By John Shinn
Transcript Sports Writer
Every day Trent Williams makes it out to Oklahoma's practice field, he does it with a tiny thought in the back of his mind.
Teammates Jermaine Gresham, Sam Bradford and Brody Eldridge are there as well, but he sees Bradford's arm in a sling, Eldridge wearing a neck brace and, until a couple weeks ago, Gresham on crutches.
That's when the thought, for a least a moment, pops up.
"Oh, man. I knock on wood every time I think about somebody being hurt," Williams said this week while he literally knocked on wood. "I just pray and hope it ain't me."
You can't blame the Sooners' left tackle for thinking he's either blessed or the next to fall in what has become a season of crippling injuries unlike any other.
Just the offense alone has lost five starters with center Ben Habern and right tackle Jarvis Jones joining Bradford, Gresham and Eldridge on the out-for-the season list.
You also can't blame Williams if seeing all those teammates in that condition causes his eyes to open a little wider every time he steps on the field.
"He's handled it like the rest of us," said left guard Brian Simmons, who returned to the lineup last week after missing four games with a knee injury. "He's remained very positive about it."
Besides the obvious goals the team set earlier in the season, this was a big one for Williams because it was chance to prove to NFL scouts he could be a first-round draft pick.
Some were saying that following last season, but there was no definitive opinion on where he would be selected. Williams spent several months contemplating the decision before joining Bradford and Gresham as All-American caliber offensive players delaying NFL riches for one more season of college football.
His decision to return to OU has given the offensive line at least one stable spot while the rest have been in constant motion.
Williams has started every game and played every critical down while the other four spots have been in flux.
That consistency should pay off in April.
ESPN's Mel Kiper and Todd McShay both have Williams as the No. 2 offensive lineman for the 2010 NFL draft. Only Oklahoma State left tackle Russell Okung is projected higher.
"He's learned the game and seen the game and has a little more football knowledge," OU offensive line coach James Patton said of Williams. "His physical tools are unbelievable. The way he runs, the way he explodes, people see that."
People can see it for the final time at Owen Field at 11:30 a.m., Saturday when the Sooners face the Cowboys in Bedlam.
The fact Williams has made it this far without a major scratch shows his durability. The Bedlam game will mark the 38th start of his Sooner career. Only a very select group of offensive linemen have made more.
Williams hasn't thought about what this season has done to his NFL stock. But he listens to what offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson tells him nearly every practice.
"He has been in my ear about the value of every move that you make on the field. Everything has a value. I've been doing everything I can to get my value up," Williams said.
His value to OU is immeasurable. In a season where OU's preseason aspirations crumbled because of injuries, Williams has been the one pillar that hasn't buckled.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
Williams still standing
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