By John Shinn
Mossis Madu knows he’s facing a lot of pressure. Everywhere the freshman running back looks he sees someone who has already shown he can carry the ball.
Allen Patrick helped carry Oklahoma to a Big 12 championship and the Fiesta Bowl after Adrian Peterson went down last season. Jacob Gutierrez has proven he’s more than capable of putting up big numbers over the last four seasons.
Even in his own recruiting class, Chris Brown rushed for 343 yards and six touchdowns last season, helping fill the void Peterson left. DeMarco Murray was the star of OU’s first scrimmage March 14, collecting 129 all-purpose yards and scoring two touchdowns.
But the former Norman High standout is still waiting to get his shot.
“I got excited just watching them,” Madu said following Wednesday’s practice at Owen Field.
But he’s finally getting to join them. Madu spent last season in redshirt and missed this spring’s first scrimmage due to a concussion.
He’ll finally get his chance to show fans what he can do when OU holds its second spring scrimmage at 11 a.m. Saturday at Owen Field.
“I’ll get my chance this week,” he said. “I can’t wait. I really can’t.”
He hasn’t played in front of a crowd since leading the Tigers to the Class 6A playoffs in 2005.
Of course, Madu wasn’t facing many battles for playing time back then. It’s a whole different deal now. Opportunities are limited, so you better take advantage of them when they come around.
“There’s some internal competition that’s really pushing some young talented players,” offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. “That’s really good for us.”
But Wilson is also using spring practice for some experiments. One thing he’s cooked up in the lab is using Madu and Murray as slot receivers.
Some of it is a byproduct of some injuries at wide receiver. Malcolm Kelly is out for the spring with a knee injury and Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson have both been slowed by minor ailments.
It doesn’t mean OU’s offense will be taken over by running backs next season, but Wilson is very interested in exploiting all the skills Madu and the rest of the running backs possess.
“I just think some of those guys are too skilled to stand on the sidelines and play just five or six plays a game,” Wilson said. “They’re playmakers and they’re talented.”
Injury bug
Oklahoma had two players knocked out for the rest of spring practice due to injuries Wednesday.
Linebacker Ryan Reynolds will be on the sidelines due a knee injury suffered early in the practice.
“During inside (drills) I partially tore my (lateral collateral ligament). They say it’s going to be about three or four weeks,” Reynolds said. “I won’t play the rest of spring ball, but I’ll be back for summer conditioning.”
A turf toe injury means offensive lineman Phil Loadholt, a junior college transfer, will join Reynolds on the sidelines for the rest of the spring.
“He was practicing really well,” offensive line coach James Patton about Loadholt. “But this way we’ll be able to get him back for summer workouts.”
Reynolds was redshirted last season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The injury he suffered Wednesday was the other knee and shouldn’t prevent from being ready next season.
“It sucks that this happened, but it’ll be all right,” Reynolds said.
Blast from the past
There were several guests still lingering around Owen Field after Wednesday’s practice, but only one had was a Division I head coach.
Former Sooner offensive coordinator, and current San Diego State coach, Chuck Long was at the workout and mingled after practice with OU quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel.
