Claremore Daily Progress

Breaking News

Sports

November 6, 2012

Oklahoma's depth at running back starting to show

ASSOCIATED PRESS Associated Press

NORMAN — For most of three seasons, Brennan Clay has bided his time, waiting for his chance to be the starting running back for No. 14 Oklahoma.

That chance came Saturday against Iowa State and Clay shined with a 157-yard effort. His emergence gives Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops a good problem as the Sooners (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) prepare to host Baylor (4-4, 1-4) this Saturday - a slew of running backs who have produced in big games.

Clay replaced the injured Damien Williams, who ranks in the top five in the Big 12 Conference in rushing and had 167 yards in a win over Texas. But neither was the starter in the season opener - that was former walk-on Dominique Whaley, who broke an ankle halfway through the 2011 campaign. Stoops said Monday that Whaley is healthy despite receiving limited carries in recent weeks.

Add in Roy Finch, who's been mired down the depth chart but has excelled on returns, and the Sooners have at least four tailbacks who would seem capable of lifting their ground game. And that's not even including fullback Trey Millard, who had 119 yards receiving against Texas.

All five backs are averaging at least 6.2 yards per carry and the Sooners are averaging 175.1 yards rushing per game, which helps take pressure off quarterback Landry Jones, who has a 301.8-yard per-game passing average.

"Whenever you can establish the run, it definitely opens things up,'' wide receiver Justin Brown said. "That's one of the main things you want to do as an offense, establish the run, because it makes everything a lot easier.''

Clay had shown flashes of brilliance - including a 59-yard outing against Texas and a 41-yard run against Kansas - but set career highs for both carries (24) and yards against Iowa State. He showed both elusiveness and power against the Cyclones, capping his game with an 18-yard third-quarter touchdown run

"Brennan's doing great,'' Stoops said. "He did a great job the other day finding space, being patient, waiting for some blocks to develop. I thought the guys up front are always a part of whatever the running back's doing. The line, better blocking, Aaron Ripkowski, Trey Millard, Jayden Bird (were) doing a nice job also, creating some space for him.

"Brennan has always been a good player for us. He just had one of those games where he really got hot. He's capable of that. He's had a lot of good games here - not to that extent, but he's capable of it.''

Clay said he found out late last week that Williams, who is nursing an ankle injury, wouldn't play against Iowa State. Stoops said running backs coach Cale Gundy thought Clay was more ready than Whaley to start against the Cyclones.

Clay, who battled a pinched nerve in his neck last season, said it wasn't as tough to wait for extended playing time as outsiders might think.

"I'm very patient,'' Clay said. "I've always been that way. I know Gundy does a great job. He knows what he's doing. He puts the best players on the field, obviously, and whoever is going to help the team win.

"When you come to a program like this, I really consider this another `Running Back U.,' like (USC), a couple of other schools,'' Clay said. "Anybody can go down at any moment. You've just got to be able to step up and take your turn. I was able to do it. I was blessed enough to be able to do so.''

Clay said he "takes pride in perfecting my craft and doing what I can do on the field'' and that he wants to "leave a legacy as someone who was a hard worker.''

Williams, who had three carries for 7 yards against the Cyclones, figures to start against Baylor if he's healthy, as he was listed atop the Sooners' depth chart issued Monday. Clay and Whaley, who had one carry against Iowa State, still are listed as the backups. Clay said nothing will change as far as his preparation for the game against the Bears, whether he's the starter or not.

"I just keep doing what I do,'' Clay said. "I'm going to approach practice this week the same as I've done for the past eight or nine weeks. Keep doing everything I can do to help this team win.''



 

Text Only
Sports
  • Gasso trusts that Ricketts will find her timing again

    Oklahoma pitcher Keilani Ricketts was not at her best on Sunday. The defending USA Softball Player of the Year didn’t give up a run in her two and two-thirds innings of work, but she was far from the dominant pitcher who tossed a no-hitter last week.

    May 20, 2013

  • Sooners claim regular season finale with win over K-State

    Oklahoma managed to end the regular season on a positive note Sunday. Kolbey Carpenter went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs to help power the Sooners to a 7-3 victory over Kansas State at Tointon Stadium.

    May 20, 2013

  • Chamberlain's curtain call only the beginning

    The chant reaching near-deafening levels, Lauren Chamberlain finally realized what she was supposed to do.

    Moments after blasting a three-run home run that broke open what had been a close regional final, the sophomore tepidly stepped up out of the dugout and waved to the home crowd, enjoying the first curtain call of her career.

    May 20, 2013

  • OU's dominant victory a shining example of how tough Sooners are in softball

    On the first day Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso thought it was better to go with Michelle Gascoigne over Keilani Ricketts against Arkansas’ bats, the Sooners beat the Razorbacks by five runs.

    A day later Gasso had the same thought. OU prevailed by 13 runs.

    May 20, 2013

  • Cowboys fall short in Big 12 regular season finale

    Oklahoma State University played catch up the entire game of Saturday’s series finale with West Virginia at Allie P. Reynolds, and never could quite get over the hump.
    The Cowboys would respond after each Mountaineer score but it wouldn’t be enough as they lost the finale 5-4 on Senior Day.

    May 20, 2013

  • Referees stop Lake Eufaula Classic with South on top

     It was an outcome unlike any in the 29 years of the Lake Eufaula Classic, and a bruise different than any player has ever departed with.

    Officials, following the second serious skirmish of the game, walked off the field and the game was called, the South leading the North 12-10 at Paul Bell Stadium.

    May 20, 2013

  • Grand Junction Bound: Connors State advances to JUCO World Series

    All season long, Connors State coach Perry Keith has said his team was winning a lot of ball games ugly.

    On Saturday, the game between the Cowboys and No. 1 Delgado (La.) was anything but as Connors beat the Dolphins 3-1 to capture the South Central district championship and a berth in next week’s NJCAA College World Series.

    May 20, 2013

  • Young Americans waste no time qualifying for Indy 500

    Bump Day at Indianapolis followed the script.
    No surprises, no drama and no drivers getting bumped.
    On a day devoid of tension and rumors, all nine drivers who made attempts on the second and final day of Indianapolis 500 qualifications made it into the 33-car field, led by two young Americans - Josef Newgarden and Graham Rahal - who easily had the two fastest cars on the track.

    May 20, 2013

  • NCAA WOMEN'S BB: Texas Tech hires OSU assistant Candi Whitaker

    Texas Tech has hired Oklahoma State assistant Candi Whitaker to coach its women's basketball team.
    The school announced Monday that the former Lady Raiders player would return to her alma mater as coach. The move comes about a week after Kristy Curry left for Alabama.

    May 20, 2013

  • Pacers, Heat start bracing to square off again

    A year ago when Miami and Indiana faced off in the postseason, there were blood-drawing hits, flagrant fouls, technical fouls, choke signs being directed toward LeBron James and more than a few sharp-tongued comments.
    Here they possibly go again, at least on the comment front.
    The Eastern Conference finals between the Heat and Pacers won't begin until Wednesday night, but there's already signs that the animosity present throughout last season's Miami-Indiana second-round series will likely return this time around.

    May 20, 2013