Trey Metoyer stands out in Sooners spring game
I didn't attend Oklahoma's Red-White Game on Saturday, but in the aftermath, one name keeps ringing out – the same one OU fans have heard all spring.
It was the public's first opportunity to get a glimpse of the touted freshman receiver. By all accounts*, Metoyer dazzled in the intrasquad game. His 6 receptions and 72 receiving yards led the day's action, and it sounds like he was easily the most consistent among the wideouts.
(*I didn't attend the game and have seen nothing from it outside of the highlights on SoonerSports.com. Honestly, I wouldn't overreact too much to anything that happened. Spring games aren't really set up to show much.)
Metoyer sounds like he was worth the wait after spending the fall getting his school work in order. It's not a stretch to say he's the best receiver on the team already.
Some other thoughts based on based on what I've heard:
*Warnings of nasty weather apparently put a damper on things. A number of recruits scheduled to visit Norman for the game couldn't make it in, a tough break on what was shaping up to be a huge recruiting weekend for the Sooners. Not often you get the best running back in the NFL at your spring game.
It wasn't a total loss, however, as OU locked up a commitment from the top prospect in Oklahoma, defensive end D.J. Ward out of Lawton.
*Glass half-full: No turnovers committed by the offense. Glass half-empty: No turnovers forced by the defense. (The yin and yang of a scrimmage.)
*The members of Sooner Nation interviewed by Jenni Carlson for her column Friday on some fans' disappointment with the return of Landry Jones may point to today's action as proof that the offense would have been in good hands.
Top back-ups Blake Bell (14-of-19, 179 yards) and Drew Allen (10-of-18, 72 yards) both put together solid performances and avoided any glaring mistakes. Bell's numbers look especially nice, and he had one of the standout plays of the day on a 60-yard touchdown bomb to Jaz Reynolds.
Yet, even though these guys were going against vanilla defensive looks all day, Allen clearly had issues generating much down the field. He averaged just 4 yards per pass attempt. Carey Murdock of SoonerScoop.com ($) also mentioned that Bell was fortunate on multiple occasions not to have passes intercepted following poor decisions. (Bell is weighing in at 265, according to ESPN.com's Jake Trotter. Whoa...)
Redshirt freshman Kendal Thompson (7-of-9, 42 yards) did make the most of the opportunity to show his skills. Much like his dad, Thompson looks so smooth with the ball in his hands. He got a chance to showcase his wheels, too, and didn't disappoint with arguably the best run of the day. Here's hoping Josh Heupel figures out a way to get him involved in the offense this season.
*Glass half-full: The offensive line apparently protected the quarterbacks well. Glass half-empty: The defense failed to generate a consisten pass rush.
In fairness to the defense, a number of key contributors on the D-line were missing in action, including starting DE R.J. Washington and defensive tackles Casey Walker and Stacy McGee. On the plus side, monstrous DT Jordan Phillips got an opportunity to show out. The redshirt freshman has all but assured himself of a spot in the D-line rotation in the fall.
*A year ago, the coaches were singing the praises of Corey Nelson. Although he led the team in tackles today, it doesn't sound like the junior linebacker has had an entirely smooth transition under the new defensive regime.
Joe Ibiloye, on the other hand, seems to have made an impression.
*Doesn't sound like the running game made much of an impression on anyone. From the stats, Brennan Clay apparently had a decent day.