NORMAN — Enid’s Austin Box drew praise from Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops during the Sooners’ Media Day Friday.
The redshirt sophomore linebacker is coming back from an elbow injury which kept him out of spring practice.
“He looked great,’’ said Stoops of Box’s effort in OU’s first practice Thursday. “He was running well and his conditioning was good.’’
Box was not listed on OU’s latest two-deep depth chart. He was the Sooners’ starting middle linebacker for five games until he sprained his knee in the regular season finale against Oklahoma State.
That put him out of both the Big 12 and BCS National Championship games.
With original starter Ryan Reynolds back from a knee injury, Box will probably be used at the Willie (weakside) linebacker, a position where he was the starter until he injured a knee in the preseason, defensive coordinator Brent Venables said.
Reynolds, Mike Balogun and true freshman Tom Wort are being used in the middle now. The depth OU has in the middle will allow Venables to be more flexible in how he uses Reynolds, who has had three knee injuries.
A year ago with Reynolds being the only experienced player there, Venables used him in “every conceivable rep.’’
“That might have made him more vulnerable (to injury),’’ Venables said. “It’s not that he needs more rest, but in the long run our goal is to play him 14 games. That will help him and help us in the long run.’’
Venables wants a chance to get Wort, who stood out in the spring, on the field as much as possible.
Wort and weakside linebacker Jayden Bird, another true freshman, showed they weren’t physically overwhelmed against older players, Venables said.
Reynolds was missed after going down in the first half of OU’s 45-35 loss to Texas.
While Reynolds’ replacements (Box and Balogun) eventually learned how “to navigate things on their own,’’ Venables said, nothing beats experience.
“He exemplifies what you want in all of your guys,’’ Venables said. “I’m not saying he’s without physical limitations, but he’s a terrific football player.
Reynolds, Venables said, should be more effective after dropping to 225 pounds. The Las Vegas senior isn’t a speed type linebacker like a Torrance Marshall, but is “quicker than he’s fast and has great instincts.’’ He is a strong hitter.
Reynolds went through Thursday’s practice without any problems, Stoops said.
Venables said OU’s goal on defense will be nastier and physically tougher than a year ago.
Stoops said the Sooners’ outlook might be the opposite of what it was a year ago with more experience back on defense.
The offensive line and receivers, OU’s two biggest question marks, “need to improve quickly and come on through to give us another opportunity to compete for a championship.’’
Ryan Broyles and Adrian Tennell both have big play capability at receiver, Stoops said.
Junior college transfers Jeff Vinson and Tavaris Jeffries will be counted on to contribute in the offensive line. Stoops said the young line “did a nice job for the most part’’ in going against OU’s defensive line in the spring.
“We still have a lot of work to do,’’ Stoops said
Other observations from the coaches’ press conference:
• OU’s defensive strength will begin up front with ends Frank Alex-ander, Jeremy Beal and Auston English and tackles Gerald McCoy and Adrian Taylor. Starting linebackers Travis Lewis and Keenan Clayton are seen as impact players as well.
“We have a chance to be a special defense because of the experience factor,’’ Stoops said.
New starting safeties Sam Proctor and Quinton Carter have potential playing alongside returning corners Dom Franks and Brian Jackson, Stoops said.
• Junior college transfer Cameron Kenney, recruited as a receiver, will contend for the punter’s job. Redshirt freshman Tress Way punted the ball well Thursday.
“We’ll have a lot more competition kicking and punting,’’ Stoops said. “Those guys are a year further along so they should be better and more consistent.’’
• Kenney, Moses Madu, Broyles and Franks “all guys who can run,’’ are being considered as kick returners.
• Running back DeMarco Murray, who missed the BCS Championship with a hamstring injury, has been slowed by a hamstring strain on his other leg, Stoops said. OU trainer Scott Anderson, Stoops said, has told the coaches Murray should be 100 percent by two weeks before the opener with Brigham Young on Sept. 5.
• Defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger is being brought slowly back after back surgery. He was only recently released to start running again.
“We’re hopeful and optimistic he will be able to contribute,’’ Stoops said.
• Madu will work primarily as a slotback after playing behind 1,000-yard runners Murray and Chris Brown a year ago. He could return quickly to running back if he needed to. He’s shown some natural ability at his new position and should be especially effective on screens.
• Stoops said he was not the coach who gave OU its lone first-place vote in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
“I didn’t even know it was out,’’ he said.
• The presence of Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford won’t be the only positive presence for a young line, Stoops said. Long-time regulars such as Jermaine Gresham, Brody Eldridge, Brown, Murray and Matt Clapp set the bar high, Stoops said.
• Stoops like a challenging opener against BUY.
“The advantage is it gets the players attention,’’ Stoops said. “They need they need to be at the top of their game against a tradition rich program that wants to come down and beat you.’’
