Injuries rain on OU spring parade
BY GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Sunday, March 27, 2011
3/27/11 at 5:10 AM
NORMAN - The Oklahoma Sooners head into their second week of spring practice without one of their projected starting offensive linemen. And it may be a while before they get him back.
Jarvis Jones, who was atop the depth chart at right tackle this spring, tore the patellar tendon in his right leg Friday. He underwent surgery Saturday and could be out until October.
"We were in a team period and it just buckled on him," coach Bob Stoops said in an OU release.
Jones was a regular in the Sooners' offensive line rotation last year. He started four games at left tackle. He shifted to the right side this spring with the loss of Eric Mensik, OU's senior starting right tackle last fall.
Jones' loss is an opportunity for Josh Aladenoye to move into the starting right tackle spot. The 6-foot-5, 316-pounder, who played sparingly last season as a redshirt freshman, is listed behind Jones on the depth chart.
The Sooners were already without fullback Trey Millard and tight end Trent Ratterree, who are both coming off shoulder surgery. Stoops said their four-month recovery process will sideline them, meaning more action for sophomores Marshall Musil (at fullback) and Austin Haywood (at tight end).
Continuing down OU's injured reserve list...
"Roy (Finch, the running back coming off foot surgery) is expected to go.," Stoops said. "Ronnell (Lewis, the defensive end who left the Fiesta Bowl in an ambulance) is expected to go, though we want to be smart with how much we give him. But right now, he went through the whole second half of our winter with no problems and is feeling good. He has been cleared to go.
"Dejuan (Miller, the wide receiver coming off knee surgery) is expected to be cleared. We're expecting him to be out there. Jermie (Calhoun, the reserve running back who tore his ACL last year) is not ready, but healing fine and doing well."
The Sooners are also being careful with middle linebacker Austin Box, whose last three seasons have been plagued by injuries.
"Austin has played a lot of football here. I don't need to see him a whole lot this spring," Stoops said.
"He'll get enough to stay tuned up and sharp on what we're doing. But we've got all summer to get him in that position."
Tom Wort will take most of the starting snaps in the middle this spring. Jaydan Bird, a kick coverer as a redshirt freshman last season, backs up Wort, with freshman Rashod Favors also in the mix.
The Sooners continue spring practice without Brandon Wegher, the former Iowa running back who at one time was transferring to OU as a walk-on.
"He's not with us anymore," Stoops announced after practice last Wednesday. "That didn't last real long."
It sure didn't. Asked about Wegher the following day, an OU source said: "I never saw him."
Regardless, the Sooners carry on without a player who rushed for 641 yards as an Iowa freshman in 2009. Wegher left the Hawkeyes before the '10 season, and has now left the Sooners. Assuming, that is, he ever joined them in the first place.
Also off the roster as of last week – Kevin Brent. The SuperPrep All-American showed up in '09 and immediately injured his shoulder.
OU spring football
March: 29, 31
April: 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 15, 19
Red/White Game: April 16
Dates subject to change; all practices are closed.
Guerin Emig 918-581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com
