Midseason's greetings, Mr. English
Published: 10/24/2007 8:11 AM
Last Modified: 10/24/2007 8:11 AM
Do yourself a favor and be sure to read John Hoover's profile of Oklahoma defensive end Auston English coming in Sunday's World. A must if you dig the Sooners, or even if you don't and you simply like a terrific story.
Here's a little something to tie you over until then...
CBSSportsline.com columnist Dennis Dodd put English on his Halfway All-America Team. And Jeffrey Martin, who covers the Big 12 for the Wichita Eagle, named English as his midseason conference defensive player of the year. That's quite a feat, given how well Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib and Colorado linebacker Jordon Dizon -- two players who carried volumes of preseason press clippings into the year -- have played.
The fact is Martin sees what should be obvious to everyone -- English is the best defensive end Stoops has coached at OU. As hyped as predecessors Larry Birdine, Dan Cody and Jimmy Wilkerson were, they were only great in stretches. English brings it on just about every play, whether it's rushing the quarterback, pinching down and making a backside stop of the tailback, or retreating into space and helping contain a pass outlet (see the Missouri game).
Assuming he stays another two years, far from a guarantee as long as NFL scouts have their eyes open, it is frightening to think how good English will be with a completely developed body. He's plenty scary right now.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
