Overrated.

Apparently, that's how Oklahoma's wide receiver corps sees it when it comes time to discuss preferences between contenders Sam Bradford, Joey Halzle and Keith Nichol.

"It doesn't really matter," said All-Big 12 candidate Malcolm Kelly. "People talk about having that chemistry, but they all three really put the balls here. Besides the jump balls or go balls, where the receiver just has to make a play on the ball, the rest of their passes, basically, you just have to be there to catch the ball. They're going to put the ball where it needs to be."

Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson says it's important to narrow the race from three to two, and maybe one, so the two, or one, can start getting more plays in practice. The idea is to sharpen the QB's skills and build timing with his receivers.

But perfecting that timing isn't a point of emphasis two weeks into preseason practice. The Sooners have their second major scrimmage 6 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, and with a scaled-back scrimmage earlier this week and another scheduled next week -- and the Sept. 1 opener still two weeks away -- players suggest there is plenty of time for timing.

"Going so many reps during the winter, we pretty much know the timing of each quarterback and their timing with us," said sophomore wideout Adron Tennell. "Going through the spring and the summer, we've pretty much got our timing down."

Head coach Bob Stoops said Friday he expected the reps and the rotation to remain very similar to last week's scrimmage. It's possible Stoops, Wilson and quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel could huddle on Sunday and determine that someone has begun to separate from the others.

Then again, this three-horse race could continue for another lap.

"From Keith Nichol as a freshman to Joey that's the oldest, we say all three of those guys can play, are capable of playing, maybe will all play," Wilson said. "Maybe we get settled on one by the (North Texas) game, maybe it's two; maybe as the year goes, a guy gets dinged up. We kind of think they're all doing well and getting some confidence in all of them. Right now they're all three in our thoughts."

Kelly said the dynamic between Bradford, Halzle and Nichol has "kind of been interesting.

"You'd think these three guys that are competing for the job would kind of, on the side, put each other down or something like that. But it's like they're all three brothers out there, like, may-the-best-man-win kind of deal.

"All three of them, it's not like they're going against each other. They're going against each other for the job, but as a person, they're still cool. . . . That's probably been the most interesting thing about it."

One reason there's been so little movement between the three is that while their athletic talents may differ, they all have huddle presence and leadership.

"They've all got that leadership," Tennell said. "Just the other day, we were out there and they were like, 'Come on!' It was like third-and-long and I was in there with Joey and Joey was telling us, 'We got this.' Next play I was in there with Sam and it was fourth down, and he said that. And Keith, I didn't expect Keith to talk up, but he just started talking. He was talking up, too."

Kelly, too, is impressed with the precocious Nichol.

"Oh yeah," Kelly said. "He's going to shock some people, man. He's a good player. If he ever gets time to, he'll show a lot of people he can play a lot older than his age."

First and foremost, the next signal-caller needs to avoid catastrophic plays. With a full contingent of tested and tough linemen, fast and furious running backs and gallant and grabby receivers, many believe OU can contend for championships if only the quarterback isn't clueless and clumsy.

"No matter who the quarterback is, we feel as a receiver group we should step up and make the quarterback look good," said junior wideout Manuel Johnson. "As long as they get it close, we should catch the ball."

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

FOOTBALL COUNTDOWN

14 days until the Sooners open against North Texas

When:
6 p.m. Sept. 1

Where:
Norman

TV:
FSN-27

Oklahoma football scrimmage information

When: 6 p.m. Saturday (gates open at 4:30 p.m.)

Where: Owen Field

Cost: None

Entry points: Gates 1, 7 and 12

Where to sit: East side only

Where to eat: Concession stands open on the east side and at Gate 1

Restrooms: East side only

Ticket office: Open 5-7 p.m. for those interested in tickets for the Utah State and Baylor games

Switzer Center: Open noon-6 p.m.

By Guerin Emig, World sports writer