OU's Tennell grabs ahold of his chance

BY JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
8/12/09 at 6:53 PM

Related story: Practice Report: Oklahoma.

NORMAN — To clarify for Oklahoma football fans, the 2009 season is not Adron Tennell's time. It's his opportunity.

Three pretty talented receivers, three wasted seasons and one devastating knee injury have kept Tennell on the "what-if" list, as in: What if he had redshirted as a true freshman? What if he'd sat out last season after coming off a busted knee? What if he hadn't gotten hurt?

What if he doesn't produce as a senior?

Tennell says don't worry about the latter.

"Just go out there and do my job," he said. "That's my focus this year, do what I gotta do and help the team."

Depth at wide receiver is great, but to ask Sooner players and coaches who will step up and lead the team this season is to ask for a roster rundown of the position. Everybody, it seems, has a chance.

Still, Sooner fans may have felt refreshed during spring practice when receivers coach Jay Norvell, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and even quarterback Sam Bradford said it was obvious that Tennell had separated himself from the rest of the pack of unproven contenders like Brandon Caleb, Dejuan Miller, Jameel Owens and newcomer transfer Cameron Kenney.

Last year, OU's multiple-receiver sets contained a lot of Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson on the outside and Ryan Broyles and tight end Jermaine Gresham on the inside. Now, Iglesias and Johnson have graduated. Broyles takes on one of the outside roles. Running back Mossis Madu is shifting to the inside slot receiver spot, where running back DeMarco Murray will play some, too.

That means the other end position is up for grabs — or, to hear everyone tell it, Tennell's job to lose.

"Yeah, I think he is playing a lot more aggressive now," Bradford said. "He goes after the ball probably with more confidence than he has in years past. That could be because he has been here longer and he does feel more comfortable in our offense. But I think knowing that he has a chance to be one of our top targets probably adds to that."

Tennell came to OU as Rivals.com's No. 3-ranked high school wideout in the country. But he arrived at 170 pounds and simply wasn't strong enough to compete. In three seasons, he's played mostly in the fourth quarter of blowout wins and on special teams. This past offseason, he's focused on building his strength — he now stands 6-foot-4, 200 pounds — and on his route-running.

Iglesias led the team in catches and yards two years in a row, including 74 receptions for 1,150 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and 68 for 907 and 5 TDs in 2007. Iglesias stands second in school history in career catches (202) and yards (2,861). Johnson, always a complementary receiver, stands ninth in career catches (119) and seventh in yards (1,710). They combined for 36 career TD catches.

In three seasons, Tennell has just 16 receptions for 208 yards and one touchdown.

Still, he said serving a three-year apprenticeship under Iglesias, Johnson and Malcolm Kelly (144 catches, 2,285 yards, 21 TDs) taught him a few things about how to handle himself.

"Just don't be tight," he said. "You know you can play. Just be laid back and just go out there and perform."

Norvell said he speaks with the group about the mental toughness and pride required by each snap — not just in games, but in practice, too.

"It's just the opportunity, I think," Norvell said. "He's had some talented guys in front of him, and he's had some injuries. He just hasn't had a chance to get that groove. So this is his opportunity to be able to do it every day and prove himself every day. You've got to get up and go to work. You've got to focus your attention and bring that energy every day. That's his challenge now."

John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

OU wide receiver Adron Tennell goes airborne on the tackle by TCU's Alex Ibiloye in the fourth quarter of their game in Norman last season. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World file