Notes

Coming out of spring practice, the answer to Oklahoma's question at defensive end looked to be in the seniors Alonzo Dotson and John Williams.

But that might not be the case as August workouts get under way.

"They're gonna have to earn it. They're gonna have to fight like heck to keep guys like Auston English and Jeremy Beal from starting,” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said of the seniors Friday morning at OU media day. "(English) is about 265 pounds, had a fabulous summer, looks like a million bucks.

"He's a starter on paper right now, until he's beat out.”

•Injury updates: Of the few Sooners who missed spring or summer workouts because of injuries, coach Bob Stoops said most of them are close to returning to practice.

Senior starting free safety Darien Williams is "still another week or so away” after undergoing surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot July 16.

"He's moving around and said he feels great,” Stoops said.

Tight end Brody Eldridge had a screw inserted into his ankle after a vicious hit by linebacker Mike Reed in the spring game, but is close to returning to full strength.

Junior-college transfer offensive lineman Phil Loadholt missed most of the spring with a toe injury.

"He probably could have played in spring,” Stoops said. "We just chose to let it heal.”

•Name game: Stoops reiterated Friday that the Sooner jerseys will have players' names on the backs this year, after going through the 2006 season without them.

Stoops is happy to hear that the fans are pleased with that decision, but doesn't see it as the big deal some people made it out to be.

"The reason to put the numbers on is to identify the players, right?” Stoops said. "I guess some people don't identify them that way, so we had to put (the names) back on.

"You guys (the media) make way too much of that.”

•Still holding: Last week at Big 12 media days in San Antonio, Stoops discussed the possibility of