Tulsa World: OU Football Practice Report

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OU Football Practice Report

By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer
Published: 8/23/2008 2:09 AM
Last Modified: 8/23/2008 2:50 AM

Position update: Running backs DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown, now that they seem to have recovered from offseason knee surgery, are set at tailback. Brody Eldridge will line up at fullback in must-have short-yardage situations, with Matt Clapp also seeing time at the lead back.

The X-factor behind quarterback Sam Bradford, then, is Mossis Madu. The sophomore from Norman rushed for 232 yards and a pair of touchdowns last year while getting the bulk of his playing time in September. He showed enough promise for offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson to consider Madu both at tailback and slot receiver.

"Mossis is a really versatile football player," Bradford said. "We can put him out there at a lot of different positions. He showed through camp he can make plays wherever we put him."

Despite the return of Murray and Brown, there seems room for Madu in OU's backfield, particularly now that Allen Patrick has moved on.

"Coach (Cale) Gundy always says you're going to need three backs all season long," Madu said of the running backs coach. "The way things have been with the running backs around here, more than two have played every year. Up to four about every year. It's looking good for me, as long as I keep practicing hard and keep my head up."

Owens, other freshmen will play: Depth at wide receiver apparently will not keep two freshmen from the field this season. Coach Bob Stoops said Friday that Jameel Owens and Dejuan Miller likely will play in 2008, a rather strong indicator of the duo's progress given that Ryan Broyles, Corey Wilson and Tyler Stradford, OU's true freshman wideouts a year ago, all redshirted.

Owens, 6-3, 200 pounds, caught 59 passes for 994 yards at Muskogee last fall. Miller, a 6-5, 200-pounder from Metuchen, N.J., totaled 1,067 yards receiving and rushing last year while contributing 77 tackles at safety.

Both have turned heads from the first week of preseason camp, when Wilson said: "Both Jameel and Dejuan, for young guys, have shown a physical, competitive I-can-make-some-plays-for-you side."

Everyone from Stoops to wide receivers coach Jay Norvell to players like Bradford and Murray have praised the duo since. When next Saturday's season opener against Chattanooga rolls around, it will be up to Owens and Miller to make good on their promise and crack a depth chart that already includes returning starters Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson, experienced backups Quentin Chaney, Adron Tennell and Brandon Caleb, as well as the three freshmen who redshirted last year.

Of that trio, Broyles seems to have worked himself into position to play significantly.

Stoops said other true freshmen he expects to play this season include safety Joseph Ibiloye and offensive linemen Stephen Good and Ben Habern.

Defensive ends coach Chris Wilson said he has not determined whether R.J. Washington, the nation's No. 1 high school defensive end last year according to ESPN and Rivals.com, or fellow freshman David King will see action this year. By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer

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