OU football notebook

The usual August position battles are fairly limited for Oklahoma this season — except for the offensive line, where competition is beginning to heat up.

After missing a few practices last week with an ankle injury, Branndon Braxton is back in the running to start at right tackle, but sophomore Trent Williams, who filled in after Braxton broke his ankle last year, is still in the mix.

At right guard, Brandon Walker is the returning starter, but Brian Simmons held the spot last spring while Walker worked his way back from knee surgery. Now the two could end up splitting time.

And the newest battle is for the backup job at center. With the announcement Tuesday that sophomore Chase Beeler had left the team, that spot on the depth chart became vacant.

OU coach Bob Stoops said Wednesday that Walker is capable of playing center, but the coaching staff is also looking at sophomore Noah Hughey and true freshman Jason Hannan in that role.

• Scrimmage sights: Stoops said the primary purpose of the short scrimmages that the team often holds during practice — like they were scheduled to do Wednesday night — are to provide a game-type setting.

And not just for his quarterbacks.

The full contact of a scrimmage lets the coaches better see what their other players are capable of.

"There's a difference between being in position to tackle and actually tackling,” Stoops said. "Running backs, can they make somebody miss them, or if somebody hits them on the side can they break a tackle? Trying to get yourself better and simulate a game-type atmosphere.”

Saturday's scrimmage is expected to be open to the public. It is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Owen Field.

• Broken ground: Dirt work has begun beside the statues honoring Heisman Trophy winners Steve Owens and Billy Vessels in the areas that will eventually house statues for OU's other Heisman winners, Billy Sims and Jason White.

The statues, which will be located on either side of the Owens and Vessels statues east of Owen Field, will be unveiled this fall.

By Scott Wright