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Roster - Oklahoma Sooners

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 5, 2009

OKLAHOMA OFFENSE

WR, 84, Quentin Chaney (6-5, 203, Sr., Tulsa, Okla.)

* Key stats: 27 receptions for 467 yards, two touchdowns.

* Scouting report: Excellent size and athletic ability. Made the most of his opportunity when stepping in for injured starter Manuel Johnson (dislocated elbow). Had five catches for 128 yards against Nebraska and six receptions for 105 against Kansas.

* Did you know: Before Johnson's injury, Chaney's (ITALIC)career (END ITALIC) numbers were 21 catches for 335 yards.

WR, 9, Juaquin Iglesias (6-0, 204, Sr., Killeen, Texas)

* Key stats: 69 receptions for 1,092 yards, 10 touchdowns.

* Scouting report: Oklahoma's leading receiver is a big-play man who also excels as a kick returner. Delivered in the Big 12 Championship Game against Missouri with nine receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Has career totals of 197 catches for 2,803 yards – second all-time at OU (to Mark Clayton, who had 221 catches for 3,241 yards).

* Did you know: His father, Bobby, owns a barber shop.

WR, 85, Ryan Broyles (5-11, 175, Fr., Norman, Okla.)

* Key stats: 42 receptions for 661 yards, six touchdowns.

* Scouting report: Hometown product from Norman has enjoyed a breakout season in his first year. Speed guy who is elusive in the open field. In his debut, had seven receptions for 141 yards against Cincinnati.

* Did you know: Had 20 career interceptions in high school.

TE, 18, Jermaine Gresham (6-6, 261, Jr., Ardmore, Okla.)

* Key stats: 58 receptions for 888 yards, 12 touchdowns.

* Scouting report: Matchup nightmare. One of the nation's top tight ends and probably Oklahoma's best since Keith Jackson, a consensus All-American in 1987. Has become more of an intermediate-to-deep threat, averaging 22.1 yards on his touchdown receptions.

* Did you know: Runs a 4.73 in the 40-yard dash.

LT, 79, Phil Loadholt (6-8, 337, Sr., Fountain, Colo.)

* Key stats: Tied for team lead with overall blocking grade of 85 percent. * Scouting report: Third-team All-American by the Associated Press. Tallest and heaviest player on Oklahoma's roster. Junior-college transfer who has been overpowering in his two seasons with the Sooners but occasionally has difficulty against smaller, quicker defensive ends.

* Did you know: Loadholt was a 300-pounder at age 14.

LG, 72, Duke Robinson (6-5, 335, Sr., Atlanta)

* Key stats: Had 112 knockdowns, including 14 against Oklahoma State.

* Scouting report: Consensus first-team All-American who is considered one of the finest offensive linemen in Oklahoma history. Powerful drive blocker who plays with ferocious attitude. Originally from Atlanta, deep in SEC country, he considered Florida before signing with the Sooners.* Did you know: Great nephew of singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson.

C, 50, Jon Cooper (6-3, 290, Sr., Fort Collins, Colo.)

* Key stats: Leads Sooners with 93 percent pass-blocking grade.

* Scouting report: Veteran leader and unsung hero of Oklahoma's offensive line. Second-team All-Big 12. His 40 starts are the most among current Sooner players. Leads the team in knockdowns (118) and snaps (775).

* Did you know: Father, Tom, played at Missouri from 1972 to 1975 and also wore No. 50.

RG, 73, Brandon Walker (6-3, 284, Sr., Detroit)

* Key stats: Had 16 knockdowns each against Kansas State and Texas Tech.

* Scouting report: Junior-college transfer who has added athleticism and savvy to the offensive line in his three seasons with the Sooners. Led all offensive linemen with a 36-inch vertical jump during preseason conditioning tests.

* Did you know: Born Dec. 26, 1985, the week before Barry Switzer won his third national title with the Sooners.

RT, 71, Trent Williams (6-5, 308, Jr., Longview, Texas)

* Key stats: Had 113 knockdowns.

* Scouting report: Doesn't get the accolades of other Oklahoma offensive linemen but could become the best player of all. Excellent technique and footwork. Has clocked a 4.82 in the 40. First-team All-Big 12.

* Did you know: Has vertical leap of 30.5 inches.

QB, 14, Sam Bradford (6-4, 218, So., Oklahoma City)

* Key stats: Completed 68.3 percent of passes, 4,464 yards, 48 touchdowns, just six interceptions.

* Scouting report: Heisman Trophy winner and first-team All-American. Superb leader and pocket passer who is deadly accurate. Has led the nation in passing efficiency both of his seasons. Has record-setting 84 touchdown passes as a freshman and sophomore, breaking the initial two-season mark of 55, held by former Florida QB Rex Grossman. * Did you know: Finance major who hopes to become a corporate attorney.

RB, 29, Chris Brown (5-11, 210, Jr., Alexandria, La.)

* Key stats: Rushed for 1,110 yards, 20 touchdowns.

* Scouting report: Coming on strong with 11 touchdowns in the last four games. Nearly one-third (31.6 percent) of his career rushes have resulted in a touchdown or first down. Must pick up the slack for DeMarco Murray (1,002), who was injured in the Big 12 Championship Game and underwent season-ending surgery. * Did you know: Rushed for 5,866 career yards and 79 touchdowns in high school.

PK, 17, Jimmy Stevens (5-6, 156, Fr., Oklahoma City)

* Key stats: Converted eight of 11 field-goal attempts.

* Scouting report: Nice weapon on a team best known for scoring touchdowns. Made both of his attempts in the Big 12 Championship Game. Set OU record for most extra points made and attempted (92 of 97). Had 42-yard field goal against Texas A&M.

* Did you know: Had 50 career field goals in high school, setting a national record.

