It's the spot from where defensive back Dominique Franks took aim on DeMarco Murray, who was racing down the east sideline.
That was the scene from a recent spring scrimmage. Murray bolting away — shouts of "He's gone!” and "Touchdown!” rising among teammates — only to see Franks track him down and save a score.
"He had to cover a lot of ground to get there, and then cut him off,” said Wright, OU's secondary coach, "which surprised me, because DeMarco's fast.”
Fitting, considering Franks may just be surging stride for stride with Murray as the Sooner surging to the most impressive spring.
A redshirt freshman from Tulsa Union, Franks is jetting up the depth chart, pushing not only for playing time, but also a starting role.
With free safety Darien Williams missing this spring to rehab from off-season knee surgery, Franks has capitalized on opportunity and his own versatility. He's spent time at all five secondary spots this spring.
"It's crazy,” Franks said. "I've played the nickel spot, both safeties, both corners.”
When the Sooners shift into their nickel package, Nic Harris slides to nickel back and Franks steps in at free safety.
In OU's quest to secure its secondary, Franks could emerge as the key puzzle piece.
The Sooners seem comfortable with a deep four: Reggie Smith and Marcus Walker at the corners, D.J. Wolfe at strong safety and Harris at free safety. The dilemma has always been finding a fifth for when Harris is the nickel.
The answer may be Franks.
"Right now,” Wright said, "he's our best safety when we go to nickel.”
Wright said he saw it coming.
"He just showed up the first couple of practices,” Wright said. "I made the comment, ‘He's going to earn his way on the field. He's going to play his way on that field.'
"And he's been doing that the entire spring. There's no question, he's elevated himself quite a bit.”
Franks may have made his biggest impression in OU's second major scrimmage, intercepting two passes.
And he's widened his appeal by playing multiple positions. Franks doubles as a top backup at corner, the position he played at Union.
"Safety is very new, but I like it a lot,” Franks said. "I can roam and not have just one side to lock down. It's a lot of freedom.”
•Eldridge's injury not severe: As bad as the hit looked, Oklahoma tight end Brody Eldridge seems lucky to have come away with only a sprain. In Saturday's Red-White game at Owen Field, Eldridge was hit hard by linebackers Lewis Baker and Mike Reed, knocking him back and rolling his left leg beneath him.
Tests revealed only a mild MCL sprain as well as a high ankle sprain.
Staff writer Scott Wright contributed to this report
