Gerald McCoy learns to play college game through practice.

NORMAN -- Last August, the reigning USA Today National High School Defensive Player of the Year took his first shot at Oklahoma football.

"I was like, 'I can't believe it. I'm finally here,' " said defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who was three months removed from Oklahoma City Southeast at the time. "Before I knew it, (the quarterback) was saying, 'Hut.' And then big Duke (Robinson, OU's 330-pound guard) is coming downhill. And 'AD' (Adrian Peterson) is just gone. I was like, 'What was that? Whew, I got to do something about that.' "

Like face reality, for instance.

"I would have liked to play right away," McCoy said. "But once I got here, I realized it's a completely different game. And from the heart, honestly, I wasn't ready."

So McCoy took all those accolades he earned at Southeast and packed them away for a year. He would redshirt, watch tackles Cory Bennett, Steven Coleman, Carl Pendleton and DeMarcus Granger play on Saturdays, and bring both his mind and body up to Division I speed.

"Any guy in their redshirt year, they get stronger and quicker with extra work in the weight room," OU coach Bob Stoops said. "Then it's just understanding techniques."

"In high school, you're faster than everybody, stronger than everybody," McCoy said. "You get to college, people are just as fast or faster, just as strong or stronger. It's all about technique here."

Moving your feet, keeping a low center

"Gerald's a quick learner," Bennett said.

That helped, as did McCoy's potential. Coaches recognized that to the point they threw the redshirt in with the defensive starters in practice.

"I started doing that Texas week," McCoy said, "just to get me ready."

There was never a hint, according to McCoy, the redshirt would come off. Rather, this was planning for the future.

He changed his eating habits and changed his body, turning 289 pounds of baby fat remnants to a finer-tuned 280.

Now it's a solid 286.

"A lot of things have changed since I came here," McCoy said.

He isn't just playing in scrimmages, he's starting them. And after the snap, he's more likely to see the ball-carrier in the backfield than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage.

"He has a lot of talent, and he's unlocking something every day," Bennett said. "The possibilities are endless for him."

"It's going pretty good. It's a lot better than it was," McCoy said. "Actually, it's a lot better than it was."

Guerin Emig 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com

OU SCHEDULE

Spring practice

Friday, Saturday (11 a.m. scrimmage), Monday, April 4, April 6, April 9. Red-White spring game set for April 7, 1 p.m., Memorial Stadium.

Note: Scrimmages are open to the public, but practices are not.

2007 schedule