NORMAN —
The usual "freshman 15" wasn't going to be enough for Oklahoma tight end Gabe Ikard. When last season ended, he weighed around 240 pounds. It was big enough to be a tight end, but miniscule by offensive lineman standards.
So when OU coaching staff decided to move him and fellow tight end Eric Mensik to the offensive line this season, it meant the offseason was going to be about one thing — getting a lot bigger.
"I tried to make the best of it," Ikard said. "I had to gain all the weight and get bigger, stronger and tougher."
Gaining weight is one of the blessings and curses of being an offensive lineman. Most know when they arrive in college they're going to have to get bigger. Last season, Tyler Evans arrived as a freshman weighing over 300 pounds. Bronson Irwin did the same this year.
But they are exceptions most have frames that still need to fill out.
Center Ben Habern now weighs 300 pounds, but 40 of those pounds have come since he came to OU in the spring of 2008. Every meal had a purpose.
"Eat as much carbohydrates as possible and get as much calories as possible because with the way we work out in the offseason you're going to burn so much," he said. "It's all about getting the carbs, calories and protein."
But it took Habern two years to bulk up. Mensik and Ikard had to do it in about seven months. Both were tight ends and last season and had never played on the offensive line until injuries forced both to switch positions late last season.
Mensik started the final two games of last season at right tackle and the coaching staff liked what they saw against Oklahoma State and Stanford. Instead of playing 10 snaps a game at tight end, Mensik could play every down at right tackle.
Mensik, a senior, was just looking for a position he could call home. From early November until the end of last season, he had to prepare to play both every week.
"I didn't really know where I was going to play until the day before. My mind is more at ease now that I know I'm going to play offensive tackle,"
Ikard was just looking for the fastest path to playing when coaches approached him about the switch at the end of last season. It was a tough one. He'd been a tight end throughout high school and liked catching passes.
To Ikard, giving catching passes and gaining some weight were the easy parts. Playing on the offensive line and getting use to the grind of going head-to-head with 300-pound men on every play takes some getting used to.
"There's a lot more size and you get little nicks and dings every day," Ikard said. "Right now, every one of my fingers has 12 cuts on them. It's something you have to deal with. You have to have the mindset that I'm going to go in there and just battle the guy in front of me."
That part isn't for everybody. Most of OU's offensive linemen got used to before they got to high school. Ikard and Mensik had to learn not only the positions' niuances, but gain the mentality required.
It doesn't come quickly.
"It's a mindset and it's an attitude. It's not something you build overnight," offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. "It's kind of like being a boxer. You have to go in there and get used to getting hit and it builds. You don't all of a sudden become tough tomorrow."
But they know moving to the offensive line can lead to big success. The three former Sooner offensive linemen playing in the NFL arrived at OU intending to play other positions. Jammal Brown and Davin Joseph were both defensive tackles. Chris Chester was a tight end.
Mensik and Ikard share a trait with those three.
"They can be great at it with the feet they have," Stoops said. "Once they put the size on, they're pretty good at that position."
