Oklahoma’s first full-pads practice of camp brought the usual early-August edge, but Tuesday morning also gave a clear look at a few personnel questions that are still hanging over the Sooners.
The session opened with Owen Heinecke firing up the group with a speech that couldn’t really be quoted, and the energy carried over as Oklahoma moved to practicing in full pads at the OU Rugby Field. As the media group headed back toward the parking lot after the first 30 minutes, Michigan’s “Hail to the Victors” started blasting through the speakers, followed by a heavy wave of crowd noise.
The Sooners, of course, are headed to Ann Arbor, Mich., to play the Wolverines on Sept. 12.
One of the biggest takeaways came in the backfield. Sophomore running back Tory Blaylock, who had left the field with the injured players during last week’s open practice, stayed out there Tuesday and was dressed out.
He still wasn’t working as a full participant, though, and spent plenty of the drills running at half speed or working off to the side. Freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr. was often in that same area, which suggested he may be dealing with something as well.
The offensive line also had its share of absences and shuffling. Tackle Michael Fasusi and guard Heath Ozaeta both headed toward the injured players tent when practice started. With Fasusi unavailable, Ryan Fodje moved over to left tackle, while freshman Noah Best was working with the first-team group at right guard during the early drills.
There were several others either out or limited in yellow “no contact” jerseys, including Kristan Moore, CJ Nickson, LeBron Bauer, Preston Mickens, Derrick Johnson II, Trystan Haynes and Dakoda Fields.
On the other side of the ball, safety Michael Boganowski kept popping up in the background of the wide receivers drills, at least in Emmett Jones’ eyes. Every time the receivers got sloppy, Jones came back to Boganowski with the same warning.
“Boganowski will clean you up,” Jones intoned over and over.
That kind of line says plenty about the way Boganowski is viewed inside the program.
At receiver, Virginia transfer Trell Harris looked more active than he did last week after dealing with recent injuries. The rust showed at times - he had several drops - but the explosiveness and agility were there too, and he stood out in the group.
Among the younger wideouts, Jayden Petit and Jahsier Rogers both flashed speed and burst, though Petit also drew Jones’ attention during the warnings. Texas transfer Parker Livingston was one of the steadier performers at the position.
Up front on defense, Taylor Wein and Adepoju Adebawore spent a long stretch together during position work, talking through technique as they went. Defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis kept a close eye on both, especially Adebawore, who is expected to handle a bigger role this season after the departures of R Mason Thomas and Marvin Jones Jr. from last year’s defensive end rotation.
There was no gentle introduction for new tight ends coach Jason Witten. He got on Rocky Beers for cutting a route short and then lit into the Colorado State transfer. After Beers and Jack Van Dorselaer dropped back-to-back passes, Witten let everyone know exactly how the period felt.
“We're dragging.”
Last week, tight end Hayden Hansen, a Florida transfer, described Witten as one of the most intense peope he'd ever met, and Tuesday’s practice did little to change that impression.
Near the end of the viewing window, sophomore tight end Trynae Washington made one of the cleaner plays of the day, extending for a catch from John Mateer.
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