Tulsa World: OU Notebook

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OU Notebook

OU wide receiver Manuel Johnson (right) avoids Chattanooga defensive back Anthony Brodnax while snagging a second-quarter touchdown pass on Saturday night in Norman. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World

By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer
Published: 8/31/2008 3:14 AM
Last Modified: 8/31/2008 3:42 AM

Broyles, Loadholt among no-shows: Bob Stoops would not disclose the players suspended from Saturday's season opener against Chattanooga, though wide receiver Ryan Broyles and tackle Phil Loadholt did not suit up.

Broyles was arrested for attempting to steal gasoline right before the 2007 opener and wound up redshirting. He plead no contest to the misdemeanor charge, received a deferred sentence and was placed on probation.

According to documents on the Oklahoma State Courts Network Web site, Broyles was late on the court cost payment plan he had agreed to. As a result, the State of Oklahoma requested a warrant be issued for Broyles' arrest last Jan. 29. A document shows the warrant was recalled a day later when the fees Broyles owed were paid.

Last Tuesday, the day he hinted there would be suspensions, Stoops said of Broyles: "He is a player that has come on, and we expect him to have a big year. He shows a lot of ability to make big plays, to make people miss him. I've said he's one of the guys since Mark Clayton left that reminds me it's not fair to compare him but he reminds me of Mark Clayton, in when he gets the ball making people miss him and making a big play sometimes when it's not there, those types of things.

"We really like what he's done. He's going to be there all year for us."

Loadholt was arrested on suspicion of DUI last June.

Williams in limbo: Defensive end John Williams also missed Saturday night's game, as he tries to determine if he's going to play the '08 season.

Williams was awarded a sixth season of eligibility after the '07 season, much of which he missed after tearing his Achilles' tendon at Tulsa. He rehabbed in the offseason, but was low on OU's depth chart at the start of fall camp.

Almost perfect: Sam Bradford was 14-of-17 for 151 yards and two touchdowns when his first half ended midway through the second quarter. His only misses were two drops by Jermaine Gresham and a deep post that he hung too high to Juaquin Iglesias, allowing Raeshon Ball to catch the OU receiver and break up the pass.

If it wasn't Gresham's best night receiving — both drops cost the sophomore tight end touchdowns — he did show the improvement he said he'd made at the line of scrimmage. Gresham's best block cleared the way for Chris Brown to score a 9-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Senior leadership: Iglesias and Manuel Johnson made OU wide receiver coach Jay Norvell look good Saturday night, when they combined for 12 catches and 166 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the first half.

Early last week, Norvell was asked about his two senior starters, and said: "I think they're hungry. We've talked about that all along. Great receivers are hungry. They want to go out and prove themselves every play. I think Manny and Juaquin have proven that in camp. They come to practice every day and want to make every play."

Just getting started: At least 14 players made their Sooner debuts in Saturday night's blowout. Among the highlights:

Redshirt freshman Travis Lewis made a surprise start at weakside linebacker. Redshirt freshman Jamell Fleming replaced cornerback Brian Jackson on the short side of the field. Redshirt freshman Frank Alexander was the second defensive end off the bench, following senior Alan Davis.

Redshirt freshman offensive linemen Donald Stephenson and Alex Williams came on at tackle in the second quarter.

Freshman kicker Jimmy Stevens made all but one of his extra points. Matt Mooreland, a walk-on from Bishop Kelley, didn't put any of his kickoffs out of bounds, but didn't earn any touchbacks either. By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer

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