Transcript Sports Writer
The electric bill at Owen Field is going to significantly increase this spring as Oklahoma starts the process of identifying its next starting quarterback.
The Sooners started spring practice Wednesday and even coach Bob Stoops admitted which position will be in the spotlight.
"The quarterback will be the center of attention for sure," Stoops said. "Our guys are going to be on the field a long time, getting those guys as many snaps and repetitions as they can."
The race between junior Joey Halzle, redshirt freshman Sam Bradford and incoming freshman Keith Nichol will be conducted mostly in seclusion. Stoops has closed the Sooners' spring practices to the public and to the media, except for a pair of scrimmages and the spring game.
The scrimmages will be March 14 and 31. The spring game is slated for April 7.
Those will be three of 15 workouts OU will conduct over the next month. Stoops said the reason for doing them in private is to limit the scrutiny on his players.
"I just feel sometimes there's too much information out there when we're trying to develop the team, whether it be injuries, whether it be total focus on the quarterbacks, those kind of things," he said. "I just don't feel it's necessary. It isn't like people can't get information."
Stoops said practice reports will be released through OU's sports information department.
But don't expect any of that information to include the naming of a new starting quarterback -- at least not this spring.
The last time OU had a three-way battle for the starting job, Paul Thompson was named the starter over Rhett Bomar and Tommy Grady in August of 2005.
Having either Halzle, Bradford or Nichol assume the throne any earlier seems unlikely.
"You'd love to go out there in one day and know who the guy is and give him all the snaps, but is that realistically going to happen? No," Stoops said. "These guys all need work."
The coach said he's been impressed with what all three have done during offseason workouts. Halzle and Bradford benefited from practices prior to this past season's Fiesta Bowl.
"(The quarterbacks) are a great group of guys," Stoops said. "I've really loved the way they have worked through the winter. All of them, they work together really well which is fun to see as a coach. They are pushing each other, helping each other. We're just anxious to get them all out there, get them snaps, repetitions. They are all talented guys and we expect a lot out of them."
But they will be without one key players this spring. Leading receiver Malcolm Kelly will miss spring practice after having knee surgery following the Fiesta Bowl.
Offensive lineman Brandon Walker will also miss spring practice due to injury and tight end Jermaine Gresham will be held out of the first five practices.
On the defensive side, Stoops said safety Darien Williams will be held out of spring drills while recovering from a knee injury. Defensive end Alonzo Dotson will miss the first five practices.
"We're all kind of looking forward to getting started (Wednesday), getting out there, getting a lot of good work," Stoops said. "There's a lot of experience and strength on our team that is back. I think its obvious that when you look at the players in positions we have coming back, that the quarterback will be the main center of attention for sure."
John Shinn 366-3536 jshinn@normantranscript.com
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