KR, 9, Juaquin Iglesias (6-0, 204, Sr., Killeen, Texas)

* Key stats: Averages 23.8 yards on kickoff returns with a long of 69.

* Scouting report: Speedy and decisive. Must pick up the slack from primary kickoff returner DeMarco Murray (27.6-yard average), who was injured in the Big 12 Championship Game and underwent season-ending surgery.

* Did you know: As a junior, he was 16th nationally with a 28.48-yard average on kickoff returns.

OKLAHOMA DEFENSE

DE, 44, Jeremy Beal (6-3, 253, So., Carrollton, Texas)

* Key stats: Had 14 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks.

* Scouting report: Big-play man off the edge. Second-team All-Big 12. Had 10 tackles against Cincinnati. Had two sacks in each of the final two regular-season games.

* Did you know: The nation's No. 11-ranked prep defensive end in 2005, according to ESPN.com.

DT, 93, Gerald McCoy (6-4, 295, So., Oklahoma City)

* Key stats: Had 4.5 sacks and 10 tackles for a loss.

* Scouting report: Second-team All-American by the Associated Press and first-team All-Big 12. Disruptive force on the interior of Oklahoma's defensive line. Has made great strides with his intensity and playing with positive emotion.

* Did you know: He was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by the Dallas Morning News.

NG, 86, Adrian Taylor (6-4, 295, So., Mansfield, Texas)

* Key stats: Had 6.5 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks.

* Scouting report: Physical, cerebral player who is coming on strong. Nice speed for an interior-line specialist. Played mostly in a reserve role as a freshman but started the Fiesta Bowl.

* Did you know: Runs 4.83 in the 40-yard dash.

DT, 33, Auston English (6-3, 257, Jr., Canadian, Texas)

* Key stats: Played in 10 games, registering nine tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks.

* Scouting report: Dominant force on the defensive line who is expected back at full strength after missing some time to injury (knee sprain against Nebraska). Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12. First-team All-Big 12 as a sophomore.

* Did you know: Has vertical jump of 35 inches.

SLB, 22, Keenan Clayton (6-2, 220, Jr., Sulphur Springs, Texas)

* Key stats: Had 10 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks.

* Scouting report: Displays sideline-to-sideline intensity. Team's third-leading tackler (76). Had a career-high 14 tackles at Baylor. Runs 4.47 in the 40-yard dash.

* Did you know: Moved to linebacker in spring after playing two seasons at safety.

MLB, 10, Mike Balogun (6-2, 250, Jr., Upper Marlboro, Md.)

* Key stats: Played in nine games and has seven tackles.

* Scouting report: Physical and fast (4.6 in the 40-yard dash). Stepped in for junior Ryan Reynolds, who sustained a season-ending right knee injury against Texas.

* Did you know: Named second-team junior-college All-American at Lackawanna Community College.

WLB, 28, Travis Lewis (6-2, 232, Fr., San Antonio, Texas)

* Key stats: Team-leading 135 tackles.

* Scouting report: Speed and explosive tackling ability. One of the nation's best freshman defensive players and Oklahoma's all-time leading freshman tackler, breaking Brian Bosworth's record of 133 in 1984. Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. Had 19 tackles against Texas.

* Did you know: Runs a 4.34 in the 40-yard dash.

CB, 15, Dominique Franks (6-0, 189, So., Tulsa, Okla.)

* Key stats: Four interceptions and 39 tackles.

* Scouting report: Shows propensity for making the big play. Second-team All-Big 12. Has two touchdowns – a 39-yard fumble recovery at Texas A&M and an 18-yard interception return against Nebraska.

* Did you know: Scored three touchdowns on kickoff returns as a high-school senior.

CB, 2, Brian Jackson (6-1, 202, Jr., De Soto, Texas)

* Key stats: Has 67 tackles and four tackles for a loss. Tied for team lead in pass break-ups (10).

* Scouting report: Getting better with experience. Uses size to his advantage. Ranked fourth in tackles during his first full-time season as a starter. Led all players in the OU secondary in tackles for a loss.

* Did you know: Has lowest body-fat percentage (5.0 percent) on the team.

SS, 5, Nic Harris (6-3, 230, Sr., Alexandria, La.)

* Key stats: 64 tackles.

* Scouting report: Reliable veteran presence. Third-team All-American by the Associated Press. Two-time All-Big 12 first-team selection. Has 47 career starts at safety. Strong on run support.

* Did you know: Two-term president of Bridge Builders, an OU minority student organization focused on community service projects.

FS, 11, Lendy Holmes (6-1, 201, Sr., Dallas)

* Key stats: Team-leading five interceptions.

* Scouting report: Nose for the ball. Great instincts. Second-team All-Big 12. Team's second-leading tackler (79). Converted from receiver in 2006.

* Did you know: Played eight positions (punter, kicker, quarterback, running back, wide receiver, defensive back, punt returner, kickoff returner) during his high-school career.

P, 13, Mike Knall (5-10, 190, Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz.)

* Key stats: Averaged 36.4 yards per punt.

* Scouting report: Seemingly lonely position on a team that has accounted for 97 offensive touchdowns, but Knall has been a weapon as a directional punter. Fourteen of his 48 kicks were downed inside the 20-yard line. He has only four touchbacks.

* Did you know: Averaged 43.9 yards per punt as a freshman for the Fighting Artichokes of Scottsdale Community College.

PR, 85, Ryan Broyles (5-11, 175, Fr., Norman, Okla.)

* Key stats: Starting receiver averages 9.7 yards on punt returns.

* Scouting report: Great speed and instincts. Scored on a 68-yard return against Kansas State.

* Did you know: All-purpose ability has earned him nickname of the "Ryan Express.''

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