NORMAN —
When Ty Darlington arrived on Oklahoma's campus this fall, he got to work learning the center position behind the team's most experienced lineman and an all-conference performer who'd filled in there last season.
That Darlington started for the Sooners (7-2, 5-1 Big 12) in a 42-34 win against Baylor on Saturday was a sign of how many injuries the offensive line has absorbed this season.
Darlington learned that he'd be starting through a text Thursday from starter Gabe Ikard, who had shifted from guard to fill in when 30-game starter Ben Habern gave up football at the start of training camp because of lingering problems from back and neck injuries. Ikard won all-Big 12 honors last season when he started out at guard and then shifted over to replace Habern during the season.
The Sooners also lost guard Tyler Evans, right behind Habern with 29 career starts, to a season-ending knee injury in the first week of training camp and have had guard Adam Shead and tackle Lane Johnson play through balky ankles.
"It's been tough on us, just having to respond and just coming back to practice every week and getting better when we're a little banged up,'' Darlington said. "But I think we're doing well with it.''
With its makeshift offensive line, Oklahoma compiled 460 total yards with 183 rushing against Baylor's worst-in-the-nation defense. Quarterback Landry Jones was sacked once, the 13th sack allowed this season. The Sooners had allowed a Bowl Subdivision-best four sacks after nine games last season, but Jones isn't complaining with all his protectors have gone through.
"You can't say enough about the job that Ty did and the offensive line. He did a great job of calling everything out, directing traffic up there and those guys did a great job of keeping me clean (Saturday) night,'' Jones said. "That one sack, I held onto the ball a little bit longer than I should have.
"All in all, the offensive line did a great job.''
Johnson, the starting left tackle, played on just five of 12 drives - two in each half, plus the kneel-downs at the end of the game. Shead limped off the field in the fourth quarter after hurting his right ankle, but he didn't miss a snap.
"A lot of people went down. There's a lot of shuffling going on,'' Darlington said.
It's apparently been even more amplified behind closed doors at practice. Darlington said right tackle Daryl Williams worked a lot at guard to allow Bronson Irwin time off to deal with his own injuries, and field-goal snapper Austin Woods also ate up some repetitions to keep others fresh.
Though Ikard was unable to practice, he was involved in getting Darlington up to speed for his first career start. Ex-center Jon Cooper, now a student assistant after a stint in the NFL, stayed after practice to work with Darlington and helped him out in the film room.
"Gabe was like my personal coach for the week because he wasn't even dressed out a couple of days. He was coaching me up on every little thing, giving me tips on how to block this or that and asking me some questions about IDs and everything,'' Darlington said.
Oklahoma's coaches had said during training camp that Darlington stood a chance to play this season but no one could have anticipated him playing every snap in a game. Still, he did all he could to be ready.
"Doing some of the stuff off the field I think is very important: doing the preparation, watching film and studying your play sheets and everything. I think that's the first step, and then just working hard in practice and just pushing it,'' said Darlington, who's from Apopka, Fla.
"I've got a good background from high school, my dad being a coach and everything. I came in ready to play mentally and physically, I worked very hard before I got here to get big enough and strong enough to be able to play.''
Toward the end of the week, he played a bigger role in meetings and had to go through a quiz from coaches to make sure he knew his stuff.
"This is what I've dreamed of doing. I've wanted to come in here and be an Oklahoma Sooner for a long time,'' Darlington said. "I've gotten to play in other games but not meaningful playing time and definitely not starting. So, I was a little bit nervous but I think it was more just being excited, just being excited to play.''
About the only snags were a pair of illegal snap penalties against Darlington, who said he had trouble hearing Jones and quarterback Blake Bell and "hitched'' the ball too soon. Neither one proved costly, with the Sooners scoring touchdowns on both drives.
Offensive coordinator Josh Heupel said some adjustments were made to the Sooners' run protection schemes to make sure Darlington wasn't isolated.
"I thought Ty Darlington in at center did an awesome job, from what I could tell. He was clean in there. The overall line play was really good, so he must have had a good game,'' coach Bob Stoops said. "I'm proud of him to handle the situation like he did as a true freshman. Really pretty special.''
Sports
Injuries mount up for No. 13 Sooners on front line
- Sports
-
-
Verdigris’ Hanslovan commits to ORU
One of the biggest decisions of her upcoming senior year is finally behind Verdigris High School soccer standout Caitlyn Hanslovan.
The four-year letterwinner and three-time Class 4A state champion forward announced Tuesday that she will commit to playing NCAA Division I soccer at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. -
RSU's Loy earns third-straight Academic All American honor
Rogers State senior outfielder Katrina Loy was named to the Capital One Academic All-America College Division Softball Third Team as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
-
Area players earn All-Region baseball awards
The awards keep piling up for Verdigris High School graduate Blake Battenfield.
After being named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Large East team earlier this week, Battenfield and numerous other players from Rogers County earned OCA All-Region accolades.
Battenfield was joined by his teammate, Ryan Hurd, who was a senior outfielder/shortstop for the three-time Class 3A state champion Verdigris Cardinals. -
Clyde Barkley Basketball Camp starts May 28-30 in Inola
The Clyde Barkley Boys Basketball Camp will get underway on May 28-30 at Inola High School Gymnasium.
The three-day camp will go from 9 a.m. to Noon and is offered to boys entering third through ninth grade. The cost of the camp is $55 or $100 for two campers in the same family. -
Zebras Baseball/Softball Camp set for May 29-31
The Claremore Zebras baseball and softball camp will take place on May 29-31 at Powers Park.
The camp is for boys and girls ages 4-14. The cost of this camp is $60 or $90 for two campers from the same family. Team discounts are also available for seven or more players. -
OU athletics pledges support to tornado relief efforts
OU Athletics officials have been advised by local relief agencies that the best way to help Oklahoma disaster victims is to text RED CROSS to 90999 to give $10 or go online to make a donation at RedCross.org.
-
ORU hosts "Vaulting for Moore" fundraiser
The day after a devastating tornado ripped through Moore, Okla., the Oral Roberts University Track & Field program has announced that it will host a fundraiser to help in the aid and recovery efforts. The “Vaultin’ for Moore” fundraiser will be held inside the H.A. Chapman Indoor Practice Facility on ORU’s campus on Saturday, June 1 at 1 p.m.
-
ORU claims 4-2 win over SFA in Southland Conference Tourney
Timely hitting and solid relief pitching carried third-seeded Oral Roberts University to a 4-2 victory over sixth-seeded Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday morning at the 2013 Southland Conference Tournament. The opening day victory books ORU (24-30) a spot in the winner’s bracket of the eight-team tournament.
-
Drillers pledge $10,000 toward tornado relief efforts
The Tulsa Drillers announced today that the team was donating $10,000 to the tornado relief efforts on behalf of those who were affected by this week's storms in Shawnee and Moore, Oklahoma.The donation will be made to the American Red Cross.
-
Whitaker ready for new role as Texas Tech coach
Candi Whitaker's introduction as Texas Tech's basketball coach was probably news to many Lady Raider fans on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old mother of one son is expecting a second in September. - More Sports Headlines
-
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
