising running style. He displayed speed, agility, power and a knack for protecting the ball as he worked his way up the depth chart to become the co-starter with Brennan Clay as the 2011 season began.

That story certainly made watching the replay of Whaley's ankle being rolled and broken as he blocked on the edge for Roy Finch on the first play from scrimmage in the Sooners' rout of Kansas State on Saturday hard to see.

As the Sooner nation prays for his quick recovery and return to the team, the question now is who will replace him as the featured back in the OU line-up.

Let's take a look at the likely candidates and see if we can determine what Oklahoma will do for the remainder of the season.

Brennan Clay

Brennan Clay: 5'11", 194 lbs.

Sophomore from Scripps Ranch H.S. in San Diego, Calif. 5-star recruit and No. 2 all-purpose back in class of 2010 according to Rivals.com. First player in California high school football history to accumulate 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving in same season.

Brennan Clay was listed as the co-starter at running back to begin the season and actually did start the first few games.

However, an injury, coupled with the emergence of Whaley as the Sooners' most consistent threat has led to a decrease in playing time for the heralded recruit, who has not yet shown the ability to be a consistent feature back at the Division I level.

Now is the time for Clay to step up his game. He must take advantage of his new opportunities and prove that all the hype was justified.  

Roy Finch

Roy Finch: 5'7", 166 lbs.

Sophomore from Niceville High School, Fla. 4-star recruit and 2009 Parade All-American. Ranked No. 4 all-purpose back in nation by Rivals.

Roy Finch is an electrifying scat-back whom many thought would be the starter heading into this season. He has displayed an uncanny sense of balance and a knack for slipping out of tackles from the first time he touched the ball last season.

Finch was second on the team in rushing last season behind Demarco Murray, and had one of the few first-half highlights against Texas Tech this year with a 55-yard scamper on Oklahoma's first offensive play from scrimmage.

Despite his obvious abilities running the ball, questions remain about his durability and ability to be an every-down back for the Sooners.

OU expects running backs to be able to block and pick up blitzing linebackers, and here is where his size will work against him. 

While it is a safe bet that Finch will receive more of the load in the run game, he will need some help with other aspects of the Sooner offense.

Brandon Williams

Brandon Williams: 6'0", 192 lbs.

True freshman from Brookshire Royal High School in Texas. 5-star recruit, ranked No. 3 running back in the nation by Rivals. 2010 Under Armour All-American.

Brandon Williams arrived in Norman this past summer as one of the most heralded recruits from Oklahoma's 2011 class. Some "experts" even picked him to become Oklahoma's starting back by the middle of the season.

Not gonna happen.

While he has shown some flashes with the few opportunities he has had so far this season, it is obvious that Williams is not ready to become OU's featured back to this point.

Coaches cited problems picking up assignments along with poor ball security earlier in the season as contributing factors to Williams not receiving much playing time.

Williams himself has proven them right by coughing up one lost fumble, and has frustrated fans and coaches alike with his tendency to ignore what the defense is giving when trying to bounce runs to the outside.

He will get more opportunities now to showcase his abilities but must be willing to take the two-yard gain when necessary and avoid the negative yardage plays.

Trey Millard

Trey Millard: 6'2", 249 lbs.

Sophomore from Rockbridge High School in Columbia, Mo. 4-star fullback.

Trey Millard is enigma. It seems coaches are always talking about getting him touches and more involved in the game plan. Up until he broke free with one of his few carries of the season for a 61-yard touchdown run late in the game against Kansas State, that's all it was, though: talk.

After seeing Millard make moves in the open field and outrun the entire Wildcat secondary to the end zone, there is little doubt that the coaching staff needs to do more to get this young bulldozer the ball more often.

However, he did have that fumble on the goal line against Texas Tech when lined up as the tailback on first and goal. When the Sooners had to settle for a field goal yet again in a three point home loss, that play proved a pivotal contributing factor.

While it is likely that Millard's role in the offense will increase, it is also doubtful that he will become the main running threat for the Sooners.

Look for him to get more red-zone chances and to have a few passes in the flat thrown his way.

Other Options

With the loss of Whaley, the Sooners have not only lost the second leading rusher in the Big 12 (103 ypg) but also the stability and consistency he brought to the team.

With the tranfers of highly-touted running back recruits Jermie Calhoun and Jonathan Miller, a position that had once boasted extreme depth and talent to begin the season has instead become a huge question mark for "Stoops's Troops."

The coaching staff did add a new offensive wrinkle with the zone-read option runs by freshman quarterback Blake Bell in Manhattan, but his five rushes for seven net yards with one touchdown are not going to adequately replace the power and speed Whaley displayed on a consistent basis.

The most likely answer to this sudden problem will be a running back by committee approach that many thought would be the plan from the beginning of the season.

Rotating backs to best fit their strengths according to down, distance and situation will probably be the approach Co-Offensive Coordinators Josh Huepel and Jay Norvell take to try and mitigate the loss of Whaley.

Look for Finch to start most games and get spelled by both Clay and Williams as play progresses. Millard's opportunities in the red zone should also increase, as well as on short yardage situations.

But make no mistake, Whaley's loss will not be easy to overcome. His ability both running and catching the ball, combined with the way he blocked when kept in for protection, was the main reason he was the clear-cut starter to begin with.

Replacing the talented walk-on will be difficult and if anyone tries to tell you it will be easy, tell them to give me a call. I have a great piece of ocean-front property for sale here in Oklahoma I know they'll just love.