Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/131896
Oklahoma senior wideout Jalen Saunders had a busy day in last year's 30-13 loss to Notre Dame, catching 15 passes for 181 yards. photo courtesy oklahoma 2. Oklahoma — Sept. 28 2012 Record: 10-3 (8-1 Big 12) Last Meeting: Notre Dame 30, Oklahoma 13 (2012) Impact Player: Senior WR Jalen Saunders — The Fresno State transfer made a big splash in Norman last season with 62 catches for 829 yards. Fifteen of those receptions came against Notre Dame, and he'll be expected to have a bigger impact in his final season this fall. Outlook: Oklahoma suffered in big games last season due to a lack of a dominant running game. This year, head coach Bob Stoops hired a new offensive line coach to try to give his team a better push in the trenches on offense. Presumed starters Gabe Ikard and Tyler Evans both missed most of the spring with injuries, but the group headed into summer workouts optimistic about their future rushing the ball. Defensively, the Sooners lost starting safeties Tony Jefferson and Javon Harris, who were a force in both pass and rush defense. That duo combined for 225 tackles and eight interceptions last season. Oklahoma will likely have to rely on incoming freshmen to play at least minor roles in the secondary next year, as well as along the defensive line. The strength of the defense lies in the linebacker corps despite losing middle linebacker Tom Wort to the NFL a year earlier than he needed to go. Spring Storyline: Nothing grows faster in the springtime than a good quarterback competition. Oklahoma joins the list of several other programs that had headlines of their spring workouts dominated by the QB decision. Redshirt junior Blake Bell has the most experience on the roster, but he's been used mostly in short-yardage rushing situations during the past two years. Sophomores Kendal Thompson and Trevor Knight haven't been ruled out after showing off strong arms in the spring.