John Shinn
• Former scout
teamer has impressed Stoops in practice
Auston English could have spent the 2006 season as a tackling dummy. He was on the scout team and his main purpose was to run another team’s defense every day.
It was a far cry from his freshman season in 2005 when injuries on the defensive line forced him into a playing role less than a year after graduating from Canadian (Texas) High School.
“Most people think that’s a time to take off.” English said. “But you get a lot of work done going against the best. You learn a lot from them in just seeing how a top guy operates.”
English is no dummy. That became very evident when Oklahoma hit the practice field last week and the coaching staff saw English had turned himself into a 260-pound menace.
The evidence was laid out on OU’s testing day. It was the first day of practice and time to see who showed up to camp ready to play.
OU coach Bob Stoops was impressed.
“I think he could have a great year for us,” Stoops said. “He has been here and looks to be in great shape. He ran the best of anybody.”
Of course, running has never been a problem for English. His speed was the reason he was projected to play just about any position in college. He was a running back in high school, rushing for over 3,000 yards in his final two seasons. He even ran track as well.
Speed is always useful on a football field and it doesn’t matter where.
“The biggest thing with him is that he’s an explosive guy,” defensive ends coach Chris Wilson said. “Our whole front line is predicated on speed, more so than size. We want guys with great athleticism and Auston provides that being a former running back at Canadian and a 100-meter champion in his class. That’s speed and quickness you can’t simulate.”
The Sooners projected him as guy who could blow past offensive tackles from the defensive end spot. They just didn’t know how soon they’d need him.
When Larry Birdine, Alonzo Dotson and John Williams were lost for the 2005 season, it was English who moved into a backup role behind C.J. Ah You and Calvin Thibodeaux.
He only played in a limited capacity. Weight was still an issue. He was less than a year removed from playing high school ball in the Texas Panhandle.
He got a taste and he wanted more.
“It helped me realize how big a deal it is to actually get out there,” English said. “I was thirsting for more. I wanted to get back out there and be a part of it.”
That would have to wait.
Birdine, Dotson and Williams all returned last season. OU’s defensive end position was back at full strength with Thibodeaux and Ah You there, too.
English worked on getting better. The weight started to come and the speed remained. He was good in the spring and since practice began last week, even better in the fall.
“I’ve lost a lot of body fat and trimmed it into a lot of muscle,” English said.
Wilson sees an explosive player whose mind is getting sharper as well.
“Auston is doing one thing: What you tell him; that’s what makes him different from a lot of guys,” Wilson said. “A lot of guys still have their way of doing it. Auston has bought in and been a great leader in the meeting room. That’s where you see his growth.”
He’s battling Williams and Dotson for one of the two starting spots.
The competition at defensive end will be fierce this season. It will make for some intrigue when the Sooners conduct their first scrimmage of the preseason at 11 a.m. Saturday at Owen Field.
“We’re all fighting and it’s great competition right now,” English said. “Everyone is encouraging each other. It’s a tight race.”
That’s the way OU wants it.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
