POSITION BATTLE

Defensive end

At last Saturday's scrimmage, John Williams and Auston English remained the starters with Alonzo Dotson and Jeremy Beal serving as back-ups. There may, however, be an X-factor.

"Alan Davis has made a number of plays during fall camp," defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "He's really done well and given himself an opportunity for reps."

Davis, a junior, was one of OU's best pass rushers during their first preseason scrimmage. Last Saturday, he applied more pressure and crossed the field to stop a toss sweep to Mossis Madu for no gain.

NEWS AND NOTES

Leaders of the pack: The Sooners voted Allen Patrick, Joe Jon Finley, Jacob Gutierrez, Lewis Baker and Marcus Walker as captains Tuesday.

"Those guys have been awesome leaders for us," coach Bob Stoops said. "They got probably 95 or 96 percent of the vote."

"It feels really great that the hard work you do pays off," Finley said. "It's nice to see the other guys around you recognize the work that you've done."

Patrick still out: Stoops expects Patrick to return from his ankle sprain this week.

"But what day it'll be I don't know," he said. "He's better every day."

No scrimmage: The Sooners originally scheduled a final preseason scrimmage for Wednesday night at Owen Field. That, however, is not going to happen.

"We've done more than we ever have here in mini-scrimmages and team situations and live inside-drill, goal-line situations," Stoops said. "Guys have really handled it great."

2007 Season schedule