Tulsa World: OU Notebook: Box is back

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OU Notebook: Box is back

By GUERIN EMIG & JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writers
Published: 11/1/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 11/1/2009 7:46 AM

One year ago at Kansas State, Austin Box made his first impression as an Oklahoma Sooner when he made nine tackles in place of injured middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds.

Saturday night against the Wildcats, Box essentially made his 2009 debut.

Box started his first game of the season at middle linebacker. This time, Reynolds moved to the strong side in place of Keenan Clayton to give OU a little more punch in defending K-State's running game.

When K-State went to multiple wide receivers in passing situations, Clayton replaced Box. The rotation continued throughout the game.

Box's contributions included four tackles and a pass breakup on K-State's first play. He had a pair of kickoff tackles of Brandon Banks, who came into the game leading the Big 12 Conference in kick return yardage.

Tinker toys: The Sooners, who have started five different offensive lines this season, may have found a group they like.

Left to right, Trent Williams, Brody Eldridge, Ben Habern, Stephen Good and Cory Brandon started for the second straight game Saturday.

Tavaris Jeffries, the starting right guard over a three-game stretch before last week's game at Kansas, suited up but did not play Saturday. He was suspended from the 35-13 victory over the Jayhawks and did not make last week's trip to Lawrence.

Defensive dominance: Through five series Saturday night, OU led 21-0 and had outgained K-State 158 to minus-10. The Wildcats totaled 4 yards over their first two plays, then went backward over their next four.

In order — Jeremy Beal sacked Grant Gregory for a loss of 9; Gerald McCoy disrupted a screen pass to Keithen Valentine for a loss of 2; Valentine ran a shotgun handoff right into Reynolds for a loss of 2 more; and Beal tracked down a scrambling Gregory with a diving ankle tackle and a loss of 1.

Man down: It looked as though OU suffered just one injury of consequence Saturday night. Wide receiver Brandon Caleb left the field after the first play and did not return. Trainers were working on his left ankle on the sideline.

Thompson's son commits: Kendal Thompson, son of former OU quarterback Charles Thompson, has been offered a scholarship to play for the Sooners, according to Rivals network Web site SoonerScoop.com.

Kendal Thompson is a junior quarterback at Southmoore High School and is being recruited for the class of 2011. Among other programs that have expressed interest in Thompson are Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Kansas, LSU, Michigan, Missouri, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Tulsa and UCLA.

In eight games this season, Thompson has completed 108-of-162 passes (.667) for 1,724 yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Under former Sooners coach Barry Switzer, Charles Thompson, now 41, was an option quarterback from Lawton in 1986-88, but was kicked off the team following his 1989 arrest for cocaine trafficking.

After serving 17 months in federal prison, Thompson finished his college football career at Central State (Ohio), where the Marauders won an NAIA national championship.

According to SoonerScoop.com, OU also offered Southmoore tight end Austin Haywood for the 2010 class. Haywood would be the 25th verbal commitment in the Sooners' 2010 class. By GUERIN EMIG & JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writers

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	Report Comment MaintenanceMan, Tulsa (11/2/2009 11:43:40 AM) I hope this Thompson is a taller, smarter version of his dad. BOOMER!!!
	Report Comment eglkeeper, Hooterville (11/2/2009 12:06:41 PM) What is his ACT score, 40 time and height? Three sport athlete as well?

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